Tuscarora High School Academic School Year Science Research Project

Tuscarora Science Tracks… Earth Science – 9 th Grade 9 th grade: Honors Earth Science 10 th grade: Biology 11 th grade: Chemistry, Environmental, Physics, AP Biology (w/Chem), GIS 12 th grade: AP level courses, Environmental, GIS or ISR Honors Biology – 9 th Grade 9 th grade: Honors Biology 10 th grade: Chemistry 11 th grade: AP Biology, AP Chemistry, Physics, Environmental, GIS 12 th grade: AP level courses, Environmental, GIS or ISR

Where should I be in math? Honors Earth Science – 9 th Grade Entering into at minimum Algebra 1 or past Algebra 1 Should be an A-B student in math Honors Biology – 9 th Grade Entering into at minimum Geometry or past Geometry Should be an A student in math

Scientific Research is about studying the natural phenomenon that occurs on Earth & how we can better improve our world. Problem Solving Skills Apply mathematical skills Analysis/Data Skills Present their findings to scientists in the greater DC metropolitan area.

Click on academics Scroll to “Science” Click on LCPS Regional Science and Engineering Fair Click on 2012 Student Abstracts

Honors Earth Science: (25% of your grade each quarter) Foundational science course to build research based skills for higher level science courses Learning how to conduct background research for inquiry based labs or earth science related projects, creating procedures for different earth science topics, applying their knowledge in applicable experiments/models, analyzing data using mathematical analysis, etc. Examples: Oceanography Project – setting up a salt water tank and investigating how organisms behave in that environment. Students will also use salinity sensors and hygrometers to learn about different scientific tools used in ocean exploration. Meteorology Project – Tracking hurricanes during the season using the ArcGIS program, GPS equipment etc.

Further utilizing skills gained in honors earth science to use in inquiry based labs or biology related projects, further skills in analyzing data using statistical analysis Ability to write a research paper, cite a paper, create bibliography in APA format on your own before entering this course! Higher level math ability On top of school work, seeks helps and asks questions! Organized Time management skills Passionate about science Passionate about math analysis Loves to experiment Takes responsibility, completes assignments on time Student should want to be here!!! Honors Biology: (25% of your grade each quarter)

You will complete the following assignments over the summer: 1. Student Interest Survey 2. How to Read a Scientific Paper 3. Literature Review: Collection of 10 sources 4. Literature Review on a specific science topic or current event topic

Student Interest Survey: use the word template to type in your answers..this will help you lead to scientific current events you are interested in to write your Science Literature Review! Student Interest Survey

A 3 part assignment to help you gain understanding on how to read scientific papers:3 part assignment A scavenger hunt on how to find scientific papers and the information they contain. Using a scientific journal article and analyzing the parts of the scientific inquiry (hypothesis, IV, DV, control, constants, results, analysis and conclusion) Using Ted Talks – “Bio-mimicry in Action” and analyzing the scientist’s findings

Decide on your topic area Collect 10 sources/informational notes on previous research that pertains to your topic area.10 sources/informational notes Credible vs. non-credible Examples: Bacterial growth with different types of pimple creams: how bacteria respond to different chemicals, tests that were previously done on the products, the differences in pimple creams on the market. How age affects ability to read and comprehend volume and numbers: aging effects on brain development, how much a person can memorize in a given amount of time.

Student will organize their 10 sources into a well written paper with an introduction to their topic and a conclusion based on what has been discovered about their topic, what needs to be improved, and where scientists can go from here. well written paper Roughly 1000 word paper Use APA format for in text citations and your bibliography

Please contact your guidance counselor or Gabrielle Carpenter if you are switching to honors earth If you enroll in honors biology…. You will submit all of your work (student survey, how to read a scientific paper assignment, 10 sources/notes, and Literature review) on SEPTEMBER 5 th and 6 th 2012 If you have specific questions on an assignment: Amanda Smith – Benjamin Kagan – All assignments are on the science department webpage (under academics, scroll down to science and the Honors Biology Requirements link on the left tool bar to access everything!)