Interdisciplinary

Graduation Requirement: Belonging and Community and Ethics and Leadership are graduation requirements. The philosophy behind these two courses is that our students must not only care about their studies, but must also care deeply about how they conduct themselves, both in and out of the classroom. To that end, a focus on information literacy, ethics, leadership and the formation of character, and global citizenship is embedded throughout the MKA curriculum.

BELONGING AND COMMUNITY (809)

In this ninth grade seminar, students start to construct their “story.” The course begins by asking students to consider who they are as individuals, what’s important to them, and what biases might inform how they interact with their communities, small and large. Students will explore and learn how to identify perspective and implicit/explicit bias. Students will share a piece of their own stories through which they’ll identify how they can uniquely foster a culture of belonging in MKA’s community and beyond. Pass/Fail Fall until Thanksgiving Break 4 days/cycle 2 Credits

ETHICS AND LEADERSHIP (805)

In this course, required for all tenth graders, students will expand upon the themes introduced in Belonging and Community with a specific eye towards social justice work. During the first half of this course, emphasis is on developing a personal set of ethical principles by which to live. The second component challenges students to consider how to stand up for those ethical principles and values as leaders at MKA and in the larger community, and we will explore the role of allyship and activism in this important work. In addition to activities and reflections, students will complete a culminating assignment in which they will create call to action projects. Pass/Fail Spring 2 days/5 cycles .5 Credit 10

The following courses are not required, but all students in grades 11-12 should review these interdisciplinary offerings.

BIOMECHANICS AND PHYSIOLOGY (544) 11-12

This interdisciplinary course allows students to explore the science of exercise as well as gain experience in conducting original exercise science research. During the first semester, students will explore topics such as anatomy, muscular function and structure, energy metabolism, physiological responses to single bouts of exercise vs. habitual training, the impact of exercise type and intensity, and nutritional biochemistry. Students will develop an appreciation for how these topics apply to the study of athletics and disease. Scientific papers related to these topics will be discussed to reinforce the material, give students experience in analyzing scientific literature, and allow students to finalize their research question for their second semester independent research projects. The majority of the second semester will be devoted to the research project, which will involve summarizing relevant scientific literature, as well as designing and executing experiments to address a guiding research question. Students will write a research paper and present their findings. Prerequisites: B+ in Health, Wellness and Principles of Conditioning or B+ in Biology 2 Honors or successful completion of AP Biology; and successful completion of, or co-enrollment in, a physics course; and department recommendation Full Year 4 days/cycle 6 Credits

New York is a city of contrasts: so symbolic of our nation, and so unlike any other place. It is full of enormous wealth and extreme poverty; endless opportunity and dashed hopes; beauty and vibrancy set against corruption and injustice. What is it that defines New York? What so captures the imagination of those who live there and of the rest of the world? This course will challenge students to answer these questions by providing a fundamental grounding in the history and literature of New York during the 20th century, focusing on key moments in the city’s development as a commercial and cultural center. Students will attempt to reconstruct the history and culture of past eras through a variety of sources, including novels, essays, poems, biographies, letters, newspapers, photographs, films and art. This course, taught by a member of the English Department and a member of the History Department, will have required field trips during school. Students will also be expected to visit the city on their own, outside of school hours, in preparation for in-class presentations. Each student decides whether this course counts as 6 credits for English, 6 credits for History, or 3 credits for each. Full Year 4 days/cycle 6 Credits