High School Science
Class List and Description
Physical Science
Grade: 9
Text: Holt Physical Science (2006)
This is a required course taken during the freshman year. Physical science is a study of matter and energy. It is a pre-chemistry and pre-physics course. The first semester is primarily spent studying what substances are made of and how they combine, the chemistry aspect. Topics covered include: general properties of matter, physical and chemical changes, atoms, elements, and the periodic table.
The second semester is spent studying energy in terms of motion, heat, and light. This is the pre-physics section. Topics covered include: motion, forces, simple machines, energy, light, sound, and electricity. Some time is spent working on the annual science fair project for the science fair which is held in March.
Biology
Grade: 10
Text: Biology – Holt, Rinehart, and Winston (2006)
This is a required course taken during the sophomore year. Biology is the of study life. In biology, students study questions about how living things work, what they are made of, how they interact with their environment, and how they interact with each other. Living organisms studied include everything from basic cells, viruses, bacteria, plants, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and up to humans.
Topics covered in this course include: cellular structure and function, genetics, evolution, ecology, microbes, plants, invertebrates, vertebrates, and human biology. The fourth quarter is spent dissecting many of the organisms studied.
Chemistry
Grade(s) 11-12
Text: TBD
Chemistry is an upper-level lab science. Students are required to take one of the three offered upper level lab-sciences. This course is a continuation of 1st semester physical science. Chemistry is the study of the composition, structure, and properties of matter, the processes that matter undergoes, and the energy changes that accompany these processes.
Topics covered in this course include: structure and function of atom, the periodic table, chemical formulas and bonding, equations and reactions, Stoichiometry, states of matter, acids and bases……
Physics
Grade(s) 11-12
Text: Giancolli Physics 5th ed (2001)
Physics is an upper-level lab science. This is not a required course however students are required to take one of the three upper-level lab sciences offered. This course is a continuation of 2nd semester physical science. Physics is the study of matter and energy and of interactions between the two.
Topics covered in this class include: motion, acceleration, momentum, work, energy, simple machines, forces, vectors, thermal energy, electricity, series and parallel circuits.
Human Anatomy and Physiology
Grade(s) 11-12
Text: Structure and Function of the Body - Thibodeau & Patton (1997)
Human anatomy is an upper-level lab science. This is not a required
class however students are required to take one of the three upper-level lab
sciences offered. There are two elements to this course: anatomy and
physiology. The first is anatomy which is the study of the structure of the
body parts. The second is physiology which is the study of how each part
works. The course starts out on the cellular level and works its way up to the
different organ systems of the human body.
Topics covered include the structure of cells, the different types
of cells, the different types of organs, their structure and function, and the
different organ systems that make up the human body.