Badger Precollege Classes

Engineering is a problem-solving profession that is both academically rigorous and creatively demanding. This course will introduce you to a broad spectrum of engineering fields and provide a strong foundation for understanding its key tools and concepts.

In this class, you will dive into the blueprints of structural engineering and design. You will be asked to design and create models based on creative parameters and specifications. As a team, you will take on and propose solutions to real-world design challenges.

In this class, you will have the opportunity to build a character from scratch as well as code brand-new interactions with an environment. You will learn about essential processes in game development and experiment with coding to generate characters with unique powers.

Join us for a week of adventure through the tales of Ancient Greece and Rome! In this introductory course you will learn about key figures and features in Classical mythology and analyze its widespread influence on the modern art, literature, and culture. If you're a fan of the Percy Jackson series, or fantasy stories in general, this course is for you! 

In this laboratory-intensive course, you will learn how DNA and proteins are analyzed to improve food products, diagnose a disease or identify a suspect. Gain valuable laboratory skills such as micropipetting, gel electrophoresis, bacterial transformation, DNA extraction and protein analysis.

This course provides an in-depth exploration of the diverse career pathways within the biological sciences. Students will gain a comprehensive understanding of how biological science principles are applied in real-world contexts and how these fields contribute to solving global challenges.

Adventures in Coding will spark your curiosity about the connections between math, computer coding and programming. If you geek out about video games, computers, equations or even different mathematical languages, join us for this coding adventure!

A Walk Through History will transport students to a living history museum! Students will choose a historical figure, research them and write a speech as if they were that person. During family visiting day, students will dress up and stay in character, give their speeches and answer questions.

Calling all Entrepreneurs! Or, those who just want to learn about the world of business. This class will give you an introduction to some key concepts of business – product/service creation, marketing, digital creation and finance. We will touch on all sorts of business topics and have plenty of fun doing so. If you are a fan of the show Shark Tank this could be your dream class. 

We will look at writing and ourselves as writers through various lenses. This class will delve into creative writing genres such as poetry and personal narrative, and will allow writers to engage with writing projects that might suit future career paths. 

This course explores topics such as ecosystems, environmental challenges and sustainability. Through hands-on activities in nature and engaging projects and labs, students will explore how natural systems function, how human activities impact the planet and how to create a sustainable future.

This course will investigate the impact that chemical products have on consumers' daily lives. Major topics may include food additives, prescription and non-prescription drugs, fuels, pesticides, detergents, synthetic fibers and plastics.

Do you enjoy rhymes, alliteration, beautiful words and picturesque language? In this creative writing class, we'll focus on the elements that make people fall in love with poetry. Students will respond to prompts and explore a variety of poetry forms, including how words and music interact in lyrics.

What makes a decision "good" or "bad," and how do we measure the success of our choices over time? Step into the world of leadership and strategic decision-making with Board of Directors: The Art of Decision-Making for Young Leaders. In this interactive course, students will learn how to approach complex challenges, make impactful choices, and understand the responsibilities of leadership. Modeled after real-life boardroom scenarios, students will act as board members, working through group exercises, simulations, and case studies to practice balancing competing interests, managing risks and finding solutions that benefit all stakeholders. From ethical dilemmas to high-stakes decisions, this course empowers young leaders with the confidence, strategic thinking skills, and sense of accountability needed to navigate today's interconnected world and to prepare for future roles in business, community and beyond.

Explore the concepts behind the things you see in everyday life such as buildings, roads, and waterways, and how they come to be. Through real-world, global, and local examples, you will study the basics of structural and civil engineering as well as hear from campus experts in the field.