Science Department
CoursesCP Integrated Science (Year-long course)This course is a combination of different branches of science. Throughout the course students will encounter topics from chemistry, biology, earth science, and physics. Emphasis will be placed on students applying scientific reasoning to explain complex issues. Students will participate in labs and hands-on projects designed to enhance their depth of knowledge and understanding. Students will learn to analyze, assess, and make decisions using scientific data from various sources including graphs, experiments and charts. One Credit HP & ACP Anatomy & Physiology (Year-long course)Anatomy and Physiology is an elective science for those students who have already taken biology their freshman year. Primarily a sophomore course, this course is also open for juniors and seniors. The purpose of this course is to provide the student a well-rounded knowledge of the human body in terms of its parts (anatomy) and how these function together (physiology) to provide good health. A systemic approach is used to cover the body from tissue types through the reproductive system. Labs are used frequently to reinforce the material. One Credit HP Advanced Chemistry (Year-long course)This course is the junior Honors Level version of the Chemistry course. One Credit ACP Chemistry (Year-long course)Chemistry, an Experimental Science, states the theme of this one-year course. The steps by which scientists proceed is carefully presented and repeatedly used. Observations and measurements lead to the development of unifying principles which are used to interrelate diverse phenomena. Heavy reliance is placed upon laboratory work so that chemical principles can be drawn directly from student experience. This course gives maximum opportunity for discovery, experimental evidence that is needed but not readily available in the high school classroom. After the basic foundation for the course has be laid down, the elements of scientific activity are immediately displayed, including the role of uncertainty. The atomic theory, the nature of matter in its various phases, and the mole concept are developed. Then an extended section of the course is devoted to the extraction of important chemical principles from relevant laboratory experience. The principles considered include energy, rate and equilibrium, characteristics of chemical reactions, chemical periodicity and chemical bonding in gases, liquids and solids. The course concludes with several chapters of descriptive chemistry in which the applicability and worth of the chemical principles developed earlier are seen again. (It is strongly urged that students take Algebra II concurrently with Chemistry.) One Credit Chemistry in the Community (Year-long course)Chemistry in the Community is a year-long high school chemistry course, structured around community issues related to chemistry. The seven units of the program are:
Nonsequential
The course is about 50% laboratory-based, and features decision-making activities which give students practice in applying their chemistry knowledge in realistic decision-making situations. Concepts are presented on a "need-to-know" basis, allowing students to experience the use and application of their chemistry learning, leading to a greater sense of motivation and a feeling of "ownership" of their new knowledge. Because of the nature of the issues covered in the specific units, students learn more organic and biochemistry than in traditional courses, as well as some environmental and industrial chemistry. (Pre-requisite:) One Credit CP Descriptive Chemistry (Year-long course)This is a laboratory course designed for juniors. It is expected that the student have a good foundation in Algebra I. Naming of compounds and balancing chemical equations, along with many facts about chemicals and their application will be studied. Some less difficult theories will be studied as well. This course will be offered to College Prep Level students who have taken Algebra I and have good math skills. It is not available to students in the College Prep Level/Basic Algebra I track. One Credit ACP Modern Physics (Year-long course)Physics is the foundation of all the other sciences. This course is designed to provide the student with a strong foundation in the basics of physics and scientific problem solving. Mechanics is studied in depth, as well as electricity, waves, sound, light and modern physics. Mathematics and problem solving skills are used extensively in this course. Inquiry methods are used throughout the course to allow students to develop their conceptual understanding of physics. (Prerequisite: Algebra II) One Credit CP Project Physics (Year-long course)Physics is the foundation of all the other sciences. This course is designed to provide the students with an understanding of basic physics concepts. The conceptual approach places an emphasis on student understanding without rigorous mathematics. Mechanics, electricity, waves, sound, light and modern physics are among the topics that will be covered in this course. Inquiry methods will be used to help the student develop understanding of physics concepts. One Credit AP Physics (C) – Mechanics (Year-long course)The AP Physics C course covers the material typically found in a one-semester, calculus-based, physics course at the college level. The course includes basic motion (kinematics), forces, momentum, work, energy, rotational motion, and gravitation. Students are expected to have a high degree of problem-solving ability. Labs are included throughout the course. Students must take calculus (prior to or concurrent with) to enroll in this course. Students can earn college credit with a passing score on the AP test. One Credit
* Not offered for current academic year. |
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