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SCIENCE

The mission of science education is to prepare all students to become citizens who will understand that science and its applications are essential to enhance the quality of their lives and those of future generations. The goals in each course are to engage students in scientific inquiry and to enable them to understand the unifying principles of biology, chemistry, physics, and earth science, as well as the role of science and technology in our society.

Earth Science 1-2 (2 credits) Grade 9
Earth Science is a full-year elective course. The purpose of this course is to help students reach an understanding about how they personally relate to the earth and universe in a temporal (time), spatial (space), biological, physical/and chemical way. Concepts and processes will be investigated through involvement in individual and small group activities in a laboratory setting. The course focuses on the development of hands-on application, lab work, writing, problem solving, critical thinking, logic, theory, listening and verbal skills. Valuable for a technical prep program. Prerequisite: None.

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Honors Biology 1-2 (2 credits) Grade 9
Honors Biology is a full-year elective course. It is designed to give the advanced skilled student a greater depth of study into the science of biology. Honors Biology is studied at the chemical and structural level of the cell in a hands-on, inquiry-based laboratory method. The course focuses on the development of hands -on application, lab work, writing, problem solving, critical thinking, logic, theory, and verbal skills. Topics include cell biology, taxonomy, genetics, cellular respiration, photosynthesis, development, and environmental science. Essay exams are common. Valuable for a college prep program. Prerequisite: Must be enrolled in the Freshmen Honors Algebra and have the instructor's recommendation.

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Biology 1-2 (2 credits) Grades 10-11
Biology is a full-year required course. It is an investigative, inquiry-based study of the structures and functions of living organisms, their interaction with the environment and the interdependence of population and individuals. The course content is determined by the unifying principles of biology: evolution and diversity, ecology, genetics, growth and development of organisms and complexity of organisms, homeostasis and behavior. The course focuses on the development of hands-on application, lab work, writing skills, problem solving, critical thinking, logic, theory, listening skills, and verbal skills. Valuable for both a college and/or technical prep program. Prerequisite: None.

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Chemistry 1-2 (2 credits) Grades 10-12
Chemistry is a full-year elective course. It facilitates the development of useful models for understanding the basic structure of matter, its various forms and interactions between different types of matter. It stresses the topics of physical properties, such as density, atomic structure, stoichiometry and chemical reactions. The course focuses on the development of hands-on application, lab work, writing skills, problem solving, critical thinking skills, logic, theory, listening skills, and verbal skills. Laboratory activities help develop a greater understanding of classroom concepts. Valuable for a college prep program. Prerequisite: Minimum "C" average in Biology 1-2, minimum "C" average in Algebra 1-2, Geometry is strongly recommended. A strong math background is required for problem solving activities.

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Physics (2 credits) Grades 11-12
Physics is a full-year elective course. It acquaints the student with the historical and intellectual development of Physics as a science. Concepts are developed through the observation of actual physical phenomena produced by a balanced program of demonstrations and laboratory experiences. Experimentation with problems dealing with mass, motion, force, energy, change, and momentum. This course focuses on the development of hands-on application, lab work, writing skills, problem solving, critical thinking skills, logic, theory, listening skills, and verbal skills. Valuable for a college prep program. Prerequisite: Instructor recommendation, minimum "C" average in Chemistry 1-2, minimum "C" average in Geometry, Algebra 3-4 strongly recommended.

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Honors Microbiology (1 credit) Grades 11-12
Honors Microbiology is a one-semester elective course. It provides for the study of the structure, function and ecology of microorganisms. Major topics include microscopy, cellular anatomy metabolic functions, growth and function, sterilization and disinfecting and chemotherapeutic agents. Students will learn cultivation and staining techniques used for the identification of microbial organisms. The course focuses on the development of hands-on application, lab work, writing skills, problem solving, critical thinking skills, logic, theory, listening skills, and verbal skills. Laboratory work comprises at least 75% of the course
work. Valuable for a college prep program. Prerequisite: Instructor recommendation, minimum of a "B" average in Biology 1-2, and Chemistry 1-2 are required.

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Honors Genetics (1 credit) Grades 11-12
Honors Genetics is a one-semester elective course. An understanding of the principles of genetics, the origin and amount of genetic diversity and role of selection and evolution in shaping genotypes and phenotypes of organisms is presented. Major topics will include chromosomes, mitosis and meiosis, patterns of inheritance, Mendelian inheritance, sex linkage and sex determination, chromosomal aberrations, structure and replication of DNA and gene action. The course focuses on the development of hands on application, lab work, writing skills, problem solving, critical thinking skills, logic, theory, listening skills, and verbal skills. Valuable for a college prep program. Prerequisite: At least a "B" average in Biology 1-2, and Chemistry 1-2 is required, instructor recommendation.

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Advanced Placement Biology (2 credits) Grades 11-12
Advanced Placement Biology is a full-year elective, introductory college-level course usually taken by biology majors. It aims to provide students with the conceptual framework, factual knowledge, and analytical skills necessary to deal critically with the rapidly changing science of biology. The eight major themes during the course are: science as a process, evolution, energy transfer, continuity and change, relationship of structure to function, regulation, interdependence in nature and science, technology and society. These themes are applied across the entire curriculum in the three major subject areas of molecules and cells, heredity and evolution and organisms and populations. The course focuses on the development of hands-on application, lab work, writing, problem solving, critical thinking, logic, theory, listening, and verbal skills. Valuable for a college prep program. Prerequisite: Instructor recommendation, minimum of a "B" average in Biology 1-2 and Chemistry 1-2, Microbiology and Genetics are strongly recommended. (This course will only be offered every other year starting with the 1999-2000 school year.)

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Advanced Placement Chemistry (2 credits) Grades 11-12
Advanced Placement Chemistry is a full-year elective, introductory college-level course. Students should gain an understanding of fundamentals and a reasonable competence in dealing with chemical problems. The course contributes to the development of the abilities to think clearly and to express ideas, orally and
in writing. The course focuses on the development of hands on application, lab work, writing skills, problem solving, critical thinking skills, logic, theory, listening skills, and verbal skills. Major emphasis on chemical calculations, the mathematical formulation of principles, and the kind of laboratory work done by college students. Valuable for a college prep program. Prerequisite: Instructor recommendation, minimum grade of "B" in Chemistry 1-2. (This course will only be offered every other year starting with the 1999-2000 school year.)

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Honors Chemistry 1-2 (2 credits) Grade 10
Honors Chemistry is a full-year elective course for those students who successfully completed Honors Biology. It is devised to give the advanced skilled student a greater depth of study into the science of Chemistry. Students should gain an understanding of fundamentals and the ability to deal with chemical problems. The course stresses the development of hands-on application, lab work, writing skills, problem solving, critical thinking skills, logic, theory, listening and. Verbal skills. Topics include nomenclature, stoichiometry, qualitative and quantitative analysis, gas laws and an introduction to organic chemistry. Lab activities help develop a greater understanding of classroom concepts. Prerequisite: Minimum "C" average in Honors Biology and must be enrolled in Honors Geometry 1-2.

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Biology 3-4 (2 credits) Grades 11-12
Biology 3-4 is a full-year elective course for students that have successfully completed Biology 1-2. It is an investigative, inquiry-based study emphasizing the structure, function and interaction of organisms in the plant and animal kingdoms both past and present. The course focuses on the development of hands-on application, lab work, writing sills, problem solving, critical thinking, logic, theory, listening skills and verbal skills. Valuable for both college and/or technical prep programs. Valuable to a junior or senior who needs a science elective. Prerequisite: Biology 1-2.

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Integrated Chemistry/Physics (2 credits) Grades 9-12
Integrated Chemistry/Physics introduces the fundamental concepts of scientific inquiry, the structure of matter, chemical reactions, forces, motion, and the interactions between energy and matter. The course will serve students as a laboratory-based introduction to possible future course work in chemistry or physics while ensuring a mastery of the basics of each discipline. The ultimate goal of the course is to produce scientifically literate citizens capable of using their knowledge of physical science to solve real-world problems and to make personal, social, and ethical decisions which have consequences beyond the classroom walls. This course is NOT for any student who has already successfully completed Chemistry or Physics. This course should not be taken by any student planning to take post-secondary studies in a health or science field. Prerequisite: None.

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Anatomy and Physiology (2 credits) Grades 11-12
Anatomy and Physiology is a full-year elective course which explores more detailed descriptions of the structure and functions of the body than those already covered in biology or health courses. Includes the studies of the systems of the body, metabolism and nutrition, the senses and defense mechanisms against disease and injury. Valuable to students planning careers in medicine or the allied health sciences. Prerequisite: Health and Safety, minimum "C" average in Biology 1-2.

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