Sciences
Developing scientific inquiry, reasoning, research, analysis, and communication skills through laboratory investigations of the life, natural, and physical sciences
Science in the Early and Lower Schools is a hands-on exploratory approach designed to develop interest, curiosity and critical thinking.
In the Elementary School, the students:
- explore science through a hands-on approach.
- develop an interest in and curiosity for science.
- understand that laws of nature govern the order of life.
In the Middle School, the students:
- experiment with the dynamics of Earth and the systems that interact with it.
- explore matter and its intersection with motion, forces, and energy.
- develop methods of scientific inquiry.
- are introduced to the life sciences through a study of animals.
Science in the Junior and High School is an in-depth exploration of the nature, processes, limitations, and potentials of the life, natural, and physical sciences and their interactions with society.
In the Junior High, the students:
- study life through heredity.
- explore atoms and molecular interactions..
- develop an understanding of man's interaction with the environment and the Earth's natural resources.
In High School, the students:
- achieve a deeper understanding of the concepts of change, diversity, and continuity of living things..
- understand the structure, regulation, preservation, and behavior of organisms.
- explore, develop, and apply the concepts of physical sciences.
- come to understand the nature of matter and energy and the interactions between them.
- gain an appreciation of the scientific process that has resulted in the body of knowledge we have today.
Science Sequence:
Integrative
Science |
Environmental
Science |
Life
Science |
Astronomy
and
Botany |
Conceptual
Physics |
Chemistry |
Biology |
Physics |
Course Description
1 year; 1 credit
Textbooks: The Practical Astronomer by Colin A. Ronan; The Atlas of the Night Sky by Storm Dunlop
Course Content and Objectives: To explore and understand the universe and our Solar System paying particular attention to the physical and mathematical relations that define the science of astronomy. Activities and discussion of outlined topics: the Sun, planets, orbits, weight, speed of light, atmospheric conditions, mathematical theory involving the principles of physics and astronomy, Newton's first three laws.
1 year; 1 credit
Textbooks: Biology, 5th ed. (Prentise Hall)
Course Content and Objectives: An exploration of life from one-celled organisms to the most complex systems. Emphasis is on application of laboratory techniques and the interpretation of data.
1 year; 1 credit
Textbooks: Mircoorganisms by Barbara Ward; Plants-Angiosperms by Robert Leftwich; FIeld Book of Natural History
Course Content and Objectives: To explore the development of plants from micro organisms to seed producing plants and classify those plants using common taxonomy principles. Lab activities and discussion of outlined topics: micro organisms: protists and monerans; gymnosperm; angiosperms; the parts and purposes of: roots, leaves, and flowers; Photo synthesis, respiration in plants; types of flowers, fruits, and seeds; taxonomy of trees and wild flowers; classification and characteristics of various plants.
1 year; 1 credit
Textbooks: Chemistry: the Central Science, 8th ed. (Prentise Hall)
Course Content and Objectives: An exploration of the properties of matter and its behavior through laboratory experimentation and class discussion. Students are involved in problem solving requiring interpretation and application of data. Students are required to complete a laboratory journal of all experiments including all data and observation.
- Course: Integrated Physical Science
1 year; 1 credit
Textbooks: An Introduction to Physical Science (Shipman, Wilson, and Todd)
Course Content and Objectives: An introduction to Chemistry, Geology, and Physics. Lab technique is the major emphasis of this course. The connection to the physical sciences to mathematics is applied. The student is required to keep a laboratory journal including all data and results of each experiment.
1 year; 1 credit
Textbooks: TBA
Course Content and Objectives: The fundamental principles of physics. Concepts with applied mathematics are emphasized. This course expands the topics covered in Integrated Physical Science and delves into the more complex aspects of physics. Students are required to keep a laboratory journal of all experiments, their procedures, data, and results.