Science Courses
Physical Science
A knowledge of science and its applications is vital to each person’s ability to function effectively in today’s complex society. This course provides coverage of physical science and earth science. The grade in this class will be determined by homework/classwork assignments, test and quiz grades. Students will need a simple calculator during the first semester. The course will follow a planned curriculum design, and it is important that the student keep up with all reading and assignments.
Basic Units of Study:
First Semester -- Physical Science--Science and Discovery, Matter, Energy, Space and Time, Motion, Work, Energy, Machines, Temperature and Heat, Electricity and Magnetism, Light and Sound
Second Semester -- Earth Science--Planet Earth, Earth's History, Changing Earth - Volcanism, plate tectonics, Atmosphere, Weather and Climate, Ecology, Natural Resources Management, Topographic Maps
Biology
General biology includes the study of the scientifically accepted principals of both physical and biochemistry, and how they directly relate to the living world we experience on a daily basis. The grading in this class will be determined by homework assignments, quiz grades, laboratory experiments, and tests. The student will be responsible for reading the chapters in the book and taking notes in class. The course will move in a logical manner. Regular attendance in class is important. Students will have daily assignments.
Basic Units of Study: Biological processes, Basic physical chemistry, Biochemistry, The structure and function of cells, Homeostasis and transport, Photosynthesis and respiration, Chromosomes, mitosis, and meiosis, Genetics, Algae, Plants – their evolution, structures and functions, Arthropods, Vertebrates
Biology II And Ecology
Designed to familiarize the student with the social, biological, and economic aspects of Ecology. By using an interdisciplinary approach, students will conclude that the efforts of every individual have an effect on the environment. Intended to give the student a more in-depth study into certain aspects of the field of Biology. Topics include: cell division, molecular genetics, cellular respiration, photosynthesis, and microbiology. The grading in this class will be determined by homework assignments, quiz grades, laboratory experiments, and tests. The student will be responsible for reading the chapters in the book and taking notes in class. The course will move in a logical manner. Regular attendance in class is extremely important. Students will have daily assignments.
Basic Units of Study:
Basic Ecology — Habitat, i nterrelationships of species, special relationships between species, food chains and food webs, natural recycling, water cycle, nitrogen cycle, carbon cycle, ecological succession, natural selection
Values Clarification — Human attitudes toward the environment
Environmental Problems — Water pollution; Water treatment; Waste water treatment; air pollution; hazardous waste; solid waste disposal
Population/Resources — Food supply, Effects of government, Land use; Renewable and nonrenewable resources
Anatomy And Physiology
Anatomy and Physiology is the study of all of the human systems and how they function. The class entails lecture and laboratory work with microscope labs and dissection. Skeleton structures and identification, muscle dissection and identification of the cat, dissection, and identification of internal organs of the cat, and dissection and identification of the sheep heart are just some of the topics covered. This class is offered as an introduction for students who may want to enter health care fields such as nursing, physical therapy, medical technician, and EMT. The topics are covered in more detail than Biology but not as much as college anatomy. The grade in this class is determined by homework assignments, tests, laboratory investigations, and quizzes. All students are required to participate in laboratory dissections. Students will be responsible for reading the chapters and taking notes in class. This course builds on information from the preceding chapter so it is important to keep up with work and assignments. Students should expect a great deal of homework.
Basic Units of Study: Review cell structure and organelle function, Medical terminology, Tissue type and function, Skeletal system and bone physiology, Muscular system and physiology, Cat muscle dissection, Nervous tissue, Nervous system, Sensory organs—brain, sight, hearing, and taste, Nutrition, Digestive system and physiology, Respiratory system and physiology, Circulatory system and physiology, Excretory system and physiology, Endocrine System, Reproductive system
Chemistry In The Community
Chemistry is a part, if not all, of our everyday lives. Chemistry in the Community (ChemCom) uses chemical concepts to help you understand the chemistry behind some important issues in our world. This class will help students recognize and understand the importance of chemistry in their lives along with developing problem-solving skills to make informed decisions about scientific and technological issues. Students experience the use and application of their chemistry learning. Most students will find this class interesting because of the many laboratory activities. ChemCom is an excellent alternative for college-prep students who want to know more about chemistry but do not have the mathematics background or strong interest in a science related career. The grade in this class will be determined by homework assignments, class participation, test and quiz grades, and special projects and activities. Every student should have a basic calculator. There will be a great deal of classroom discussion, many laboratories, and very little lecture involved in the course. The course will move at a continuous pace, and it is important that you keep up with the book reading and the assignments. Students should expect daily homework or classwork assignments.
Basic Units of Study: ChemCom uses a thematic approach and teaches chemistry concepts on a need-to-know basis. Some themes covered in this class are water supply and quality, resource conservation, uses of petroleum, air quality, nuclear energy and radiation, food and diet, and the role of chemical industries in society. Each unit has a range of activities to help students understand the chemistry related to each topic.
Chemistry
Chemistry is the study of matter and the components of matter. Chemistry starts with a brief overview of the metric system that is used throughout the class. The class then studies the components of the atom and how they are related. Chemistry covers all topics, stressing inorganic chemistry but introducing organic chemistry. The grading in this class will be determined by homework assignments, quiz grades, laboratory experiments, and tests. Every student must have a calculator that has scientific notation. The student will be responsible for reading the chapters in the book and taking notes in class. The course will move in a logical manner. Regular attendance in class is extremely important. Students will have daily assignments.
Basic Units of Study: Review of Metric System, Composition of matter, Atomic structure, Electron configuration, Chemical bond types, Chemical nomenclature, Identification of equation type, Writing and balancing equations, Gas Laws, Solution chemistry, Acids and bases, Organic chemistry introduction, Nuclear chemistry
Physics
Physics is the study of matter and energy and how they are related. The principles of physics are involved in driving a car, toys, ball games, musical instruments, a rainbow, glasses or contact lenses, and in-home electrical circuits. Physics is all around you. Technological advances are a result of understanding physics and the laws of nature. The most surprising aspect is that physics can often be explained using a small number of laws and mathematical equations. This class will help students recognize and understand the importance of physics in their lives along with developing problem-solving skills to make use of their mathematical skills. The grade in this class will be determined by homework assignments, test and quiz grades, and special projects and activities associated with the class. Every student must have a calculator that can do basic operations along with trig functions. A graphing calculator is not necessary. Students will be responsible for reading the chapters in the book and taking notes in class. There will be a great deal of classroom discussion involved in the course. The course will move at a continuous pace, and it is important that students keep up with the readings and assignments and ask questions whenever necessary. Students should expect daily homework assignments.
Basic Units of Study: The Physics class consists of many topics. Topics covered will be motion and force, Newton’s Laws, circular motion, gravitation, momentum, energy, waves (sound and light), heat and temperature, static and current electricity. Each unit has a range of activities to help you understand the physics related to each topic.
