Big Course: Year 3

And onwards we go!

Welcome to Year 3!

As always, we have two options:

  1. Take the lessons live (as a seminar or webinar)

  2. Get the recorded lessons every Friday (via Thinkific) and go at your own pace

 

From our inbox

“...thank you for a beautiful year of learning in our home...
I was so happy to hear the silence of [my daughter’s] rapt attention devolving into one-sided giggles... well into the evening...

As an idealistic homeschool parent, I want my kiddos’ lives to be brimming with inspiration and passion for science and literature, art, history and all the et cetera. As a real-life human, resources are limited.

And so THANK YOU thank you for bringing the ideas and the wonder directly to them. Our lives are richer for the work that you do. ”
— Lesley K.

The six topics

Topic 13:
Toasters are Weird

 
 

Once upon a time, we learned to harness arcane magic — and we used it to build kitchen appliances

What exactly is going on when a toaster makes heat? Why are we able to do so many magical things just by sticking two metal prongs into the wall? What makes water come out of your sink if there aren’t any pumps in your house? And what can refrigerators tell us about the ultimate fate of the universe?

 

  • How does a toaster turn bread into toast?

    Of course this sounds simple, but in order to answer it, you’ll need to understand what electricity actually is, and why it turns into heat. By the end, you’ll understand why you shouldn’t stick a fork into a toaster – especially if you live in Europe.

  • What happens when you turn on a faucet?

    Why does it take so long for your water to warm up? And why in some homes is the water clear, but in others, it’s frothy?

  • Why do motors spin?

    What is the magic they contain? And why is motor magic so important for all the other wonders that happen in the kitchen?

  • How do we make a fridge cold?

    We’ll talk about how your fridge is like an accordion, and explore what it can tell us about how the universe might die.

  • How does a microwave heat food… but doesn’t get hot?

    Why do people say you shouldn’t microwave metal? And are they safe?

Topic 14:
Ice Cream is Weird

 
 

In which we learn to taste what we’re tasting

What makes ice cream different from cream-that-froze? You’ll learn about the chemistry of water, fat, sugar, and proteins and how they work together to make ice cream. You’ll use this knowledge to make a different kind of ice cream every week. Plus, we’ll tell you about the secret ingredient that’s vital for ice cream’s wonderful texture. You won’t find it by reading the label, even though it makes up more than 50% of the volume in some ice cream!

 

  • .

Topic 15:

Mouths are Weird

 
 

In which we go AHHHHHH and pay attention

Your mouth is more than just another body part. It’s one of the most ancient body parts in the animal kingdom. Animals need to eat, and nearly all of them do it with their mouths. We’ll talk about the ancient tricks that helped us find food safely, and the newer tricks that helped us build civilization.

 

Topic 16:
Hills are Weird

 
 

In which we ask, “Why isn’t the Earth flat?”

The Earth is weirdly not-flat. No, not that kind of flat Earth. What I mean is: why do we still have hills? Shouldn’t they all have been smooshed flat by gravity or erosion or something? We’ll talk about the powerful forces that shape the terrain, preventing most of the world from being as flat as Florida.

 

Topic 17:
Viruses are Weird

 
 

Viruses are the biological world’s equivalent of the monster from a horror movie. They subvert your cell’s machinery and use it to make more of themselves. Sometimes they lurk quietly in your DNA, just waiting for you to let your guard down. We’ll explain how they work, what you can do to protect yourself, and how they might save us all.

 

Topic 18:
Evolution is Weird

 
 

You are a part of the ongoing and epic story of life on Earth. We’ll find some of that ancient story written in our own genes. We’ll find kinship, not just with our close relatives, but with everything from tulip trees to tuberculosis. We’ll ask: where did we come from, how did we get here, and where are we going?

 

Watch an open house

Year 3 FAQ

  • Probably! We design our lessons to link up together. That said, you could do the live lessons of this year AND blast through Year 1's recordings on your own.

  • In Year 1, we aimed for ages 8–15; in Year 2, we're aiming for 9–16.

    But we have some kids older and younger than that, too. (Sometimes adults sign up for themselves!)

  • Usually a bit more than 90 minutes in total, broken up into 20–30 minute chunks.

  • For as long as your subscription lasts.

  • Usually just a notebook — we recommended a dotted one, like this or this. We'll let you know when you'll need additional materials (usually it's stuff lying around the house).

  • Actually, these are the same thing as the live webinar — just lightly edited for your viewing pleasure.

  • Quite a few: see our Discounts page.

  • We can try! See our “help us become a vendor” page.

  • Loads of people! See “Why You Might Hate Us.” (But remember our Ridiculous Guarantee.)

  • Feel free to use it with everyone in your family! (You don’t need to purchase it multiple times.)