(10/11/12. Prerequisite: BioChemistry & BioConnections or departmental permission)  This upper-level biology class explores the complexity of human physiology. Students will be asked to use visual arts and graphic design skills to document many aspects of the mystery and wonder of the human body systems. The course will involve independent research on the systems of students’ choosing, using visual and creative ways to present the information they find. Students will research one of the body systems in its entirety or in detail. The systems to be considered are the nervous, the cardiovascular, the respiratory, the skeletal, the endocrine and muscle, or the digestive, reproductive, and lymphatic systems. Students are required to think independently and devise a final project of their own design that incorporates very clear scientific understanding of the body systems and their form and function.

(required 9th grade, or by placement) In this required course, students will learn the basic biochemistry that drives life. Content will focus on how atoms build the macromolecules that make up the cell, the nature of chemical reactions, and how specific reactions like photosynthesis and cellular respiration power life. Students will also study the structure of the cell and the function of the subcellular organelles. Statistical analysis will be introduced as a tool to draw conclusions from data. Students will demonstrate their learning through activities such as structured experiments, modeling, and other summative assessments in various forms. The course will provide students with content and skill foundations for their future work in biology.

(9) In this required course, students will examine the structures and processes of the cell and human body. The course will investigate body functions from the micro to the macro level, examining how the activity of genes leads to cell specialization in organs and body systems. Our major themes, sickle cell anemia and diabetes, will provide depth and context to our work, emphasizing connections between biology and issues of social justice and equity. Students will experience the process and practice of scientific research through an in‑depth, self-directed research project, which will culminate in a public poster symposium. Skills in dissection and microscopy will be a component of this course. Students will demonstrate their learning through activities such as structured experiments, modeling, a poster symposium, and other summative assessments in various forms. This course will expand on the content of BioChemistry to consider nested levels of organization and complexity in biology. Students will leave with the ability to anticipate the interplay between biology and the larger social context.

(11/12 Prerequisite: BioChemistry and BioConnections or departmental permission ) Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States and this disease affects many families. The profound impact of cancer on society has been the driving force behind major research advances and led to a better understanding of cell biology. Understanding the basic biology of cancer and its impact on the human body has led to more effective treatments, enhanced detection methods, and the development of prevention strategies. This course will provide an overview of the biology of cancer. The course will focus on the genetic and molecular basis of cancer. We will explore the role of mutations in cancer cells and how they lead to the deregulation of essential biological processes such as cell division, programmed cell death, and differentiation. We will also examine the interface of cancer and medicine. Classical treatment methods will be compared with newer treatment modalities, such as targeted therapies. The challenges associated with diagnosing cancers, preventing cancers, and curing cancers will also be discussed in light of current technological advances such as genomics and bio‑informatics.

(11/12 Prerequisite: Physics I: Mechanics with a B- or higher and completion or concurrent enrollment in Calculus A/B) An extension of Mechanics I, this course expands previously established models of kinematics, forces, and energy to explore the effects of changing variables and superposition. Our focus on understanding how the universe behaves through the lens of mathematics is accomplished by breaking phenomena down into smaller and simpler bits to discover the effects of those bits on a macroscopic scale. In doing so, we will no longer ignore air resistance and friction and instead investigate non-constant forces and objects with irregular mass distribution.

(10-12 Prerequisite: Completion of STEAM: Chemistry or permission from the department) The goal of this class is to examine the chemical and physical processes required in photography as a medium and learn to deploy these methods to produce captivating and meaningful visuals. We will study the underlying physics and chemistry of photography in a lab setting allowing students to engage with these techniques in a controlled environment prior to their own personal experimentation. Topics we will explore include: optics of camera lenses, the reagents and reactions involved in developing film, photograms, digital modeling and more! During this course, we will seek to answer the following questions: What processes are involved in the production of images and photographs?  How can we apply knowledge of chemistry and physics to further understand and manipulate these processes? How do photographs and images affect the scientific community? Are images, created for clarity in scientific publications, art?

This course is open to students both who have and have not previously completed Chemistry 1.

(10–12; Prerequisite: Completion of STEAM: Chemistry and STEAM: Physics or permission from the department) Oxidation-Reduction reactions and electrochemistry are a very important field of applied chemistry. We will discuss some basic chemical principles and do a series of labs related to the topic. We will ultimately do research on the latest innovations in battery design and then design and build our own devices, considering power, battery life, and the potential for using sustainable materials. No previous chemistry required.

(11/12 Prerequisite: Completion of BioChemistry and BioConnections or permission from the department. Must be taken concurrently with Marine Biology:Environmental Photo) The goal of this class is to give students a field research experience in which they come to understand how to work as a team to conduct experimental studies in marine science. Students will be off campus on Hurricane Island off the coast of Maine, where they will be involved in a variety of new and ongoing projects. They will study the structure of intertidal communities, develop hypotheses, and then implement a research study that will provide baseline data for future work in the area. The students will also study lobster biology and the historic management of the fishery so they can start to look critically at the current state of the Maine lobster industry. In the larval settlement project, students will study organisms that recruit on docks and in the intertidal of Penobscot Bay, and consider the role of invasive species and climate change in affecting biodiversity. Finally, they will learn about the efforts on Hurricane Island to design a sustainable campus and to reduce the carbon footprint. They will help monitor energy use and also learn about various innovative solutions to the problem of living “off the grid.” There is a charge for the off-campus portion of the course.

 

As of 2022, students earn 2 Science and 1 Visual Arts credit for the Marine Biology experience. Students must taken Marine Biology alongside Marine Biology Environmental Photography.

(Prerequisites: Completion of Spanish 3A and permission of the department. This course can be equivalent to Spanish 3B. If students take this course instead of 3B, an elective course will be required to take upon return of the course.)

 

(Prerequisite: A grade of B- or higher in Algebra 2)

(11/12 Prerequisite: Completion of Algebra 2 with a B- or above, STEAM:Physics, or permission from the department) This course covers the material contained in the first half of a basic college-preparatory course: study of the natural laws relating space, time, matter, and energy. Topics include measurement, motion, forces, energy, momentum, and rotation. We want students to understand the behavior of matter, and to become aware of the importance of the physical laws of nature. The approach to the material is highly mathematical. Students will use spreadsheets and graphing programs to analyze laboratory data. Students with a strong interest in science should take some precalculus and chemistry before Physics 1.

(11/12 Prerequisite: Physics 1:Mechanics or permission from department) Electricity is the basis of much of modern society, since it is easily transportable over long distances and can be made to do a wide variety of tasks including heating, lighting, computing, moving cars, creating sparks, etc. Magnetism, in comparison, seems like more of a curiosity. In this course, we will see how electricity and magnetism are just different manifestations of the same force, and how one can create the other. Our analysis of electricity will begin with point charges and their interactions and move on to circuits and their components (resistors, capacitors, etc). We will also discuss the transmission of electromagnetic energy in the form of waves (radio, visible light, etc).

How have water and humanity intersected around the world? How do we tell stories about water? Using an interdisciplinary and place-based lens, this double block integrated course will explore and document the science and ethics behind water scarcity and access, the chemistry and ecology of water systems, and the role water plays in the literature of populations around the world. Students will explore using primary documents, experiential hands-on activities, field trips, and documentaries. Students will also study water rights, investigative journalism related to water access, and literary representations and celebrations of water as a key resource. The course will start locally, broadening to a national and then international scope. The course will culminate in a final independent project that will employ both writing skills and research skills, and will present on their findings to their peers at CSW. This course will confer 1 Science and 1 English credit upon completion.