Curricular Highlights Across Grades

Our 8th grade students have the unique opportunity to travel to the Teton Science School in Kelly, Wyoming for one week as an adjunct component of their science course. In cooperation with the staff at the Teton Science School, AIM teachers create an individualized program that integrates core classroom concepts with learning experiences in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Topics within the curriculum include discovering the physical forces that shape the landscape, understanding the winter environment, and learning about the relationships involved in the ecology of the land. Students visit a glacier to observe the forces that shape the land; participate in field studies to learn first-hand how living things adapt to the winter climate; and explore the area by cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Opportunities to visit the Murie Museum, Teton Raptor Center, Wildlife Museum, and Caribou Refuge provide the students additional time to reinforce scientific concepts and integrate them with an element of creativity and writing. The culminating project of this experience is a group research experiment that is student designed and tested. Last year our students investigated the biodiversity of Kelly Warm Springs by surveying the species in the water. They also measured the impact of cross-country skiing on the wildlife that live in the subnivean (the bottom most) layer of the snowpack. Throughout this project, students used scientific methods by creating the research question, designing the experiment, and testing the gathered data. They learned throughout this experience that working collaboratively and implementing their critical thinking skills are key to a successful outcome.

This optional after school five-month extracurricular activity for grades 6-8 introduces Middle School students from around the Greater Philadelphia area to the world of international relations and cultural diplomacy. Students examine global conflicts and trends while working together to create promising solutions to some of the world's greatest challenges. Additionally, this program is designed with an emphasis on building cultural competency and diplomatic skills; expanding knowledge of world geography, cultures and political structures; increasing understanding of how national and international institutions tackle key global issues, such as universal access to education and promoting sustained civic engagement.

As participants in the program, students will: (1) explore the mission, structure and function of the United Nations; (2) learn how to write, amend and defend a policy resolution; (3) apply their research and critical thinking skills to specific global issues; (4) understand the role of diplomacy and deliberation in international affairs; and (5) develop skills in conflict resolution, problem solving and cross-cultural communication.

Students in Middle School learn about engineering and robotics through project-based hands-on activities. They work to solve engineering challenges as well as building robots using LEGO Mindstorm and LEGO EV3 robotics platforms.

Our Robotics teams compete with other schools on two competitive robotics platforms. These are fully immersive programs where students build and program robots to perform various challenges. Problem solving, creative thinking and perseverance are critical elements of each competition.

The FIRST Lego League (FLL) for students in grades 5-6

The FIRST Robotics Tech challenge (FTC) for students in grades 7-8