2023 HMTech Classes

Mix it, Make it, Explore it! Take time to understand the composition, structure, and properties of matter through multiple hand-on experiments.

Would you like to learn electronics, with an all-in-one board that has sensors and LEDs built in? Circuit Playground is here, and it’s the best way to practice programming on real hardware. Activities include programming neo-pixels, a motion sensor, temperature sensor, light sensor, sound sensor, speaker, push buttons and switches!

This class will have a different topic each week. Topics include:

Waves of Light and Sound

We live in an ocean of energy – waves of light that we mostly can’t see or feel.  In this class, we will learn the physics and language we use to describe sound waves and use that to understand the waves of electromagnetic energy all around us– from radio waves to phone transmissions to microwaves to visible light to x-rays.  We’ll visualize how electromagnetic energy and sound come together by building a working loudspeaker from paper plates, magnets, and wire.

Physics with Phones

The sensors that are part of almost every mobile phone provide a great opportunity to improve students’ experiences with physics. Making measurements with high-quality sensors enables them to engage in science and engineering practices as they learn core disciplinary ideas.

Physics with Phones is a series of presentations outlining a wide range of experiments that are well-aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards. These were being developed for the classroom, but many can be done by students in their own homes.

This class will have a different topic each week. Topics include:

Physics with Roller coasters

Students get a basic physics talk and build roller coasters from patterned paper. 

Physical Science and Math

Students will learn how basic physical science and simple math can be used to describe the physical world from Newton to DNA.

Here you will first learn how to write short python scripts you Jupyter notebook that runs in your browser, import a number theory library and learn how to use functions within that library. This will also introduce you to object oriented idea that is adopted by many programming languages. You will also learn how to use python to create something interactive. Because python is open source you will be able to continue to build on this knowledge even after the course is completed.

In most scientific endeavors discoveries are made through experimentation. This course takes a similar approach to understanding mathematical proofs. We will use python notebooks to run experiments in order to discover patterns that inform some proofs in number theory. We use number theory because the questions posed are already understood by middle and high school students, but we will just dive deeper on the topics. For instance, most middle and high school students know the division algorithm in this course students will learn the Euclidean Algorithm which uses the division algorithm to efficiently compute the greatest common divisors of two numbers. 

This financial literacy course teaches middle school students the meaning of money-related terms such as barter, interest, credit and types of accounts available to them to earn, save, manage, and invest their money. They will learn about earning, spending, saving, investing and borrowing money. This course covers topics including budgeting, debt vs credit cards, simple vs compound interest, stocks, bonds, and CDs.

We present an overview into various related computer topics: Networking, Linux, & Cybersecurity.

We will talk about what radiation is, how it is used, the dangers, and what we do to protect ourselves against the harmful effects. Hands-on demos with radiation detection instruments and some consumer products that contain radioactive material and demo of how we measure for and control radiation (we have a simulator system for this). Also provide information on careers in radiation protection. 

Want to build a robot? And program it to do interesting things? This course will introduce you to the design and programming of a FIRST Tech Challenge-class robot. You’ll learn about fundamental engineering and computer science principles; you’ll design and build a robot from scratch; and you’ll program it to move around its world. 

Gardening encompasses many STEM disciplines. In this class, you will learn the importance of plants and pollinators in our environment as well as the basics of growing your own food. You will also learn the science of nutrition and the healthy benefits of growing fruits and vegetables. You will be doing hands on activities that will help you apply your knowledge at home. 

Mix it, Make it, Explore it! Take time to understand the composition, structure, and properties of matter through multiple hand-on experiments.

Would you like to learn electronics, with an all-in-one board that has sensors and LEDs built in? Circuit Playground is here, and it’s the best way to practice programming on real hardware. Activities include programming neo-pixels, a motion sensor, temperature sensor, light sensor, sound sensor, speaker, push buttons and switches!

This class will have a different topic each week. Topics include:

Waves of Light and Sound

We live in an ocean of energy – waves of light that we mostly can’t see or feel.  In this class, we will learn the physics and language we use to describe sound waves and use that to understand the waves of electromagnetic energy all around us– from radio waves to phone transmissions to microwaves to visible light to x-rays.  We’ll visualize how electromagnetic energy and sound come together by building a working loudspeaker from paper plates, magnets, and wire.

Physics with Phones

The sensors that are part of almost every mobile phone provide a great opportunity to improve students’ experiences with physics. Making measurements with high-quality sensors enables them to engage in science and engineering practices as they learn core disciplinary ideas.

Physics with Phones is a series of presentations outlining a wide range of experiments that are well-aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards. These were being developed for the classroom, but many can be done by students in their own homes.

This class will have a different topic each week. Topics include:

Physics with Roller coasters

Students get a basic physics talk and build roller coasters from patterned paper. 

Physical Science and Math

Students will learn how basic physical science and simple math can be used to describe the physical world from Newton to DNA.

Here you will first learn how to write short python scripts you Jupyter notebook that runs in your browser, import a number theory library and learn how to use functions within that library. This will also introduce you to object oriented idea that is adopted by many programming languages. You will also learn how to use python to create something interactive. Because python is open source you will be able to continue to build on this knowledge even after the course is completed

Ever wonder what it takes to build a fulfilling career? Get ready to create a map for your professional life based on your existing abilities, interests, and talents. Our class explores activities you naturally enjoy, dives into what drives your curiosity, and connects them to potential careers. We will explore it all…work/life balance, professional identity, and what goes into selecting a fulfilling career. You will better understand the interviewing process while discovering tools and resources that develop your proficiency and savvy. We will review interview question examples and practice answering them using a reliable, professional method, preparing you to answer any question with confidence. Lastly, we will revise a sample resume to identify what takes a “good” resume to “great”. By the end of class, you will have crafted a robust master resume, individualized to your experience and unique voice. If building a professional roadmap, identifying ways to get there, and seeing its overall value are important to you, this class is for you.

This course will explore the ageless question “When will I ever use algebra, trigonometry, probability, or calculus”. In this math application course students will look to the world of aviation for this answer. This course will allow students to explore how math can help them to design better paper airplanes and bottle rockets, while understand how aircraft work. This will challenge your thinking while opening your understanding of the world around you!! 

Note: Python experience is recommended for this class. If you don’t have experience, please also sign up for the Introduction to Python class in period 2.

In most scientific endeavors discoveries are made through experimentation. This course takes a similar approach to understanding mathematical proofs. We will use python notebooks to run experiments in order to discover patterns that inform some proofs in number theory. We use number theory because the questions posed are already understood by middle and high school students, but we will just dive deeper on the topics. For instance, most middle and high school students know the division algorithm. In this course, students will learn the Euclidean Algorithm which uses the division algorithm to efficiently compute the greatest common divisors of two numbers.

We present an overview into various related computer topics. 

Students will gain experience making their own x-ray images and will learn to identify different types of ionizing radiation emitted from common sources using a variety of detectors.  Students will also measure the effective half life of radioactive decay in dryer lint, measure attenuation of gamma rays in shielding materials, and the inverse-square distance law. 

Want to build a robot? And program it to do interesting things? This course will introduce you to the design and programming of a FIRST Tech Challenge-class robot. You’ll learn about fundamental engineering and computer science principles; you’ll design and build a robot from scratch; and you’ll program it to move around its world.

Gardening encompasses many STEM disciplines. In this class, you will learn the importance of plants and pollinators in our environment as well as the basics of growing your own food. You will also learn the science of nutrition and the healthy benefits of growing fruits and vegetables. You will be doing hands on activities that will help you apply your knowledge at home.