Biology I  |  Biology II  |  AP Biology  | Chemistry I  |  Physics I  |  Anatomy & Physics

Biology I                      Course Number: 553                    Prerequisites: none
  
Biology I is an introductory course exploring the concepts and interrelated laws of the biological world. The course may count towards a student’s three-year graduation requirement in science.  Using a variety of instructional tools, including hands-on material and inquiry-based pedagogy, students will be prepared to devise controlled, multivariable experiments as well as appreciate and apply biology principles and procedures to real life situations.

Major Topics:          
The specific topics include chemistry of life, structure and function of cells, genetics, human anatomy and physiology, evolution and biodiversity, and ecology.  The course examines the core topics listed in the Massachusetts Science and Technology/Engineering Curriculum Framework of May 2001. 

Instructional Time:  5 class periods and 1 laboratory period (minimum of 282 min./week)

Required Assessments/Products:      
•      Mid-Year and End of Year Assessments
•     Lab experiences appropriate to text
•      MCAS test in Biology at grade 9 or 10.
•      Science Notebook (i.e. class notes, observations, data, laboratory reports, student reflections)

Instructional Materials:  Kendall-Hunt:  BSCS Biology A Human Approach or Prentice-Hall: Living Things

Chemistry I            Course Number: 554
Prerequisites: The student must have taken and passed one high school level science course.

Chemistry I is an introductory course about matter, defining the variety of materials of the physical world around us, and the concepts and interrelated laws of chemistry. The course may count toward a student’s three-year graduation requirement in science.  Using a variety of
instructional tools, including hands-on material and inquiry- based pedagogy, students will be prepared to devise controlled, multivariable experiments as well as appreciate and apply chemistry principles and procedures to real life situations.

Major Topics:          
The specific topics include properties of matter, atomic structure, periodicity, chemical bonding, chemical reactions and stoichiometry, gases and kinetic molecular theory, solutions, acids and bases, and equilibrium and kinetics.   The course examines the core topics listed in the Massachusetts Science and Technology/ Engineering Curriculum Framework of May 2001. 

Required Assessments/Products:        

• Mid-Year and End of Year Assessments  
• Lab experiences appropriate to text being used.
• MCAS test in Chemistry at grades 10 or 11
• Science Notebook (i.e. class notes, observations, data, laboratory reports, student reflections)

Instructional Time:  5 class periods and 1 laboratory period (Minimum of 252min/week)

Instructional Materials:  Glencoe,  Chemistry Concepts and Applications; Kendall-Hunt,  Chemistry in the Community

Physics I            Course Number: 555                        Prerequisites:  None.
   
Physics I is an introductory course, which explores the basic nature of the physical world, with an emphasis on developing conceptual understanding.   The course may be topically presented rather than in theoretically based units.  For example, the course could be organized around topics such as communication, sports or home.  The course may count toward a student’s three-year graduation
requirement in science.  Using a variety of instructional tools, including hands-on material and inquiry-based pedagogy, students will be prepared to devise controlled, multivariable experiments as well as appreciate and apply physic principals and procedures to real life situations.

Major Topics:          
The specific topics include motion and forces, conservation of energy and momentum, heat and hear transfer, waves, electromagnetism, and electromagnetic radiation. The course examines the core topics listed in the Massachusetts Science and Technology/Engineering Curriculum Framework of May 2001. 

Required Assessments/Products:      

• Mid-Year and End of Year Assessments
• Lab experiences appropriate to text being used.
• MCAS test in Physics at grades 9 or 10.
• Science Notebook (i.e. class notes, observations, data, laboratory reports, student reflections)

Instructional Time: 5 class periods and 1 laboratory period (Minimum of 252min/week)

Instructional Materials: It’s About Time, Active Physics; Prentice-Hall, Conceptual Physics. Some exam schools may use different texts.