Sciences

Sciences

Agriscience – S1 & S2

Course Code: OAG050/250
State Code: 18003
Grades: 10th
Length: Year-long
Online Platform:
Credit: 1
Prerequisite:
Graduation Requirement: Lab Science/GE
Course Designation: Online
Description: In this course, students will learn about the development and maintenance of agriculture, animal systems, natural resources, and other food sources. Students will also examine the relationship between agriculture and natural resources and the environment, health, politics, and world trade.

Biology – S1 & S2

Course Code: OSC004/204
State Code: 03051
Grades: 9-12th
Length: Year-long
Online Platform: Edmentum
Credit: 1
Prerequisite:
Graduation Requirement: Lab Science/GE
Course Designation: Online
Description: This inquiry- and virtual-lab-based course is designed to support modern science curriculum and teaching practices. It robustly meets NGSS learning standards for high school biology. Content topics include cells, organ systems, heredity, organization of organisms, evolution, energy use in organisms, and the interdependence of ecosystems. Each lesson includes one or more inquiry-based activities that can be performed online within the context of the lesson. In addition, the course includes a number of virtual lab activities in which students will exercise experimental design, data analysis, and data interpretation skills while working through a simulated laboratory situation.

Honors Biology – S1 & S2

Course Code: OSC053/253
State Code: 03052
Grades: 9th
Length: Year-long
Online Platform: Edmentum
Credit: 1
Prerequisite: None
Graduation Requirement: Lab Science/GE
Course Designation: CADR, Lab Science, Honors, Online
Description: This compelling full-year course engages students in a rigorous Honors-level curriculum that emphasizes the study of life and its real-world applications. This course examines biological concepts in more depth than general biology and provides a solid foundation for collegiate-level coursework. Course components include biochemistry, cellular structures and functions, genetics and heredity, bioengineering, evolution, structures and functions of the human body, and ecology. Throughout the course, students participate in a variety of interactive and hands-on laboratory activities that enhance concept knowledge and develop scientific process skills, including scientific research and technical writing.

Chemistry – S1 & S2

Course Code: OSC010/210
State Code: 03101
Grades: 10th
Length: Year-long
Online Platform: Edmentum
Credit: 1
Prerequisite: Should be taking or passed Algebra I with C or better.
Graduation Requirement: Lab Science/GE
Course Designation: CADR, Quantitative, Lab Science, Online
Description: Chemistry is the study of matter and how it changes. This course looks at matter’s composition, properties, and transformations. In first semester, you’ll explore the structure and properties of matter. You’ll analyze and construct the periodic table of elements. You’ll compare elements based on their atomic structures and relative positions in the periodic table. You will also discuss the chemical bonding taking place in ionic and covalent compounds and metals. Finally, you’ll predict the outcome of chemical reactions based on the reactants involved. Second semester: In this semester, you will calculate the theoretical quantities of substances involved in a chemical reaction through the study of stoichiometry. You’ll analyze chemical reactions that involve aqueous solutions, acids and bases, and gases. You’ll see how gases respond to changes in pressure, volume, temperature, and quantity through the ideal gas law. You’ll also calculate changes in temperature caused by physical and chemical processes and analyze reactions in terms of bond energies. Finally, you will understand how atoms are changed by the unique processes of radioactive decay, nuclear fusion, and nuclear fission.

Honors Chemistry – S1 & S2

Course Code: OSC023/223
State Code: 03102
Grades: 10th
Length: Year-long
Online Platform: Edmentum
Credit: 1
Prerequisite: Should be taking or passed Algebra I with C or better.
Graduation Requirement: Lab Science/GE
Course Designation: CADR, Quantitative, Lab Science, Online
Description: This rigorous two-semester course provides students with an engaging Honors-level curriculum that emphasizes mathematical problem solving and practical applications of chemistry. Topics are examined in greater detail than general chemistry in order to prepare students for college-level coursework. Course components include atomic theory and structure, chemical bonding, states and changes of matter, chemical and redox reactions, stoichiometry, the gas laws, solutions, acids and bases, and nuclear and organic chemistry. Throughout the course, students participate in a variety of interactive and hands-on laboratory activities that enhance concept knowledge and develop scientific process skills, including scientific research and technical writing.

Earth and Space Science – S1 & S2

Course Code: OSC001/201
State Code: 03001
Grades: 9-12th
Length: Year-long
Online Platform: Edmentum
Credit: 1
Prerequisite: None
Graduation Requirement: Lab Science/GE
Course Designation: CADR, Lab Science, Online
Description: Earth and Space Science is the study of the natural world. It relies on experimentation and physical evidence to describe the natural events that occur around us. Earth and Space Science S1 begins with space. You will observe the phases of the moon and use scientific evidence to understand how Earth, the sun, and the moon interact. You’ll also examine other celestial objects in our solar system. This course describes the history of Earth through the study of energy flow, weathering and erosion, the rock cycle, and tectonic plate movements. You will apply an understanding of the three states of matter to explain the water cycle and other systems on Earth. The course ends with a discussion of Earth’s natural resources. Semester 2: Semester 2 explains how convection shapes the weather, climate, and movement of ocean currents on Earth. The course takes an in-depth look at climate change and the greenhouse effect in Earth’s atmosphere. It draws attention to severe weather events and describes how technology plays a role in keeping communities safe. It also explores how the growing human population poses challenges for the distribution of Earth’s natural resources today and in the future.

Environmental Science – S1 & S2

Course Code: OSC060/160
State Code: 03003
Grades: 10-12th
Length: Year-long
Online Platform: Edmentum
Credit: 1
Prerequisite: None
Graduation Requirement: Lab Science/OCCED/GE
Course Designation: CADR, Lab Science, Online
Description: This course is intended to introduce you to the concepts and processes of environmental science. This course has 13 lessons organized into four units, plus four unit activities. Each lesson contains one or more lesson activities. In Environmental Science, Semester 1, you will learn about the importance of environmental science as an interdisciplinary field. You will describe abiotic and biotic factors of an ecosystem. You will describe the importance of biodiversity for the survival of organisms and the importance of the food chain and the food web in the ecosystem. You will learn about ecological interactions and succession. You will describe the effects of climate change and different types of adaptation. Further, you will describe the steps of the water cycle, and how carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, and phosphorous cycle in the global environment. Semester 2: In semester 2, you will learn about the factors that affect populations. You will describe human population growth and its implications. You will describe the factors that lead to unequal distribution of natural resources on Earth. You will explain waste management. You will describe different forms of pollution, and ways to control pollution. You will describe various nonrenewable and renewable energy sources. Further, you will learn about benefits of environmental policies and identify factors that affect sustainable development.

Intro. to Veterinary Science – S1 & S2

Course Code: OVT186/286
State Code: 18105
Grades: 10th
Length: Year-long
Online Platform: Edmentum
Credit: 1
Prerequisite: None
Graduation Requirement: GE
Course Designation: Online
Description: This year-long course is intended for you to familiarize yourself with the knowledge and skills required for a career in the veterinary industry. This course has 13 lessons organized into three units, plus three Unit Activities. Each lesson contains one or more Lesson Activities. In the Introduction to Veterinary Science course, you will explore the history of veterinary science, and the skills and requirements for a successful career in the veterinary industry. You will also explore the physiology and anatomy of animals, learn how to evaluate their health, and determine effective treatment for infectious and noninfectious diseases. Additionally, you will learn about zoonotic diseases, and the impact of toxins and poisons on animal health. Semester 2: As animals play an increasingly important role in our lives, scientists have sought to learn more about their health and well-being. Taking a look at the animals that live in our homes, on our farms, and in zoos and wildlife sanctuaries, this course will examine some of the common diseases and treatments for domestic animals. Toxins, parasites, and infectious diseases impact not only the animals around us, but at times…we humans as well! Through veterinary medicine and science, the prevention and treatment of diseases and health issues is studied and applied.

Intro. to Marine Biology – S1 & S2

Course Code: OSC005/205
State Code: 03005
Grades: 10th
Length: Year-long
Online Platform: Edmentum
Credit: 1
Prerequisite: None
Graduation Requirement: Lab Science/GE
Course Designation: CADR, Lab Science, Online
Description: In the Introduction to Marine Biology course you will explore the fundamental concepts of marine biology. You will learn about the formation and characteristic features of the oceans. You will also learn about the scientific method and explore careers available in marine biology. The course will introduce you to the characteristic features of different taxonomic groups found in the ocean. You will learn about the different habitats, life forms, and ecosystems that exist in the oceans and explore the different types of adaptations marine creatures possess to survive in the ocean. You will learn about succession and the flow of energy in marine ecosystems. Finally, you will also learn about the resources that the oceans provide and the threats that the oceans face from human activities. Your teacher will grade your work on the Unit Activities, and you will grade your work on the Lesson Activities by comparing them with the given sample responses. The Unit Activities (submitted to the teacher) and the Lesson Activities (self-checked) are major components of this course. There are other assessment components, namely the mastery test questions that feature along with the lesson; the pre- and post-test questions that come at the beginning and end of the unit, respectively; and an end-of-semester test. All of these tests are a combination of simple multiple-choice questions and technology-enhanced (TE) questions.

Physics – S1 & S2

Course Code: OSCI011/211
State Code: 03151
Grades: 10-12th
Length: Year-long
Online Platform: Edmentum
Credit: 1
Prerequisite: Students must have taken Algebra II or currently taking.
Graduation Requirement: Lab Science/GE
Course Designation: CADR, Quantitative, Online
Description: Physics is one of the three main fields of science, along with Biology and Chemistry. If asked what Biology and Chemistry deal with, most of us can come up with a one-word answer: life and chemicals, respectively. Physics, though, often seems like a grab-bag of topics, including motion, magnets, machines, light, sound, and electrical circuits. The common thread running through all these things is that they each illustrate some very basic mathematical laws in our physical world. In brief, physics is the scientific study of matter, energy, and their most fundamental physical interactions, including attractions, repulsions, and collisions. During the first semester you will learn about the “basics” of physics: how to describe and analyze motion, how forces interact with matter, and how to further describe these interactions with the aid of the concepts of energy and momentum. Finally, you’ll explore one more specialized topic: thermodynamics which is the physics of heat. Semester 2: In the second semester, you will use your physical understanding of motion, forces and energy and apply that knowledge to some important, specialized topics in physics: the behavior of waves, applications of wave theory to light and optics, the interaction of electrical and magnetic forces, and the special “non-Newtonian” properties of energy and matter described by quantum theory.

Physical Science – S1 & S2

Course Code: OSC003/203
State Code: 03159
Grades: 10th
Length: Year-long
Online Platform: Edgenuity
Credit: 1
Prerequisite: Students must have taken Algebra 1
Graduation Requirement: Lab Science/GE
Course Designation: CADR, Lab Science, Online
Description: Physical Science is a lab class that engages students in the four big ideas of the NGSS physical sciences. What is everything made of? (Chemistry) How do forces cause motion or stability? (Physics) What is energy? (Chemistry & Physics) How is wave energy used to transfer information? (Technology) Students will use the practices of scientists to conduct investigations that help them build understanding around these four big ideas. This is one of three courses that can be taken in any order to prepare students for the state science exam in 11th grade.