Led by the S.T.E.A.M Nanny herself, this class will engage shorties in activities that integrate the arts into learning about key concepts in science, math, technology and engineering. Sessions are open-ended and encourage children to build self-confidence, improve their communication, cognition, and extend their self understanding and cultural awareness. Each session features a notable Black professional and culminates with a project inspired by their genius. S.T.E.A.M. is all about science, technology, engineering, art and math!
Learn about the past, present, and future of Black music. Students will hear songs from multiple genres - blues, hip-hop, bluegrass, jazz, and rock - and find out about the legendary Black musicians who are responsible for bringing each genre to life. This class is based on Black Music Is, a book by Marcus Amaker - Charleston, SC's first Poet Laureate. Students will have a chance to respond to the music, and hear songs from current musicians who are keeping history alive.
Learn about significant Black accomplishments from past to present. Students will be able to learn and identify some of the key players in history who continuously inspire and influence the Black experience in this country.
Learn the rules of dominoes, variations of game play and practice with peers with support from our skilled Reconstruction tutors. Dominoes is an integral part of Black culture, learn in a safe space and have fun!
Featuring renowned economist Roland Fryer, the youngest African American to be given tenure at Harvard University and co-founder of Reconstruction. In this class, Roland will discuss the life and work of Black geniuses – both historic and contemporary – in social justice, academics, the arts, and education with a particular focus on how their life and work affected economic thought.
Featuring Marcus Amaker, who was named Charleston, SC’s first Poet Laureate in 2016. Marcus loves doing poetry workshops and speaking to students and students love learning with Marcus! As Poet Laureate, Marcus wants students to know that their voices matter, and it’s important to him that he shares his knowledge about being a poet and an artist. Students will be exposed to and create beautiful poetry.
Developed by the Folger Shakespeare Library, this course delves into the intersection between African-American life and Shakespeare, from stage productions to personal and academic encounters with the texts. Students will examine some of the many ways that Black Americans have encountered, responded to, taken ownership of, and sometimes turned away from Shakespeare's words. Students will be able to explain and discuss the racial implications of Shakespeare and how his work relates to the present day.