Saturday Academy

The New-York Historical Society in partnership with the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History offers Saturday Academy, a free, seven-week program for students in grades 8–12 that offers courses on the history of America. It provides free SAT prep for students in grades 10-12 who register for one of the five history classes. With no homework or tests, these courses offer fun and interesting information on the bits of history that don’t always find their way into the classroom. Students may take one class or two. All classes are offered twice, at 10-11:30 am, then again at 11:40 am-1 pm. Students who wish to take SAT Prep must also take a second class.

Application Information

The Spring 2012 Saturday Academy has now begun. The SAT prep classes are filled to capacity but there are a limited number of spots still available in the following courses: Hip Hop in Context, Advertising in America, Acting Out: 19th-century America, and Almost a Revolution: Attempted Revolutions in American History. All classes take place at the New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West (at 77th Street) on the following Saturdays: March 10, 17, 24, 31 & April 14, 21, and 28, from 10-11:30 am and 11:40 am to 1 pm. If you are interested in registering for one of these courses, please contact us at saturday.academy@nyhistory.org.

List of Classes

Art and Activism In NYC: 1980s Style*
Bridget Malloy, Teacher, The Beacon School

Discover your inner artist! Explore the ways in which artists from the 1980s used the streets and subway system of NYC as a means to communicate with the public. "Art for everyone" was the motto and NYC was quite a different place. Take a step back in time to when graffiti ruled, rap was just beginning and people were taking chances like never before! Uncover ways in which artists like Keith Haring were taking risks with their art and communicating the voice of the people. This course will include drawing, painting, mixed media and interactive/performance art. Participants do not need prior experience, only a willingness to learn. The course will also include complimentary field trips to other cultural institutions.

*The course, like the work of these artists, contains mature subject matter. Please notify your parents of this and receive their permission before registering for the course.

Hip Hop in Context*
Dylan DePice, Educator, New-York Historical Society

Hip hop is one of the most influential and controversial forms of culture and art in the world today and it all started in the Bronx in the 1970s. It’s easy to think of rap as simply a provocative style of music but we’ll study hip hop as a culture – its precursors, controversies, and current condition. Instead of solely focusing on the lyrics of notorious songs like “Cop Killer” (by Ice-T’s group Body Count) we’ll look more broadly at the social situations that inspired those words and allowed them to resonate. We’ll look past the ring-tones and tweets and explore the movement’s roots. But we won’t consider the history of hip hop in isolation; we’ll always put our hip hop history in context by looking at contemporary mainstream culture as a comparison. Expect to listen to diverse styles of rap, watch videos of break dancers, and explore the origins of graffiti. More than anything else, though, hip hop is an opportunity for self-expression so we’ll have plenty of time for student participation and debate about the topics we cover.

*This course will involve listening to music that contains mature subject matter and some inflammatory, profane and derogatory language. Please notify your parents of this and receive their permission before registering for the course.

Advertising in America
Jennifer Lagasse, Educator, New-York Historical Society

From magazines to "Mad Men," subway cars to satellite TV, advertising has worked its way into every facet of our daily lives. This course will dissect the inner workings of advertisements across history in order to see what they can tell us about our culture in the past and present. Participants will also learn the “tricks of the trade”--the strategies advertisers use to make us want whatever they have to sell, and then they'll get a chance to put those tricks to work by designing and pitching their own ad campaigns.

Acting Out: Nineteenth-century America
Katie Courtien, Educator, New-York Historical Society

The nineteenth century was a dramatic period of American History. The heated debate over slavery boiled over in a war between brothers and left behind a country in need of reconstruction. Works of art created during this century capture stories of the time, such as the brave but mortal heroism of Lieutenant Harry B. Hidden, and also dramatic tales of previous eras, like Mary, Queen of Scots, preparing for her execution. Let them be the inspiration for your own drama. Hone your dramatic writing and acting skills as you get to know some great works of art on display in the New-York Historical Society’s Making American Taste exhibition. No previous experience required. If you are interested in history, writing, directing, or acting, this course is for you.

Almost a Revolution: Attempted Revolutions in American History
Adam J. Sticklor, PhD candidate in History, City University of New York & Educator, New-York Historical Society

What sparks a revolution? Why do some movements build enough momentum to make an impact on society, but not a fundamental change in its structure? As the Occupy Wall Street and Tea Party movements continue to call for radical changes to the American political system, we will examine similar movements from throughout our nation’s history. We will explore some of the more intense and controversial movements, discuss their use of political clout, organization, and even violence, and connect them to -- or perhaps divorce them from -- the original spirit of the American Revolution, a spirit on display now as part of the Revolution! exhibition here at the New-York Historical Society. In the end we will decide whether any of these almost-revolutions did, or ever will, have the potential to succeed, or if we'd even want one to.
 

SAT Prep

Alison Rich, SAT Tutor & Educator, New-York Historical Society

History buffs are not always known for their math skills. Mathletes do not always become novelists. But the SAT will test your critical reading, writing and math skills, so you better be prepared. Join this class to bone up on all three and also learn some tips for taking the test. All students registered for these classes will also receive printed practice materials to use on their own as they continue to prepare.

Please note: The SAT Prep classes are open only to students currently enrolled in 10th, 11th or 12th grade. Students must register for a history class (any of the other five classes) to enroll in the SAT Prep class.

Calendar

Saturdays:

• March 10, 2012
• March 17, 2012
• March 24, 2012
• March 31, 2012
• April 14, 2012
• April 21, 2012
• April 28, 2012 

Class Session One: 10 – 11:30 am
Class Session Two: 11:40 am – 1 pm

Contact
If you have questions regarding Saturday Academy, please contact us at saturday.academy@nyhistory.org.