Summer Headstart for Physical Science Honors

Course Description

Physical Science Honors represents what is likely to be the first ‘serious’ science class many students take. The main thing that makes it a serious science course is that instead of simply learning facts or concepts students are asked to apply mathematics in a variety of different contexts.

Not only is this the first major inclusion of math in science, but the approach to that math is substantively different than what is expected in a math course. This causes a great deal of struggle at the beginning of the year, as students are trying to both learn the new material and learn the new approaches demanded by a science course.

This Head Start program is designed to fill in that gap. The lessons are designed to give a thorough introduction to the main new approaches: Units and Significant Figures. We will then review these topics to ensure mastery before moving on to three science topics: Accuracy and Precision, Electromagnetism, and Energy where we will apply what was learned in the context of actual scientific discussion. We will finish with an overview of some good approaches to scientific calculations and a final assessment to ensure mastery of the material.

1. Significant Figures Standards 

3. Review of Significant Figures and Units 

5. Energy Standards 

7. Cumulative Review of Accuracy and Precision, Energy, and Electromagnetis 

9. Final Assessment