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The Science Department at PHS is composed of a diverse staff of teachers. Seventh through ninth grade students are offered standard science classes with a broad curriculum. In tenth grade, students are offered the oppurtunity to participate in more advanced and specific courses, such as Biology, Chemistry, Oceanography, and Physics. Patch High School requires 2 laboratory sciences to graduate. Plus either one extra math or science credit, i.e. either 2 maths and 3 sciences or 3 maths and 2 sciences. Mr. R's - Chemistry and Physics Home Page
CHEMISTRY APPLICATION IN THE COMMUNITY GRADE LEVEL 9-12 PREREQUISITE NONE MAJOR CONCEPTS/CONTENT: This course is designed as an entry level course to help a student understand the chemistry behind some important societal issues. Information will be presented in an integrated approach, incorporating advanced topics with science as inquiry, science & technology, science & social perspectives, and the history & nature of science. BIOLOGY GRADE LEVEL 9-12 PREREQUISITE NONE MAJOR CONCEPTS/CONTENT: The Biology course is designed to give students an understanding of the dynamic interrelatedness of the biological world. The course begins with a study of the nature of ecology and the biosphere. From this foundation students develop an appreciation of the diversity of life on earth and of the biological patterns formed by living systems in the biosphere. Once students have gained an understanding of the larger concepts of ecology, they are introduced to the biological unit of the individual organism in terms of cellular biology, genetics, and plant and animal behavior. The concepts of the course are presented to students through a mixture of lecture, reading assignment, film and filmstrips. Lectures and reading assignments are reinforced with selected laboratory exercises designed to give students additional insights into the biological concepts under consideration in the course, and to provided students with experience in doing the kinds of things scientists do in laboratories. AP BIOLOGY LENGTH OF COURSE 36 WEEKS PREREQUISITE: BIOLOGY I, WITH INSTRUCTOR APPROVAL. MAJOR CONCEPTS/CONTENT: AP Biology is a continuation of Biology I and builds on the basic foundations laid in the first year of biology. The course begins with the completion of human biology, students are introduced to the study of techniques used in the fields of microbiology, with an emphasis on virology, bacteriology, and protistology. These three major groups of organisms are studied in terms of their place in the biosphere and their beneficial and harmful impact upon humans. With an understanding of microbiology, students are introduced to the study of mycology and botany. The various topics of the course are presented to students through a combination of lectures, reading assignments, laboratory work, films, and filmstrips. CHEMISTRY LENGTH OF COURSE 36 WEEKS PREREQUISITE ALGEBRA WITH GEOMETRY, COURSE III OR TAKEN CONCURRENTLY MAJOR CONCEPTS/CONTENT: The properties of matter being a consequence of structure will be the central theme of this chemistry course. Selected topics and chapters from the textbook CHEMISTRY: A MODERN COURSE will be presented through lecture, demonstrations, audiovisuals and experimentation. Students will be introduced to qualitative and quantitative lab work. As quantitative relationships will be studied throughout the course, a good working knowledge of algebra is recommended. PHYSICS LENGTH OF COURSE 36 WEEKS PREREQUISITE: ALGEBRA WITH GEOMETRY, COURSE III, CHEMISTRY MAJOR CONCEPTS/CONTENT: Physics will be offered as a comprehensive course for college preparatory students. The course will include both text and laboratory assignments. The student will study each of the four major subdivisions of physics: 1) mechanics and heat; 2) waves; 3) electricity; 4) nuclear physics. Each student will learn the processes of measurement and problem solving techniques. The techniques require a superior understanding of algebra and geometry with some understanding of the basic principles of trigonometry. EARTH & SPACE SCIENCE LENGTH OF COURSE 36 WEEKS PREREQUISITE NONE MAJOR CONCEPTS/CONTENT: The course is designed to be a laboratory-oriented science course that teaches science process and thinking skills in a social issue context. Instructional activities will include lectures, demonstration, laboratory investigation, field and community investigation, role-playing and simulations, computer simulations and computer-data analysis. Major emphasis will be placed on collecting, analyzing, and making valid inferences from real data. |
10/6/08
