Academics
STEM and Innovation
AC's Center for STEM and Innovation
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Students at AC actively DO STEM; they investigate, solve, construct, and code.
- Students construct their understanding through hands-on inquiry, critical thinking, and creative problem-solving. Our unique STEM curriculum is found in all of our programs, beginning with our Pre-Primary learners. We nurture our young learners' natural curiosity, encouraging exploration, creativity, and critical thinking from an early age.
Center for STEM and Innovation Mission
The Center for STEM and Innovation provides authentic hands-on learning for students to build enthusiasm and fluency for science, math, engineering, and technology practices. Students develop the skills to make meaningful contributions to their communities and beyond through collaboration, critical thinking, creative problem-solving, and communication."
What We Do
Use the links below to explore the experiences students can look forward to through the Center for STEM and Innovation.
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Science, Writing and Research
Our upper school Science, Writing and Research course is unique to the Rochester area and rarely duplicated nationally. In this course, students learn about the profession of science, the culture of science, and the literature of science. They are then challenged to design and investigate their own research study for an entire school year with a professional mentor. Students then present their work as part of a formal symposium – a capstone to a challenging and rigorous project. This course is also unique in that student research is published in our own scientific journal- Research and Discovery, AC’s Journal of Student Inquiry. -
STEM Engagement Diploma
Beginning in 8th grade, students can choose to pursue the STEM Engagement Diploma, a unique program that allows students the ability to dive deeper into the pursuit of their interests and studies. Designed to offer students choice, autonomy, and accountability, the requirements for the STEM Engagement Diploma serve as a road map for each student's unique journey of inquiry, analysis, communication, reflection, and impact. -
Maple Sugaring
Students who participate in our AC Science elective in middle school learn firsthand about the science of maple syrup production. This course takes advantage of our beautiful 33-acre campus. In our maple sugaring unit, students tap trees, collect sap, and help boil it into syrup in our very own sugar shack! -
Coding and Robotics
Lower School students build foundational coding skills through block-based programming, creating animations that incorporate sequencing, loops, and events. They also apply their coding knowledge to robotics, using platforms such as Ozobots and LEGO Mindstorms. Middle School students have the opportunity to deepen their learning through electives such as Computer Science Discoveries and FIRST Lego Robotics. Upper School students not only have coding courses, but they also have opportunities to compete at events such as Lockheed Martin’s annual CodeQuest.
Center for STEM and Innovation Courses by Division
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Lower School
STEM is part of all problem based learning units in the LS Curriculum. Highlighted areas include:- Biodiversity
- Climate change
- Civil engineering
- Engineering design process and computational thinking
- Robotics and applied technology
- Optics
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Middle School
- Dynamic Earth
- Life Sciences
- Matter & Energy
- FIRSTⓇ Robotics
- Computer Science Discoveries
- Experiential Science: Maple Syrup and More!
- Forensics
- Natural Disasters
- Astronomy vs Astrology
- Math 6: The Literacy of Numbers
- Math 7: An Exploration of Numbers
- Algebra I: Learning How to Function
- Geometry
- Algebra II
- Honors Algebra II / Precalculus
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Upper School
- Biology: Cells to Ecosystems
- The Physical World
- Applied Physics and Engineering
- Astronomy
- Chemistry of Colors
- Topics in Earth Science
- Genetics: Understanding Your DNA
- The Chemistry of Food
- The Physics of Sports
- Science of Music
- AP Biology
- AP Physics
- AP Computer Science Principles
- AP Computer Science A
- Science Writing & Research
- Full Stack Software Engineering
- Algebra II
- Honors Algebra II / AP Precalculus
- Precalculus
- AP Precalculus
- AP Statistics
- AP Calculus AB
- AP Calculus BC
- Advanced Topics in Mathematics: Data Analysis
- Advanced Topics in Mathematics: Financial Algebra
Center Co-Director
Center Co-Director
At Allendale Columbia, we prepare students for the world they will inherit. In our trusting and responsive environment, students 18 months through grade 12 grow in confidence and develop scholastic independence.
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