Upper School Science

GRADE

AP/Enriched
Sequence

STANDARD
Sequence

CONCEPTUAL
Sequence

9

Enriched Biology

Biology I

Biology I

10

Enriched Chemistry

Chemistry I

Conceptual Chemistry

11

Enriched Physics

Physics

Conceptual Physics

12

AP Chemistry or AP Physics B
 or AP Physics C or AP Biology or
AP Environmental
(at least 2 of the 5, depending on enrollment)

Anatomy & Physiology
 or
Senior Science
Seminar

Anatomy & Physiology
 or
Senior Science
Seminar

COURSE OFFERINGS FOR GRADE 9

Enriched Biology: This course encompasses cellular morphology and physiology including cellular respiration, fermentation and photosynthesis, cell reproduction and genetics. Special emphasis is placed on the molecular biology of the gene, DNA technology and the human genome.  Evolution serves as a unifying strand in helping students understand the connection between disparate facts and observations. Individual, long-term, in-depth projects are an integral part of this course, designed for motivated and talented science students who are ready for a rigorous science course.

Biology: A college preparatory biology course which covers the same topics as Honors Biology with less of a theoretical, molecular emphasis and more of a practical application of biology to our daily lives.  Students receive more help in handling long-term assignments, and the assignments and activities are more structured and less open-ended.

COURSE OFFERINGS FOR GRADE 10

Enriched Chemistry: Emphasis in the first trimester is on chemical principles and includes atomic theory, chemical equations, atomic structure and chemical bonding. The last two trimesters involve topics from physical chemistry including chemical calculations, chemical equilibrium, chemical kinetics, acid and bases, and oxidation-reduction reactions. This course is designed for motivated and talented science students who are ready for a rigorous science course.  Prerequisite: Enriched Biology.

Chemistry: This course is a thorough study of chemical concepts complete with the mathematics of chemical problem solving.  It covers the same topics as Enriched Chemistry with less emphasis on physical chemistry and more emphasis on relating chemistry to daily life.  Special units on biochemistry, astrochemistry, and forensics are studied.  Concurrent enrollment in Algebra II is recommended.

Conceptual Chemistry:  A thorough study of the major topics of chemistry for students who need more help with the mathematical aspects of the discipline. This course is an opportunity for teachers to provide students with targeted help in developing good problem-solving skills and study skills. Class size is purposely kept low.   Recommended for students who have not completed geometry.

COURSES FOR GRADE 11

Physics with Trigonometry (Honors):  A thorough study including the major areas of physics:  mechanics, optics, waves and electromagnetism. The course is taught with strong emphasis on the quantitative aspects of physics.   Concurrent enrollment in Precalculus is recommended.

Physics: A thorough study including the major areas of physics: mechanics, optics, waves and electromagnetism. Concurrent enrollment in Functional Analysis is recommended.

Conceptual Physics: A thorough study of the major areas of physics: mechanics, optics, waves and electromagnetism for students who need more help with the more mathematical aspects.  This course is an opportunity for teachers to provide students with targeted help in developing good problem-solving skills and study skills. Class size is purposely kept low. Recommended for students who have not completed Algebra II.

COURSE OFFERINGS FOR GRADE 12

AP Chemistry: A rigorous course covering the topics that are normally part of an introductory college course.  These topics include: stoichiometry, gas laws, thermodynamics of reactions, acid-base theory, reaction equilibrium, kinetics and electrochemistry. The rigor of this course will require the completion of assignments during the winter and spring vacations. Special lab sessions before school and/or on Saturdays and/or during lunch may be required. Students are required to take the AP exam in May.  Prerequisite: Successful completion of or concurrent enrollment in Physics with Trigonometry.

AP Physics B:  A college-level, algebra-based physics course that covers all the topics included in Physics with Trigonometry to a greater depth and rigor. Special lab sessions before school and/or on Saturdays and/or during lunch may be required. The rigor of this course will require the completion of assignments during the winter and spring vacations. Students are required to take the AP exam in May.  Prerequisite: Successful completion of Physics with Trigonometry.

AP Physics C: A college-level, calculus-based physics course that covers mechanics and electromagnetism in more depth and rigor than the Physics with Trigonometry course. Special lab sessions before school and/or on Saturdays and/or during lunch may be required. The rigor of this course will require the completion of assignments during the winter and spring vacations. Students are required to take the AP exam in May.  Prerequisite: Successful completion of Physics with Trigonometry and concurrent enrollment in Calculus AB or Calculus BC.

AP Environmental Science:  The goal of this course is to provide students with the scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies required to understand the interrelationships of the natural world, to identify and analyze environmental problems both natural and human-made, and to examine alternative solutions to resolving or preventing them. The rigor of this course will require the completion of assignments during the winter and spring vacations.  Special lab sessions before school and/or on Saturdays and/or during lunch may be required. Students are required to take the AP exam in May. Prerequisite: Successful completion of or concurrent enrollment in Physics with Trigonometry.

AP Biology:  A rigorous course designed to present biology on a college level.  Topics are subdivided into three main areas: molecules and cells, heredity and evolution, and organisms and population. Twelve lab sessions are included. Special lab sessions before school and/or on Saturdays and/or during lunch may be required. The rigor of this course will require the completion of assignments during the winter and spring vacations. Students are required to take the AP exam in May. Prerequisite: Successful completion of or concurrent enrollment in Physics with Trigonometry.

Human Anatomy and Physiology:  This course offers a rigorous, comprehensive study of the human body, the integration of the various systems, and abnormal functioning of tissues and systems.  Students will be exposed to current findings by reading and reporting on assigned journal articles.   Students are expected to complete dissections such as the sheep’s heart and brain, cow’s eye, and fetal pig.  Guest speakers from the health field provide career information for students.  

Senior Science Seminar: Engineering:
Engineering Topics: three units of interdisciplinary engineering-related topics Senior Science Seminars are thematic courses designed to cement what has been learned in three prior years of high school science and to explore new areas such as earth science or engineering. They are interdisciplinary courses that draw on students' prior knowledge of biology, chemistry and physics and other disciplines. The courses emphasize projects, simulations, group design, debates, laboratory activities and internet research. Students will continue to gain practice in writing lab reports, using spreadsheets, doing focused research, interpreting graphs and using mathematics to make predictions -- skills that they will need for success in college. Courses are organized as trimester-long units that parallel the format of college courses. Students are required to take all three trimester courses in the sequence unless they are taking these in addition to another year-long science course. The three units are:

Defying Gravity (trimester 1):    The course begins with an introduction to the engineering design process with design challenges and instruction related to our interaction with gravity.  Challenges include a bungee egg drop, bridge design project, ballistics launch, and aeronautics challenge.   Case studies include the 2001 World Trade Center collapse and plans for reconstruction and the failure of the Oakland Bridge during the 1989 San Francisco earthquake.  Student groups will also design and construct a device for the National Engineering Design Competition and tackle challenge questions related to a variety of engineering disciplines.

The Human Machine (trimester 2):  This trimester focuses on the biophysics of the human body including vision, hearing, and dynamics of body movement.  The study extends beyond biophysics to include the interaction of the human machine and sports.  Projects include the physics of sports, engineering of sports equipment, and topics in sports medicine.  In addition, the human machine enjoys music.  Groups will study the basics of acoustical design by building and refining an electronic guitar (MIT design project).

No Free Lunch!: Energy Resources: (trimester 3):   Scientists and engineers are aggressively seeking new ways to stretch current energy resources as well as design alternatives to generate and store electric energy.  Sources other than fossil fuels including sun, wind, and geothermal technology will be investigated along with ways the energy can be stored and transferred to power devices in the home and road.  The course includes topics in heat transfer, practical electronics and design challenges using sources of alternative energy.

Senior Science Seminar: Earth Science 
Earth Science Topics: three units of content under the unifying theme of the environment

Senior Science Seminars are thematic courses designed to cement what has been learned in three prior years of high school science and to explore new areas such as earth science or engineering. They are interdisciplinary courses that draw on students' prior knowledge of biology, chemistry and physics and other disciplines. The courses emphasize projects, simulations, group design, debates, laboratory activities and internet research. Students will continue to gain practice in writing lab reports, using spreadsheets, doing focused research, interpreting graphs and using mathematics to make predictions--skills that they will need for success in college. Courses are organized as trimester-long units that parallel the format of college courses. Students are required to take all three trimester courses in the sequence unless they are taking these in addition to another year-long science course. The three units are:

Environmental Chemistry(trimester 1):  Following a brief overview of ecosystems, this laboratory program will focus on the chemical reactions that both cause and prevent pollution of our hydrosphere, lithosphere, and atmosphere.  Field studies of pond and stream water will be performed, including the identification of plant and animal populations which reflect the health of our environment.  Solutions to the problems of resource depletion, pollution, and extinction will be investigated, especially conservation of resources, waste management, and alternate energy sources.

Miracle Planet(trimester 2): An investigation of the solar system’s origin kicks off this seminar dealing with our dynamic planet.  Topics include plate tectonics, related geological phenomena, weather patterns, and glaciation.  Evidence of early life forms and mass extinctions is presented, as well as the impact of humans on the Earth.  Models and lab activities supplement the course along with interactive computer programs and related videos. 

Astronomy (trimester 3):  This unit will accent the evolution of cosmological ideas from the geometric views of the Greeks to the mind-boggling visions of modern astronomy.  Our creative spirit has led to the development of scientific models, the fundamental tool to understanding our universe.  This course will concentrate on these scientific models and the astronomical observations that have pointed to them. It will concentrate on the “How do we know...?” questions through a research project, class presentations, readings, laboratory activities, and sessions using the Star Lab planetarium and the school’s telescope

Upper School Curriculum

Other Information