Concord High School Science Department

Courses Earth and Environmental Science Regular, Honors and AP Environmental Science Biology Regular, Honors/MYP, DP I, DP II and AP Physical Science Chemistry Physics Regular and Honors Marine Biology Astronomy

Earth and Environmental Science This course emphasizes the function of the earth’s system. Emphasis is placed on the human interactions with the Earth’s geologic and environmental systems, predictability of a dynamic Earth, origin and evolution of the Earth system and universe, geochemical cycles and energy in the Earth system.

Biology This course is a laboratory-based science class in which students will study the cell, the molecular basis of heredity, biological evolution, interdependence of organisms and their behavior, matter and energy, and organization in living systems. Honors Biology will explore these topics on a deeper level with more analysis, collaboration, hands-on activities, and real-life applications. This course is more difficult and requires a teacher recommendation and a B or better in Honors Earth and Environmental Science or an A in Regular Earth and Environmental Science.

Chemistry This course is a laboratory-based science class in which students will study the structure and properties of matter as they explore chemical reactions, the structure of atoms, conservation and interactions of energy and matter. The Chemistry course encourages students to continue their investigations of the structure of matter along with chemical reactions and the conservation of matter and energy in those reactions. Inquiry is applied to the study of the composition, structure, properties and transformation of substances. The course focuses on basic chemical concepts and incorporates investigations to build understanding of these concepts. The unifying concepts and program strands provide a context for teaching content and process skill goals. MYP/Honors Chemistry explores these concepts on a deeper level and includes more hands-on labs and applications of information learned in class. This course requires teacher recommendation and an A in the previous math course due to the chemical calculations needed for this course. The Honors level course has been taught on the A/B day schedule. Online teaching strategies are heavily utilized.

DP I and II Chemistry The curriculum for this course includes quantitative chemistry, atomic structure, periodicity, bonding, energetics, kinetics, acids and bases, equilibrium, oxidation and reduction, organic chemistry, measurement and data processing. There will be additional topic options and advanced organic chemistry. We will be using regular laboratory exercises to discover, explore and reinforce the aforementioned content. In addition to following traditional lab procedures, you will eventually devise your own procedures and design your own experiments. Advanced algebra skills are essential for this course, as a large amount of time will be used processing and analyzing raw lab data. The overall goal of this course is to not only prepare you for the IB Chemistry SL paper, but to have you develop a thorough background in chemistry that can be applied to many aspects of your personal life and as a preparation for college level science. Online teaching strategies are heavily utilized.

AP Chemistry AP Chemistry is a course geared toward highly motivated students with interests in chemical and physical sciences as well as any of the biological sciences. AP Chemistry is a course that addresses and involves focusing on a model of instruction which promotes enduring, conceptual understandings and the content that supports them. AP Chemistry is the highest level of chemistry offered at schools and vastly explores the big ideas of: the structure of matter, bonding and intermolecular forces, chemical reactions, kinetics, thermodynamics, and chemical equilibrium. Online teaching strategies are heavily utilized. The prerequisites for AP Chemistry include the successful completion of Chemistry and Algebra II.

Physics Physics, the most fundamental of the natural sciences, is quantitative in nature and uses the language of mathematics to describe natural phenomena. Inquiry is applied to the study of matter and energy and their interaction. Learners will study natural and technological systems involving two and three dimensional motion. Year Long Course (A day B day) Pre req Math II.

AP Environmental Science The goal of the AP Environmental Science 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, to evaluate the relative risks associated with these problems, and to examine alternative solutions for resolving and/or preventing them. Environmental science is interdisciplinary; it embraces a wide variety of topics from different areas of study. Yet there are several major unifying constructs, or themes, that cut across the many topics included in the study of environmental science. The AP Environmental Science course is designed to be the equivalent of a one-semester, introductory college course in environmental science. In order to take this year long course you must have taken and passed Earth and Environmental Science and either be enrolled in or have passed Biology.

AP Biology AP Biology is designed to offer students a foundation in introductory college-level biology and to prepare students for the AP biology exam. In AP Biology, four big ideas are emphasized: 1.) evolution, 2.) biological systems utilize free energy, 3.) living systems store, retrieve, transmit, and respond to information essential to life, 4.) biological systems interact with each other, possessing complex properties. Thirteen major labs are conducted throughout the year that explore the biology curriculum as it is taught. Students who take AP Biology will develop advanced inquiry and reasoning skills, such as designing a plan for collecting data, analyzing data, applying mathematical routines, and connecting concepts. The result will be a readiness for the study of advanced topics in subsequent college courses. AP Biology is a year long course and prerequisites including EES, Honors Biology, and Chemistry should be completed before one enrolls in this class.

Marine Biology This course is designed for students with a special interest in Marine Biology. Marine Biology explores and introduces the student to marine life, marine biological communities, and marine ecology including human impact. The course includes lecture, labs, and a field trip.

Astronomy Students will learn about individual planets in detail (formation, atmosphere, composition, etc), stars (composition, lifespan/ colors, H-R diagram), our moon as well as the moons of other planets; how the electromagnetic spectrum is used in astronomy; Human space exploration in the past, present and future.

9th - Honors Biology / AP Environmental Science What courses should I take if I want to go to a four year college / university? 9th - Honors Biology / AP Environmental Science (You should already have Honors Earth Science) 10th - Honors Chemistry 11th - Physics /AP Chemistry/ AP Biology / AP Environmental Science 12th- Physics /AP Chemistry/ AP Biology /

9th - Earth and Environmental Science (Honors or Regular) What courses should I take if I am heading to the workforce or community college. 9th - Earth and Environmental Science (Honors or Regular) 10th - Biology (Honors or Regular) 11th - Physical Science or Physics Chemistry 12th - Astronomy or Marine Biology or any other of the Physical Sciences.

What Science classes should I take if I not strong in Reading / Math 9th - Focus on Reading / Math Classes 10th - Earth Science and Physical Science 11th - Biology 12th - Astronomy or Marine Biology.