Use the menu below to find the program that matches your grade level.  Your child will be enrolled in the grade level that he/she has just completed. 

Comet I

Chemical Commotion

Like to make a mess, stir things up, or watch things fly? Then, you’re going to love this class!  We’ll use the science of chemistry to create a variety of messy concoctions and make things roll across the floor at the speed of light!  Who knew stirring could be so interesting and that flying could be so explosive?  It just takes the right stuff to make a truly chemical commotion!

Engineering in Action!
Have you ever wondered what makes a building stand? How can a suspension bridge be solid and move all at the same time? Come and explore the engineering design process. This hands-on class will explore many of the principles that underlie structural engineering and how they relate to what you experience in daily life.

Medical School Madness
Thinking about a career in medicine? Take this course to learn what it’s all about! We’ll explore the systems of the body and the causes of disease. Learn through hands-on activities, including dissections and field trips, and hear from medical professionals what it takes to get “M.D.” added to your name.

Mental Gymnastics
Are you curious about why people think or act the way they do?  Are you interested in topics such as memory, learning, or creativity?  Join us in studying the basics of psychology.  Through class research and discussion, you will investigate the mysteries of the mind.

PSI: Plant Science Investigation
What makes a fruit a fruit?  Do you know where your veggies come from?  How can you clone a plant?  How do they grow plants in space?  Discover the answers to these questions and more in this class!  We will look at flowers, fruits, propagate some houseplants, visit a greenhouse, make our own landscape plan, and more fun activities.

The Common Soldier in the Civil War
Join the army, march, drill, and cook your food over an open fire. Drill with a real Civil War cannon, join the Signal Corps. to pass messages in code, join the Medical Corps. to perform an amputation, and work as an engineer to perfect entrenchments. This class will include field trips  to Indianapolis, IN and Springfield, IL.

Wonders of the Web
Work with multiple forms of media to learn about designing and creating Web pages. You will learn to incorporate text, photos, and graphics into your own original Web pages. Use technology to express your ideas and creativity in this fun computer course.

Young Adult Literature
Does literature accurately represent your real-life experiences? Come and read various stories by adult authors that try to represent what it means to be an adolescent. Use your critical thinking skills to analyze these stories and discuss how well (or poorly) they represent experiences of young people in the modern world. This class will interest you if you enjoy reading, writing, and expressing your opinions.

Comet II

Art of the Americas
Enjoy exploring the art and culture of the Incan, Mayan, and Aztec Empires, Latin Americans, and other cultures of North America, like the Navajo and Inuit Indians. Discover the artistic mysteries of the Brazilian rainforests and arctic tundra.  In this class you will be introduced to the diversity of Indigenous Americans and produce artwork that reflects their cultures.  

Crime Fighter Science
Committing a crime is easy.  Figuring out how it was done, much harder!  Dig up bones, dust for prints, map out blood spatter patterns, collect mystery fibers, measure bullet trajectory, and test for blood.  Learn how to do all this and you WILL be a crime-fighting scientist!

Electronic Engineering
Have you ever been tempted to take apart the toaster or the telephone? Come explore the internal workings of many of your common electronic gadgets. In this electrifying class, you’ll learn basic electronic circuitry and common components that make them work. Look for similarities and differences among all electronic devices on how they work to do what they do.

Mindbenders
Are you interested in solving problems and figuring out puzzles or brainteasers?  Join us as we learn the fundamentals of logic and problem solving.  We will stretch your mind and expand your imagination.  By the end of this class, you will be able to create your own mindbenders and outwit your friends.

Multimedia Manipulation
Are you a James Bond of technological gadgets? Are you interested in how things like digital cameras, global positioning systems, and television projectors work? Come explore how every-day objects function, in addition to looking at more complex items such as communication satellites. We will also explore different types of computer software and how they do what they do.

Mysteries all Around Us
Discover brains in bottles, 150 year old runes, and walk through cemeteries. Sit in the playroom of the man who ordered the execution of Billy the Kid and John Wilkes Booth. Stand in a forest that has never been logged, pass down city streets, look at twisted metal and fractured glass, and find yourself in jail.  Explore these things and more when you learn about Mysteries all Around Us.

Roller Coaster Physics
Whee!  Throw up your arms and get ready for rollercoaster physics fun!  Learn how gravity, torque, and inertia affect the designs of some of the most popular theme park rides, and explore ways to make roller coasters faster, smoother, and unique.  Design and build your own mini-rollercoaster!

Veterinary Medicine
Veterinary Medicine is one of GERI and Purdue’s most popular and competitive programs. Explore the complex world of animal anatomy through extensive dissection, study of animal systems, and ecosystem field work. Come find out what makes animals tick! Register early – this class fills quickly!

Star I:  Morning Classes

All About Engineering
You will be introduced to the world of engineering in this course, and will learn what aerospace, mechanical, civil, and computer engineers do. Learn about the fundamentals of engineering concepts, methods, and theory through case studies and real-world applications. This course strongly emphasizes engineering design, and concludes with team projects that apply some of the concepts learned in class.

Genetic Genius
Explore the human genome, cloning, DNA, pedigree, and more.  Activities and experiments will include creating imaginary clones to mapping our genes and running a DNA gel. Take this class and find out what it is that makes us who we are and why it is an absolute miracle that we all don’t have six arms and one eye in the middle of our head!

Physical Chemistry
Explore the world of physical chemistry including the kinetic theory of gases, statistical thermodynamics, quantum mechanics, atomic and molecular structure, and the properties of ionic phases.

The U. S. in the 20th century 1900–1945
Experience the turn of the century full of promise. Learn about World War I, the roaring 1920s, the Great Depression, and end in World War II. Use simulation to meet progressive politicians, use drama to play out Wilson’s 14 Points, reenact the Nuremberg Trials, and role-play the decision to drop the atomic bomb. Find out how the events of the twentieth century foreshadowed events of today.

What does software really do?
You may be familiar with designing web pages and writing programs with fast development tools, but what does software really do? This course will teach you how they think and communicate using the language of only 1s and 0s and how they interact with you by human and program languages.

Star I:  Afternoon classes

Biochemistry
Come explore essential topics important to the study and understanding of biochemistry. This course uses chemical experiments to illustrate the general theories and unifying concepts of biochemistry. Study the chemistry, function, and metabolism of compounds found in living organisms in this hands-on class.

Fabulous Physics! 
Plastic bottles, pipe insulation, old CDs, toothpicks, fishing line, rubber bands and mousetraps!  What do they have to do with Newton and his laws of physics?  Everything---as long as you cut, glue, tape, bend, and hold your mouth just right!  Come along for the ride and help us use these materials and more to make rockets, cars, bridges, roller coasters, and who knows what else.  Why?  To learn about Newton and all he discovered in the fabulous world of physics.

Logic
From lawyers to computer programmers, philosophers to mathematicians, everyone needs logic.    We go from the basics of deductive and inductive arguments to predicate logic, truth trees, and formal proofs.  We will also look at basics of philosophical logic and attempt to determine the truth of the universe.

Pop Art
This creative class will explore contemporary art and artists.  Explore art as an aspect of modern day culture, and analyze and discuss the works of recognized artists as well as the art of everyday life, from CD covers to movie posters to the Internet.  Debate issues of aesthetics and creative expression while creating your own works that explore multiple techniques and media.

The U.S. in the 20th century 1945-1999
The Cold War casts its shadow across the international landscape with conflicts in Korea and Vietnam. On the domestic scene the 1960s and 1970s boil with controversy over the issues of Civil Right and the Women’s Movement. Use simulation to desegregate a lunch counter, drama to explore Vietnam, reenactment to examine the fear of Communists, and role play the changing role of women. Find out how the events of the twentieth century foreshadowed events of today.

Star II:  Morning classes

2D Illustration and Vector Art
Learn how to use computers to create 2-dimensional drawings and line art in comic-book style. Discover how to break images down into simpler shapes and lines and recreate these basic forms while adding your own styles of weight, color and blending to the forms. Course projects will include creating a realistic representation of a product and recreating a real comic book page with added embellishments including color, blending and 3D effects.

Chemical Engineering
Explore how chemistry and engineering work together. Chemical engineering examines the chemical processes that turn raw materials into valuable products. Experience the skills used by chemical engineers including design, testing, scale-up, operation, control, and optimization. Is this the field for you?

GNN Headline News
Do you aspire to be a journalist or news anchor? In this course you will debate journalistic ethics, discuss the effect of media on society, and improve your writing skills.  The class culminates in a news show production.

Mingling with the Masters
Have you ever wondered who the great artists like Renoir, Van Gogh and Picasso really were? What forces drove them to create their masterpieces? Learn about the worlds they lived in and the cultures that influenced them. Have your own hands-on quest into the history of art, investigate the aesthetic ideas behind art, and create your own masterpiece based on the Masters’ works.

Pre-Med
Get a jumpstart on medical school this summer. Study anatomy and physiology and the causes of disease. Learn about innovative techniques for treating and preventing illness, explore careers in the rapidly advancing world of medicine.

Tournament Chess
Love chess? Why not do competitions as a player, tournament director, or sports writer? In this class you will learn about different tournament formats, how to direct all types of chess competitions, how to report on chess champions, and about chess photography for internet publications.

Star II:  Afternoon classes

Applied Chemistry
Investigate common experiences by conducting hands-on experiments and applying the principles of chemistry in an interdisciplinary way. Topics will include experimental techniques, spectroscopy, and industrial applications, among others.

Architecture & Design (Star)
Learn how architects design and construct buildings using the fundamentals of geometry. In this exciting class, you will develop your creative abilities, and teamwork and problem solving skills as you create architectural blueprints and construct models.

Debate: Arguing with Style
Debate is a Summer Residential favorite for those who love to argue, want to be a lawyer, or just like to discuss vital topics in our world. Tackle both controversial and important issues, while learning and applying research, argumentation, and problem solving skills. Bring your opinions and be ready to defend and even change them. All thoughts and thinkers welcome!

Flight of the Spirit
Examine the history of the airplane. Build a variety of the early aircraft to demonstrate how the early pioneers tested their aircraft.  As a final project you will work in groups to create a flying model of an airplane.  This model will be constructed of various materials similar to what the early designers used.

Religion & Culture
Religion and Culture delves into the unique world of religion and its effects on culture. Investigate different and unique religions and their beliefs and how each religion perceives the world.

Introduction to Veterinary School
An overview of the field of veterinary medicine today and in the future. This course provides the student with an opportunity to understand the nature of professional activities, veterinary medical organization, career opportunities, and current issues.

Pulsar I:  Morning classes

21st Century Journalism
Explore the world of journalism in a technological age. Use investigative procedures to conduct field research and interviews and later turn your data into hard-hitting news stories. This class will interest you if you enjoy digital technologies, writing, and interpersonal communication.

Applied Microbiology
Explore pathogenic organisms from throughout the human body. Investigate microbial characteristics, pathogenesis, oncogenesis, and ways diseases are transmitted and treated. If you see medical school, nursing, pharmacy, or medical technology in your future, this course is for you!

Financial Mathematics
Who ever said math couldn't be useful!?   Learn about compound interest, budgeting, taxes, and the stock market.  From personal finance to stock evaluation, trading, and even options, you will learn the basic math that everyone needs to know! Prior knowledge of algebra is required.

Inorganic Chemistry
Learn about the world of chemistry beyond carbon chemistry and pharmaceuticals.  Explore advanced bonding concepts, metallic properties and transition metal chemistry.  Activities will include experimentation with metallic solutions, complexes, and introduction to inorganic synthetic pathways and career options.

Physics of Machines
Investigate the multitude of machines that inhabit our planet.  From the simple to the complex, including the automobile, the airplane, the train, bridges, mechanical toys, industrial equipment and the list goes on and on. Design your own machine and test its function using a variety of construction materials.

Pulsar I: Afternoon classes

Artistic Exploration
Explore all that the arts have to offer in this exciting and fast-paced course! Hone your drawing skills and use them to your advantage as you sail through art forms such as sculpture, printmaking, painting and more! Get creative with cartooning, laugh with improv comedy, and become a fashion designer!

Controversial Issues
Examine and debate controversial issues related to different fields. Critically evaluate hot issues, and express and defend your opinions.

Digital Design
Make posters that pop and magazine layouts that sizzle using professional digital design tools like Adobe Photoshop and InDesign. Learn to think like a graphic designer and communicate with color, images, font, and text.

Human Anatomy
Have a strong interest in biology?  Think medical school might be on your horizon? Come focus exclusively on learning human anatomy through hands-on work with prossected human cadavers. Taught in conjunction with the Indiana University School of Medicine, you will cover material similar to that of first-year medical students in actual med school labs and classrooms. If you are considering this course, you should be comfortable with dissection.

Robotics
Want to design a robot? Get hands-on experience in the design and fabrication of robotics in this course. Through this process you will have experiences in basic design, systems of manufacturing, mechanics of electronics, and problem solving. Robotic software programming and design will also be explored.

Pulsar II: Morning classes

Aliens: Fact or Fantasy?
Venture into the realm of the extraterrestrial to study their biological functions.  This course will introduce you to the biology of science fiction through genetics, cellular chemistry, ecology, change over time, and on and on.  Is it possible for life to exist on other planets and how would their biology different from the biology of life on Earth?  Design and model your own ideas of alien life forms and create a scenario of their existence on a distant planet. 

Game Development
What does it take to create a great video game? Explore the world of game developers in this intensive, interdisciplinary class. Working in your own development “company,” use your creativity to develop compelling characters, settings, and involving story lines. Learn graphics and animation software to create images for your games, and develop an advertising campaign to bring your game to market.

Organic Chemistry
Study the reaction and synthesis of organic compounds. Investigate experimental techniques in organic chemistry: separation; purification; preparation of organic compounds and identification (spectroscopy); reactions of nonaromatic hydrocarbons and alkyl halides.

Politics & Persuasion
Learn how responsible citizens can use research to make informed decisions on policy in our country. Investigate the political process and how candidates try to influence the vote through persuasion. Try your hand at politics by participating in a political debate and election.

Rocketry and Space Exploration
What does it take to send a vehicle on an interplanetary voyage? In this class, you will build your own sub-orbital rocket using principles of impulse, gravity, drag and aerodynamics and develop a fundamental understanding of the concepts involved in planning a mission beyond Earth.

The Physics and Math of Music
What is sound?  What makes a series of notes music instead of noise?  We will combine mathematics and physics with music theory to understand how instruments and vocalists create music. Look at overtones, scales and chordal structures, and musical techniques. A "MUST HAVE" course for any musicians. Prior musical knowledge recommended.

Tournament Chess
Love chess? Why not do competitions as a player, tournament director, or sports writer? In this class you will learn about different tournament formats, how to direct all types of chess competitions, how to report on chess champions, and about chess photography for internet publications.

Pulsar II:  Afternoon classes

Abnormal Psychology
Interested in unusual or deviant behavior? Abnormal Psychology will provide you with an overview of the field of mental disorders and their treatments, along with a history of how these disorders have been conceptualized and treated in the past. Topics include characteristics of mental disorders, causes of mental disorders, and an overview of the treatments available for the disorders.

Arguing Before the Supremes
Explore the history and practice of America’s highest court of law, the Supreme Court. Study landmark Supreme Court cases that have shaped the nature of American jurisprudence. Explore the legal implications of current cases before the Court as well as the journey these cases took to get to the Court. Learn how lawyers prepare to argue before the Supreme Court and later test your own ability to make legal arguments in mock Supreme Court trial scenarios.

Bioengineering
Explore the rapidly-evolving science of genetics. Topics in this course will include genetic therapy, the debate over genetically-modified foods, ethics and issues in research, and career options in bioengineering and genetic science. Applications for healthcare, agriculture, and technology will be discussed and utilized for a final project.

Investigating Chemistry
The role of science to criminal investigations has inspired hit television shows and is captivating millions of people. In this course, study will focus on forensic chemistry concepts: evidence collection and preservation; chemical evidence; drug chemistry; the chemistry of explosions, and dirty bombs & nuclear terrorism. The primary emphasis will be to develop understanding of these concepts through hands-on activities and field inquiry.

Mathematics and Cryptography
Examine the algorithms used to protect data: secret key, public key, and hash functions.   Using number theory (modular arithmetic, primes and factorization, powers, etc) as well as an introduction to linear algebra and basic graphical encoding, we will look at the mathematics behind codes.

Rube Goldbergineering
Do you enjoy building machines and inventing new solutions to problems? Come join a design team to brainstorm and build creative contraptions to solve everyday problems in a complex way. This course will use hands-on learning to emphasize science, technology, and engineering concepts.

To Clone or Not to Clone
Explore the science of cloning and how it has impacted our foods and medicines. Investigate the genetic engineering of animals, genetically modified foods, the human genome.  Design an organism and describe its function and place in the environment.

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