Sciences
Life Sciences
BIOLOGY
-This course is designed as an introductory first year course in biology. The objectives of the course are based on the California Life Science State Standards with an emphasis on biochemistry, cells, energy, heredity, biotechnology, evolution, ecology, anatomy and physiology. Students will be required to take an active role in their education, which may include reading and evaluating science literature, maintaining a lab/notes notebook, learning how to evaluate reputable sources, and investigating social interest topics through research and other projects. Laboratory investigations and dissections correlate with content material with the goal of developing observational, experimental, critical thinking, and communicative skills.
AP BIOLOGY
ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY
-This is a college preparatory course dealing with the human body from both a morphological and physiological viewpoint. The course is laboratory-oriented, with dissection of a cat for purposes of comparison to human tissues and systems. In addition, lectures, labs, demonstrations, and discussions concerning functional activities of the living body in terms of both cellular and systemic functions will be conducted. The objectives of this course are based on the California State Standards for Biology. Many of the standards that were covered extensively during the sophomore year biology courses are reviewed and reinforced with emphasis on application of those standards.
Physical Sciences
EARTH AND PLANETARY SCIENCE
-This is a college-prep course that introduces the student to the study of the earth as one of the planets in our solar system and extends to the space beyond the earth. Specific topics covered are geology (rocks and minerals, plate tectonics, earthquakes and volcanoes), oceanography, meteorology (weather and climate), and astronomy (planets, stars, galaxies and the universe as a whole). Numerous labs and activities are designed to illustrate the concepts covered in class.
-This is a college-prep course that introduces the student to the study of the earth as one of the planets in our solar system and extends to the space beyond the earth. Specific topics covered are geology (rocks and minerals, plate tectonics, earthquakes and volcanoes), oceanography, meteorology (weather and climate), and astronomy (planets, stars, galaxies and the universe as a whole). Numerous labs and activities are designed to illustrate the concepts covered in class.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
-This is an introductory course in environmental science. It treats environmental science as an interdisciplinary study, combining ideas and information from natural sciences (biology, chemistry and geology) and social sciences (economics, politics and ethics) to present a general idea of how nature works and how things are interconnected. It provides 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. This is a project-based course for any student interested in the environment.
AP ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
-This lab science course is designed to give the student a rigorous understanding of the interrelationships of the natural world, including Earth systems and resources, the living world, population, land and water use, energy resources and consumption, pollution and global change. The course content will integrate California Common Core State Standards and feature many of the concepts taught in biology, geoscience, chemistry, and physics outlined by the Next Generation Science Standards. While students acquire the academic content knowledge and laboratory skill sets of these sciences, they will do so through a focus on the field of environmental science. Students will observe, identify, form and test hypotheses, experiment, analyze and evaluate problems/risks/solutions, and form objective conclusions.
CHEMISTRY
-This course deals with the concept of the submicroscopic world of chemistry and is a laboratory- oriented course. Subject matter includes atomic structure, chemical formulas and equations, physical phases of matter, solutions, carbon compounds, chemical reactions, and qualitative and quantitative analysis.
HONORS CHEMISTRY
-This course deals with the concept of the submicroscopic world of chemistry and is a laboratory-oriented course. Subject matter includes atomic structure, chemical formulas and equations, physical phases of matter, solutions, carbon compounds, chemical reactions, and qualitative and quantitative analysis. In regular Chemistry, an extra credit problem will be handed out with each chapter test. These problems will NOT be available to Honors Chemistry. Instead, Honors Chemistry will be given a set of “Enrichment” problems. During second semester, there will be equilibrium problems that require the use of the quadratic formula. These problems will be extra credit in regular chemistry but NOT in Honors Chemistry.
GEOLOGY
-This course is designed to acquaint students with the major concepts in geology and the investigative processes through which geologic discoveries are made. The configuration of the earth, geologic time scales, physical processes that have shaped the earth's surface, and the earth's origin and history will be investigated. Specific topics will include: earthquakes, faults, rocks, minerals, volcanoes, weathering, oil, geologic resources, water resources, and more.
CSU GEOLOGY
-This course is designed and intended for the university-bound student. The course provides an introduction to the scientific study of the earth, particularly the structure, composition, distribution and modification of earth materials, and processes that shape the surface of the earth. The course is equivalent to four hours lecture and three hours laboratory per week at CSU. Units: 5 quarter units, 10 high school units (weighted as Honors credit). Students will register as a university student. The grade earned in the course will become a part of the student’s college/university transcripts. Fees: $22. Fee includes University registration fees and laboratory fees. *The course is a university-level course that may allow a student to earn college credit.
PHYSICAL SCIENCE
-This course integrates Chemistry and Physics as a culmination of the Science Essentials pathway. It builds on the Earth and Planetary Essentials course and the Biology Essentials course while rebuilding a mathematical foundation upon which to understand and apply the science concepts. This course follows NGSS and emphasizes the science and engineering principles, the cross-cutting concepts, and the claim-evidence-reasoning design.
PRINCIPLES OF PHYSICS
-This is a college preparatory physical laboratory course. It introduces all of the physics topics covered in the California State Science Standards, using a variety of methods including lecture, hands-on activities, laboratory practices and computer simulations. Subjects covered include mechanical motion, rotational motion, gravity, heat, waves, sound, light, and electricity.
PHYSICS I AP
-A.P. Physics is a trigonometry-based college level laboratory science course. Students will be instructed in the basic principles and laws of physics, including matter, inertia, mass density, energy, relationships between matter and energy, atomic structure, heat, light, sound, and electricity. Emphasis will be placed on problem solving, notation, and accuracy of calculations.
Agricultural Sciences
BIOLOGY AND SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
-Biology and Sustainable Agriculture is a one-year course designed to integrate biological science practices and knowledge into the practice of sustainable agriculture. The course is organized into four major sections, or units, each with a guiding question: What is sustainable agriculture? How does sustainable agriculture fit into our environment? What molecular biology principles guide sustainable agriculture? How do we make decisions to maximize sustainable agricultural practices within a functioning ecosystem? Within each unit, specific life science principles will be identified with agricultural principles and practices guiding the acquisition of this knowledge, culminating in the development of a sustainable farm model and portfolio of supporting student research. This course is currently articulated with Victor Valley College and articulation is anticipated to continue next year. Throughout the course, students will be graded on participation in intra-curricular FFA activities as well as the development and maintenance of an ongoing Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) program.
-Biology and Sustainable Agriculture is a one-year course designed to integrate biological science practices and knowledge into the practice of sustainable agriculture. The course is organized into four major sections, or units, each with a guiding question: What is sustainable agriculture? How does sustainable agriculture fit into our environment? What molecular biology principles guide sustainable agriculture? How do we make decisions to maximize sustainable agricultural practices within a functioning ecosystem? Within each unit, specific life science principles will be identified with agricultural principles and practices guiding the acquisition of this knowledge, culminating in the development of a sustainable farm model and portfolio of supporting student research. This course is currently articulated with Victor Valley College and articulation is anticipated to continue next year. Throughout the course, students will be graded on participation in intra-curricular FFA activities as well as the development and maintenance of an ongoing Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) program.
AGRICULTURAL BIOLOGY II
-This one year lab science course is designed for college bound students. Using agriculture as the learning vehicle, the course will emphasize biological principles in a lab environment. This course is currently articulated with Victor Valley College and articulation is anticipated to continue next year. Throughout the course, students will be graded on participation in intra-curricular FFA activities as well as the development and maintenance of an ongoing Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) program.
VETERINARY SCIENCE
-Veterinary Science is an academically challenging laboratory science course that examines anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, and medical terminology while applying scientific knowledge and research to the study of the animal body. Students will focus on the physiological, biological, and structural details of the body, including a rigorous study of the body systems. Students will apply scientific methodologies (inquiry, developing a hypothesis, gathering factual information, evaluating data, and drawing conclusions) to the practices employed by veterinary professionals. Veterinary terminology will be integrated as students understand each of the nine body systems. This course is currently articulated with Victor Valley College and articulation is anticipated to continue next year. This course is the capstone course for the Animal Science sequence. Throughout the course, students will be graded on participation in intra-curricular FFA activities as well as the development and maintenance of an ongoing Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) program.
AGRICULTURAL EARTH SCIENCE
-Agriculture earth science is a one-year, laboratory science course, designed for the college bound students with career interests in agriculture. Using agriculture as a learning vehicle, the course emphasizes the principles and practices of earth science as a way to demonstrate the relevance of earth science in agriculture to each students life and environment. This class will utilize local and regional issues and concerns to stimulate problem-solving activities and to foster a sense of earth stewardship by students in their communities. The class will establish an expanded learning environment, which incorporates field work, technological access to data, and traditional classroom and laboratory activities. The course is centered around an extensive laboratory component in order to connect to big ideas of all earth sciences with agricultural applications, physical science principles, and other curricular areas, including written and oral reporting skills. Throughout the course, students will be graded on participation in intra-curricular FFA activities as well as the development and maintenance of an ongoing Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) program.
CHEMISTRY AND AGRISCIENCE
-Agriculture Chemistry is a one year, laboratory science course, designed for the college bound student with career interests in agriculture, science, and technology. Using agriculture as a learning vessel, the course emphasizes the principles, central concepts and inter-relationships of the topics taught in Chemistry. It will be taught in collaboration with and use the same pacing guide of content, laboratory investigation, and assessment as the current Chemistry course. The course is centered on an extensive laboratory component in order to connect the essential ideas of chemistry with agricultural applications while incorporating skills in reading, writing, and mathematics. This course is a capstone course for the Agriscience sequence. Throughout the course, students will be graded on participation in intra-curricular FFA activities as well as the development and maintenance of an ongoing Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) program.
