Class I

By becoming naturalists, Class I students learn to observe their natural surroundings and gain an appreciation for the interconnectedness of all organisms. Students learn to make and record observations using words, numbers, and drawings, as they keep a year-long nature journal. By tracking local ecosystems over time, students observe the changes that take place and collect data that may contribute to citizen science efforts. Students explore aspects of ecology as well as the classification and diversity of major groups of organisms with an emphasis on comparing and contrasting organismal body plans. Students undertake a deep dive into environmental justice and access to green spaces, examining case studies of well-known female naturalists.

Class II

In Class II Science students undertake a guided inquiry of the human body starting at the cellular level and working up in scale to the systems level. Through many laboratory, engineering, and modeling exercises, students develop a rich and hands-on understanding of how the digestive, respiratory, circulatory, and musculoskeletal systems connect and interact to keep us alive. Basic Mendelian genetics are also introduced so students can understand how traits are inherited. In the spring, students conduct independent research on a human body topic to present to their peers in a variety of different ways.

Class III

Students explore the nature of science by examining “how science works” in the context of case studies involving major moments in the history of science. Through inquiry-based experimentation and modeling, students are exposed to a range of topics in earth and life science including basic astronomy, geologic time, the earth’s interior, plate tectonics, seismology, evolution by natural selection, the factors that determine global climate, and the evidence for its change. Students build an understanding of concepts, solve problems, and apply their knowledge to new situations. Students learn to demonstrate their understanding through the use of concept maps and the Claim, Evidence, Reasoning (CER) model for written explanations.

Class IV

Class IV Science is a laboratory-based course in which students develop an understanding of the foundations of physical science. Practicing laboratory skills, solving problems during experiments, collecting and analyzing data, and writing laboratory reports are major learning goals of the course. Students use their understanding of properties of matter in a collaborative exercise in which they separate and analyze the composition of an unknown mixture. Finally, students design and conduct an independent investigation and present their results in a scientific poster as a culmination of their laboratory experiences.