This aspect of science study is incorporated into all Averroes High School laboratory science courses and is intended to engage students in the full range of scientific practices, helping students understand how scientific knowledge develops and exposes them to a wide range of approaches that are used to investigate and explain the world. Elements include: Formulating questions; planning and carrying out investigations; analyzing and interpreting data; using mathematics and computational thinking; constructing explanations; engaging in argument from evidence; obtaining, evaluating and communicating information.
This aspect of science study is incorporated into all Averroes High School laboratory science courses and serves to deepen and reinforce student understanding by repeated use in instruction across science disciplines. Throughout students’ science education at Averroes, students are taught these cross cutting concepts in ways that illustrate their applicability across discipline specific concepts. Elements include: patterns, cause and effect: mechanism and explanation; scale; proportion and quantity; systems and system models; energy and matter: flows/cycles/conversions, structure and function, stability and change.
The Biology course is integrated with concepts from Chemistry in order to help students develop a deeper understanding of the processes of life. The focus of this course however will be Biological systems and processes. Structure of matter, the chemical composition of living organisms, chemical reactions within living organisms that are essential for life, will help students understand that every particle of matter can affect life. The study of photosynthesis and cellular respiration at the molecular level will help students gain an appreciation for the processes that are perpetual in nature but at the same time are fragile and need protection from the indiscriminate exploitation by humans. Through the study of human physiology, students will research and experiment with making healthy choices within their lives and document this knowledge and share it with the greater community through social media. Students will take on the task of educating the general public about the benefits of healthy eating and exercise as well as the harmful effects of certain lifestyle choices
The purpose of this course is two-fold. Students will focus on concepts of chemistry and applying them while sharpening their critical and analytic skills. Through experimentation they will have opportunities to investigate and apply the concept of particle nature of matter towards everyday phenomena. Concepts of physical properties, chemical properties, atomic and molecular structure, bonding, chemical composition, chemical reactions, stoichiometry, thermochemistry, solutions, acids and bases, nuclear chemistry are all built upon the fundamental concept of the particle nature of matter. Students should have an understanding of the above stated to better understand the real life application of science in their everyday life.
CONTENT: In this course students will explore properties of matter and changes that affect matter; explore and investigate the nature of chemical interactions and its implications; investigate the effects of changes in chemical interactions in nature on the environment; learn the use of modeling as a way to understand the behavior of matter
SKILLS: Students will complete chemistry with a new set of practical and life skills They will acquire analytical and problem-solving skills; learn experimental skills and methods. Contribute towards innovative methods in various fields through the study of Chemistry. Through projects students will be able to see the practical applications of the concepts they learn in class. Students will get a sense of how they can make a difference through the knowledge they acquire in this subject.
This course will help students appreciate the role of physics in everyday lives. Topics covered in this course are description of motion (position, velocity, acceleration), explanation of motion using forces and Newton’s laws, momentum and energy, and description and explanation of motion in a circle, thermodynamics, light, and sound.
The Physics course is also a lab course, which seeks to develop the students’ inquiry skills. Students will formulate questions, plan and carry out investigations, analyze and interpret data, apply mathematics to tangible situations, construct explanations, make evidence based arguments, and communicate information to peers and experts.
Project Innovation is offered at 11th grade to give students the hands on approach to critical thinking and problem solving skills. In this class, students learn and use a methodology of inquiry called “Design Thinking” which is an orientation toward learning that encompasses active problem-solving and believing in one’s ability to create impactful change.Students start the year by learning and applying the protocol of design thinking to joint class challenges and then move on to work individually towards solving challenges around them.