High School Science Courses at Barnstable
Our science classes are designed to give the students the skills of scientific method, critical thinking, lab safety, reading, writing, and organization in addition to learning science concepts. Students enrolled in a science class also participate in our annual Science Fair. Â
The purpose of this class is to help students understand how ecosystems work and how mankind can both responsibly use and care for the earth. The topics covered include: the nature of science and the scientific method, spheres of earth, ecology, earth’s biomes, population dynamics and challenges, agriculture, resources and energy systems, human impact on the earth, and more.
Students will gain the knowledge necessary to meet state requirements and be prepared to take science classes in college. This class focuses on frequent laboratory exercises which help students gain first-hand experience with the principles of environmental science, learn problems solving skills, and practice using the scientific method.
This laboratory-based course is designed to teach the essential concepts of biology emphasizing connections within biological systems and between the systems and their environment. All major themes of modern biology are addressed in this course. An underlying theme of the course will be that science is a process through which scientific questions are answered. Instructional strategies include modeling exercises, laboratory, projects, and problem-solving exercises.
There is a hidden world all around us which we can’t see yet impacts every aspect of our lives. This is the realm of atoms. Students will learn how the principles of chemistry in this unseen world are connected to and used in our macroscopic world. The purpose of this class is to help students appreciate the wide range of applications chemistry has in the real world and how it impacts their daily lives. The topics covered include: nature of matter, atomic structure, electrons and bonding, physical changes, chemical reactions, the periodic table and trends, stoichiometry, and more.
Students will gain the knowledge necessary to meet state requirements and be prepared to take science classes in college. This class focuses on frequent laboratory exercises which help students gain first-hand experience with the principles of chemistry, learn problems solving skills, and practice using the scientific method.
“The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science†Albert Einstein
To many the laws of physics are a mystery, but it is the goal of science to not only unlock the mysteries of the universe, but also learn how to utilize it’s principles. The purpose of this class is to help students appreciate the wide range of applications physics has in the real world and how it impacts their daily lives. The topics covered include: forces and motion, momentum, energy, fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, sound, light, electricity, and more.
Students will gain the knowledge necessary to meet state requirements and be prepared to take science classes in college. This class focuses on frequent laboratory exercises which help students gain first-hand experience with the principles of physics, learn problems solving skills, and practice using the scientific method.
The AP Biology course content is based on the “Understanding by Design®†model (Wiggins and McTighe). The four Big Ideas that serve as the foundation of the course are Evolution, Energetics, Information Storage and Transmission, and Systems Interactions. The course is further broken down into commonly taught units of Chemistry of Life, Cell Structure and Function, Cellular Energetics, Cell Communication and Cell Cycle, Heredity, Gene Expression and Regulation, Natural Selection, and Ecology.
AP (Advanced Placement) Chemistry is a college level science class in which students have the potential to earn college credit. It is a very difficult class and will involve higher levels of critical thinking, work load, and studying compared to a normal college preparatory class. The pacing is also accelerated.
The AP curriculum and exam are created by the College Board. These exist to ensure that students are gaining all the necessary knowledge and skills required in a college level chemistry class. One of the main focuses of this class is to prepare students for being successful on the AP Exam.
Even though AP courses are difficult there are many rewards to be reaped from all the hard work. These include potential college credit, a more impressive transcript, learning how to critically think, increasing study and time management skills before college arrives, and fulfillment from deeper understanding.
The key concepts that define the AP Chemistry course and exam are organized around six main principles called the Big Ideas which are: structure of matter, bonding and intermolecular forces, chemical reactions, kinetics, thermodynamics, and chemical equilibrium.
Hands-on labs and activities are one of the best way to learn! Labs give you practical skills that scientists utilize in real life. Opportunities for practicing and using the scientific method are extremely valuable.
Therefore, there is a large focus on laboratory experiences build into the AP Chemistry curriculum and students will be putting together a lab portfolio highlighting all their work.