Course Descriptions

Physical Science

• Physical and Chemical Properties
  • Students identify and describe atoms, elements, molecules, and substances. They will discuss properties of substances, how they interact with each other, and changes that occur when they interact.
• Chemical Reactions and Thermal Energy
  • Students identify and analyze how substances behave based on their combination of atoms and molecules before and after a chemical reaction has occurred. Students will also research how man made materials are made from chemical processes and their importance in society. A project based on thermal energy absorption or release is also completed.
• Forces and Motion
  • Students identify the physics of motion and how objects interact with each other through motion.
• Energy
  • Students explain energy transfer and how various types of energy are transferred to various objects.
• Waves and Information Transfer
  • Students identify different types of waves and how they interact with matter. They study the amplitude of a wave along with the relationship between pitch, frequency, and wavelength. Students will also explain how waves are absorbed, reflected, and transmitted and compare digital and analog signals.

Robotics

During this quarter long class, students will learn about robotics and will use two uniquely different platforms to program a robot to do different tasks. This class emphasizes problem solving, cooperation, and critical thinking. Students will be using the Scribbler S2 and S3 robots as well as our new Lego Mindstorms EV3 robots.