Science

The goal of the science department is for students to develop a curiosity and appreciation for the complexity of the world around us.  Through a laboratory-based science program, the students will experience a critical thinking approach to problem solving.
Ninth grade                    Biology
Tenth grade                   Chemistry
Eleventh grade               Physics
Twelfth grade                 Science elective

Biology
The goal of our biology course is to encourage an appreciation of the complexity of the living world.  Students will become aware of the interactions between living things and their environment, and between living things and other organisms.
Major Themes
Organisms are linked in a complex web of life.
The DNA code throughout all living things explains both the diversity and the similarity of all living things.
A relationship exists between structure and function at all the levels of life.
Description:  Biology is the study of life.  This course has a laboratory component.  First semester topics include basic chemistry, molecular biology, cell structure and function, genetics, and evolution.  During the second semester, students focus on diversity, ecology and human biology.   Human biology includes a survey of all the body systems, their structure and function
Text: Biology: Principles and Explorations, Holt Rinehart Winston
or Biology: Dynamics of Life, Glencoe

Chemistry
The goal of our chemistry course is to encourage a curiosity about matter and its interactions.  Students will recognize that an understanding of chemistry is critical to understanding all the other sciences.
Major Themes
Reasoning and analytical skills are developed through the study of chemistry.
Understanding of mathematical relationships is used to manipulate models of matter
Models using symbols, numbers, and graphs are used to conceptualize matter and its interactions
Prerequisite:  Ninth grade biology and Algebra ll (concurrent or completed)
Description:  Chemistry is the study of the interaction of matter and energy.  The course has a laboratory component.  First semester topics include classification and organization of matter, atomic, and molecular structure; periodicity; the mole concept; and thermodynamics.   The second semester focuses on solutions; acids, bases and salts; oxidation-reduction; and basic carbon chemistry.
Text:  Modern Chemistry, Holt Rinehart Winston or Chemistry: Concepts and Applications, Glencoe
 
Physics
The goal of our physics course is to encourage a curiosity about the laws and principles of the physical world.  Students will recognize physics as a pure science that is vital to the understanding of our natural world and to the development of technology.
Major Themes
The basic laws of physics are used to understand the smallest subatomic particles to the largest galaxy.
The underlying concepts of physics are used to explain natural phenomena.
Prerequisite:  Biology, Chemistry, Algebra 2 with trigonometry (completed or concurrent)
Description:  Physics is the study of physical laws and their interaction.  Topics taught during the first semester include vectors, kinematics, momentum, and energy.  During the second semester, students study electricity, magnetism, waves, light, and nuclear physics.
Text:  Physics: Principles and Problems, Glencoe