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Below are the course offerings for Summer 2024! We are pleased to offer a range of classes showcasing the variety of expertise our faculty, staff and alumni can offer. During the registration process, you will be asked to designate one class for each period. Not all courses are offered each week. Click "Summer @LSMSA Class Schedule" for list of classes organized by week. Please read the descriptions of each course for details.
Notes:
If a class is offered in more than one period, it is the same class offered twice a day. Campers may not register for more than one of the same class.
"Yogurtness" and both "Biotech Explorer" classes are available to students entering 8th and 9th grade only
"A Bug's Life" and "Fear No Weevil" are the same course with different activities - A Bug's Life focuses on labwork; Fear No Weevil focuses on collecting.
For students entering 8th and 9th grade only. In this course, students will apply Koch's postulates to reveal the cause of "Yogurtness" - the "affliction" of "healthy" milk that causes it to become acidic and thick. The activities involved in this course include microscopic analysis of yogurt and milk and culturing of yogurt and milk on agar plates and broth.
Bug out about insects! We'll learn about insect body systems, identifying insects, interactions with humans, and much more...including getting an up-close look with microscopes. We will talk about collecting, but we will not do any collecting trips. This class shares a lot of similar material to “Fear No Weevil” so do not register for both.
This class is all about enjoying life by doing whimsical activities. This could include but is not limited to: making flower crowns, frolicking in fields, and reading stories outside in the grass.
Have you ever wanted to learn how to crochet your own plushies? Whether you have some experience with crochet or have never picked up a hook, this class is for you. We will go step-by-step and create several plush animals by the end of the week, starting with a penguin and ending with an animal of your choice.
Students will learn a simple but effective method of cartooning faces from life quickly and easily! We will explore the aesthetics and principles of caricature. Students will learn to draw the five shapes of the head. We will also learn how to draw cartoon bodies and simple gaffs to make the caricatures personal and interesting!
This is a class for students with no piano background. Topics will include notes on the keyboard, reading from the grand staff, basic technique, and beginning repertoire.
For students entering 8th and 9th grade only. In this course, students will use biotechnology techniques including polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA electrophoresis to test for the presence of two different GMO-associated DNA sequences of cauliflower mosaic virus and Agrobacterium tumefaciens in grocery food. The activities involved in this course include extraction of DNA from grocery food samples, amplification, and detection of GMO genes by PCR and agarose gel electrophoresis.
For students entering 8th and 9th grade only. In this course, students will use real-world forensic techniques to extract DNA from their hair follicles and cheek cells. They will use polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and DNA agarose gel electrophoresis to fingerprint their own DNA at a specific genetic locus. The classroom data will be analyzed and compared to reveal possible genetic differences.
Learn the basics of 3 different "dead" languages - Ancient Greek, Latin, and Old English. Learn to identify the letters of the Greek alphabet, practice pronouncing ancient words, and explore relevant art and mythology. Learn common Greek and Latin roots found in modern scientific terminology.
Learn about insects, go on nature walks, and curate your own collection in this introduction to entomology – the study of insects! This class shares a lot of similar material to “A Bug’s Life” so do not register for both.
This week we will learn about European traditions of well-known fairy tales and consider how the film productions and cultural treatments in the 20th century moved away from the original folk tales collected by the Brother's Grimm (and others). Students will be invited to re-vise/revisit traditional fairy tales or to create ones of their own via written, visual, or digital creative work.
We will use paper, paste, balloons, and paint to make a mask, an animal "piggy" bank, a vase, and a bowl throughout the week. All projects will be creatively painted to create works of art! No experience with art is needed, but participants need to be willing to get messy.
You are a medieval scribe. Our scriptorium has been tasked with creating an illuminated manuscript for our wealthy patron. Learn how to form and write several ancient and medieval scripts with quill pens on parchment. Learn the ins and outs of manuscript book production: parchment stretching and papermaking, quire ruling, miniature painting, and sewn binding.
An intro to engineering with vehicles! Students will build and race airplanes, boats, and cars. There will be winners announced in 3 contests over the week with one champion for the week.
This class will involve more movement and variety of poses (asanas), balancing effort of pose and ease of breath intertwined with moments of rest as needed. Work at your own pace. Please bring a dry towel... (reference 'Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy'), for wiping hands. Beginning yoga practitioners and/or athletes welcome. Instructor is prepared for all levels and modifications each day.
From designing the perfect puppet character to mastering the art of puppet manipulation, students will explore every aspect of puppet making. They'll learn how to craft their own unique puppets from start to finish, using a variety of materials and techniques.
Relax, unwind, and enjoy with this restorative slow flow Yoga class. Designed for all levels in mind. Hands-on assist may be offered as requested. Each student will use their preferred props (i.e. blankets, blocks, bolsters, etc.). Classes will conclude with optional questions and answers about Yoga philosophy, traditions, and techniques.
Have you ever heard of “Whose Line is it Anyway?” Students will get to develop and perform numerous comedic improvisation games, some taken from the hit show and some from other sources. The end of the week will culminate in a performance!
Students will create different geometric designs or pictures by stitching on paper with string. We will start out at a beginner level and build complexity throughout the week, ending with students creating their own designs.
Students will get to create their own hero to fight hordes of goblins, zombies, and other enemies. Another aspect of D&D is that players get to aid in the creation of the game by role-playing their characters in order to guide and act out narrative decisions in the gameplay. Students may not register for both D&D classes in a week.
Students should have some musical background and be able to read at least one clef. We will learn about the basics of musical notation including staff notation, keys, scales, intervals, chords, and musical form.
Students will learn about writing and world-building with the use of modern media that they have already engaged with, like Adventure Time or Avatar the Last Airbender.
This class is molded for each group of students in attendance. Vinyasa (transition) flow focusing on breath awareness, personal intentions, and physical alignment. I meet each student where they are on their individual Yoga journey. Moments of rest will be offered as needed. Work at your own pace.
Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts (LSMSA) is the preeminent state-supported residential high school with competitive admissions for Louisiana's high-achieving, highly-motivated sophomores, juniors, and seniors. As a public school, there is no tuition to attend, and assistance from the LSMSA Foundation ensures the program is available to all qualifying students regardless of family financial need.