The Museum of the City of New York... Saturday Academy! FREE! Fall 2013 courses meet on Saturday, October 26, November 2, 9, 16, 23, and December 7

The Museum of the City of New York

http://www.mcny.org/education/saturday-academy

Saturday Academy is a free six-week program for students interested in American History or SAT preparation. There’s no homework and all course materials are provided.

Saturday Academy was the recipient of the 2011 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award from the White House and was featured in New York Magazine’s “Best of New York 2011” issue, which you can read about here.

Fall 2013 courses meet on Saturday, October 26, November 2, 9, 16, 23, and December 7. Students are expected to attend all six sessions and will receive a Certificate of Achievement at the end of the program. Students may enroll in one or two courses. Please look carefully at the times each course is offered, indicated below.

BELL CURVES SAT SKILLS

Led by Bell Curves instructors
Open to students in grades 10–12
9:00 am–10:20 am or 10:30 am–12:00 pm

The Bell Curves SAT Skills course is designed to help students succeed on the SAT exam. The course will improve students’ understanding of the skills tested by the SAT and teach them strategies for applying those skills in efficient ways. With the help of expert and supportive instructors, students will learn how to pace themselves and will become more familiar with the test format and question types. After taking a mandatory practice test, students will leave the classroom prepared and excited for the big test.

Students in the SAT class will be required to take two free practice SAT exams on the 1st and 5th days of the program, (Saturdays October 26 and November 23) from 12:15 pm–5:00 pm, directly after their regular morning classes. Please save the date and time!

PHOTOGRAPHY IN AMERICA: MODERN HISTORY THROUGH THE LENS

Instructor: Kristen Gaylord, Ph.D. Candidate in Art History and Archaeology, Institute of Fine Arts, New York University
Open to students in grades 8–12
9:00 am–10:20 am or 10:30 am–12:00 pm

This course will investigate how photography has shaped our responses to historical events and continues to influence the way we view the world. Topics will include: photography and memory in the Civil War; turn-of-the-century reform photography exposing urban conditions; documentary photography during the Great Depression; the “straight” style and photojournalism of the postwar era; and the rise of digital photography in the age of globalization and the internet. The course will end with an exploration of the Museum’s exhibition of photographs of Hurricane Sandy to see how photographs capture our present-day experiences while simultaneously creating the documents that make history.

EQUALITY NOW! THE HISTORY OF SOCIAL ACTIVISM IN NEW YORK CITY

Instructor:Samantha Schott, B.A. in Sociology and Art History/Communications, McGill University; Educator at El Museo del Barrio
Open to students in grades 8–12
9:00 am–10:20 am or 10:30 am–12:00 pm

Throughout American history, New Yorkers have been on the forefront of struggles to secure their rights and expand American democracy. Using the Museum's exhibition Activist New York, students will examine historical cartoons, photographs, and artifacts that provide insight into how activists have fought for social change. Topics will include the pursuit of religious freedom in the colonial period, abolition and women’s suffrage movements, the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, and current debates over bicycle advocacy and public space. Through gallery tours and lively discussions, students will learn about the diverse perspectives of activists throughout history, and how their efforts have an impact on us to this day.

DANCING THROUGH HISTORY: SOCIAL DANCE IN AMERICAN CULTURE

Instructor: Joanna Dee Das, Ph.D. Candidate in History, Columbia University; Lecturer at Barnard College
Open to students in grades 8–12
10:30 am–12:00 pm or 12:15 pm–1:45 pm

From the 18th-century cakewalk dance to 21st-century “twerking," social dances provide a window into American cultural history. The course will begin with slavery and the expressions of race and power that dancing bodies displayed and will later explore tango and salsa as examples of fusion dances that reflect the merging of cultures in the context of immigration. Participants will consider how the dance floor became a site for racial integration during the Rock 'n' Roll era, and conclude with an exploration of 21st-century popular dance forms that emerged as urban artistic expressions, such as breakdancing, krumping, jerking, and twerking. Analyzing primary source documents, viewing original film clips, and even doing a little movement will help students understand the deeper meanings of social dance in America.

BUILDING WORKING CLASS POWER: THE HISTORY OF THE LABOR MOVEMENT IN AMERICA

Instructor: Abe Walker, Ph.D. Candidate in Sociology, CUNY Graduate Center; Adjunct Lecturer at Queens College
Open to students in grades 9–12
12:15 pm–1:45 pm

In meeting halls, picket lines, and strikes, American workers have sought organizations and tactics to protect their right to engage in “collective bargaining” for better wages, working hours, benefits, and working conditions. This course introduces students to the history of trade unions in the United States with an emphasis on New York City. Students will trace the growth of unions, reflecting changes in the economy and the types of jobs available. The course will include speeches, newspaper articles and film footage, and throughout, participants will examine the question: what organizational forms, tactics, and strategies are most effective in protecting the rights and interests of working people?ALL APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED ONLINE BY TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2013.

APPLY

Enrollment is first-come, first served. There are a limited number of spaces reserved for students who live and/or attend schools in East and Central Harlem (zip codes: 10026, 10027, 10029, 10030, 10035, 10037, and 10039). Please apply early-space is limited! Accepted candidates will be notified by email, mail, or telephone by Thursday, October 17.

Should you experience any trouble applying online, please contact saturday.academy@mcny.org or call 917.492.3401 to request that an application be mailed to your home address for you to fill out and return to the Museum of the City of New York.