Class 9 Main Lesson

The overarching theme for Ninth Grade is “the power of observation” as the curriculum gives the student opportunities to observe, question, and imagine alternatives. An important focus of high school is to develop clear thinking and this starts with the power of observation. The Tenth, Eleventh, and Twelfth grade high school curriculum builds on this foundational high school year and is often summarized with the following questions.

Ninth grade asks “What?,” or more precisely, “What is the world like?” Tenth Grade asks “How?,” Eleventh Grade asks “Why?,” and Twelfth grade asks “Who?” The curriculum culminates in Twelfth Grade when the student synthesizes their knowledge and experience to see their emerging place in the world. They are asked to consider multiple viewpoints as they develop a global consciousness and to ask themselves, “How can I make a difference in the world?”

Developmentally, the Ninth Grader is capable of analytical thought and academic rigor, yet often sees the world in black and white and judges all that crosses their path. Therefore, the coursework in ninth grade explores polarities and contrasts with main lessons like Comedy & Tragedy and Probability & Statistics, mirroring the physical and emotional changes that occur at this stage of adolescence and laying the foundation for the curriculum in subsequent years. The Ninth Grader is capable of and enjoys endless discussion and they love to debate. Dialogue is important in our classes and we make sure the Ninth grade student is met with time for intellectual and social dialogue with their peers. The Ninth Grader has a universal sense of justice and fairness in them, and we look at opportunities to nourish this moral sense through our curriculum.

Ninth Grade Main Lessons

Mythology

Coming soon!

organic Chemistry

In the Class 9 Chemistry Main Lesson block, we explore the structure, properties, and composition of chemical compounds and their reactions in and around us. At first, we conduct a few hands-on experiments to get real experience of chemical substances and their transformation. Based on this experience, we continue to study the history of atomic theory from ancient Greek to modern theoretical physics. This study is extended to examine the Periodic Table of Elements by building the concept of atomic structure and its application. After that, we perform a few more hands-on chemical experiments with both qualitative and quantitative interpretations.

From this direct scientific experience, we derive fundamental concepts in high school chemistry such as atomic structure, atoms and elements, solution in chemistry, molecules, molecular concentration in a solution (molarity), chemical bonds, chemical reactions, chemical formula and equation, and the basis for balancing chemical equations (stoichiometry). By completing this block, each student creates their own Main Lesson book with artistic illustrations and scientific explanations to describe what they have learned.

Experiments are related to:

• Combustion

• Neutralization

• Chemical Reactions

• Chemical Substance

• Democritus vs Aristotle

• Mass of Gas

• History of Atomic Theory

• Atomic Structure

• Periodic Table of Elements

• Atoms vs Elements

• Chemical Bonds

• Molecules and Molecular Mass

• Solution and Concentration

• Solution in Chemistry

• Concentration of Solution

• Molarity – Molar Concentration

Comedy & Tragedy

Comedy and Tragedy is a pivotal Main Lesson block in the Ninth Grade Year. We begin with the priestly performance-rituals in the ancient Mystery centers and culminate with the impact of technology and the movies on modern drama. "Drama" is taught not as a subject apart, but rather as a cultural experience that is deeply linked to the artistic, political, economic, and religious forces active in (among others) Sixth Century BCE Athens, the Roman Empire, Elizabethan England, nineteenth century Europe, and twentieth century Broadway and Hollywood.

Topics to be covered include:

Week 1: The nature and roots of Drama;  the Greek Mystery Centers: dramatic re-enactments of the myths; Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, Aristophanes; the amphitheatre and the birth of the performing arts; the power of the Chorus in early dramas; the ‘unities’ of time, place and action.

Week 2: Roman Drama: the birth of formulaic comedy and ‘stock’ characters; Medieval Drama: the rebirth of Miracle and Mystery Drama around the cathedrals; Henry VIII’s independence from the Catholic Church and the ascendancy of the English language; the physical and social structure of the London theaters; the life of William Shakespeare.

Week 3: Shakespeare’s Histories: fathers and sons in Henry IV Parts 1 and 2; Shakespeare’s Comedies: twins and namesakes in Twelfth Night; blank verse and rhyming couplets; Shakespeare’s Tragedies: Romeo and Juliet and Macbeth.

Week 4: Shakespeare’s last plays: The Tempest; Modern Drama: the changing nature of theater architecture and design and its effect on how plays were written; Ibsen, Strindberg and Chekhov; the Stage and the Screen, Thornton Wilder.

The students take notes based on teacher presentation of all the above topics. They are guided through essay-writing, completing essays on the Roots of Drama and Shakespeare’s Plays, a Glossary of Greek Drama and a descriptive piece as if they ae living in Elizabethan London and visiting the Globe Theater for the first time.

They draw diagrams showing the development of the Ancient Greek Amphitheater and a Timeline of Western Drama. They will draw a picture of Shakespeare’s Globe Theater. They will watch scenes from Aeschylus’ Agamemnon, Sophocles’ Theban trilogy, and Euripides’ The Bacchae, and they will read and discuss scenes from Callimachus (Hroswitha), Henry IV parts 1 and 2, Twelfth Night, Macbeth, The Tempest, (all by Shakespeare), A Doll’s House (Ibsen), and Our Town (Thornton Wilder).

Earth Science Geology

Students will explore the composition, structure, physical properties, and history of Earth's components, and the processes by which they are shaped. We will also explore, how through the ages, geology has provided essential theories and data that shape how society conceptualizes the Earth. We will consider the impact of humans on the Geology of the Earth and study Continental Drift and Plate Tectonics.

Topics of study include:

• Interior of the Earth – Diagram

• Interior of the Earth – composition

• The Rock Cycle – diagram

• Earthquakes – diagram and text

• Types of Faults – diagrams

• The Great Alaska Earthquake – map

• The Great Alaska Earthquake – individually designed page

• Fault Zone Metamorphism - diagram and text

• Seismic Waves - drawing and definitions

• Finding the Epicenter of an Earthquake activity

• Measuring earthquakes

• Map of the worldwide distribution of earthquakes

• Tsunami Formation (independent work)

• Volcano Vocabulary Page

• Volcano Profile I: Paricutin (diagram/drawing and text)

• Volcano Profile II: Mount St. Helens (diagram/drawing and text)

• Volcano Profile III: Mauna Loa (diagram/drawing)

• Pangea drawing with text

• Mid-Ocean Ridge Diagram

• Convergent Boundary Diagrams

• Transform Boundary Diagram

PROBABILITY & Possibility

This block develops critical thinking and abstract thinking. It challenges ideas of what is probable, improbable, possible, or impossible. We review topics covered in earlier grades such as ratios, and fractions and their conversion to decimal numbers and percents. 

The subject of possibility and probability , which includes permutations and combinations, begins by answering questions such as: How many possible (shortest) routes are there for going between two points marked on a grid? How many ways are there for 20 students to get in line? How many different committees of three can be formed from a group of 10 people? What is the probability of flipping five coins and getting all heads?

These questions often yield surprising results. It is through careful thinking that we can overcome the task of making sense of these difficult problems; we recognize patterns and similarities with previously encountered problems; and learn to solve the problems in a systematic way, developing optimal critical thinking.

The topics covered are: 

• The odds and probability of an event, and the combined probability of two unrelated events

• Factorials: real-life examples, and calculating factorials using a calculator 

• Permutations and Combination: real-life examples, formulas, and calculating using a calculator

• Experimental and Theoretical Probability: class experiment and definitions • Laws of Probability 

• Essays: the life and work of Girolamo Cardano and Blaise Pascal, and their contributions to the  science of probability 

• Independent research and presentation: current events involving probability

• Artistic Activity: introduction to painting imagined and reflected colors using watercolor

Ancient Civilizations

Coming Soon!

Physics: Thermodynamics

The Class 9 Physics focuses on thermodynamics, which is the study of the physical relations between heat, work, temperature, and energy.

9th graders are ready to make practical contact with the modern world, they want to put their extensive energy to a useful purpose. Considering this, they need more of a practical application, than a theory based experience. They want to learn how engines work, how the cell phone works, how to drive a car, or build a shed. Rudolph Steiner recommended that their needs are met through learning about the steam engine and the telephone, because these were the latest inventions during his time. However, they are not significant for the students in Lotus & Ivy today, as these technologies have been replaced by the automobile and the cell phone.

This course explores the fundamental principles and laws of thermodynamics by experiencing phenomena associated with the history of modern thermodynamics. Using the scientific method, students learn how to plan and conduct investigations, and then analyze the findings by interpreting the data they collect. Written and mathematical descriptions will also be used as appropriate. Weekly labs are part of this Main Lesson.

Topics Include:

• Steam engines

• Temperature Units: Fahrenheit, Celsius and Kelvin

• Temperature scales

• The internal combustion engine

• Specific Heat

• Heat

• Properties of Gases

• The expansion of solids

• Behavior of Matter When Heated & Heat Capacity

• Heat Transfer & Thermal Conductivity

• Phase Changes and Heating Curves

• Latent heat

• Refrigerators

• The electromagnetic spectrum

• Radio communication

• Cell phones

• Properties of Gases

• The Ideal Gas Law and the Gas Constant

• Laws of Thermodynamics

• Experiment: Boyle’s Law

• Experiment: volume of air and temperature (air thermometer, Charles’ Law)

• The four-stroke cycle engine

• Engine components and their functions

• Bernoulli’s Principle and applications

• The Expansion of Water

• Atmospheric Engines

• Pressure

  
  

ART HISTORY

This course takes the student through a survey of art through the ages from prehistory to the Renaissance. During this course students will learn about the art during each of these eras, will see examples of that art, and will be given the chance to reproduce some of the art being shown.

Week 1:

• Prehistoric Art (cave art, sculpture, aboriginal dot painting)

• Neolithic Architecture

• Egyptian Art

• Chaldaeo-Assyrian Art and Persian Art (depending on the pace we are able to move)

• Independent Assignment will be to create their own primitive clay sculpture, paint it, and write about it.

Week 2:

• Prehistoric Art (cave art, sculpture, aboriginal dot painting)

• Neolithic Architecture

• Egyptian Art

• Chaldaeo-Assyrian Art and Persian Art

• Greek Art

• Greek Architecture

• Etruscan Art

• Independent assignment will be to create a faux papyrus and then make an Egyptian style painting on it.

Week 3:

• Greek Art

• Greek Architecture

• Etruscan Art

• Independent assignment will be to simulate Greek pottery using papier mâché and acrylic paint.

Week 4:

• Roman Art

• Roman Architecture

• Chinese Art

• Japanese Art

  
  

Biology: Physiology

The Class 9 child is undergoing a period of extreme physical and emotional change, and this concept of extremes is reflected in the curriculum of this year with a strong thread of a study of contrasts. If the theme for the year were to be summarized into one word, it would be ‘polarities’.

Young people of this age are now much more capable of observing and articulating the processes of their own inner life. They are better able to view the relationship between their own body and mind from an inner perspective and this is accomplished by taking a morphological-anatomical approach.

The organs contained in the body cavities are the central focus of this Main Lesson.

Topics covered are:

• Threefold Human Being and the Three cavities of the Human Body

• Threefold structure in the functioning of the human organism (neuro-sensory system, rhythmic (respiratory-circulatory) system, metabolic-reproductive-limb system

• The heart and circulation – structure of heart and blood vessels; polarity of artery and vein in structure and function; the composition of blood; structure and functions of the heart, blood circulation – Hepatic and Renal

• Respiratory organs: structure of lungs, alveoli, the pulse-breath rhythm, gas exchange

• The digestive tract and its musculature, inc. the liver (metabolism of carbohydrates); gall bladder, pancreas, spleen, the process of digestion

• Nervous system: structure of brain and spinal cord, central nervous system and autonomic nervous system; reflex action; afferent and efferent regions, antagonistic effects of sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves

Some classes will include watching video clips of some internal organs and related phenomenon.

Additional Ninth Grade Classes

Our Ninth Grade students begin the day by attending main lesson, followed by a break, and then attend year-long track classes. In conjunction with our main lesson classes, Ninth Grade students are encouraged to enroll in both Math and Humanities Track Classes for a comprehensive curriculum. Students have the option of joining main lessons and track classes separately, however. Please inquire about our a la carte options to speak with our Registrar regarding transcripts and credits.

Year-Long Math Track Class: Algebra I

Ms. Domokos teaches the High School Probability & Statistics main lesson along with the year-long Algebra I Class for Class 9. Our year-long Math Track Class meets thrice a week for one hour. Students are required to meet with their Math Group once per week, outside of Math Track Class. For more information about the curriculum and content of this class, please visit the Class 9 Math page.

Year-Long Humanities Track Class

Our Ninth Grade students attend main lesson in the early part of the day, have a break, and then attend year-long track classes. Our Humanities Track Classes each meet once a week with Language Arts on Wednesdays and History on Wednesdays. For more information about the curriculum and content of these classes, please visit the Class 9 Humanities page.

Class 9 Complements

Our Complements classes meet once a week ranging from Purposeful Living & Community Service to Ukulele. For more information on the curriculum and content of these classes, please visit the Class 9 Complements Page.

High School Faculty

Lotus & Ivy teachers give utmost thought and care in planning lessons to encourage the highest mental, physical, and social-emotional engagement for our students. As with our lower grades, our high school experiential lessons are live and interactive, and our students are part of a nourishing community of peers and teachers. Our High School Faculty includes Ms. Nicholson, Ms. deLeca, Ms. Domokos, Ms. Packer, Mr. Gay, Mr. Shah, Ms. Straubel, Ms. Jones-Schmidt, Ms. Ljubic, and Ms. Gemignani. To read the biographies of our High School Faculty, please visit the Meet Us Page.