trevordayschool

e second major unit of the year, "Anatomy of a Reaction," is a chemistry study. Students investigate the periodic table's organization and its importance. ey then explore different types of chemical reactions, observe the indications that a chemical reaction has occurred, and prove that the Law of Conservation of Mass holds true during chemical reactions. In addition to collecting data via various experiments and hands- on experiences, students learn how to write chemical formulas and equations, and how to balance them. e year's culminating project brings us back to where we started: people. During the last month of school, 8th-grade student design teams interview other members of the community to discover unsolved problems; they then build and display prototypes for their solutions at the year- end Science Expo. e formal name for this process is design thinking. A problem is posed to the students, and, working as a team, they must define and solve it. rough this iterative process, students learn to reframe problems as actionable opportunities. roughout the year, as they engage in design-thinking challenges, 8th graders learn to: appreciate and understand the value of collaboration and feedback; develop a growth mindset; view setbacks and failures as valuable learning moments; develop further empathy; appreciate the value of hard work, persistence, and compromise; and cultivate their out-of-the box thinking. At Trevor, we use this design-thinking process in everything we do—from designing a state-of-the-art facility with geothermal heating, LEED certification, and common spaces, to continuously updating our schedule and auditing our curriculum. Our multitalented science team ensures that a new generation of Trevor students will be equipped to analyze and address those problems we cannot yet foresee. n Science teaches us our role on this planet and reveals the responsibilities we have beyond ourselves. exercising regularly and eating balanced diets. During this unit, students also learn that skin color is a superficial trait that reveals no significant differences between people and that race is a concept without scientific basis. Although pseudoscience has often promoted division, students come to understand that true science tends to reveal the connections between all of us. In the second half of the year, 7th graders broaden their view to grasp the incredible diversity of life. ey learn about ecosystems and explore how organisms interact with each other and their surroundings. Mr. Danenberg shares his passion for environmental issues, and students focus on climate change, investigating the impact that humans have on Earth. ey learn to appreciate the role that science plays in maintaining a healthy planet for future generations. e year culminates with students working in small groups on their Science Expo projects, creating interactive displays on energy-related topics. Students often choose to explore alternative energy sources; they build wind turbines, solar-powered houses, and hydroelectric projects. e first unit of 8th-grade science, "Designer Genes," is a genetics study. After mastering the structure and function of DNA, students explore genetic technologies such as gene therapy to individualize treatment of different types of tumors, forensic science's use of DNA evidence, genetic modification (including its advantages and disadvantages), consumer genetics, gene editing, and the intersection of genetics and athletics. Students visit the Cold Spring Harbor DNA Learning Center each year. Now a facility for scientific research that benefits all people, students also learn about the time when this center was at the forefront of the American eugenics movement. us, students recognize the importance not only of learning science but also of learning the history of science—including what once passed for science but no longer does.

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