Grades 9-10 Credit: 1
Instruction focuses on the eight basic topics from the State syllabus, ranging from the activities of living things to identifying and defining interrelationships among organisms. Themes describing unity and diversity of organisms are further developed into the structure and function of anatomy and the transmission of traits from generation to generation. Evolution and ecology describe patterns of the origins of organisms as well as their interdependencies. As part of this course, the students must complete 1200 minutes of laboratory work and must have a complete file of their satisfactory written reports for each lab. This class will prepare students for the NYS Regents exam which will be taken in June at the conclusion of the school year.
The Honors course is designed for the science-oriented student who may be considering a career in science. The Honors curriculum covers concepts in greater depth and detail. The course involves advanced readings in order to strengthen reading and comprehension across the curriculum and to better prepare students for future AP courses and the SAT exam. Areas of concentration include: research skills, scientific inquiry, biochemical aspects of modern biology, cells genetics, evolution, ecology, human anatomy and physiology.
Prerequisite: Successful completion of Earth Science and/or teacher recommendation.