SCIENCE PLAYGROUND
What is this stuff?
The world around us is ever changing. Science is an attempt to organize and understand those changes. Through observation, experimentation, and deduction an understanding of simple concepts and complex problems can be produced.
Moodle your way through science
Moodle is an "open source" online learning environment that gives a secure means to share and work with peers. This is a community learning environment that demands respect for each other and cooperation. In exchange, students are able to collaborate to enhance their education.
This is a great way to keep track of your assignments and submit work. It also is a way for parents to stay involved in their child's education. To access the courses, each student will have a secure user name and password that should be kept private.
General Chemistry
This is a block course that will look at the interactions of the stuff things are made of, those tiny particles that really "matter." We will spend time exploring the elements and how they interact with one another to form larger molecules and compounds. Through experimentation we will discover how energy moves through systems and how we try to take advantage of it.
Science 3 - Ecology
The third science in a series of four that students should complete to have a firm background for understanding their role in the diverse systems around them. Ecology looks at the impact of living and non-living factors on different ecosystems and the role that humans play in our Universe. Students will focus on the role species including themselves play in the sustainability of life. It is also important to understand how interactions with the non-living components in our environments play a role in the biosphere.
Science 4 - Cell Biology
The fourth science in a series of four that students should complete to have an understanding of how living systems function. Students will explore how cells differ within different organisms and the basic building blocks of life that offer such a great diversity of structures. This course will require the application of all three of science 1 - 3 as students work with the chemical, physical, and environmental aspects of cells. They will examine the internal and external influences on biochemical reactions. They will understand how genetic code is transfered and regulated within different organisms
Weird Science
This course is an opportunity for hands on creation and investigation of the way that things around us work. Students will investigate different topics that interest them and find out how and why it works the way it does. During this course, students will be required to pick at least one topic of special interest to them that they will investigate in depth and teach others about. This particular study will last the entire 12 week term.
Marine Resources
A field investigation of the different opportunities that marine ecosystems can provide.
This is a hands-on course that will involve frequent field studies, guest lectures, laboratory experiences, and independent inquiry. It is a block of two sequential trimester courses and will count for 1 credit running for 2 hours per day.
Weather and Oceanography
This course is an opportunity to investigate ocean systems and the processes impacting them.
This course involves a closer look at the scientific prinicples that regulate the delicate balance of life in the marine environments. It will examine the impacts that fluctuations within these systems could have on life in and out of the water. It also takes a look at how our atmosphere and aquatic environments are interrelated to regulate our Earth. It will explore the implications of changes in either of the two systems on the other and why it is important for us to be good stewards of the solar system.
Technology in Science
This course is an opportunity for students to work with technology and learn how it is used in real world applications for scientific inquiry. Students will also learn methods to use technology for communication by developing websites, graphic visuals, and data translation.
Students will learn how to maintain a digital portfolio of their work to showcase their development. This course is for students with a firm understanding of the basic scientific principles and a desire to learn how to use technology to advance their presentation and communication skills.
Legal Ramblings
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