PHYSICS 1
Entry Level: 9
Length: Year
The learning objectives of Physics 1 include:
- Develop an understanding and appreciation for the core ideas within the field of physics
- Use essential science and engineering practices
- Apply the cross cutting themes of science to the science of physics
- Develop scientific literacy and an understanding of the nature of science
Students will investigate the principles of physics, which include motion, energy, the interaction of forces, the propagation of waves and light. This course will emphasize making claims based on scientific evidence, student discussion of science and laboratory investigations. This course is required for graduation.
ADVANCED PHYSICS 1
Entry Level: 9
Length: Year
Prerequisite: None
The learning objectives of Physics 1 include:
- Develop an understanding and appreciation for the core ideas within the field of physics
- Use essential science and engineering practices
- Apply the cross cutting themes of science to the science of physics
- Develop scientific literacy and an understanding of the nature of science
Advanced Physics 1 covers all the same material as outlined in Physics 1, but with a more accelerated pace and a more analytical approach. Students will need a strong background in mathematics in order to be successful in this course.
FOOD SCIENCE: FOOD & YOU
Entry Level: 10
Length: Semester
Students will be introduced to common foods, their production process and the chemistry behind food and cooking. The first semester will cover food insecurity in the United States and other countries, food processing and diet misconceptions. Topics to be covered will be dairy products, meat, poultry & eggs, grains, organic, natural, free range, genetic modification and food marketing. This class qualifies for elective science credit.
FOOD SCIENCE: KITCHEN CHEMISTRY
Entry Level: 10
Length: Semester
The second semester will focus on the basic chemistry of food. Topics covered include detecting and identifying flavors, chemistry basics, macromolecules, and microbes. Students will also have the opportunity to research a topic of their choosing that relates to kitchen chemistry. Through this class students will draw connections between what they experience when they cook at home, and the science they learn in school. This class qualifies for elective science credit.
NATURAL RESOURCES 1 and 2
Entry Level: 9
Length: Semester or Year
*Students in this course may be eligible to register for college credit
In this two-semester course students will learn the importance of balancing economic, recreational, and environmental values of Oregon’s natural resources. First semester curriculum focuses on fisheries and wildlife values, including areas of wildlife ecology and habitats; Oregon’s wildlife; population estimation; endangered, threatened and sensitive species management; wildlife monitoring and assessment techniques, and fisheries biology and management. The second semester will focus on forestry management, including tree biology, identification, and measurement techniques; forest mapping; watershed management; forest products; forest harvest practices; forest health and wildfire management. Final project: creating a forest management plan.
BIOLOGY
Entry Level: 10
Length: Year
Prerequisite: Physics 1
The learning objectives of Biology include:
- Develop an understanding and appreciation for the science of life and core ideas of the science field
- Use essential science and engineering practices
- Apply cross cutting concepts of science to the science of life
- Develop scientific literacy and an understanding of the nature of science
Students will investigate the characteristics and interactions of organisms representing the diversity of life on our planet. Major emphasis is placed on biochemistry, DNA and cell regulation, genetics, evolution and ecology. This course will emphasize making claims based on scientific evidence, student discussion of science and laboratory investigations. This course is required for graduation.
ADVANCED BIOLOGY
Entry Level: 10
Length: Year
Prerequisite: Physics I or Advanced Physics I
*Students in this course may be eligible to register for college credit
This course is offered as a college credit course. Students will practice scientific skills by describing living things, investigating how living things interact and analyzing the environmental interactions that shape life’s diversity. Students will also practice scientific skills by describing the structure of cells, investigating how cells process energy and analyzing the patterns of cellular information flow that shape genetic inheritance. This option should be taken by students who are seriously interested in the sciences. Students should be prepared to go more in depth into topics, work at a faster pace, and spend more time working independently.
CHEMISTRY
Entry Level: 10
Length: Year
Prerequisite: Algebra 2 or concurrent with Algebra 2
*Students in this course may be eligible to register for college credit
Chemistry is the study of matter and how it changes. Students will discover how to explain the root of almost any natural phenomena. Since chemistry is the study of the most basic units of the universe, students will understand connections between chemistry and any other science subject, careers in the scientific field, and their daily lives. This course provides students with the necessary background in modern chemistry for further science classes and is a prerequisite advanced placement chemistry. The concept that chemistry is a vital, continually developing science is explored through literature studies, laboratory experiments, inquiry projects, and group work. There will be daily homework and bi-weekly lab reports, on average. Working during class time is required for student success. Lab fees will be charged. *This course can be applied to the Honors Diploma.
AP ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
Entry Level: 11
Length: Year
Prerequisite: Physics 1 and Biology
AP Environmental Science (APES) is a rigorous course designed for highly motivated students that may have a desire to complete college level courses before finishing high school. The course will focus on the following themes:
- Science is a process.
- Energy conversions underlie all ecological processes.
- The Earth itself is one interconnected system.
- Humans alter natural systems.
- Environmental problems have a cultural and social context.
- Human survival depends on developing practices that will achieve sustainable systems.
Students may qualify for advanced placement examinations. Sufficiently high scores on these examinations may enable the student to earn college credit, but each college and university has individual policies towards AP courses. Sandy High School credit for this course is elective science. APES students should be prepared for lectures, labs, and simulations in class and a fair amount of work outside of class. Reading assignments will include magazine and newspaper articles, excerpts from books, and professional journal articles. The intent is that APES students will also be doing field research and activities, a year-long service learning project, and communicating with professionals and other APES students throughout the year, but these activities may be affected by public health safety precautions.
*This course can be applied to the Honors Diploma.
BOTANY
Entry Level: 11
Length: Semester
Prerequisite: Biology/Advanced Biology
Botany is the biology of plants. This is an introductory course designed to give students a broad understanding of the many disciplines in the science of Botany including – plant morphology, anatomy, physiology, evolution, genetics, taxonomy, and ecology of plants. Much of the daily work involves individual and group activities and laboratory investigations. The major, individual project is a plant collection emphasizing the gathering, classification and presentation of local flowering plants. This class may also participate in the 3-day, Sagebrush Expedition to central Oregon in May. *This course can be applied to the Honors Diploma.
OCEANIC SCIENCE
Entry Level: 11
Length: Year
Oceanic Science is a year-long course designed to enable students to acquire knowledge and skill from several areas of biology, chemistry, physics and geology through the study of oceans. From tidal waves to tidal pools, volcanic vents to seasonal seas, Oceanic Science will give students the opportunity to learn about and appreciate the complexities of ocean ecosystems, the essential role the ocean plays in the biosphere, human interactions/relationships with the ocean and the nature of the organisms that reside within. This is a lab course with required project-based/collaborative learning, and maintenance of a journal/portfolio that will contain the bulk of daily work and constitute a significant portion of an individual's grade.
*This course can be applied to the Honors Diploma.
PHYSICS 2
Entry Level: 11
Length: Year
Prerequisite: Algebra 2
This mathematically-based activity-oriented curriculum focuses on the study of the laws of physics with an emphasis on classical mechanics including kinematics, dynamics, work and energy. Second semester will include waves, electricity, and magnetism. Computers will be used extensively in the lab for data acquisition and pre-calc as well as preparing lab reports.
*This course can be applied to the Honors Diploma.
ZOOLOGY
Entry Level: 11
Length: Semester
Prerequisite: Biology or Advanced Biology
In this course students will investigate the Kingdom Animalia. Major topics include animal classification, arthropods, invertebrates, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals with a concentration on classification, anatomical form and function, and ecology. This is a college preparatory course designed for students interested in pursuing undergraduate degrees related to biology, anatomy, ecology, or zoology. Most students will find the requirements of this course challenging but rewarding. An emphasis is placed on both demonstrated knowledge of lecture and reading material as well as laboratory and special projects. Numerous animal dissection labs will be required for in person learning, but these will be done virtually for distance learning. A field trip to the Oregon Coast Aquarium may be offered in this class.
*This course can be applied to the Honors Diploma.
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