Noble and Greenough School Course Catalog

In this intensive, fast-paced course students read the Latin of two of the most famous and influential Roman authors, Gaius Julius Caesar and Publius Vergilius Maro. One is a general and a politician, the other, a poet. One writes about his own ordeals, the other about a legendary hero. Both confront ideas of leadership, imperialism, duty, and views of the “other.” Readings in The Aeneid and the Gallic Wars follow the AP syllabus and push students to hone their knowledge of and facility with the language, to increase their reading proficiency, and to add sophistication and depth to their analysis.

Most people don’t understand what happens ‘under the hood’ of our ever-present digital devices, such as how algorithms shape our interactions in the world and how abstractions hide increasing complexity. This course aims to broaden exposure to the growing field of computer science by covering topics like how data is used, how the internet works, cybersecurity, and the global impact and social implications of emerging technologies. The curriculum includes paired programming activities that require problem analysis and solution design. This is not a traditional programming course, though we use a visual programming language that has a low barrier to entry.

How did statisticians figure out how many German tanks were produced in WW2 without stepping foot on the battlefield? How do medical professionals conduct a clinical trial for a vaccine? What variables best predict SAT scores? How are election polls carried out? How might a company determine whether it has a gender-bias in its hiring process? These are all questions that we will attempt to answer in AP Statistics. We will explore descriptive statistics, distributions of data, linear regression, the design of observational studies and experiments, probability and random variables, and then develop skills to conduct a wide range of inferential procedures such as confidence intervals and significance tests. Each quarter typically includes at least one project-based assignment. AP Statistics welcomes both poets and quants: all that is required to succeed is hard work, a sharp eye for detail, critical thinking skills, and a desire to investigate problems and puzzles facing our society and community. This full-year course is equivalent to a one-semester introductory college statistics course and is recommended for Classes I and II.

This is a two-semester Advanced Placement sequence in calculus, which gives a thorough introduction to the fundamentals of differential and integral calculus. The fall semester is primarily devoted to the development of differential calculus and covers limits, the derivative, methods of differentiation, and applications of the derivative. The spring semester begins with the fundamental theorem of integral calculus and studies the integral, its methods and its applications, including a brief introduction to differential equations and slope fields.This course prepares students for the College Board's AP exam in Calculus AB.

BC Calculus is a full-year, AP course that offers the second and third semesters of this three-semester advanced calculus sequence. Topics covered during these two semesters are the integral, its methods and applications, the calculus of transcendental functions, vector functions, polar coordinates, infinite series, and differential equations. This course prepares students for the College Board's AP exam in Calculus BC.

The AP Music Theory course is designed to develop students' ability to recognize, understand, and describe the materials and processes of music that are heard or presented in a score. The elements of music composition (rhythm, melody, harmony, texture and form) will be reinforced through an integrated approach in five skill areas: Written, Aural, Analytical, Sight-Singing, and Composition. Regular assessments in these areas will prepare students for the AP Music Theory Exam in May. This course is essential for any student wishing to do serious musical composition or formal study of music in college. This course may only be taken once.

A thorough and intensive study of the subject of biology, this course covers the material on the AP exam syllabus and is considered the equivalent of a first-year, college-level course. Labs in biotechnology, outside reading, and computer-based learning provide a challenging menu for the student interested in the subject of biology. This course prepares students to take the AP Biology exam.

This course assumes a strong grasp of introductory chemistry; a background in physics is helpful. Many familiar chemical concepts are investigated in more detail and several new topics such as thermodynamics and electrochemistry are introduced. Lab work in this course is more extensive and complex, and involves greater use of instrumentation such as visible spectrophotometers; more emphasis is placed on accurate quantitative results than in first-year chemistry. This course prepares students for the AP Chemistry exam.

This course is a calculus-based extension of the classical mechanics topics introduced in Honors Physics. Due to the frequent and rigorous use of differential and integral calculus techniques, students must have previously taken or concurrently be enrolled in the prerequisite calculus courses. Lab explorations and weekly problem sets are foundational pillars of each unit. This course prepares students for the AP Physics C: Mechanics exam, which is typically equivalent to one semester of physics at most colleges and universities.

AP Environmental Science focuses on the interrelationships between humans and complex natural systems as they pertain to environmental sustainability. Our work focuses on both global and local ecology and associated environmental issues related to ecological footprints. Emphasis is placed on the critical importance of systems-based thinking through frequent analysis of case studies. Specific topics addressed include ecosystem dynamics, energy, water, soil, atmosphere, populations, biodiversity, climate change, waste stream, composting, food production, and environmental ethics. Students engage in related laboratory and project work throughout the course, as well as local off-campus field trips. This course prepares students to take the AP Environmental Science exam.

This full-year course follows the guidelines and goals set forth by the College Board for the 3D Design Portfolio. This course stresses understanding the principles of three-dimensional design, mastery of the manual skills of ceramics, creative problem solving, and developing the ability for critical analysis. Critiques provide an opportunity for communication and development of a visual language. Monthly group critiques enable the class to discover as a peer group how each student is developing as an artist and solving visual problems. Individual weekly critiques provide for one-on-one discussion of progression. The course culminates with a formal group exhibit in the Foster Gallery.

AP Studio Art is a full-year studio course that enables highly motivated students to pursue college-level work through the development of a drawing or painting portfolio. The course follows guidelines for the portfolio requirements set by the College Board. The portfolio represents the sustained investigation of a central theme and a fundamental understanding of the elements of design. Students complete weekly studio-based projects and homework assignments on rigorous deadlines, participate in all gallery and museum field experiences, and attend all AP critique sessions. The course culminates with a formal group exhibit in the Foster Gallery.

This year-long studio course enables highly motivated students to do college-level work. This course follows guidelines for the portfolio requirements which are graded in May by a College Board panel. In AP Photo, students choose to work traditionally or digitally. Students pursue long-term individual projects under the guidance of the instructor. A mastery of basic photographic techniques is assumed for students taking this course. Advanced exposure and printing techniques challenge students to master the technical demands of the medium to express their ideas as clearly and powerfully as possible. This course demands significant dedication outside of class as meeting time is used mainly for demonstrations, critiques and lectures. The course culminates with a formal group exhibit in the Foster Gallery.