CURRICULUM

In 9th grade English, we will consume modern, young adult novels that tackle the experiences and voices of today’s generation across the United States. These stories will be our springboard to explore a plethora of American perspectives and learn about pressing contemporary issues, allowing us to better understand the world we live in and our place within it. In this course, we'll sharpen our critical thinking skills and learn to express our perspectives effectively. Through ample writing opportunities, we'll refine our ability to articulate our thoughts and engage in meaningful discussions with others. This class will also serve as an orientation to support a successful transition to high school at Burke Mountain Academy, equipping students with the necessary tools to thrive academically and personally. By the end of this journey, the goal is for all students to develop a genuine love for reading, an appreciation for the writing process, and a broader understanding and interest in the world around us.  

Teacher: Alyssa Belcher

English 10 is a tenth-grade level English course focused on developing critical thinking through monumental works of dystopian fiction. These works utilize trends in human psychology, society, and government to produce extreme scenarios that force readers to reflect on their own cultural and moral positioning. For instance, despite being published in 1932, Brave New World provides an insightful perspective on the rise of psychotropic medications and developing genetic engineering technologies. In addition to encouraging students to think critically and philosophically, these novels will be used as springboards for developing advanced writing skills through critical essays, research projects, and creative work. Moreover, dystopian novels frequently allude to the literary canon; thus, a secondary goal of this course is to introduce students to the myths, biblical stories, and classic foundational texts that inform great works of art.

Teacher: Jonathan Gerkin

Englishn 11 is an innovative course intended to help upperclassmen prepare for the rigors of college writing assignments. During the first trimester, students will read and write about various essays across genres to increase their understanding of academic writing; meanwhile, students will review proper grammar and how to write complex, college-level sentences. During the second and third trimesters, students will write weekly essays in their Google portfolios with constantly varying topics, styles, and points of view. While the second trimester’s writing development will focus on proper organization, the third trimester will focus on developing argumentation skills and personal style. Course writing will be done in collaborative writing workshops using Google Drive; furthermore, the teacher can see live edits to student work and make consistent suggestions and edits. Finally, the third trimester will use the newly developed formal language and writing skills to develop student rhetoric, presentation, and public speaking skills.

Teacher: Jonathan Gerkin

English 12 is a full-year course that prioritizes long-form creative writing over traditional literary analyses. It also sets aside time in the fall to alleviate the challenges of creating high-quality college applications in an otherwise jam-packed schedule.

In the first trimester, students will enjoy a unit on travel writing. For the final project of the trimester, students will write an extended travel piece of their own. In the second trimester, we will turn our attention to the art of the profile. The reading material for this trimester will largely be profiles written in The New Yorker magazine. Still, since so many wonderful profiles exist in cinematic form, we will incorporate these into our studies. For the final project of the second trimester, students will write an extended profile of a subject of their choosing. Finally, a substantial body of outstanding writing exists on food (e.g., food production, food security, historical cuisines, cuisine as culture, etc.). In the third trimester, we will delve into this. We will also use some entertaining bits and pieces to augment these readings, such as the YouTube show entitled Cooking with Dog. As food generates emotional connections and memories, the final project of the trimester will be some form of extended meditation on some aspect of the subject of food.

Teacher: Tom Bojko

Creative Writing is an advanced literary studies course that introduces students to high-level literature and creative writing styles. The course utilizes a college seminar structure emphasizing discussion, collaboration, and independent writing. While staples in the class have included a folktale unit and a personal narrative based on The Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, this year will also include units on nature writing, modernism, journalism, and a philosophical literature unit. Throughout the year, students will learn to examine different writing styles in hopes of honing their creative style.

Teacher: Jonathan Gerkin

The eighth-grade Social Studies class will center around a guiding theme of American perspectives. The rich history of the United States is teeming with events and people who have contributed to the great nation we reside in today. This course will focus on highlighting lesser-explored events and people of American history. It will augment and enhance the content taught in English by analyzing and exploring a corresponding phenomenon in depth.

Teacher: Matt Johnson

This full year course is a comprehensive survey intended to expose students to the major themes and events of modern World History including the interaction between humans and the environment, cultural and intellectual developments, social and political organization and economic transformations.  The course is organized chronologically, beginning with the hunting and gathering period and closing with the tumultuous global changes wrought by European colonialism in the Americas.  Formal assessments include unit tests, quizzes, short analytical essays, formal debates, and projects.

Teacher: Dave Chamberlain

This full-year course is a comprehensive survey intended to expose students to American history's major themes and events. The course will be organized chronologically, beginning with the initial encounters between Europeans and Native peoples and closing with the end of the Cold War and the emergence of the U.S. as the lone superpower. While much of the course will be devoted to familiarizing students with American history's significant concepts, figures, and events, emphasis will also be placed on developing effective writing skills and participating meaningfully in classroom discussions. Throughout the course, I will emphasize that history is a practical or "usable" discipline. Rather than focusing on a litany of names and dates, I will attempt to show students that history is a way of seeing, synthesizing, and analyzing the world that has the potential to inform and contextualize our understanding of the present.  Formal assessments include unit tests, projects, formal debates, and short analytical essays. We will use American Yawp, a free online textbook, throughout the year as our primary reader. Supplemental readings will also be distributed each week, including primary source documents. We will also rely on two monographs, historical works that examine a specific topic or period in American history, to inform our discussion and analysis. 

Teacher: Dave Chamberlain

This full-year course is a comprehensive survey intended to expose students to the major themes and events of Modern World History, giving unity to this broad topic through the four themes of interaction between humans and the environment, cultural and intellectual developments, social and political organization, and economic transformations. The course is organized chronologically, beginning with the Age of Absolutism and closing with the calamity of World War II and the Cold War. Formal assessments include unit tests, quizzes, short analytical essays, formal debates, and projects.  

Teacher: Dave Chamberlain

Algebra I is a course that introduces students to strategies to enable them to simplify expressions, solve algebraic equations, and graph equations and inequalities before moving on to factoring polynomials and working with quadratic equations. Through sustained practice in these concepts, students will reinforce their understanding of fractions, decimals, and square roots and basic computation skills. Students will work on problem-solving skills to build the foundation necessary to tackle more complex mathematics concepts in future classes. During the first trimester, students will work with algebraic expressions, equations, and functions - gradually working with more complex equations. During the second trimester, students will work with linear equations and inequalities, solving and graphing these systems. Students will also learn to factor polynomials through trial and error and recognizing patterns. The third trimester focuses on more factoring skills and working with quadratic equations. Students can expect weekly skill quizzes to assess their learning.

Teacher: Tom Forster

Geometry is a spatial mathematics class that aims to understand the dimensionality and representation of shapes in space. The concepts in class build over time, beginning with basic points and lines, progressing to angles and parallel lines, two-dimensional polygons, and ultimately three-dimensional shapes. Students will explore plane and solid geometric figures while investigating topics such as congruence, similarity, length, perimeter, and area. Constructions will enable students to travel between worded descriptions of problems, symbolic notation, and visual representations of ideas. To keep algebraic skills fresh, algebra concepts are interwoven, including the relationship between parallel and perpendicular lines, working in a coordinate plane, equations of circles, data analysis, and simplifying radicals. By working through formal proofs, students will use logic to understand the progression from postulates and definitions to complex theorems. 

Teacher: Kenyon Fatt

This course is designed to advance students' understanding and application of algebra skills. Topics covered include a brief review of first-degree equations and an in-depth study of higher-power polynomials, rational, radical, exponential, and logarithmic functions. Particular attention is given to the relationship between functions and their graphs. Central to the course is developing mathematical modeling and problem-solving skills; students will learn techniques and strategies to craft conceptually and procedurally fluent responses to mathematical prompts. Successful completion of this course enables students to move on to Precalculus.

Teacher: Britta Milks

This course is designed to further student preparation for calculus by delving deeper into the study of algebra and geometry concepts. Emphasis will be placed on functions that model dynamic phenomena, such as linear and quadratic functions, polynomials, exponential and logarithmic functions, and rational functions. Additional topics include an in-depth analysis of trigonometry, an introduction to polar and parametric equations, and a brief study of sequences and series. Time permitting, students will embark on an exploration of matrices and conic sections, as well as a brief introduction to calculus concepts. Throughout each unit, students will be encouraged to think and reason abstractly, demonstrate conceptual and procedural fluency of topics, communicate and model solutions clearly, and evaluate the validity of their conclusions. Successful completion of this course enables students to move on to a Calculus I course.

Teacher: Britta Milks

This course is equivalent to a first-semester introductory college calculus course covering differential and integral calculus. Students will study the limits of functions, continuity, derivatives, and applications of the derivative. As part of integral calculus, students will examine the definite integral as a limit of Riemann sums, the area under a curve, the area between two curves, the volume of solids, solutions to differential equations, integration by substitution, and various real-life applications related to economics, biological, and physical situations. Throughout the course, students will build their understanding of mathematical modeling to use functions and data to model real-world situations. Completing this class enables students to move on to more advanced coursework in calculus.

Teacher: Britta Milks

This comprehensive course covers advanced integration techniques and applications for single variable functions. Students will extend their knowledge of integration from Calculus I to include integration by parts, trigonometric substitution, and improper integrals. Applications of differentiation and integration will extend to parametric equations and equations defined in polar coordinates. An in-depth study of sequences and series will complete the course with emphasis placed on tests for convergence and divergence, power series, Mclaurin and Taylor series, and the interval and radius of convergence. Successful completion of this class enables students to move on to more advanced mathematical coursework such as Multivariable Calculus, Differential Equations, or Linear Algebra.

Teacher: Britta Milks

The Econometrics course is designed to introduce the tools and principles essential for estimating and testing economic and statistical relationships. These methods are widely applicable across various disciplines, including accounting, finance, marketing, management, and social sciences. Throughout the course, students will develop an understanding of data collection, analysis, and visualization, with a specific focus on economic and financial systems. To facilitate the learning process, students will utilize tools such as Google Sheets, CODAP, and RStudio to explore statistical and algebraic approaches to working with data and further enhance their understanding of econometrics principles.

By the end of the course, students will possess the knowledge and skills to navigate the intricacies of data analysis effectively. They will also be able to apply fundamental economic theories to real-world fiscal decisions undertaken by governments, businesses, and individuals. By engaging in research, discussions, and presentations, students will have opportunities to interpret and effectively communicate their findings. Using these analytical skills, students should leave the Econometrics course with a solid foundation in applying economic theory and be empowered to make informed decisions throughout life.

Teacher: Duncan Barnes

This biology course is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the fundamental principles of biology through a combination of theoretical instruction and practical application. Throughout the year, students will explore scientific methods, ecology, matter and energy, cellular biology, heredity, genetic variation, taxonomy, and the diversity of life forms, including prokaryotes, viruses, and eukaryotes. Emphasis will be placed on developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills through hands-on labs, projects, and fieldwork. Students will also engage in scientific approaches, explore the interconnectedness of organisms within ecosystems, understand the molecular basis of life, and investigate the vast diversity of life on Earth.

Teacher: Duncan Barnes

Anatomy and Physiology is an introduction to the anatomy, structure, and physiology or the functions of the human body. Building on concepts from biology, students take a tour through the body, learning about the workings of each organ system. A theme of the course will be homeostasis, or the stable internal environment of the body, and the class will investigate what homeostasis means for each organ system and what happens when that balance is lost. The first trimester will open with an introduction to homeostasis and the nervous system before exploring the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. The second trimester will be focused on the immune, skeletal, and muscular systems.

In contrast, the third trimester will begin with a more robust look at the nervous system and then finish the course exploring the digestive and endocrine systems. Throughout the course, each body system will be assessed through a sports science lens, which will connect the material learned in the course to the training demands of a ski racer. Assessments in this course include tests and quizzes, lab activities, and research projects.

Teacher: Ida Sargent

Chemistry is a foundational science course meant to stoke the scientific curiosity of the students at Burke Mountain Academy. The course aims to get students thinking on an atomic level and gain a basic understanding of the intermolecular forces occurring all around us every day. Students will learn about a breadth of topics, including atomic structure, molecular and ionic structure, intermolecular forces, chemical reactions, acids and bases, thermodynamics, and an introduction to biochemistry.  The Chemistry class also instills in students a strong understanding of the scientific method, which they will implement through their experimental design, testing, and revision. Lastly, students will be introduced to higher academic practices through the reading and interpreting of academic journal articles and the latest scientific discoveries.

Teacher: Kenyon Fatt

This physics course is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the fundamental principles of physics through a combination of theoretical instruction and practical application. Throughout the year, students will explore kinematics, statics and dynamics, work and energy, linear momentum, electrostatics, magnetism, and electromagnetism. Emphasis will be placed on developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills through hands-on labs, projects, and coding with Python.

Teacher: Duncan Barnes

The Environmental Science course aims to foster student engagement with the scientific and socio-economic principles, concepts, and methodologies essential for comprehending the interrelationships within the natural world and between the natural world and human society. Through this course, students will develop the skills to identify and analyze environmental issues, both natural and anthropogenic, evaluate associated risks, and explore alternative solutions for resolution and prevention. Environmental studies is an interdisciplinary field encompassing diverse topics such as economics, sociology, ethics, geology, geography, biology, ecology, and chemistry. Students will delve into local, regional, national, and international environmental concerns within each unit by examining case studies, utilizing media resources, and drawing from personal experiences. Additionally, students are required to collect, analyze, and interpret data and present their findings through detailed reports. Upon completion of the course, students will possess a comprehensive understanding of environmental issues and the necessary tools to actively participate as engaged citizens. They will be equipped to initiate meaningful discussions on environmental concerns at the community, national, and global levels.

Teacher: Duncan Barnes