SCIENCE

PRINCIPLES/ESSENTIAL COLLEGE PREP STUDENT  

• Student completes class assignments and employs successful study skills with guided support. 

• Student stays focused on the lesson and participates during lab investigations.  

• Student exhibits appropriate behavior in class and engages in their learning.  

• Student seeks assistance and asks questions when problem solving.  Student expends the necessary effort to learn and understand the course content with guided support. 

COLLEGE PREP STUDENT  

• Student is prepared for class. Preparation includes bringing the proper materials and having the assigned homework complete.  Student completes homework assignments.  

• Student stays focused on the lesson and participates during lab investigations.  

• Student exhibits appropriate behavior in class and especially during lab investigations.  

• Student expends the necessary effort to learn and understand the course content. 

HONORS STUDENT 

• Student is always prepared for class. Preparation includes bringing proper materials as well as having reviewed class notes and completed the homework assignment(s).  

• Student completes nightly homework assignments thoroughly and consistently.  

• Student expresses a strong desire to learn and understand the material.  

• Student stays focused on the lesson and takes an active role in class discussions and lab investigation.  

• Student seeks extra help when needed.  

• Student manages the demanding workload both in and out of class.  

• Student exhibits appropriate behavior in class and especially during lab investigations. 

Biology Honors is a rigorous life science course. Students engage in a detailed study of biology over two semesters including the fundamentals of biochemistry, molecular biology, ecology, genetics, evolution, and human body systems. Students should be capable of self-directed study with limited guidance. Students will be assessed on collaboration, investigative lab work, analytical thinking and their ability to draw conclusions from essential questions. Laboratory investigations are an integral part of the course and students should be advanced in the scientific method and their ability to analyze their results. Students complete extensive independent work including projects, outside readings, and virtual labs. Mandatory independent study and assignments outside of class are required. Students electing this course must be academically motivated and have a strong interest in pursuing further courses within the science curriculum. This course addresses the biology learning standards in the Life Science strand of the Massachusetts Science and Technology/Engineering Curriculum Framework and will prepare students for the MCAS in Biology. This course may include dissection; in compliance with State Board of Education policy, students may decline to participate in dissections and demonstrate competency through alternative methods. 

Open to Grade: 9

Prerequisite Course: Grade 8 science 

Recommended Grade: 90 

Biology College Prep is an in depth study of the life sciences based on the learning standards in the Life Science strand of the Massachusetts Science and Technology/Engineering Curriculum Framework and will prepare students for the MCAS in Biology. Hands-on inquiry based activities, virtual labs, and peer collaboration are important components of the course. Students should be capable of self-directed study, able to think analytically, make detailed observations and draw conclusions for essential questions. Mandatory independent study and assignments outside of class are required. Curriculum for Biology College Prep includes biochemistry, cells, ecology, genetics, evolution, and human body systems. Success in this foundational course helps prepare students to progress through future science courses such as Chemistry, Anatomy and Physiology, and Environmental Science while at MHS. This course may include dissection; in compliance with State Board of Education policy, students may decline to participate in dissections and demonstrate competency through alternative methods.

Open to Grade: 9 

Prerequisite Course: Grade 8 science 

Essential College Prep Biology is a study of the life sciences based on the learning standards in the Life Science strand of the Massachusetts Science and Technology/Engineering Curriculum Framework and will prepare students for the MCAS in Biology. Curriculum for Biology College Prep includes biochemistry, cells, ecology, genetics, evolution, and human body systems. This course will prepare students for two-year colleges, technical training, military service and/or the work force. This course may include dissection; in compliance with State Board of Education policy, students may decline to participate in dissections and demonstrate competency through alternative methods. 

Open to Grade: 9 

By recommendation only 

This offering is inspired by recent nationwide attention on science, technology, engineering and math education. Students selecting this course must be self-motivated, creative and interested in problem solving where there can be more than one solution. Grading in this course is entirely dependent on the process rather than the outcome. At the completion of projects, students will reflect upon and share the math, science, and technology connections to other subject areas, previous projects, and the world outside the classroom. Student participation is a major requirement for successful completion of group projects as well as successful learning and understanding course content.

Open to Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12 

This current issues research course is a semester elective taught at the honors level and incorporates peer-led

learning in small groups. Content scope and sequence focuses on the status and health of the Earth’s oceans,

marine processes, impacts of climate change and the future fate of marine life. Through the Project-Based-Learning

model, emphasis is on group collaboration and scientific research (the lab component.) This elective will cover

topics such as marine protected areas, coral bleaching, melting ice caps, sea storms, storm surge, coastal flooding,

beach erosion, gyres, marine food chains, commercial fishing, whaling, the great garbage patch, endangered sea life

and more. This class is best suited for independent and motivated learners that can handle long-term projects in a

group dynamic. Time is expected outside of class to complete the projects.

Open to Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12 

Prerequisites: Concurrent enrollment in Honors Biology or successful completion of CP Biology 

Recommended Grade: College Prep Biology: minimum grade of 80  

This science class is designed for Project-Based-Learning. All students work collaboratively in small groups to

learn about some of the most recent and pressing threats to Earth’s wildlife due to human actions and climate

change. The lab component for this honors elective is a research lab. Units covered include endangered species,

zoonotic diseases, invasive species, poaching & the animal-black-market trade, wild animals in captivity and the

impact that wildfires have on habitats and species. The course promotes student-led research into the current status

and the future predictions for the animals and habitats of the world. Primary focus is on preservation, conservation

and restoration. Each unit of study incorporates group projects where students will be responsible for planning,

researching and creating detailed final project-based artifacts which they will share with their classmates. This class

is best suited for independent and motivated learners that can handle long-term projects in a group dynamic. Time is

expected outside of class to complete the projects.

Open to Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12 

Prerequisites: Concurrent enrollment in Honors Biology or successful completion of CP Biology 

Recommended Grade: College Prep Biology: minimum grade of 80