Science - Freshmen

GRADE 9 SCIENCE:  PHYSICS (319)

Grade 9:  Level 2

(Semester) .75 credits 

Note:  9th Grade Science students will not take MCAS at the end of this course.

9th Grade Science (Biology (380)/Physics (319)) is a year-long course divided into two semesters. The primary teacher of this course will switch in semester two as material switches between life science  and physical science.  

9th Grade Science is designed to let students explore the core of high school sciences and to develop the skills and knowledge to be successful in the science pathway that they choose to follow in grade 10.  

Topics include the language of science, the math of science, scientific method and data analysis, introductory biology, introductory chemistry, and introductory physics.  

Over both the biology and physics semesters, students will explore how energy applies to the living and nonliving world. 

Major questions to explore include:

What is energy?

How do organisms obtain and use the matter and energy they need to live and grow?

How do organisms interact with the living and nonliving environments to obtain matter and energy? 

How do matter and energy move through an ecosystem? 

How do living organisms alter Earth's processes and structures? 

How do humans change the planet?       

How is energy transferred and conserved?  

How is energy transferred between objects or systems? 

How are forces related to energy? 

How do food and fuel provide energy?

If energy is conserved,why do people say it is produced or used?

HORTICULTURE (387)

Grades 9-12: Level 2

(Semester) .75 credit

Do you like working with your hands?  Do you enjoy doing engaging labs in science?  Do you love being outside?  Do you like to cook and eat good food?  If so, then horticulture may be the perfect class for you.  Horticulture is an interdisciplinary course that explores many topics about plants.  Students in this class will learn the art and science of growing plants in the greenhouse and also work in outdoor garden beds.  Students who leave this course will know about the art of plant management, be able to do basic landscaping, learn gardening techniques, and be able to prepare healthy recipes using the plants they grow in the greenhouse.  Students will have many opportunities to engage with community partners in organizing plant sales, working with elementary students on planting projects, take field trips to nurseries, interact with local gardeners, and help maintain garden beds at our school.