Academics

IB GROUP 4: EXPERIMENTAL SCIENCES COURSES

(Biology, Environmental Systems)

The science curriculum provides students with a solid foundation in the traditional sciences, with an emphasis on the environment and the anthropogenic factors that affect our environment. The curriculum emphasizes critical thinking, problem solving, and scientific inquiry as the vehicles for success in college. Scientific methodology and the process of science are emphasized by integrating long-term research projects into the standard curriculum.

9TH & 10TH GRADE COURSES

INTEGRATED SCIENCE I - 9th grade requirement -  full-year course
The Integrated Science courses provide students with the necessary skills to succeed in further science education and beyond. Students learn skills such as measuring and calculating, using scientific equipment and technology as an aid in discovery, understanding and implementing the scientific method from problem to written report, and researching, writing, and presenting science using a hands-on and minds-on inquiry approach. Field trips, outdoor work, and projects are a significant part of the course. The subject matter is introductory in nature and broken into units that range across the disciplines from biology, chemistry, and physics to earth science and astronomy, and stress the interconnectedness of the world and science.

INTEGRATED SCIENCE II (Chemistry) – 10th grade requirement -  full-year course
Chemistry deals with all the substances making up our environment and the changes they undergo. This introductory course approaches the fundamental concepts of chemistry from the point of view of experimentation and investigation. The course focuses on fundamental principles, including the structure and form of matter; the periodic table; concepts of chemical bonding and molecular structure; the mole and an introduction to stoichiometry; the types and mechanics of chemical reactions, solutions and equilibrium; and energy and thermodynamics. Students learn skills such as measuring, handling chemical apparatuses, research, problem solving, experimental design, collecting and analyzing data, and science writing. Throughout the year, the course has a theme of application to humans and their effect on the environment. The course emphasizes the use of concepts over the memorization of facts. This course gives students a more complete understanding of the makeup of the world around them, and makes them scientifically curious, and well versed in science communication.

11th and 12th Grade IB GROUP IV: Experimental Sciences Courses:

Standard Level Environmental Systems – Two-year sequence
The Environmental Systems course provides students with a sound scientific perspective on the environment.  It is a course grounded in fundamental scientific principles. The emphasis of the course is on using practical work to relate the local environment to the underlying environmental principles and global systems, cycles, and issues. Environmental Systems connects a number of disciplines such as biology, geology, geography, chemistry, and physics by covering aspects of ecology, climate, population dynamics, pollution, land management, and governmental policies.  The course leads students to an appreciation of their relationship with the environment in which they live, both local and global, and to an understanding of how their future choices will shape their world.

Higher Level Biology – Two-year sequence
The IB higher level biology course provides students with sound knowledge about a broad range of topics from biochemistry and cells through genetics and evolution to human physiology and ecology.  This knowledge will be underpinned with a broad, general understanding of the few fundamental principles that connect the subject such as the relationship between structure and function and matter and energy; the molecular basis of life and hereditary; biological evolution; and the interdependence of organisms. This course provides opportunities for scientific inquiry, collaboration, and communication between students and teachers. The course also builds the students’ lab skills.

Global news, events, and discoveries relating to biology (e.g. SARS, Kyoto protocol, Avian flu) are discussed weekly.  The study of organisms and environments from across the globe and the impact and interactions of humans (e.g. ecology of savannah, eating insects, global warming) make the students’ understanding of the subject more complete.  In addition, the contributions of scientists from all over the world are discussed in context of the history of biology.