Location: Folsom
Day & Time: Wednesday 9:00-10:10
Grade: 7th-12th
Mentor: Heather Lerwill
Email: heatherlerwill@gmail.com
 
Why People Do Weird Things (Psychology)

This engaging psychology course explores why people think, feel, and behave the way they do. Students will study foundational topics in psychology, including personality, emotions, decision-making, social behavior, memory, and cognitive biases.
 
The class uses hands-on activities, experiments, and personality assessments to help students better understand themselves and others. Students will take simplified personality tests, analyze behavior in real-world scenarios, and explore how factors such as peer pressure, advertising, and emotions influence human behavior. The course emphasizes observation, critical thinking, and understanding human behavior without judgment.
 
Outcomes:
Students will develop a basic understanding of psychological principles and how they apply to everyday life. They will improve critical thinking skills, learn to observe behavior objectively, and gain insight into personality and social dynamics. Students will also build confidence in analyzing situations, participating in discussions, and reflecting on their own behavior and decision-making.
 
Class Activities:
Personality tests and reflection activities
Behavior experiments and observation exercises
Scenario analysis and case studies (“Why did they do that?”)
Group discussions and interactive demonstrations
Creative projects and a final psychology experiment or presentation
 
Materials:
Materials will be provided. Occasional printed materials or online research may be required for projects. It would be beneficial but not required to bring a laptop to every class.

All classes are full-year classes. Students enrolled in a Fall Semester class will automatically enroll for the Spring Semester in December to ensure their place in the class. Pricing is per semester.