MAP Electives

Beyond the traditional required courses such as Global History, Algebra, and Chemistry; Lyons also offers a variety of classes designed to help students obtain the required credits for graduation, deepen their understanding about content covered in their regular classes, experience all the resources our city has to offer, and explore topics that interest them.

Current MAP Classes (electives):

• NYC in Film:  Analyze great films (from old to new) set in New York City. Write critical responses to these films. Learn the language of film. Plan, write, and direct your own documentary. DO NOT expect to just "watch movies." This class is intended to be a college-like exploration of film-making. It's not easy to make your own short film--the final project will be a lot of work, but also a lot of fun!

•  Intro to the Lens:  In this Photography 101 class will introduce students to how to compose, shoot and edit a photograph. Students will read and research works by famous photographers and will travel around the city to create images. Among the assignments students will complete are a research paper, a photo story and a series of portraits of various objects and individuals. Interested students should be prepared to travel at least twice a month.  (Art credit) 

• Business and Baking:  Learn the basics of running a small business, such as accounting, marketing, and management.  Learn how to find recipes and use them to bake with care and precision.  Be prepared to do reading and math every week, related to recipes, measurements, and money.  

• Zoology: The field studies course in zoology is meant to help students make connections with urban wildlife through hands-on experience, research, and exploration of our city. 

• Strength Between Mind & Body: This class introduces students to the imporantce of being present. We will explore exercising our bodies through establishing the mind and body connection. 

• Gears & Gadgets: In our Robotics elective, students explore the world of engineering and coding by designing, building, and programming robots. Through hands-on projects and real-world problem-solving, students learn to collaborate, think critically, and bring technology to life.

• On the Road:  Lace-up your walking shoes! New York City is home to countless fascinating and little-known places. Did you know that it takes about 2,800 steps to cross the Brooklyn Bridge, but that the average American takes only 2,000 to 3,000 steps a day? Have you been to the arch in Grand Central Station that carries whispers across the room? Would you explore the haunted smallpox hospital on Roosevelt Island that was inspired by German castles? In On the Road, we explore NYC's cultural, architectural, and historical landmarks on foot, in literature, and in the news. Each week we will learn about a unique place in our town, then our band of intrepid urban explorers will trek into the field on foot and document what we observe and learn.

• Open Studio is a space for creativity, independence, and artistic growth. This elective gives students dedicated time, materials, and support to pursue personal art projects that matter to them. Whether you're painting, drawing, building, or experimenting with new mediums, Open Studio encourages you to take creative risks, refine your skills, and express yourself in meaningful ways. It’s your art, your vision—just with more time, space, and encouragement to bring it to life.

• Lyons Needs Theater: Welcome to the Lyons’ Needs Theatre Company! Our theatre program is designed to build your presentation skills, develop your voice, improve your memory and increase your confidence. We will answer the question: what words and practices connect actors all over the world? Through games, scene rehearsals, and participation in the Spring productions, you will be on your feet, learning how a professional company works.

• Intro to Sewing and Clothing Sesign: is a hands-on course that introduces students to the art of clothing design and the fundamentals of garment construction. Students will learn how to safely and confidently use a sewing machine, follow commercial patterns, and eventually design patterns of their own. Along the way, they'll explore basic stitching techniques, fabric selection, and the creative process behind bringing an idea to life. Whether you're dreaming of fashion design or just curious about making your own clothes, this course offers the skills and space to create something uniquely yours.

• Photography 101: The goal of this MAP is to bring students together through the art of photography and inspire each other to create and capture images. Through a mixture of group, pair and individual photography activities, students learn to use, compact cameras, expanding their knowledge of how to capture, review and edit images.

• Hands in Clay: This class introduces students to the ancient craft of working with clay. Students will experience hand-building techniques including pinch, coil, and slab. Wheel throwing is introduced with expectations for basic levels of achievement, including cylinder, bowl, and plate forms.

• Foodie Journalism - In this food journalism course students travel the city sampling the foods of different cultures.  Students are encouraged to broaden their culinary horizons and connect cuisine to society and culture. Students learn how to write personal essays and profiles of people in the food industry. We also pay attention to labor and human rights issues, investigating the stories of kitchen workers and delivery people, and the conditions of modern food production. Students document their experiences through writing, photography, blogging, and film. 

• Journalism - The world relies on journalists for information and to hold the people in power accountable. In this course we study the art and discipline of recognizing, distilling, and reporting the news of Lyons Community School with the goal of producing and sustaining a multimedia school news outlet. Students learn how to recognize and develop stories, find sources, and write/film a story in a fair and compelling way.  We sharpen our writing, photography, interviewing, and layout skills while making connections between our experiences and those of the wider world. 

Note: See articles made by the students of Journalism here.

• Language and the Brain - In this linguistics course students examine language as a vital part of culture and social structure while discovering how it reflects and shapes our lives. We first tackle assumptions and myths we hold about language. For example, can animals learn to use language? Do Eskimo languages really have 17 separate words for snow? Is English the hardest language to learn? Do we think in language? Then we explore the components of language (phonemes, morphemes, words, and sentences) and how each plays a role in what we hear as an “accent” or dialect. Thus, students investigate both the structural and cultural functions of human language.

The course employs a multi-disciplinary approach to investigating language behavior and variation in different cultures.

• Spanish for Native Speakers - In this class students explore their own heritage as well as the history, culture and arts of all Spanish-speaking countries and communities around the world.  On most Thursday afternoons we go on field trips to Spanish-speaking neighborhoods, community organizations that serve Spanish-speaking communities and galleries and museums to experience the various cultures of Spanish-speaking communities around the city and the world.