Science

Ray Hanus, Department Chairperson - WVHS
Paul Vandersteen, Department Chairperson - NVHS

• Science Department's User Guide

The science curriculum is designed to meet the needs of all of our students. The curriculum is structured into three distinct sequences based upon students' abilities and a group of electives for any student. Any four semesters of science, successfully completed, may be counted to fulfill the two-year requirement for graduation. The science department believes it is in the best interest of the student to experience two disciplines of science within his/her two-year science requirement. By completing both a life science and a physical science course, a student can have a better appreciation of the scope of science, be more prepared for specific content on standardized tests, and have a solid foundation for further science exploration.

Because honors and Advanced Placement (AP) course work is accelerated and more sophisticated, upper level work of high quality in a compacted time frame is demanded of students. The Science Department has developed recommendations for student success. These criteria are indicators of performance levels or standards for the honors or A.P. courses and are available from the Science Department.

Science Course Listings

Articulated Credit with College of DuPage

If a student attends College of DuPage he/she may receive college credit when the following courses are completed with a grade of A. COD is on the quarter system.

Science Course Descriptions

All Science courses are year-long, except Astronomy.

4800 Principles of Physical Science - Grade 10. Placement by department. Principles of Physical Science presents concepts in laboratory science that are built upon those studied in eighth grade general science. This tenth grade science course is offered for those students who have lower math and reading skills. It is the parallel course to Chemistry/Physics 4808 with a concentration in the physical world and chemistry topics.

4802 Principles of Life Science - Grade 9. Placement by department. This one-year science course emphasizes the life sciences with a survey of the 5 kingdoms and human physiology. It has hands-on laboratory activities, practical experiences, and provides an appreciation of biology. This is the parallel course to Biology 4810.

4804 Earth Science - Grade 11-12. Prerequisite is two years of science. This course represents an overview of the Earth. It engages each student in a laboratory study of topics in geology, including rocks and minerals, earthquakes and volcanoes, streams and glaciers. The topics of weather and climate are explored as well.

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4806 Horticulture - Grade 10-12. Prerequisite is Biology. This is an ornamental plant based class with emphasis on botany, plant parts and processes, propagation, careers, and plant identification. Students are introduced to greenhouse management, landscape and floral design. The greenhouse and floral lab are used to give students a firsthand knowledge of concepts. This course is intended to be a preparatory class for students interested in majoring in biological sciences or horticulture. College credit is available to students successfully completing Horticulture and Greenhouse Management and Floral Design.

4807 Greenhouse Management & Floral Design - Grade 11-12. Prerequisite is Horticulture. This course will stress greenhouse management, plant production, and floral design. Specific plant growth topics including, but not limited to, botany, plant identification, plant management, propagation and careers will be stressed. Extensive use of the lab facilities and the greenhouse will be used to demonstrate concepts and supply students with first hand knowledge of plant growth and management practices. The students will create a greenhouse design and management project. Students receiving an A in both classes will be eligible for articulated credit at COD. This course will serve as a co-op work partnership with various Horticultural businesses in the Aurora/Naperville area. A student who successfully completes this class may enroll in an internship class in Business 4197 or FACS 4497.

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4808 Chemistry/Physics - Grade 10. Prerequisite is one year of science. This course provides students with a solid foundation of physical science and the laboratory techniques used to test and support such knowledge. One semester is an introduction to the principles of chemistry; the other is an introduction to the principles of physics.

4810 Biology - Grade 9. This laboratory is the traditional biology course. It is organized and conducted to provide the average student with a sound and comprehensive understanding of biology. Strong emphasis is given to understanding fundamental biological processes and how they apply to our daily lives.

4812 Honors Biology - Grade 9. Weighted grade. Students in freshman Honors Biology learn biology concepts based on the National Science Standards through creative and critical thinking skills in a hands-on approach. The laboratory experiences emphasize biology as an investigative process based on inquiry. Creating hypotheses by studying the facts and devising an explanation for them is a crucial part of this curriculum. Teaching strategies enable students to learn science through a natural development process. Beginning with exploration and moving through invention to application, students build solid foundations in biological concepts and theories while developing higher-order thinking skills.

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4816 AP Biology - Grade 11-12. Prerequisites are Biology and Chemistry. Weighted grade. This course is a college level laboratory course dealing with advanced topics in biology. There are twelve mandatory laboratory experiences dealing with such topics as diffusion, osmosis, enzyme catalysis, molecular biology, and genetics. Students may receive college credit in biology by qualifying on an examination administered by the College Entrance Examination Board at the end of the course.

4818 Honors Chemistry - Grade 10-11. Weighted grade. Prerequisites are Biology and Geometry. This course introduces students to the fundamental concepts and theories of chemistry. The pace and scope of the course are designed for the above average student. This laboratory course emphasizes problem-solving, analysis, critical thinking, and experimentation.

4820 Chemistry - Grade 11-12. Prerequisite is Biology. This course introduces the college bound student to basic chemical principles through lecture, laboratory and group work. The laboratory emphasizes the discovery of key concepts through the analysis of student generated data.

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4822 AP Chemistry - Grade 11-12. Prerequisites are Chemistry and Algebra II/ Trigonometry. Weighted grade. Advanced Chemistry is a college level laboratory course dealing with advanced topics in inorganic chemistry. Students may receive college credit in Advanced Chemistry by qualifying on an examination administered by the College Entrance Examination Board at the conclusion of the course. This course is weighted and emphasizes problem solving and lab experience. It is a good preparation for chemistry, engineering and medical careers. Honors Chemistry is strongly recommended.

4830 Honors Physics - Grade 11-12. Prerequisites are Biology and Chemistry. Weighted grade. This course introduces students to the basic concepts and theories of physics. The pace and scope of this course are designed for the above average student with a sound understanding of algebra, geometry, and trigonometry. This course emphasizes problem-solving and experimentation. Honors Math Analysis is strongly recommended.

4832 Physics - Grade 11-12. Prerequisites are Biology, Chemistry, Algebra, and Geometry. Physics presents a practical overview of general classical and modern physics topics. In this introductory course the emphasis will be upon laboratory investigations leading to a firm grasp of conservation of momentum, energy and charge. The math requirement entails proficient use of algebra and plane geometry.

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4852 AP Physics - Grade 11-12. Prerequisites are Chemistry and Calculus (may be taken concurrently). Weighted grade. This calculus-based college style physics course is structured to provide a strong preparation in physics for those intending to major in engineering, mathematics, physics, astronomy, or medicine. Students may receive college credit in Advanced Physics by qualifying on an examination administered by the College Entrance Examination Board at the end of the course.

4840 Astronomy: Exploring the Universe - Grade 10-12. Semester course. This is an introductory course that focuses on observational astronomy. The planetarium is used in order for students to comprehend observational techniques and coordinates that help them observe the heavens. Seasonal stars and constellations, their mythologies, and constellation creation are the main focuses of this class.

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4844 Cosmic Journey - Gr.. 10-12. Prerequisite is geometry (may be taken concurrently). Students begin their journey at the time of the Big Bang and explore the universe through the eyes of Galileo, Copernicus, Kepler, Newton and other great minds. As they journey into present times, they learn about the extinction of the dinosaurs, the solar system, galaxies, stars, black holes, and the laws that govern the universe. Many laboratory experiences and group projects, along with trips to the planetarium, will be used to reinforce the astronomical concepts learned in class. Each student will also construct his own refracting telescope. A field trip to the Museum of Science and Industry to explore the Henry Crown Space Center and the Omnimax Theatre are also included.

4846 Human Genetics, Bioethics, and Biotechnology - Grade 10-12. Prerequiste is Chemistry (may be taken concurrently). This college level course introduces students to the fundamental concepts of genetics. It is designed to acquaint students with not only the classical patterns of inheritance but also with the present day findings in molecular genetics. Laboratory experiments provide active participation in demonstrating and applying the concepts and theories of genetics and biotechnology. Present day bioethics issues in biotechnology are addressed.

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4848 Anatomy and Physiology - Grade 10-12. Prerequisite is Chemistry (may be taken concurrently). This college level course introduces students to the fundamental concepts of human anatomy and physiology. Particular emphasis is placed on animal dissections to help the students learn how the human body functions.

4850 AP Environmental Science - Grade 11-12. Prerequisite is Chemistry. Weighted grade. The goals of the AP Environmental Science course are to provide students with the scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies required to understand the interrelationships of the natural world; to identify and analyze environmental problems both natural and man-made; to evaluate the relative risks associated with these problems; and to examine alternative solutions for resolving and/or preventing them. Environmental science is interdisciplinary, embracing a wide variety of topics that include ecology, geology, history, sociology, economics, and chemistry. Field experiences may include a four-day trip to northern Wisconsin, and/or one-day trips to a local prairie, stream, and forest. There is a one-time fee associated with the experiences.

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