Science Curriculum

Physical Education/Health is a comprehensive, year long, course for 9th Graders.  The Physical Education portion recognizes the individual needs of the students and strives to help each student develop her personal capabilities to her fullest potential.  A variety of physical activities are explored from the fundamental skills to game strategy, while helping each student achieve a healthy level of cardiovascular fitness, muscular strength, and muscular endurance.  In addition to teaching the particular skills and strategies for specific sports,  students develop socialization and leadership skills through activities that foster cooperation, team building, and sportsmanship. The Health portion teaches students how to promote and maintain their physical, mental, and emotional health.  Emphasis is placed on values clarification and decision-making to help students develop communication and critical thinking skills.  The class is conversation-based and student-centered, using whole and small group discussions, role-plays, group projects to explore topics including teenage depression, bullying, healthy relationships, sexual decision making, nutrition, sustainability, and physical fitness.

Prerequisite: None

Biology is a one-year laboratory science course required for graduation. It serves as an introduction to the major concepts of modern biology, including biochemistry, cell biology, genetics, a survey of the six kingdoms, human biology, ecology and evolution. Laboratory opportunities include experience with light microscopes, dissections and designing controlled experiments.

Prerequisites: C in Algebra I or C- in Adv. Algebra I; C in Biology recommended; minimum 2.8 cumulative GPA; departmental approval.

Chemistry is a one-year course in the study of the structure of matter and the changes it undergoes. The areas of study form a progressive ladder of learning including discussions of descriptive, physical, analytical, inorganic, and organic chemistry. The course of study also includes industrial chemistry and applications of chemical technology, with an overall emphasis on problem solving and the development of logical thinking skills. The course includes regular laboratory experiences.

Prerequisites: B+ in Adv. Algebra I or Honors Geometry; B+ in Biology and co-enrollment H Algebra II or higher; minimum 3.8 cumulative GPA and departmental approval.

This course is appropriate for highly motivated students that intend to major in a science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) discipline in college.    Honors chemistry is a rigorous, fast-paced course that covers laboratory safety, data analysis, atoms, atomic structure, stoichiometry, bonding, thermodynamics, chemical kinetics, equilibrium, acid-base chemistry and nuclear chemistry.    Students will develop process skills;  such as teamwork, critical thinking and communication through the instructor facilitated group-learning methods.  The students will frequently perform laboratory experiments.

Prerequisite: B in Biology; minimum 2.8 cumulative GPA; department approval.

This is a one-year elective which deals with the anatomical structure and principal functions of the human body, including a study of muscle, skeletal, circulatory, nervous, digestive, respiratory, and endocrine systems, as well as a consideration of metabolism, excretion, and reproduction. Recommended for students interested in a health science career.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Biology.

This case studies based class emphasizes group work on cases involving topics such as energy, water, pollution and global climate change. 

Prerequisites: B+ in Biology and Chemistry, or B- in Honors Chemistry; minimum 3.8 cumulative GPA, department approval.

Advanced Placement Environmental Science, a one-year laboratory science course usually taken junior year, is the study of the natural sciences in an interdisciplinary context that includes consideration of people and how they have influenced the systems under examination. It includes many aspects of biology, earth and atmospheric sciences, fundamental principles of chemistry and physics, human population dynamics, and an appreciation for biological and natural resources. Fields like environmental economics, environmental policy, and sustainable choices for the future are often touched upon but are not a major component. The course includes a significant laboratory and field investigation component.

Prerequisites: A- in Biology and B+ in Honors Chemistry; minimum 4.0 cumulative GPA; departmental approval.

Advanced Placement Biology is a one-year laboratory course usually taken junior year. It covers many of the topics presented in Biology in greater detail. The course includes considerable independent study and 12 laboratory exercises. The curriculum covers a broad range of topics, including biochemistry, energy transformations, genetics, cellular/molecular biology, plant and animal structure and function, human biology, the origin of life, ecology and evolution.

Prerequisite: B in Algebra II or C+ in Honors Algebra II/Trig; minimum 2.8 cumulative GPA and department approval.

Physics is a one year course designed to address the interesting and important topics necessary for every modern citizen to know. The path taken through the field of physics covers energy, heat, gravity, forces, radioactivity, chain reactions, electricity, magnetism, sound, light and waves. As a result, by the end of the course students know more about global power production, alternative energy sources, explosions, spy satellites, nuclear weapons, radioactivity, electric circuits and motors, medical imaging and sound production and detection. The course places emphasis on understanding physics concepts, which can be demonstrated in lab experiments, written analysis of texts and observations in daily life.

Prerequisites: B+ or higher in Honors Algebra II/Trig; B+ in Honors Chemistry; minimum 3.8 cumulative GPA and department approval.

Honor Physics is a one year course of study investigating fields of mechanics (force and motion), electricity, magnetism, and waves (sound and light). The course is designed to develop mastery of both skills (i.e. methods and strategies of investigation) and content (i.e. the behavior and structure of matter). The ultimate goal in this course is for students to learn to question their intuition about physical phenomena as they work to develop a scientific basis for intuition. Course methods will include scientific investigative skills, mathematical methods, descriptive and analytical writing, experimentation and data analysis.

Prerequisites:  A or A- in Sophomore & Junior science classes; application and departmental approval.

Students in this project-based course will have the chance to do undergraduate-level laboratory research in medicine and in environmental science.  Students will meet researchers, professionals and SciSearch alumnae to help them with their projects.  Summer work involves watching unique TED talks and exploring possible projects.  In the fall, students will learn how to read scientific papers and write an original research proposal for external funding.  After Christmas break, the party begins in the lab.  Students will work in a one-of-a-kind high school lab to do their project experiments.  It all wraps up when students share their work with Tologs, teachers, parents, and present a poster at the Archer STEM Symposium, just like students do in college. 

Prerequisites: B- in Biology and/or department approval.

Forensic Science is a one-semester elective course involving the study and application of science to examine and interpret criminal evidence. Crime lab techniques will be studied and practiced in lab activities. Relevant actual cases will be reviewed. Topics may include an introduction to Forensic Science; types of evidence; crime scene analysis; analysis of fingerprints, hair, fibers, drugs, poisons, trace evidence, blood, DNA, bones, soil, glass and handwriting.

Prerequisite: 9th grade P.E./Health

This course is a one-semester elective that introduces the student to the many aspects of Athletic Training. Concepts in Kinesiology such as injury prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation will be covered. The student will learn taping techniques for bracing joints. Correct uses of modalities in the Training room are learned. This course is recommended for students interested in a sports medicine career.

Prerequisite: B+ or higher in Biology

A spongy, three-pound mass of tissue -- the brain -- controls every aspect of the body, ranging from circulation and appetite to emotion and memory. Because the brain shapes our thoughts, beliefs, hopes, dreams, and imaginations, the brain is what makes us human.  By the end of the first semester, students understand the structure of the brain and how the brain senses, thinks, behaves, and creates memories for learning and language, as well as how the environment (stress, diet, exercise and time) impacts the brain.  We also explore brain diseases, disorders, and treatments. Armed with this solid foundation in neuroscience, students spend the second semester learning to think like doctors. In this project-based class, students engage in individual research projects and seminar-style problem solving. Utilizing neuroscience as a foundation to explore any human biology topic, students are guided through a self-designed, long-term research project.  This course is designed for students who are considering college majors in a medical or health related field, such as medicine, psychology, occupational therapy, neural or biomedical engineering, public health, lab neurobiology research, radiology or imaging, speech-language pathology, or kinesiology.  Meets UC “G” elective requirement.