Integrated Studies

Synapse 9 • Full Year

Synapse 9 integrates Science and Humanities, allowing students to engage with ideas and topics that combine the subjects while making connections, working with others, and communicating effectively. Students will learn to use technology as a tool to access information, create products, and express ideas. Synapse will center around focus questions as students gain foundational thinking and performance skills.

Themes:

  • Revolution: Scientific, Atomic, Political, Technological.

  • Evolution: Scientific, Social, War

  • Innovation

  • Global Issues

Indicators Addressed:

  • ELA 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e, 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 3a, 3b, 3c, 4a, 4b, 5a, 6a, 6b

  • Science 1b,1c, 4b, 4c, 4d, 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e

  • Global Citizenship: 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 2a, 2b, 2c, 5a, 5b

Synapse 10 • Full Year

Synapse 10 combines Science and Humanities, allowing students to engage with ideas and topics that combine the subjects, making connections, working with others, and communicating effectively. Students will learn to use technology as a tool to access information, create products, and express ideas. They will have opportunities to pursue their interests and invest personally in their learning.

Themes:

  • Human Impact on the Bioshpere

  • Identity and Genetics

  • WWII and Holocaust

  • Survival

  • What is Truth?

  • Your Turn to Discover

Indicators Addressed:

  • ELA 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e, 2a, 2b, 2d, 3a, 3b, 3c, 4a, 4b, 5a, 6a, 6b

  • Science: 1b, 1c, 2a, 2c, 2d, 3d, 4a, 4c, 4d, 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e

  • Global Citizenship: 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 2a, 2b, 2c, 3a, 3b, 5a, 5b

Bioethics • Fall

Team taught by Joanna Fowler and Julie Shedd; Cross listed in ELA and Science sections.

Bioethics will allow students to delve into a variety of controversial issues in society. Students will focus on issues through the lense of current scientific research, while also focusing on societal influences in the making of ethical decisions. In examining the morality of situations, students will formulate arguments based on scientific research, paying particular attention to supporting evidence. In addition, students will include in their arguments, influences that are more difficult to quantify, such as background, personal experience, and religion. Students will also study literature, investigating how authors make connections to science and civilization and how science influences culture.

Indicators Addressed:

  • ELA: 1a, 1b, 1c, 2a, 2b, 2d, 3a, 3b, 3c, 4a, 4b, 5a, 6a, 6b

  • Science 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e

Independent Projects • Fall or Spring

This class can be flexible, depending on the needs of the student. Some students will design independent projects focused on an area of interest that demonstrate required proficiencies. With the instructor's help, students will use LiFT to identify proficiencies needed for graduation that they can address through their projects.

Indicators to be addressed: TBD by student and teacher

Indicators Addressed:

  • ELA:

  • Science:

  • Global Citizenship:

Renaissance • Fall or Spring

Learning happens anytime, anywhere. Choose what YOU want to learn based on YOUR interests. Personalized learning experiences are an option for ALL high school students.


Renaissance learning experiences can be:

  • Individualized studies

      • in-school; out of school

      • academic; non-academic

      • project-based or not

      • integrated or not

      • with a mentor or not

  • Out-of-school private lessons (dance, instruments, language,e,tc.)

  • Internships

  • School-to-work opportunities

  • Service learning projects (not part of scheduled classes)

  • Travel abroad

  • 2021 - 22 Small group learning experiences (go to Renaissance page)


Not sure what you can do?

Check out this list of Renaissance Personalized Learning Experiences Since 1999


Indicators addressed through Renaissance can meet those required for graduation. The choice is yours.

Climate Change • Fall

The Climate Change learning experience covers:

  • the principles of climate science

  • how we measure and reduce our carbon footprint

  • the effects that climate change has on social-ecological systems

  • clean energy options

  • climate change psychology and education

  • climate justice and action

  • how we can implement solutions and make our communities resilient.

This learning experience will be facilitated by Catherine Lowther, Goddard College faculty. This learning experience will incorporate science, global citizenship and ELA indicators.

Communicating the Hard Stuff • All Year

Do you like to talk with others regardless of race, age, gender, and/or political opinion? Would you like to improve your communication skills and work towards being able to resolve conflicts? If you answered yes or maybe to any of these questions then Communicating the Hard Stuff is right up your alley. We will build community and a safe space to help us talk about issues that are important to us. We will use restorative approaches to create safe space for discussion. Restorative: having the ability to restore health, strength, or a feeling of well-being. Approaches: a way of dealing with something, another way leading to a place.

This learning experience will be facilitated by Melissa, Debra, Ana Lindert-Boyes and Shaunice Nunn.


Hands-on Art History • Semester determined by student interest.

Make your own art are using technical advances, styles and techniques used in various times and places around the world. Facilitated by Betsy Brigham. Students will focus on Visual Art and Global Citizenship proficiencies. Speak with Debra if interested.