Chemistry

Students started by learning about the philosophy of truth, and then exploring how we construct truth using the scientific process through Mystery Tubes. Then, they did a socratic seminar about a reading called "The Relativity of Wrong" by Isaac Asimov, which discusses how science is iterative by nature- we are always a little bit wrong, but we get more right over time. Students then debunked various case studies of "junk science" ranging from pseudoscience to science that has been misconstrued in the media, creating a public service announcement that teaches the public how to interpret science claims for reliability. Finally, they read Cargo Cult Science, in addition to a news article regarding a report from the federal government that had fake and misinterpreted citations of scientific studies. They had a rigorous academic conversation about who owns the truth and how that is affected by the rise of AI and the political polarization of the concept of science.

What's Next? 

After Osprey Block, we will be embarking on an interdisciplinary project around the topic of sustainable materials science. Students will need to learn all about the atom, how atoms bond to form molecules, the structures that are created through bonding, and the basics of chemical reactions for the main product of this project: A proposal for a sustainably constructed greenhouse or outdoor classroom to the AHS Board of Directors. They will need to apply learning of the science behind sustainability, as well as history of materials,  design choices, and creative solutions to constraints in order to convince our board members that their design is the best fit for our school. The hope is to carry on this project to the '26-'27 school year, when students will have the opportunity to aid in the construction of the chosen designs.