New 9th Grade Curriculum Off to a Good Start

Humans in the Natural World is a new course for 9th graders that blends science, English, and the social sciences of history, economics, and geography into a coherent whole rather than presenting material germane to these disciplines in vertical slices or "silos" many educators are coming to view as more convenient to scheduling and score keeping than they are to learning. Part of the beauty of independent schools is the freedom to change the curriculum when it becomes increasingly obvious that there are better ways to educate young minds. Humans in the Natural World (HNW) is one such change.

On Parent's Weekend, Rory '16, invited his mom to his HNW class. Classes were shortened to allow all of them to be presented, so there was only enough time to tour students' land plots where they are learning, among other things, the scientific art of observation. Here's what students were instructed to do:

HNW teacher, Zoe Parker (with paper and fog horn to call everyone back in time for lunch), led students and parents to the forest behind campus where the land plots are located.	Rory '16 shows his mom where the corners of his plot are flagged and the geological features that define the space.
The macro observation is that this fallen tree has sprouted a form of mushrooms living in a colony of sorts.	On the micro level, the colony of fungi become unique individuals that occur in smaller clusters. But why are they here?
What looks like a mat of moss from standing height morphs into miniature fern-like structures at the micro level. Can the pH of forest soil be predicted by the type of plants that thrive in it?	Isabel '16 playfully reminds Rory to watch his back when he's making micro observations. You just never know what's sneaking up on you while you're focused on other things.