Sciences: Scope and Sequence

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Biology

Recommended For: Freshmen
Prerequisites: None

Biology students conduct field and laboratory investigations, use scientific methods during investigations, and make informed decisions using critical thinking and scientific problem solving. Students in Biology study a variety of topics that include: structures and functions of cells and viruses; growth and development of organisms; cells, tissues and organs; nucleic acids and genetics; biological evolution; taxonomy; metabolism and energy transfers in living organisms; living systems; homeostasis; ecosystems; and plants and the environment.

 


Honors Biology

Recommended For: Freshmen
Prerequisites: Applicant must be a 9th grade student and have a final grade of B or above in 8th grade Physical Science (both semesters)

This honors course is designed to give students deeper understanding of the major concepts and theories governing life sciences. It will require a much more in-depth level of understanding. The main content areas of focus are: cell biology, ecology, genetics, evolution, and physiology. In cell biology unit, students analyze the nature of the relationships between structures and functions in living cells explaining role of cell organelles and biomolecules; they learn energy transformation processes of cells in photosynthesis and respiration leading on to the next unit. In the ecology unit the interdependence of organisms to meet their energy needs is examined. After completing the cell biology and ecology units, students have needed background to learn life cycles of organisms. In genetics, students learn how organisms grow and reproduce passing genetic information to their offspring. The next unit on evolution builds on the understanding that inheritance of genetic matter preserves the complexity and diversity of life; the diversity leads to evolution that edits the variations best suited to the organism's environment. The course ends with a physiology unit in which students study organisms at organ/system level; focusing on nervous and immune systems, they learn how the body systems work together for optimal functioning of the body. Multiple opportunities are provided to develop content knowledge in biology through the readings, videos, discussions, assignments, and other interactive experiences. Students learn biology concepts in an inquiry-based learning environment where they use the basic science strategies to pose questions, hypothesis formulations, to analyze, evaluate, and search for answers. Students improve their skills in science while adding new critical thinking, life and work skills. Students will be completing research papers, video presentation, greater detail and quantity of lab activities compared to the non-honors section of biology. The material will have more content and the content will be explored in greater detail. Students will be assessed with a comprehensive final at the end of the course.
 


Chemistry

Recommended For: Sophomores, Juniors
Prerequisites: Applicant must have completed Biology

Chemistry is a one-year laboratory science designed to provide high school students with a foundational understanding of the atomic structure and behavior of matter in preparation for entry into a college-level chemistry class. In this class, students will learn and use scientific skills to study the history and nature of chemistry as an experimental science. Students will learn how scientists think, work, share their discoveries, and develop skills that will be essential in this and future science courses.

 


Honors Chemistry

Recommended For: Sophomores, Juniors
Prerequisites: Applicant must have completed Biology or Honors Biology

Honors Chemistry is a one-year laboratory science designed to provide high school students with a foundational understanding of the atomic structure and behavior of matter in preparation for entry into a college-level chemistry class. Honors chemistry follows an accelerated pace to discuss concepts in greater depth and breadth. In this class, students will learn and use scientific skills to study the history and nature of chemistry as an experimental science. Students will learn how scientists think, work, share their discoveries, and develop skills that will be essential in this and future science courses.
 


Physics

Recommended For: Juniors and Seniors
Prerequisites: Applicant must have passed Chemistry and Algebra II or be concurrently enrolled in Algebra II

This course provides the information required to make an informed decision when deciding on issues such as global warming. It provides a thorough introduction to the principles and methods of physics for students. Emphasis is placed on problem solving and quantitative reasoning. This course covers Newtonian mechanics, gravitation, thermodynamics, waves, electricity and magnetism. This class includes a general survey of classical and modern physics that is designed to enable students to appreciate the role of physics in today's society and technology. It is an investigation of different kinds of motion in the world around us.

The end of the course has a comprehensive final exam that tests over content for both semesters. This test will assess whether students retained information from previous units. Additionally, the comprehensive final exam will see how well students integrate techniques from unit and how well they identify which techniques are appropriate for each problem. The format of the test is half multiple choice to gauge physics concepts and half short answer to solve physics word problems. Students will test over two days in 2-hour long period.
 


Honors Physics

Recommended For: Juniors and Seniors
Prerequisites: Applicant must have passed Chemistry and Algebra II or be concurrently enrolled in Algebra II

Honors Physics will go more in depth than College Prep physics. Honors will explore more difficult mathematical techniques. For example: trigonometry, solving systems of equations, more complex unit analysis and scientific notation. Labs will be more rigorous and data focused. Students will be more mindful of accuracy in lab procedures.
 


Environmental Science

Recommended For: Juniors and Seniors
Prerequisites: Applicant must have passed Chemistry

Environmental Science provides students with the scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies required to understand the interrelationships of the natural world, to identify and analyze environmental problems both natural and man-made, to evaluate the relative risks associated with these problems, and to examine alternative solutions for resolving and/or preventing them. Environmental science is a multidisciplinary science.

Environmental Science is an applied science that has deep roots in problem solving. In the class, students will be able to apply knowledge from the basic sciences and mathematics to these very interdisciplinary practical global problems.

Environmental scientists search for viable solutions to environmental problems, solutions that are based as much as possible on solid scientific knowledge. The main focus will be to attempt to understand how the biosphere changes naturally and how human activities are altering it.

 


Honors Environmental Science

Recommended For: Juniors and Seniors
Prerequisites: Applicant must have passed Chemistry

This course is designed to be the equivalent of a one-semester, introductory college course in environmental science. This course has been developed to provide the student with an integrated approach to the numerous disciplines involved in environmental sciences, and to incorporate many lab components, as well as social and political themes. The benefit to students of the course is to give them a deeper understanding of themselves and all living things surrounding them. They will come away with a deeper knowledge of their place and importance on the planet with a love of science and an ability to use the inquiry process to become critical thinkers that can make a difference in their community. This honors course will better prepare them for higher level science courses in high school and college.  

This course will provide students with the scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies required to understand the interrelationships of the natural world; to identify and analyze environmental problems, both natural and man-made; to evaluate the relative risks associated with these problems; and to examine alternative solutions for resolving and/or preventing them. There are several unifying themes that provide the foundations for the structure of this course:

  1. Science is a process 
    • Science is a method of learning more about the world
    • Science constantly changes the way we understand the world.
  2. Energy conversions underlie all ecological processes.
    • Energy cannot be created; it must come from somewhere.
    • As energy flows through systems, at each step more of it becomes unusable.
  3. The Earth itself is one interconnected system.
    • Natural systems change over time and space.
    • Biogeochemical systems vary in ability to recover from disturbances.
  4. Humans alter natural systems.
    • Humans have had an impact on the environment for millions of years.
    • Technology and population growth have enabled humans to increase both the rate and scale of their impact on the environment.
  5. Environmental problems have a cultural and social context.
    • Understanding the role of cultural, social, and economic factors is vital to the development of solutions.
  6. Human survival depends on developing practices that will achieve sustainable systems.

 


Oceanography

Recommended For: Juniors and Seniors
Prerequisites: Applicant must have passed Chemistry

Oceanography is designed to present students with the fundamentals of physical oceanography and marine biology and to help students gain a greater understanding and appreciation the world oceans and the life they contain. Students will explore how evolution has impact the development of ocean organisms and the unique characteristics that allow creatures to thrive in the variety of ocean habitats. The course will focuses on how humans historically and currently use the ocean and the negative impact this can have on ocean ecosystems. This course emphasizes scientific observation, hands-on laboratory work, critical thinking, and the use of technology.

The course includes a variety of formative and summative assessments including the use of an Interactive Science Notebook, exit tickets, quizzes, tests, and semester final exams. A key course assessment will be lab work that requires students to perform lab experiments, gather data, and write analytical lab reports on a variety of topics. At least one lab per unit is a student-designed lab requiring the design, setup, and performance of a controlled scientific experiment.

Students will use technology such as laptops, iPads, and probeware to gather and report data and examine models for ocean processes. The course will include several field trips to the local beaches, estuaries, and tide pools to observe and gather data.

 


Computer Science

Recommended For: Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors
Prerequisites: Applicant must have passed or concurrently taking Algebra II

This course guides students through Common Core Algebra 1 topics while simultaneously teaching them basic computer programming skills. Students use programming to reinforce and extend their knowledge of algebra 1 concepts by analyzing real life situations, identifying given information, formulating steps that a computer program could calculate to find a solution and analyzing the results for accuracy and precision, going back and modifying their programming solution when necessary. Topics covered include evaluating expressions, one variable equations and inequalities, absolute value equations and inequalities, linear equations in standard form, slope-intercept form and point slope form, systems of linear equations and inequalities, evaluating, multiplying, factoring and plotting polynomial functions with an emphasis on quadratic equations, exponential and radical functions, statistical data analysis and probability, plotting  for visualizing data (using scatter plot, bar graph, histogram, box-and-whisker plot, etc.),  and arithmetic and geometric sequences. Optional group computing activities allow students to collaborate on critical thinking activities based on algebraic topics while developing their ability to effectively communicate, listen, share responsibility and respectfully address the suggestions of others. Optional robotics activities allow students to reenact physically derived mathematical problems through robotics technologies to visualize situations, associate linear and quadratic graphs with physical phenomenon, predict and identify key features of the graphs with the specific physical situations, and solve physical problems through algebraic means.