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Science

Our science curriculum is partially integrated with the World Civilizations Program: we teach zoology alongside Aristotle, Newton and Lavoisier with the Enlightenment, and Einstein alongside the history of the atom bomb. Our teachers engage young minds using proven techniques and help them to master concepts through real life applications, accompanied by hands-on science experiments and computer learning--all varied to suit individual learning styles. We teach students to ask questions about the world around them at all ages, to seek understanding and avoid memorization and prejudgment about natural phenomena by using scientific reasoning. Students take integrated science courses until the ninth grade, and then, enter regular or AP level biology, chemistry and physics courses.

Integrated Science I

This course introduces students early to the fundamentals of Science, while emphasizing a thorough knowledge of Mathematical concepts. Since most important scientific theories are derived from and use simple equations, this is also the ideal stage for introducing students to basic equation solving and Pre-Algebra. This class is designed mainly to attract students to the exciting world of Science, while reinforcing basic skills in Mathematics, English and even History, and includes an introductory preparation in lab report writing.

Scientific Skill Formation: Making good hypotheses. Designing scientific experiments. Writing lab reports. Performing a variety of stimulating and challenging experiments in:

Mathematics Skills Enhanced and Developed: word problem solving, fractions, decimals, proportions, percentages, basic geometry, unit measurement and basic conversion, rounding, place value, scientific notation, integers, exponents, roots, simple equation solving, graphing of lines, classification of geometric figures and solids, geometric constructions, and symmetry.

Integrated Science II

Students at this grade level develop a keen and deep interest in the cause and effect relationships governing scientific phenomena. Many seek the answer to very pointed questions such as what causes electricity, how one can predict a certain weather pattern, or how people launch satellites into orbit. This course emphasizes a strong understanding of scientific phenomena as well as critical thinking and analysis. Students are required to write lab reports, interpret their results, participate in scientific debates, and make in-class demonstration of experiments.

Scientific Skill Formation: Designing a scientific experiment. Writing a complete lab report. Performing a variety of in-class demonstrations and science fair display.

Mathematical Skills Enhanced and Developed: word problems requiring algebra for their solution, properties of the real numbers, graphical solution of equations, solution of equations in one unknown and solution of simultaneous equations, Pythagorean theorem, computation of the perimeter and areas of two-dimensional regions, computation of the surface area and volume of a wide variety of geometric solids, statistics and probability.

Integrated Science III

A continuation of the preceding section, this program is particularly adapted to thoroughly prepare students for Physics, Chemistry and Biology at the High School level. By preparing them early in a fun, challenging, yet non-threatening environment, this program is intended to remove some of the fear and reticence facing students in advanced Science. Graduates of this program will feel more confident about their abilities, as well as more enthusiastic about pursuing a course of study in Science. Many of the topics studied in the 7th grade are revisited in greater depth and complemented to introduce students to the critical knowledge they will need to master advanced science classes. Students are required to write lab reports, interpret their results, participate in scientific debates, and make in-class demonstration of experiments.

Scientific Skill Formation: Designing a scientific experiment. Writing a professional grade report. Performing a compelling demonstration and science fair experiment.

Mathematical Skills Enhanced and Developed: basic trigonometric functions, direct and inverse variation, exponential growth, vectors, polar and rectangular coordinate system, sequences and series, Euclidian geometry.

Integrated Science IV

This is the final course in the Science Fundamentals series. It introduces students to subjects they will take next year at the AP level. The most talented students may skip directly into Advanced Placement science classes such as AP Biology or AP Chemistry.

Scientific Formation: Designing a scientific experiment. Writing a complete lab report. Performing a compelling demonstration and science fair display.

Mathematical Skills Enhanced and Developed: plane geometry theory and practice, solid geometry theory and practice, mathematical modeling, logarithms, antilogarithms, and exponential functions, trigonometric identities, inverse trigonometric functions, graphs of sinusoids, rectangular and polar representations, introduction to functional analysis and the use of graphing calculators.

College Level or College Prep Science

All School of Choice students will study biology, chemistry and physics in their high school years. Students may take AP Biology, Chemistry, Physics or Environmental Science in the tenth, eleventh and twelfth grades. Students who pass AP exams may be favored in college admissions and often may enter college with many units completed. Students with less interest in science may take regular courses in these same subjects.