III. Competencies
in Specific Content Areas:
Science courses will introduce
students to a coherent body of knowledge and skills which define
that scientific discipline. Students will be able to apply the
principles and theories of a science discipline to specific situations
and technological problems. The general and process competencies
described in Sections I and II will be integrated into all science
classes.
Required Courses:
A. Physical Science: (1 year) Algebra I or concurrent registration
required. Physical science will involve a balanced exposure to
concepts in both physics and chemistry.
1. Behavior of different forms of matter and their characteristics.
2. The structure of the atom, molecules and the periodic table.
3. Chemical changes and the related chemical equations.
4. Solutions and the nature of acids and bases.
5. One-dimensional motion including displacement,velocity and
acceleration.
6. The concepts of balanced, unbalanced and frictional forces.
7. Newton's Laws of Motion and their applications.
8. The concepts of work, energy, collision processes and conservation
laws.
9. The concepts of heat as a form of energy, change of phase,
calorimetry and heat transfer processes.
10. The properties of electric charge including Coulomb's Law.
B. Biology (1 year) Algebra I or concurrent registration required.
1. The fundamentals of cell biology.
2. Characteristics and classification of key organisms.
3. Structure, function and control mechanisms of organisms.
4. The nature and transmission of genetic information.
5. The nature and importance of biological diversity.
6. Basic ecological concepts
7. Evolution as a unifying theme.
C. Chemistry (1 year) Algebra II and Geometry or concurrent registration
is required for both chemistry and physics.
1. Chemical bonding.
2. Kinetic theory and particle interactions.
3. Quantitative aspects and rates of reactions.
4. Chemical equilibrium.
5. Oxidation and Reduction.
6. Organic Chemistry.
D. Physics (1 year)
1. Uniform circular motion, rotational kinematics and conservation
laws.
2. Vibrations, waves and oscillatory behavior.
3. Gravitational and electrical fields.
4. DC series and parallel circuits.
5. Concepts of magetism and magnetic fields.
6. Properties of light and optical phenomena.
7. The concepts of the principle of relativity and modern phyics.
E. Additional Biology: Other courses that could be developed include
anatomy, physiology, botany and zoology. It is expected that these
are advanced courses and would involve an in-depth treatment of
the basic competencies as described above in the context of a
specific area of biology.
F. Earth/Planetary Science
1. The formation and nature of the universe.
2. Features of the physical environment and their interrelationships.
3. Mechanisms of change on earth.
