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Curriculum
Science
Physical Sciences include:
Conceptual Physics, Physics, AP
Physics,
Chemistry, and AP Chemistry.
Biological Sciences include:
Biology, AP Biology, AP
Environmental
Science, and Physiology.
The traditional course of study
begins with Conceptual Physics
in
the ninth grade followed by
Biology in the tenth grade.
Students,
with the help of Departmental
consultation, may then branch
out
into Chemistry, Physics, or
Advanced Placement courses.
CONCEPTUAL PHYSICS
(one year)
Conceptual Physics is the
required introductory course for
the
high school science curriculum.
The purpose of the course is to
ground students in the
fundamentals of physics and
chemistry.
Demonstrations, hands-on
activities, and computer-aided
labs are
used to understand chemical and
physical laws conceptually.
Students will become familiar
with the history of science and
the
thoughts and biographies of
several great scientists.
Equations
are used initially as “guides to
thinking” rather than for
numerical problem solving. As
the year progresses, students
are
expected to become more
proficient in mathematical
application.
In the second semester, students
learn to analyze chemical
reactions, both qualitatively
and quantitatively. It is the
goal of
this course to equip students
with cognitive and laboratory
skills,
and a basic understanding of the
fundamental laws upon which
physics and chemistry are based.
A required course for students
in grade nine.
BIOLOGY
(one year)
Biology provides a
college-preparatory introduction
to the basic
principles of biology. Topics
include cell theory, mitosis,
(genetics, evolution,
microbiology, plant structure
and function,
invertebrate and vertebrate
biology, human anatomy and
physiology, and ecological
relationships. Biology
emphasizes
inductive reasoning and an
analysis/problem-solving
approach to
critical thinking. Material is
introduced through lecture,
discussion, models, charts, and
living or preserved specimens.
Prerequisite: Conceptual Physics
or equivalent.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT BIOLOGY
(one year)
The goal of Advanced Placement
Biology is to provide
advanced preparation in biology
and to meet the objectives of
a college-level general biology
course. Topics include
cellular/molecular biology,
genetics, microbiology, plant
structure and function, general
zoology, human anatomy and
physiology, evolution, and
ecology. The instruction relies
on
lecture/discussion and in-depth
laboratory activities. In
addition, students are required
to prepare a scientific research
report on a prearranged topic of
interest, including a summary
of recently published scientific
literature. This course prepares
students for the Advanced
Placement exam in biology.
Prerequisite: Biology,
Chemistry, and departmental
approval
through an AP/honors
application.
CHEMISTRY
(one year)
In this course students develop
an understanding of chemistry
and the nature of science. This
course provides students with an
introduction to fundamental
concepts and analytical skills
in
order to understand the “Central
Science.” Lectures,
demonstrations, laboratory work,
and group problem solving
encourage students to improve in
their skills and habits as
students. The essential topics
to be covered include atoms and
atomic structure, stoichiometry,
bonding, gases and states of
matter, equilibrium and solution
chemistry, acid-base chemistry,
thermodynamics and basics of
bio-chemical
molecules.Prerequisite:
Conceptual Physics or
equivalent.
Corequisite: Algebra II.
CHEMISTRY HONORS
(one year)
Chemistry Honors is an
accelerated course targeted for
those
students who have an interest in
pursuing further courses in
biological or physical sciences
at the Advanced Placement
level. This course seeks to
provide students with a rigorous
conceptual and analytical
foundation in chemistry through
lectures, demonstrations,
laboratory work, and extensive
problem solving. The course
topics include: stoichiometry;
properties of gases, liquids,
solids, and solutions; chemical
equilibria; chemical
thermodynamics; atomic and
molecular
structure; chemical kinetics;
periodic properties; nuclear
chemistry; and descriptive
chemistry of the elements,
including organic chemistry and
biochemistry. This course
prepares students to take the
SAT II test in Chemistry in
June.
Prerequisite: Conceptual Physics
and departmental approval.
Corequisite: Algebra II.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT CHEMISTRY
(one year)
The Advanced Placement Chemistry
course is a second year
high school chemistry course,
intended to be equivalent to a
first-year college course. In
the process of working through
the
recommended AP Chemistry
curriculum, students should
learn
to self-assess their own mastery
of the material which they
acquire through their use of a
variety of available learning
tools.
Students explore the
fundamentals of inorganic
chemistry
through lectures, laboratory
investigation and group problem
solving. They are assessed by AP
questions and standards at all
phases of the course. Topics
such as atomic theory, molecular
bonding, kinetic theory of
matter, chemical equilibria,
reaction
kinetics, acid-base chemistry
and thermodynamics are presented
in depth and at a rapid pace.
The course prepares the student
for the Advanced Placement exam
in May.
Prerequisite: Honors Chemistry
(or Chemistry with
recommendation)
and departmental approval.
Corequisite: Pre-calculus.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT ENVIRONMENTAL
SCIENCE
(one year)
The goal of the AP Environmental
Science course is to provide
students with the scientific
principles, concepts, and
methodologies required to
understand the
interrelationships of
the natural world. This course
draws upon a broad scientific
base, including biology,
chemistry, earth sciences,
geography,
ecology, and physics. The topics
are explored in a variety of
formats and locations, including
the laboratory, the outdoor
environment, and the computer
lab. This course has a large
hands-on component, and students
are required to becomeactive
participants in class
activities. In addition,
students are
asked to explore and connect the
various topics discussed
throughout the year through
individual projects and reports.
Prerequisite: Biology,
Chemistry, and departmental
approval.
PHYSICS
(one year)
This is an algebra-based,
college-preparatory course.
Lectures,
demonstrations, and laboratory
work complement rigorous
problem solving. Topics include
kinematics, dynamics,
conservation principles,
gravitation, and oscillations
the first
semester, followed by
electrostatics, circuits and
magnetism,
the second semester.
Prerequisite: Algebra II.
Corequisite: Pre-Calculus.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT PHYSICS B
(one year)
The AP Physics B course is
similar to college broad based
survey
courses. It will include a
rigorous study of topics of both
classical
and modern physics. The
knowledge of algebra and
pre-calculus
will be required. The course
will cover five major areas. The
topics will include Newtonian
mechanics, fluid dynamics and
thermodynamics, electricity and
magnetism, waves and optics,
atomic and nuclear physics.
Students are expected the take
the
College Board AP Physics B
examination in May.
Prerequisite: Conceptual Physics
and Pre-Calculus
PHYSIOLOGY
(one year)
Physiology is the scientific
discipline that deals with the
vital
processes or functions of living
things. Students explore how
the human body is organized and
how it functions.
Understanding, analyzing, and
predicting responses of cells,
tissues, organs, and organ
systems to stimuli are the major
goals of the course. The course
also includes an anatomy
component that studies
anatomical structures, their
microscopic organization, and
the process by which
anatomical structures develop.
Individual dissection and
examination of a representative
mammal gives students the
opportunity to apply information
acquired through lecture and
assigned reading to an actual
organism.
Prerequisite: Biology.
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