Elementary School: The Making of a Super Hero
COGS-90014
2nd Grade–3rd Grade
Embark on the hero's journey, crafting superheroes with real-world influence.
Joseph Campbell was an American writer focused on mythology. His writings spanned the entire spectrum of human experience through which he based his life philosophy on “follow your bliss.” Based on Campbell’s works, students will explore the hero’s journey in literature and the real world. Through video clips, presentations, discussions and group work, participants will learn about the concept of the hero’s journey as described by Campbell. Students will then look at heroes in literature, TV shows, graphic novels and movies. Subsequently, they will learn the attributes of a hero, identify their own “super powers,” and explore how science, technology, psychology and medicine contribute to today’s heroes.
What you'll learn
Students in this course will:
- Explore the hero’s journey in literature and the real world
- Examine superhero stories and their impact across the media
- Create a super hero and a blueprint for their existence
- Learn about superheroes’ journeys including The Odyssey, Harry Potter and more
- Discuss ways that science, technology and medicine make super hero powers more possible
Course Information
Course sessions
Section ID:
Class type:
All class meetings held in-person according to published location, dates and times. Students may be expected to engage with course content online during the published course dates.
Textbooks:
No textbook required.
Policies:
- No refunds after: 6/29/2026
- 1st meeting mandatory
- Early enrollment advised
- No visitors permitted
- Pre-enrollment required
Note:
Schedule:
| Date | Day | Start | End | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7/20/2026 | Mon | 9:00 a.m. | 3:00 p.m. | Room 406, Wangenheim Middle School, 9230 Gold Coast Dr, San Diego |
| 7/21/2026 | Tue | 9:00 a.m. | 3:00 p.m. | Room 406, Wangenheim Middle School, 9230 Gold Coast Dr, San Diego |
| 7/22/2026 | Wed | 9:00 a.m. | 3:00 p.m. | Room 406, Wangenheim Middle School, 9230 Gold Coast Dr, San Diego |
| 7/23/2026 | Thu | 9:00 a.m. | 3:00 p.m. | Room 406, Wangenheim Middle School, 9230 Gold Coast Dr, San Diego |
| 7/24/2026 | Fri | 9:00 a.m. | 3:00 p.m. | Room 406, Wangenheim Middle School, 9230 Gold Coast Dr, San Diego |
Instructor:
Lizeth Cervantes
Ms. Cervantes received her bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley in Political Science with a minor in English. During college, she started tutoring as part of her work-study program. It was then that she realized she enjoyed working with young minds. After college, she worked with Native American Students for over ten years. Currently, she works for a non-profit organization that provides legal education and free legal consultation to the underserved population. In her free time, she is also pursuing a certificate program to become a certified court interpreter.
