Earth/Environmental Science

The earth/environmental science curriculum focuses on the function of the earth's systems. Emphasis is placed on matter, energy, crustal dynamics, environmental awareness, materials availability, and the cycles that circulate energy and material through the earth system. The areas of inquiry include:

The learner will build an understanding of lithospheric materials, processes, changes, and uses with concerns for good stewardship
 

The learner will develop an understanding of tectonic processes and their human impacts.
 

The learner will build an understanding of the origin and evolution of the earth system.
 

The learner will build an understanding of the hydrosphere and its interactions and influences on the lithosphere, the atmosphere, and environmental quality.
 

The learner will build an understanding of the dynamics and composition of the atmosphere and its local and global processes influencing climate and air quality.
 

The learner will acquire an understanding of the earth in the solar system and its position in the universe.
 

The learner will build an understanding of alternative choices facing human societies in their stewardship of the earth.

 

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Biology

The Biology curriculum is designed to continue student investigations of the biological sciences begun in grades K - 8. High school inquiry is expanded to include more abstract concepts such as the function of DNA, biological evolution, and the interdependence of organisms. The curriculum includes inquiry into the following content areas:

The learner will develop an understanding of the physical, chemical and cellular basis of life.

The learner will develop an understanding of the continuity of life and the changes of organisms over time.

The learner will develop an understanding of the unity and diversity of life.

The learner will develop an understanding of ecological relationships among organisms.

Students will develop an understanding of the behavior of organisms, resulting from a combination of heredity and environment.

 

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Physical Science

The Physical Science curriculum is designed to continue the investigation of the concepts that guide inquiry in the practice of science begun in earlier grades. The Physical Science course will provide a rich knowledge base to provide a foundation for the continued study of science. The investigations should be approached in a qualitative manner in keeping with the mathematical skills of the students. The curriculum will integrate the following topics from both chemistry and physics:

The learner will construct an understanding of mechanics.

The learner will build an understanding of thermal energy.

The learner will construct an understanding of electricity and magnetism.

The learner will develop an understanding of wave motion and the wave nature of sound and light.

The learner will build an understanding of the structure and properties of matter.

The learner will build an understanding of regularities in chemistry.

 

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Chemistry

The chemistry course encourages students to continue their investigation of the structure of matter along with chemical reactions and the conservation of energy in these reactions. Inquiry is applied to the study of the transformation, composition, structure, and properties of substances. The course focuses on basic chemical concepts and incorporates activities that promote investigations to reinforce the concepts. The curriculum includes inquiry into the following content areas:

The learner will build an understanding of the structure and properties of matter.

The learner will build an understanding of regularities in chemistry.

The learner will build an understanding of energy changes in chemistry.

The learner will build an understanding of equilibrium and kinetics.

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