Science

3001 - BIOLOGY I LAB HON - (Gr 9) 2 CREDITS

Honors Biology is designed to give students an in-depth knowledge of biological science. The curriculum strictly follows the Massachusetts standards preparing students to take the Biology MCAS test at the end of their freshman year. Topics that are covered include biochemistry, cell biology, genetics, human anatomy, evolution, and ecology. Students are assessed based on daily class work, unit and district tests, projects, and weekly homework.

3002 – BIOLOGY I LAB CP1 - (Gr 9) 2 CREDITS

College Preparatory Biology is designed to give students a primary knowledge of biological science. The curriculum strictly follows the Massachusetts standards, preparing students to take the Biology MCAS test at the end of their freshman year. Topics that are covered include biochemistry, cell biology, genetics, human anatomy, evolution, and ecology. Students are assessed based on daily class work, unit and district tests, and weekly homework.

3052 - BIOLOGY II LAB CP1 - (Gr 10) 1 CREDIT

This is a sophomore level course that is designed to meet the specific needs of students who need to meet the Biology MCAS competency requirements. Topics of study will include the chemistry of life, cell biology, genetics, anatomy and physiology, biodiversity, and ecology. Students will be prepared to take the Biology MCAS in June.

3061 – CHEMISTRY LAB HON - (Gr 10) 1 CREDIT

This is a sophomore level course for students who have achieved at least an 80 in Honors Biology I or a 90 in CP Biology I. Students also have to have completed either Algebra II or honors Algebra I. Students will study concepts of atomics and bonding, the gas laws, balancing chemical equations, and nuclear chemistry. Students will engage in a variety of lab activities which will give a broader understanding of chemistry and its real world applications. (Department approval required).

3062- CHEMISTRY LAB CP1 - (Gr 10) 1 CREDIT 

This is a college preparatory course that introduces students to the fundamental concepts of atomics and bonding, the gas laws, balancing chemical equations, and nuclear chemistry. Students will engage in a variety of lab activities which will give a broader understanding of chemistry and its real world applications. 

3062 - CHEMISTRY LAB CP1 - (Gr 10, 11, 12) 1 CREDIT

This is a college preparatory course that introduces students to the fundamental concepts of atomics and bonding, the gas laws, balancing chemical equations, and nuclear chemistry. Students will engage in a variety of lab activities which will give a broader understanding of chemistry and its real world applications.

3071 – PHYSICS LAB HON - (Gr 11) 1 CREDIT

(Prerequisite: Algebra and Geometry) This is a junior level course for students who have achieved at least a 90 average in Honors Chemistry. Students will use scientific inquiry to explore the basic concepts of physics and their relationship to real-world situations. Students will study, conduct experiments, and perform calculations in topics such as motion, forces, energy, heat waves, electricity, and magnetism. (Department approval required).

3072 - PHYSICS LAB CP1 - (Gr 11, 12) 1 CREDIT

(Prerequisite: Algebra and Geometry) This is a college preparatory class recommended for students in Automotive Technology, Carpentry, Electrical, Metal Fabrication, and Plumbing. Students will use scientific inquiry to explore the basic concepts of physics and conduct experiments in topics such as motion, forces, energy, heat, waves, electricity, and magnetism. Students will apply the laws of physics to everyday situations. 

3092 – ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE LAB CP1 - (Gr 11) 1 CREDIT

This is an elective course that will provide students with a greater understanding of the environment in which they live. Students will study the impact humans have on the earth’s ecological systems. Topics to be discussed will include energy transfer, pollution, and global warming. Students will work cooperatively to study and look for solutions to these environmental issues.

3094 - HUMAN BIOLOGY - (Gr 11) 1 CREDIT

This is a junior level course designed to teach students about the biology of the human organism. Topics discussed in this course will include human anatomy and the basic functions of the organ systems, human development, genetics, and molecular cellular processes with relationship to environmental interactions. 

3095 - BIOTECHNOLOGY LAB CP1- (GR 11) 1 CREDIT

In this junior level course, students will study the use of cells and biological molecules to solve problems or make useful products. They will learn the fundamentals of working in a laboratory, such as maintaining a laboratory notebook, laboratory safety, proper use of equipment, and performing calculations. Laboratory skills will include DNA extraction, micropipetting, calculating dilutions, making solutions and writing SOPs. Activities will include restriction enzyme digestion, gel electrophoresis, DNA fingerprinting, plasmid mapping and bacterial transformation.

3096- BIOTECHNOLOGY LAB H- (GR 11) 1 CREDIT

This honors course for grade 11 students will study the use of cells and biological molecules to solve problems or make useful products. They will learn the fundamentals of working in a laboratory, such as maintaining a laboratory notebook, laboratory safety, proper use of equipment, performing calculations, asking scientific questions, good research practices, biotechnology, and medical ethics. Laboratory skills will include DNA extraction, micropipette, calculating dilutions, making solutions, and writing SOPs. Activities will include restriction enzyme digestion, gel electrophoresis, DNA fingerprinting, plasmid mapping, and bacterial transformation. Students will explore topics related to enzymes, genetically modified organisms, microbiology, stem cells, genetic testing, and cancer.

3400 – AP ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE – (Gr 11) 1 CREDIT

The AP Environmental science course follows the curriculum recommended by the College Board and is designed to provide students with scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies so that they can understand the interrelationships of the natural world, identify and analyze environmental problems (both natural and human made), evaluate the relative risks associated with these problems, and examine alternative solutions for resolving and/or preventing them.

3081 – ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY LAB HON - (Gr 12) 1 CREDIT

This is a senior elective course in which students will take an in-depth look at the structure and function of the various systems of the human body. These systems include cardiovascular, skeletal, digestive, endocrine, muscular and nervous. Students will engage in various activities that will focus on the physiology of various organs including dissections. (Department approval required)

3082 – ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY LAB CP1 - (Gr 12) 1 CREDIT

(Recommended for students in Health Careers, Cosmetology, Early Childhood Education, and Culinary Arts) This is a senior elective course that introduces students to the basic functions of various structures within the human body. Students will study the major organs of the cardiovascular, muscular, skeletal, digestive, endocrine, and nervous systems. Students will engage in various activities that will focus on the physiology of various organs including dissections.

3091- ZOOLOGY CP 1- (GR 12) 1 CREDIT This grade 12 course will explore the main phyla and classes of the animal kingdom. Students will engage in projects and lab-based activities (including dissections) that will examine the evolution and physical makeup of the diverse species within the animal kingdom. Students are assessed based on daily classwork, unit tests, projects, and weekly homework.

3093 - FORENSIC SCIENCE LAB HON – (Gr 12) 1 CREDIT

This is a course that introduces students to the fundamentals of forensic science. Students will use the disciplines of Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Behavioral Sciences and apply them to basic principles of the American Criminal Justice System. Students will learn the techniques involved in crime scene investigation and the significance of the preservation of evidence. This course will focus on the fundamental principles of criminalist methods which include chemical analysis trace evidence (hair, fiber, glass, and paint), principles of serology, toxicology, DNA fingerprinting, ballistics, fingerprint identification, and forensic pathology.

3072 - PHYSICS LAB CP1 - (Gr 11, 12) 1 CREDIT

(Prerequisite: Algebra and Geometry) This is a college preparatory class recommended for students in Automotive Technology, Carpentry, Electrical, Metal Fabrication, and Plumbing. Students will use scientific inquiry to explore the basic concepts of physics and conduct experiments in topics such as motion, forces, energy, heat, waves, electricity, and magnetism. Students will apply the laws of physics to everyday situations. 

3301- HEALTH AND WELLNESS FOR LIFE - (GR 12) 1 CREDIT
Health and Wellness for Life is a grade 12 elective designed to expand and explore in more depth the health topics previously discussed during grade 9. Students will learn more about public health resources, mental health disorders, nutrition, consumer health, healthy relationships, sexual health, safety and first-aid (hands-only CPR), substance abuse prevention and treatment, stress management, and conflict resolution. Students will connect with local resources to improve student health behaviors. Students will practice health skills to be prepared to live healthy, independent lives.

3200 - AP COMPUTER SCIENCE – (Gr 12) 1 CREDIT
This course introduces students to computer science with fundamental topics that include problem solving, design strategies and methodologies, organization of data (data structures), approaches to processing data (algorithms), analysis of potential solutions, and the ethical and social implications of computing. The course emphasizes object-oriented and imperative problem solving and design using the Java language. These techniques represent proven approaches for developing solutions that can scale up from small, simple problems to large, complex problems. The AP Computer Science a course curriculum is compatible with many CS1 courses in colleges and universities.