Everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked! The modern classic nickelodeon show is famous for its rich world building, complex characters, and its main plot point, the Fire Nation's war. Propaganda, altering history, corruption, the common citizen's indifference to foreign affairs and moral ambiguity on both sides of war are all very real issues of warfare and are addressed very well for a show about a tattooed teen traveling the world on a flying cow. In this class, we will eat popcorn, watch clips, and discuss the parallels between the show and real instances of war including WW2 and modern warfare. This course will develop analytic skills to understand underlying messages and themes, as well as impart a better understanding of the nuances of warfare and its historical impact.

What is the best move to make? How do you know? Want to learn a new game? Through basic principles of probability, statistics, and game theory, we will explore how to make the best decision in any game. Specifically, we will utilize the hit board game Settlers of Catan to better understand these principles and their application. In the first half of the class, students will learn how to play the game, then be introduced to mathematical concepts that will aid them in their quest for victory; in the second half, students will apply what they’ve learned as they play Catan with their teachers and classmates.