Experience Trevor 2025

All aboard! For this class, you will create an immigrant character for your journey through Ellis Island. Your adventure starts on the boat and culminates in the exams that immigrants had to pass to enter America. Trevor’s 5th graders study Ellis Island and visit the site, where the National Parks staff “process” them as immigrants. From 1892-1954, approximately 12 million people entered this country through Ellis Island. These immigrants were fleeing the poverty, war, and discrimination of the Old World and found refuge and opportunity in the United States, which was rapidly growing and industrializing. About 40% of Americans alive today can trace their ancestry to people who came through Ellis Island.

 

The city is filled with unfilled lots—sad, empty, fenced-in parcels ripe for the growing of fresh vegetables and fragrant flowers. Imagine: You've been assigned a project to turn this empty lot into a community garden. You know that a garden is a place for opportunity and collaboration, learning and development, relaxation and refreshment. How will you create your garden of dreams and bring life to the block?

 

In Trevor’s Environmental Studies class, students had a month to complete this project, which featured a place portrait, a neighborhood study, a garden proposal, and a presentation skit showing the garden in "full bloom" in fall 2025. Today, at Experience Trevor, you'll have 30 minutes. 

 

Garden addresses will be drawn out of a hat, and each student will be assigned a real empty lot in the borough of Brooklyn—a blank canvas for the future—one that will enliven the neighborhood while enriching the stomachs and souls of its residents. 

 

Ready?? See you in class. (Homework forthcoming.)

Most students are introduced to William Shakespeare’s work as literature that they read in English class. However, Shakespeare’s works were never meant to be read on the page; his plays were created to be experienced as pieces of live theatre! In this class, we will engage with one of Shakespeare’s most beloved comedies, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, as a theatrical piece. As a class, we will explore the ways that Shakespeare embeds stage directions and characterization inside his text. We will learn about operative words and play with gestures, which will help us bring characters to life. Be prepared to get on your feet and perform with the class!

 

 

Who are we when it feels like the world is watching? This course explores how adolescents navigate the intricate process of identity formation in an era dominated by curated profiles and constant online visibility. Drawing from foundational and cutting-edge research in psychology, sociology, and neuroscience, we’ll examine how social media not only affects teenagers’ mental health and self-concepts, but amplifies societal norms, challenges traditional notions of gender, and offers unique opportunities for self-expression. From algorithmic pressures to digital activism, this course dives into the forces shaping adolescent identity in a hyperconnected world. 

 

 

In this engaging Inquiry-Based Math class, we will explore the concept of slope through real-world applications, starting with word problems related to the structure of buildings. By examining how different architectural designs utilize slope, learners will develop a strong foundational understanding of this important mathematical concept. We first investigate the properties of slope through these real-world scenarios before introducing the slope formula, as this approach fosters a deeper understanding and creates a more lasting, meaningful learning experience. By the end of the class, students will be equipped to apply their knowledge of slope to a coordinate plane. Through collaborative discussions and hands-on activities, participants will deepen their comprehension of slope and its significance in both mathematics and everyday life. Join us as we uncover the connections between math and the world around us!

Come experience what it's like to be a Trevor 4th-grade music student! This class provides an introduction to the ukulele, including an overview of its history as well as instruction on beginner-level playing. We will learn how to read ukulele tablature, interpret chord diagrams, practice strumming patterns, and even sing while we play.

In Modern Japanese Literature, students are introduced to some of the major writers and thinkers from a period of over 100 years. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, we examine the struggle for a national identity, as the people attempt to reconcile between centuries of tradition and the desire to become a modern and consequently more Westernized nation. This moves us into the interwar years where Japan feels compelled to prove itself to the West, and on to the postwar years which are fraught with uncertainty, angst, and fear. 

This is where Yukio Mishima’s “Death in Midsummer” (1952) fits in. Written in the last year of America’s occupation of Japan following WWII, this short story captures the aftermath of a fatal accident on a beach in the Izu Peninsula, and explores how the surviving characters deal with their feelings of grief and guilt, as well as the kinds of strategies they use to cope. Mishima deftly draws parallels between the anxiety of the characters and those who survived the atomic bombs at the end of the war. 

Following brief writing to get your thoughts down, and some historical and cultural framing, the majority of the class will be discussion-based. To prepare for this class, you will be asked to read Mishima’s “Death in Midsummer” in advance. 

Did you know that it’s possible to create photographs without using a camera? Are you interested in exploring the relationship between light, chemistry, and photography? This class is an introduction to an early form of photography, which has been used for artistic and scientific purposes for centuries. Photograms are a type of camera-less photography that records the interaction of objects and light on photosensitive paper. We will work with darkroom chemistry to develop photograms that you will be able to take with you at the end of class. Come into the darkroom for the first time, or relive your high school photo class; all experience levels are welcome!

Bubble Sort is one of the simplest sorting algorithms, which works by iteratively comparing and swapping adjacent elements if they are in the wrong order. This approach makes it an excellent tool for introducing the foundational concepts of sorting algorithms, providing a practical demonstration of nested loops and arrays in action. This lesson offers both a theoretical and experiential understanding of Bubble Sort, aligning with key programming fundamentals.

Participants will actively engage in an activity to demonstrate the Bubble Sort algorithm. Each participant will be given an index card with a number. Following the logic of the algorithm, they will compare their numbers with those of adjacent participants and swap places if their numbers are out of order. This process will continue iteratively until all the numbers are arranged in ascending order, visually illustrating the sorting procedure. To explain the concept of swapping values using a temporary variable, we will use a hands-on demonstration involving coffee, water, and an empty glass. This will provide a tangible and memorable example of how temporary storage facilitates the exchange of values in an array.

Programming Language Used: Processing (Java-based)

Renaissance Rivals: The Power and Influence of Genoa, Florence, and Venice 

How did city-states like Genoa, Florence, and Venice rise to dominate Renaissance Europe? In this class, students will dive into the fascinating world of these independent powers, exploring how their control of trade, innovative governance, and cultural achievements transformed the early modern era. Through the analysis of primary and secondary sources, students will uncover the unique traits that made each city-state thrive. The class will also feature a friendly competition where groups will represent these city-states, showcasing their strengths in trade, politics, and the arts. Together, we’ll discover how these hubs of power shaped Europe—and the world. Note: this class will require pre-work and for students to bring a laptop/tablet with them. 

We’ve all been amazed by the sight of a glow stick in the dark of night. What causes this incredible phenomenon? It is called chemiluminescence, which is the emission of light due to a chemical reaction. It has many  applications in real life: from forensics, to diagnostics, to environmental analysis. In this hands-on activity we will learn all about the reaction that causes this amazing event. We will examine ways to change the intensity of the light and the rate of the reaction. We’ll wrap up our exploration by looking at bioluminescence in the natural world—fireflies, bacteria, and marine animals.

During the Revolutionary War, American colonists fought for the right to be represented. In the decades that followed their victory, they found themselves arrayed for battle again. Trading their flintlocks for fiery speeches and pointed prose, the Founding Fathers set about debating the fine points of democracy. Just how representative would their new republic be?

In this lesson, we will analyze arguments about the ideal design for the House of Representatives, the so-called “People’s House.” We will read floor speeches and failed constitutional amendments from Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and others, observing that they run the gamut from the elitist to the populist. Through our investigation, we will see how and why our system took the form it did — for better and for worse — and how easily things could have played out differently.

As the Lunar New Year approaches, this special Chinese language class will explore the rich traditions of the holiday, with a focus on the Year of the Snake. The class will begin with a brief introduction to the legends of the snake and its significance in Chinese culture, followed by learning key Chinese New Year blessings. Next, we will dive into the art of Chinese calligraphy, practicing brush techniques to write meaningful characters. For a hands-on project, each participant will combine calligraphy with printmaking to create a unique artwork featuring a snake design and traditional Chinese writing, beautifully blending language learning with cultural artistry.