A lab-based course required for all 9th grade students. Using the processes of scientific inquiry, engineering design, and critical thinking students discover and apply patterns in such major physics topics as motion, forces & momentum, energy, waves, and electromagnetism. An important aim of this course is to develop and build students’ math abilities, performance in problem solving, scientific literacy, and technical communication skills that will be built upon in future science courses, college, and career. This course addresses all required physics, inquiry, and engineering standards as well as select earth and space science standards from the Next Generation Science Standards

Recommended Sequence: Chemistry is the recommended course for all 10th grade students. Chemistry builds on skills developed in STEM Physics. Students will also apply skills learned in Integrated Math 1 A/B including dimensional analysis and solving for variables.

Chemistry is a laboratory-based course based on the Next Generation Science Standards. Using the three dimensions of learning science (cross-cutting concepts, science and engineering practices, and disciplinary core ideas), students will explore the foundations of matter and energy. Course content will address atomic theory, the periodic table, patterns of chemical bonding and reactions, nuclear chemistry, solutions chemistry, and stoichiometry. Students will apply mathematical analysis in problem solving, and explain scientific phenomena through the application and development of scientific models. All course units include laboratory investigations of chemical phenomena, providing students opportunities to reinforce their conceptual understanding with observational evidence.

Recommended Sequence: Biology or AP Biology is the recommended course for all 11th grade students. Biology builds on skills developed in STEM Physics and Chemistry. Biology may be taken concurrently with Chemistry.

Biology is a laboratory and phenomena driven course based on the Next Generation Science Standards. Using the three dimensions of learning science (cross-cutting concepts, science and engineering practices, and disciplinary core ideas) students will explore life focusing on molecular processes. Course content will include the study of ecology, matter and energy, genetics and evolution. Students will engage in developing and using models, analyzing and interpreting data, constructing explanations and engaging in argument from evidence.

Space Science is a single trimester course based on the Next Generation Science Standards. This course is designed to provide students an opportunity to expand and challenge their understanding of space. Using the three dimensions of learning science (cross-cutting concepts, science and engineering practices, and disciplinary core ideas) students will explore the science of space. Course content will include the history of the space race, the Big-Bang theory, scale of the universe, galaxies, stars, the solar system, the search for habitable planets, and colonization of exoplanets.

Marine Biology is a single trimester laboratory-based course based on the Next Generation Science Standards. This course focuses on the diversity of life in the ocean, the largest single environment on earth. Using the three dimensions of learning science (cross-cutting concepts, science and engineering practices, and disciplinary core ideas) students will explore adaptations to the ocean environment, symbios is between organisms, as well as gain an understanding of how these organisms interact with the physical, chemical, and geological process in this vast area. Human influences and dependence on oceans will also be examined. Laboratory exercises reinforce the course curriculum and will engage students in the use of scientific data to investigate and solve problems.

Botany is a single trimester laboratory- and field-based course based on the Next Generation Science Standards. This course focuses on the diversity, evolution, and growth of plants, with a particular emphasis on the largest group, flowering plants. Using the three dimensions of learning science (cross-cutting concepts, science and engineering practices, and disciplinary core ideas) students will study plant anatomy (parts/adaptations) and physiology (function) and gain an understanding of what plants need from and contribute to the environment around them. Students will have the opportunity to carry out investigations in the OCHS greenhouse as well as explore natural flora on school grounds.

Many different kinds of activities within the course will combine to help students build knowledge and skills in biological concepts as they relate to plants.

Honors Environmental Science is a laboratory and field-based course based on the Next Generation Science Standards. Using the three dimensions of learning science (cross-cutting concepts, science and engineering practices, and disciplinary core ideas) students will explore the topics of ecology, biodiversity, climate change, energy, and conservation, among others. Students will investigate the interactions between humans and the environment around us through laboratory work and field studies that involve data collection and analysis of working systems in the real world. Environmental Science is a multi-disciplinary topic incorporating biology, public health, chemistry, physics, geology, social studies, law, design, and engineering to examine and solve local and global issues.

This course is similar to an introductory college geology course. The course design is based on Earth

cycles (rock cycle, hydrologic cycle and hazard cycles). Rock forming minerals, the environments of their

formation and classification of rocks within the context of the rock cycle are emphasized. The study of

streams and stream morphology, mass wasting and slope stability (landslides), groundwater, and glaciers are included in the laboratory portion of the class. The course includes campus field trips and exercises to illustrate local natural hazards (earthquakes, volcanic events, and slope stability).

This course is similar to an introductory college geology course focusing on understanding Earth’s past.

The course focuses on geological history, plate tectonics and landscape development of Western North America, with an emphasis on the geology of Oregon. Students will trace the geologic history of the Northwest that includes volcanic activity, fossils, sedimentary environments, and topographic change over time. Laboratory studies include principles of stratigraphy and paleontology. The course includes campus field trips and exercises to illustrate local examples of geologic phenomena.

This course will apply many of the basic concepts of Biology to the whole organism. Study will focus on the theory of evolution as a foundation of Biology and provide a historical context for the work of Darwin. Students will analyze evidence for evolution, mechanisms of evolution, speciation and natural selection. This will be supported by a study of systematics and the arrangement of life into kingdoms with applications of this organization. Lab dissections will be a major component of our study of zoology, starting with basic animal structure in invertebrates and working up through vertebrate structure with an emphasis on human physiology. Lab dissections will establish relationships between form and function of the organ systems found in each specimen. Inquiry will focus on animal physiology, behavior and the evolutionary connections between body systems.

This course covers principles of microbiology with an emphasis on microorganisms, microbial symbioses, infectious disease epidemiology, and advanced molecular genetics. Topics include bacterial and eukaryotic cell identification, morphology, metabolism, and genetics, the ecological roles of microbes in complex ecosystems, symbiotic relationships between organisms in microbial communities, and the control of pathogens, disease transmission, host resistance, and basic immunology. Epidemiology, aseptic and sterile techniques, bacterial cell culture, histological staining,and molecular techniques such as PCR, gel electrophoresis, transformation, and CRISPR will all beutilized during the laboratory portion of this course.

The AP Biology course is designed to be the equivalent of a year-long introductory biology course

usually taken by biology majors. Students will explore topics of biology including the chemistry of

life, cells, cell structure & function, cellular energetics, cellular processes (replication &

communication), heredity, gene expression & regulation, natural selection, and ecology. Integrated

into each topic of study are big ideas, enduring understandings and learning objectives from the AP

Biology Curriculum Framework that merge concepts with science practices at the molecular, cellular,

organismal, population and ecosystem levels. Labs will be an essential component of the course;

encouraging students to explore content while thinking critically, and developing analytical, written and verbal communication skills. This is a year-long course.

The AP Chemistry course is designed to be the equivalent of a year-long college introductory chemistry

course. This course will build upon the concepts and skills developed in Chemistry A and B. Students

will develop an in-depth understanding of solution chemistry, chemical reactions, kinetics, chemical

equilibrium, acid-base chemistry, thermochemistry, thermodynamics, and electrochemistry. Course

work will be centered around the AP Chemistry big ideas, learning objectives, and science practices as

outlined by the College Board. Labs will be an essential component of the course; encouraging

students to apply content while thinking critically and developing analytical, written, and verbal

communication skills. A calculator is required for this class. This is a year-long course.

Physics 1 is a college level Algebra based Physics course. Students will work through a rigorous series of topics in preparation for the AP exam that occurs in the spring. Topics covered include Kinematics (displacement, acceleration, velocity, circular motion, projectile motion), Forces, Rotation, Energy,

Momentum, and Simple Harmonic Motion. This is a year-long course.