Buxton School - Williamstown, Massachusetts

(full year but can be taken for one semester)
This elective course is made up of two semester-long courses that can be taken independently of each other, but are designed to go together for the year. Class work for both semesters centers around regular individual readings of current articles and then presentations by the students to the rest of the group on a weekly basis. This seminar-style requires that everyone be extremely responsible about meeting their individual work expectations. There are also several papers assigned throughout the year, usually two in the fall, one in the winter, and two in the spring term. The class will involve some hands-on labs and then more extensive field work is included during a trip to Cape Cod in the spring.

Fall:  Oceanography
The fall semester will look at the ocean in depth as a worldwide ecosystem, and as a subject that is studied using all the various fields of science. The course will begin with the physics and chemistry of the world’s seas: salt water components, currents, tides, tsunamis (“tidal” waves), the Gulf Stream, and the El Niño-type weather patterns that are caused by the relationships of wind and water. Then it will focus on the structures of the ocean basins: the ocean floor, undersea volcanos and deep sea vents, and the edges of the sea. From geology, this will lead into studying the different ecosystems and environments in the ocean: the deep sea, the polar seas, rocky and sandy shores, coral reefs, mangrove swamps and salt marshes, and the open ocean itself.

Winter/Spring:  Marine Biology
In January the course will move into a survey of marine organisms, looking particularly at the adaptations that creatures make for life in the oceans. It will start with the very small—the viruses and bacteria present in the seas —and move on to the seaweeds and invertebrate organisms. In the spring term we will study the marine vertebrates—fish, sea turtles, seabirds, marine mammals—focusing on animal behavior and ending with a special concentration on the cetaceans (whales and dolphins). Along the way many of the topics will address various environmental issues and discuss human use and development of the ocean’s resources.

(full year but can be taken for one semester)
This elective will cover the biological world of the oceans, looking at species within the context of their various environments. In the first semester we will focus on the coasts:  rocky and sandy shores, kelp forests, salt marshes, mangroves and estuaries. In the second semester we will move offshore to study shallow seas, coral reefs, open water, deep water and finally the polar seas. We will be studying all types of organisms, from the bacteria around hydrothermal vents to the Florida Bay seagrass beds to the great whales. The course looks particularly at the adaptations that organisms make for life in the oceans. Along the way many of the topics will address various environmental issues and discuss human use and development of the ocean’s resources.

Class work for this course centers around regular individual readings of current articles and then presentations by the students to the rest of the group on a weekly basis. This seminar-style class requires that everyone be extremely responsible about meeting their individual work expectations. There are several papers assigned over the semester. The class will involve some hands-on labs and some extra evening meetings; more extensive field work is conducted during a trip to the coast in the spring.

(one semester)
Geology is the youngest of the major sciences and as such, there is still a great deal left to be learned about the world around us. This semester course will delve into both the details and the overall processes of geology, seeking to understand the underpinnings of global issues like the Gulf oil spill and glacial melting, as well as more local topics such as Buxton’s surroundings of mountains and marble quarries. The term will begin with learning how to identify mineral and rock types. Then we will investigate plate tectonics as the driving force behind mountain-building, volcanos and earthquakes. Finally we will look at the effects of wind, water and ice in creating mudslides, sinkholes, carved formations, glaciers, and the unique environments found in the depths of caves. Regular labs as well as a number of field trips during afternoons and weekends will provide hands-on experience. Our readings will include geological histories, essays and current articles. In addition, the work of the course will involve presentations, papers and a couple of independent projects.

(one semester)
For sophomores to seniors, this science elective will introduce several fields of research that pertain to the study of sports and the human body. We will examine the broad history of athletic competition and sports play with an eye to the ultimate causes of this universal cultural phenomenon. We will study the human body and its development and adaptability as an organism, focusing on the systems most relevant to the support of athletic endeavors. We will explore sports psychology and the social and political ramifications of sports culture. We might even play some sports games. This course has biology as a prerequisite, and will deal with topics pertaining to physics and chemistry as well.

(one semester)
Environmental Studies is an interdisciplinary field that covers the many ways in which our species, Homo sapiens, interacts with the living community and the nonliving environment of our planet. We will touch on the major concepts of environmental studies, including conservation of species, climate change, pollution, resource depletion, population growth, etc. We will also attempt to bring the focus back to our local environment: that of the Buxton campus and of the surrounding geographical area, in an attempt to address the sustainability of our own lives and to find creative ways to make a positive impact. In short, we’ll be thinking globally and acting locally. The course will have a significant reading component, numerous weekend field trips, and a major project at the end of the course. There is also recommended reading, titled Collapse, by anthropologist Jared Diamond. The course is limited to students who have completed biology.

(one semester)
The class will be ordered somewhat chronologically. We will start with historical astronomy: Stonehenge, the Mayan calendar, Chinese & Egyptian astronomy, Lakota stone medicine wheels, etc. Then we will address the Copernican sun-centered vs. earth-centered controversy of the 1600s. The middle of the semester will involve studying stars, our solar system and others, and the universe, including Einstein’s theories of relativity. We will end the spring looking at some of the current questions in astronomy: dark matter, extra-solar planets, wormholes and the like.
There will be both papers and projects along with readings and several class presentations. Readings will be primarily from current articles rather than a textbook. We will often use computer-based lab work. Students can expect extra “lab time” in the evenings most weeks, either for telescope work or for viewing science documentaries.

(one semester)
This course is a general introduction to both the structures and topics of geology. Geology is one of the newest of the “classical” sciences, and as such there is a great deal of current research that is expanding the body of knowledge. The term begins with learning to identify mineral and rock types. Using those fundamentals, we move on to studying plate tectonics, and the relationship to both earthquakes and volcanos. We will also look at the effects of water, wind and ice, including the formation and unique environments of caves. Lab work is included on a regular basis and involves both hands-on experience and mapping projects. In addition to the four class periods each week, students are expected to spend some time beyond the class day, during afternoons, evenings or weekends, for field trips and science documentaries. The class involves reading geological histories and essays, current articles and a text for background material. In addition to regular reading, there are several short papers and a couple of independent projects.

(full year)
This course is designed to prepare students for college-level physics as well as to let them learn and work with the laws of the world around them. The fall term focuses on the fundamentals of Newtonian mechanics, work, and energy. The winter moves on to the properties of waves, including sound and light, optics, and electro-magnetism. The spring concludes with a survey of modern physics: astronomy, relativity, and quantum mechanics. Due to the importance of mathematical descriptions in all these topics, Algebra II is a prerequisite for physics.

Weekly labs allow students to make direct connections between theory and practice and to develop experimental procedures. Students also complete several independent or joint projects throughout the year with emphasis on exploration and design, which may be presented during Spring Arts Weekend.

(full year)
This college-preparatory laboratory science is primarily for juniors and seniors. Topics covered include atomic theory, phase changes, origins and significance of the periodic chart, quantum mechanics, chemical reactions, acid-base relationships, oxidation-reduction principles, and an expanded section on organic chemistry. Whenever possible, discussions are geared to helping students gain an understanding of the principles and mechanics of natural phenomena as well as modern technological advances.

(full year)
In the fall term biology concentrates on the topics of cell biology and human physiology as an introduction to the fundamentals of the subject. All the systems of the body are discussed and explored, including a detailed section on the brain and nervous system. In the winter term, the focus is on genetics, looking into the workings of DNA and genes, and discussing current issues in genetic technology. In the spring, the main topic is evolution, looked at through the lens of the unique organisms that have evolved in island environments, such as the hotspots of the Galapagos, Hawaii and Indonesia. All three terms involve weekly labs and several research papers. The spring term includes an independent research project as well, the results of which are presented at the Spring Arts Weekend. Buxton’s extensive campus and new greenhouse provide excellent opportunities for many of these labs and projects.