eagle rock classes

Black Side of the Moon

Expectation:  Expanding Knowledge Base

Traditional credit:  English

Trimester offered:  Winter 2023 - ER89

Have you ever heard the saying "American music is Black music"? Through the use of analysis and literacy skills, we hope to better understand this idea. In this course, we plan to explore how Black music and culture have provided a primary means for society to engage with the lived experiences of Black people across multiple genres, cultural artifacts, time and regions. We will discuss how music and cultural expression created by Black Americans has acted as a primary conduit to express and understand the dynamics of gender, racism, economics, politics, and art - on a global stage! This course is about critical analysis of the everyday and sharing with others, so be prepared to listen, read, write, and engage in discussions every class period and with the ERS community! It is worth an EKB credit and a traditional English credit.

Birds, Bats, and Bees

Expectation: Engaged Global Citizen

Traditional credit:  Science

Trimester offered:  Spring 2023 - ER90

Calling all Naturalists! We live on 600+ acres of beautiful land that is full of plants, animals, birds, insects, trees, and grasses. As stewards of this land, it is our job to keep it as native and natural as possible. In order to do this we need to learn about the flora and fauna on the Eagle Rock campus. In this class we will focus on birds, bats, and bees, three classes of wildlife whose roles in the environment are often overlooked and misunderstood. We will work to understand the need to do our part to support these creatures and how providing habitat allows them to fulfill critical roles in the environment and keep it beautiful. We will also spend time in the Wood Shop designing and building houses and other structures for these amazing creatures that we can place around campus for the benefit and enjoyment of wildlife and human residents alike.

Borders & Identities

Expectation: Engaged Global Citizen

Traditional credit:  Social Studies

Trimester offered:  Winter 2023 - ER89

In this course, you will explore your own identity frames through the lens of the current immigration in the United States, primarily looking closely at the U.S.-Mexican border, detention centers, and impact of natural disasters, violence, and war on asylum seekers and refugees. Our focus will be on the ‘lines between us’, and the humanizing stories of the push and pull factors in the lives of people searching for the promise and potential of something better and somewhere we can all thrive. Learn and reflect on the visible and invisible borders we each confront every day, and build bridges between people and community by discovering and talking about your own story. You will compare and contrast opposing points of view, write from multiple points of view, and explore the possibility of a future where we all belong. During the first 5-weeks you will dive into the world of immigration and identity, formulating your own informed perspectives through videos, classroom discussions, and engaging with the broader community. During the second 5-weeks, you will continue to explore borders and identity and develop a culminating Global Action-Project that exposes problems, proposes solutions, and takes meaningful and connected action to the immigration and border debate.

Champions of Change

Expectation: Leadership for Justice

Traditional credit:  Social Studies-Civics

Trimester offered:  Spring 2023 - ER90

Are you passionate about social justice and equity? Are you ready to step into your leadership at Eagle Rock? Do you want to gain tools to make changes in any community (including ER) that you are a part of? Do you want to understand why some changes succeed and some don’t? Do you want to uncover your personal leadership style and see how you show up as a leader?  In this highly engaging & interactive course we will: 1. learn a step-by-step change process by actually making a small yet effective change at Eagle Rock; 2. learn from historical change movements; and 3. learn facilitation skills that we’ll apply in a week long session, June 19-23, 2023. We will focus on self-awareness and development, as well as understanding and empathizing with others and lifting up the strengths in individuals and our community.