Biology 1A: Voyage of the HMS Beagle
II
Overview:
By retracing
Charles Darwin's famous voyage to the Galapagos Islands,
students will learn how science is used daily to answer
questions about life. On their journey, they will
learn basic biology concepts such as the characteristics
of life, chemistry, cell biology, photosynthesis,
mitosis and meiosis, genetics, DNA, evolution, and
classification.
- Explain
the major ideas and concepts that form the basis
of biological principles, including the composition
of organisms and what gives them the characteristics
of life
- Describe
several areas of scientific study such as zoology,
botany, paleontology, microbiology,
and ichthyology
- Explain
how DNA transmits traits to succeeding generations
- Describe
the processes of protein synthesis, mitosis, and
meiosis, and state the importance of each to the
life cycle of an organism
- Demonstrate
an understanding of evolution: how organisms adapt
to their environment, the evolutionary timeline,
and the role natural selection plays in the process
- Demonstrate
an understanding of scientific classification, the
scientific method, and the science of taxonomy
Activities: 9 laboratory activities,
4 clearance checks, 4 unit evaluations, 6 Captain's
Log Notebook activities
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Biology 1B
Overview: Biology 1B is
about biological diversity- including viruses, bacteria,
protists, fungi, plants, and animals. It is also about
the basic principles of ecology, which is the study
of the interactions of organisms with each other and
with their environments, and the consequences of these
interactions.
Learn to…
- Describe
viruses and understand their importance.
- Identify
the key characteristics of the major groups of organisms,
including bacteria, protists, fungi, plants and
animals.
- Understand
the basic principles of ecology, including ecosystems,
the food pyramid and food chain, and population
growth.
- Explain
how organisms are classified based on their similarities
and differences, as well as their evolutionary relationships.
- Describe
how organisms interact with the environment and
understand the consequences of these interactions.
Activities:
5
lesson quizzes, 10 laboratory activities, 5 discussion
groups, 5 unit projects, 1 final project, and 1 final
exam.
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Health Science
1A: Health Games
Overview:
Students
learn about healthy lifestyle choices that center on
the basic concepts of physical health and wellness.
Nutrition and exercise are emphasized. Students also
learn about health risks, types of illnesses, functions
of the major systems of the body, and health career
options.
Learn
to…
- Understand
concepts related to health promotion and disease
prevention
- Practice
health-enhancing behaviors and reduce your health
risks
- Access
valid health information and health-promoting products
and services
- Use
interpersonal communication, goal-setting, and decision-making
skills to enhance health
- Analyze
the influence of culture, media, technology, and
other factors on health
Activities:
8
unit evaluations, 2 final projects
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and course outline in PDF Format
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Health Science
1B
Overview:
This course covers a broad range of health-related
topics, including a detailed treatment of mental health,
lifetime development from conception through death,
marriage and family issues, and the causes and effects
of violence on the individual and society. It also
touches on the environment, public health, and basics
of safety and emergency care.
Learn
to…
- Outline
the stages of life-long human physical and emotional
development
- Describe
and define the stages of the grief process
- Analyze
and evaluate the role of family and peer relationships
- Describe
appropriate first-aid and emergency procedures
- Analyze
the role of self-esteem and the effects of stress
on mental health and wellness
Activities:
6 unit quizzes, 1 final project
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Oceanography:
Oceans of Earth and Beyond
Overview:
This introductory
laboratory course lets students develop an applied
knowledge of the characteristics of aquatic systems.
Students study ocean structure and marine ecology
through hands-on exploration of coastal waters, open
ocean waters, deep ocean waters, coral reefs, kelp
forests, deep ocean vents, and tide pools. Through
guided practice of the scientific model and with
household instruments, the student conducts a field
study of a local aquatic structure for the final
project.
Learn
to…
- Understand
and investigate human interactions with aquatic
systems; the influence of technology on aquatic
systems; and the physical, biological, chemical,
and temporal components that interact in various
aquatic systems
- Understand
and investigate scientific thinking and processes
through conducting a field study, formulating and
revising scientific explanations, and communicating
and defending a scientific argument
Activities:
8 labs, 4 projects, 4 quizzes, 2 evaluations
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Chemistry 1A: Voyage of the Democritus
Overview:
In this course, students
play the role of young voyagers who leave planet Earth
in search of a new place to live. They must apply
chemistry principles to solve problems dealing with
food, transportation, energy, atmosphere, shelter,
and clothing. Topics include matter, the structure
of atoms and molecules, elements and compounds, the
periodic table, chemical reactions, and the behavior
of gases. They learn how to balance equations,
calculate empirical and molecular formulas, and
determine molar mass.
Learn
to…
- Recognize
how chemistry can alter the environment
- Appreciate
the scientific discoveries that led to the advancement
of current chemistry knowledge
- Master
chemistry concepts such as differentiating between
chemical and physical properties and changes, describing
the composition of atoms, calculating molar masses
of compounds, and describing the patterns of the
periodic table and the information it contains
Activities:
16 quizzes, 6 evaluations, 5 projects, 1 final
project
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Chemistry 1B: Colonization of Planet X
Prerequisites:
First-semester chemistry course and two semesters
of algebra
Overview:
This course takes young explorers on a hypothetical
space trip to colonize a new "livable" planet, providing
the vehicle for teaching chemistry through challenging
and imaginative life-essential scenarios. The five
units teach colligative properties, kinetics and equilibrium,
acids and bases, oxidation and reduction formulas,
and organic chemistry.
Learn
to…
- Identify
factors that permit solution formation
- Predict
chemical reactions in terms of direction of reaction
and ratio of products and reactants
- Solve
problems using an understanding of the nature of
acids and bases
- Work
with a "virtual" hands-on lab experiment
Activities:
10 quizzes, 5 virtual labs, 5 unit evaluations
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Physics 1A
Overview:
This course introduces students
to familiar situations from a new perspective by studying
the discovery of patterns and relationships in natural
phenomena. They will investigate straight-line motion,
motion in two dimensions, energy, relativity, properties
of matter, change of state, heat, and temperature.
Learn
to…
- Concentrate
on major concepts of physics instead of isolated
facts and formulas
- Test
new ideas by making observations, collecting evidence,
searching for patterns, and proposing hypotheses
to explain the observed relationships
- Explain,
according to the laws of physics, the events that
occur in the world around you
Activities:
5 unit evaluations, 3 written assignments, 5 virtual
labs
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Physics 1B
Overview:
This course expands on the
principles covered in Physics 1A. As students progress
through Physics 1B, they learn to explain, according
to the laws of physics, the events that occur in the
world around them. They investigate topics including
wave motion, sound, light, reflection and refraction,
color, magnetism, electricity, and nuclear physics.
Learn
to…
- Concentrate
on major concepts of physics instead of isolated
facts and formulas
- Explore
how physics applies to everyday life
- Test
new ideas by making observations, collecting evidence,
searching for patterns, and proposing hypotheses
to explain the observed relationships
Activities:
4 unit evaluations, 4 written assignments, 4 virtual
labs
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