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Goals of Midland School’s Science Program


Goals of Midland School’s Science Program
It is the goal of the Science Department to graduate students who are proficient in scientific inquiry using objective questioning and are able to meet the admissions requirements of major colleges and universities. In addition to the core curriculum, advanced courses are offered for interested students according to the interests and talents of students and faculty.

Developing skill in objective questioning involves observation, identifying a question, gathering data using appropriate measurement skills,analyzing and interpreting data, assessing all possible explanations, drawing conclusions, and presenting through oral and written means a finished product showing that students understand the problem in a larger context. In today's world of ever-increasing technology and a glut of information we want students to understand the fundamentals behind the technology and to extract the essential concepts. For example, before using a GPS unit that effortlessly generates a number in mapping exercises, we want students to thoroughly understand how to use contour lines and topography to locate their position. We will not allow technology to substitute for mastery of the task. In their scientific research we will guide students through the vast array of information available towards the sources that are current and of value. Through our curriculum we want students to recognize the interdisciplinary nature of solving problems and to be active participants in class discussion, using analytical skills to make critical commentary.

Course Titles:
• Midland 101 • Chemistry • Biology
• Physics • Geology
• Marine Biology • Water in the West



Geology Class Camps on the Manzana

Laurie Munger took her geology class camping at Midland's property on the Manzana. They were looking at the Manzana Creek's drainage pattern and having a good time crossing the creek 28 times.  Seniors Heather, Libang, and Zhi went.



Geology Class Goes to Mono Lake


Seniors Heather, Libang, Nico and Zhiyuan went to Mono Lake with Laurie Munger on a geological camping trip. They stopped at Fossil Falls, which is a basalt lava flow that was sculpted by the floods of the ancestral Owens River, Panum Crater (pumice and obsidian volcano) next to Mono Lake, Bodie (a mining ghost town), and Convict Lake, to view glacial features and see a metamorphic roof pendant caught in the granitic cirque headwall of the Sierra Nevada Batholith.  Devils Post Pile was closed again due to snow on the road, but they enjoyed the view of the Minarets from a 9,000' scenic overlook instead, and Heather and Libang had a snowball fight. They also hiked into Golden Trout Camp (owned by Thacher School) located above Lone Pine.  The camp is at 10,000' and only a 6 mile round-trip from the trailhead.  See more photos from the trip.


Marine Biology Class Goes Whale Watching


In October, Lise Goddard and her husband Jeff, who teach Marine Biology, took the class Whale Watching in the Santa Barbara Channel. The students who went were sophomore Kendrick Holmes, and seniors Dominic Cala, Gus Dene, Beau Lino, William Johnston-Carter, Inochi Fukui, and Kyle Hong. They saw a pair of Humpback whales and a pod of more than 1000 dolphins. See more photos. 


Low Tide Trip

In November, Lise and Jeff Goddard took the Marine Biology class on a low tide trip to the Ellwood boulder field in Goleta, CA. Lise reports, "It was a gorgeous, sunny afternoon tide, with no fewer than 10 octopuses, several large crabs out in the open, several red sea hares that readily inked, lush algae.  One of our sons, Will, flipped a rock and found a rare nudibranch that Jeff has never seen before, and that few on the coast have seen - Babakina festiva.  A great day." 
 
Click here to see a photo of the nudibranch.

Gus in his nest


Morro Bay Mudflats


On Sunday, November 15, 2009, the Marine Biology class
went to the Morro Bay Mudflats.

 


Low Tide Trip II

In early January, 2010, Lise and Jeff Goddard took the Marine Biology students for a second spectacular low tide trip to the Ellwood boulder field in Goleta, CA. In the tidepools, students collected data for a mini project that will be written and presented to the class in the final week of the semester.  Seniors William Johnston-Carter, Gus Dene, and Beau Lino looked at encrusting organisms on several specimens of Kellet's whelk and Norris's turban snail.  Inochi Fukui '10, Kyle Hong '10, and Kendrick Holmes '12 did transects from the landward edge of the rock shelf to 60 meters out, looking at percent coverage of algae and sea grasses and how they change across this zone.  Ziggy and Will Goddard found their second specimen of Babakina festiva, a nudibranch rarely found on the California coast.

Transect boys


Midland School. PO Box 8/5100 Figueroa Mtn. Rd., Los Olivos, CA 93441.  t. 805-688-5114
Copyright © 2009 Midland School. All Rights Reserved.

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