Science Courses

1. Science Courses Offered At Weber High School

2. Why take science? • Learn important life skills: • spotting patterns, and working out reasons for them, and spotting errors and mistake • how to appraise and evaluate conflicting evidence and any bias in that evidence • not accepting arguments (or dismissals) based on authority but from evidence • skeptical evaluation (investigating before taking things at face value) • logical deductions and inference (learn to evaluate evidence and make conclusions based on evidence) • Prepare for college • Boost ACT/SAT scores • Have a more attractive portfolio for college acceptance applications • Increase your marketability in the job field

3. WHS Science Faculty • Mr. Cruff, Department Head • B.S. Biology, Chemistry minor • Mrs. Bowden • B.S. Secondary Education (Math, Chemistry minor) • M.S. (in progress) • Miss Campbell • B.S. Agricultural Education • M.S. Ag. Business and Animal Science • Mr. LeDuc • B.S. Zoology, Chemistry minor • B.S. Secondary Education [Biology Composite] • M.S. Geosciences • Mrs. Radle • B.S. Secondary Education [Biology Composite] • M.Ed. • Mr. Shaffer • B.S. Agricultural Education • Mrs. Swenson • B.S. Wildlife Biology • B.S. Secondary Education [Biology Composite] • M.S. Biology • Mr. Thorpe • B.S. Chemical Engineering

4. Science Department Courses AP Biology – LeDuc AP Chemistry – Cruff AP Environmental Science – LeDuc AP Physics B – Thorpe AP Physics C – Thorpe BAS (Biological Agricultural Science) – Campbell, Shaffer Biology – LeDuc, Radle , Swenson Biotechnology (DNA) – Swenson Chemistry – Cruff, Bowden Plant Science/Greenhouse – Campbell, Shaffer Physics – Thorpe Investigation Science – Radle

5. Possible Studies Outline • General Studies for the college bound student • 9th Grade Earth Systems, Biology • 10th Grade Biology, Chemistry, or Physics • 11th Grade Biology, Chemistry, or Physics • 12th Grade Biology, Chemistry, or Physics • Honors student • 9th Grade Earth Systems or Biology • 10th Grade Biology, Chemistry, or Physics • 11th Grade AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Environmental Science, or AP Physics • 12th Grade AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Environmental Science, or AP Physics • Advanced student (very rigorous) • 9th Grade Earth Systems or Biology • 10th Grade AP Biology, or AP Environmental Science • 11th Grade AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Environmental Science, or AP Physics • 12th Grade AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Environmental Science, or AP Physics • Specialized studies • 9th Grade Earth Systems or Physics with technology • 10th Grade Biology, Physics, or Chemistry • 11th Grade Bioag, Biotech, or Plant Science • 12th Grade Bioag, Biotech, or Plant Science

6. Regular Science Courses Biology Chemistry Physics

7. Should I take regular science courses beyond the graduation requirement? • Are you planning on attending college? • Are you majoring in science? • Do you want to significantly boost your ACT/SAT scores? • Do you want your college application to look more attractive? • Do you enjoy hands on, work? • Are you looking for an exciting challenge? • Do you want to broaden your career path possibilities? • YES!!!!

8. Biology • Life science credit or science elective credit • Good prerequisite for other science courses • Labs • Use microscopes • Get your own DNA • Dissections

9. Chemistry • Physical science credit or science elective credit • Good prerequisite for other science courses • Highly recommended course for college bound students • Course IS available for sophomores • Labs • Energy in reactions • Chemical reactions • Acids and Bases

10. Physics • Physical science credit or science elective credit • Good prerequisite for other science courses • Highly recommended for college bound students • More in depth than 9th grade physics (physics with technology) • Labs • Acceleration and Velocity • Collisions • Electricity and Magnetism

11. AP Science Courses AP Biology AP Chemistry AP Environmental Science AP Physics B AP Physics C

12. Should I take AP science courses? • Are you planning on attending college? • Are you majoring in science? • Do you want to significantly boost your ACT/SAT scores? • Do you want your college application to look more attractive? • Do you enjoy hands on, rigorous work? • Are you looking for an exciting challenge? • High school courses are MUCH smaller than freshman college courses, you get more attention from your teacher at Weber High • YES!!!!

13. AP Biology Course Description • Equivalent of a college intro biology course taken by biology majors • Recommended prerequisites: • Biology and Chemistry • Or AP Chemistry • College credit available for passing the AP exam • Open to sophomores

14. AP Biology Topics • Molecules and Cells (25%) • Biochemistry • Cells • Cellular energetics • Heredity and Evolution (25%) • Heredity • Molecular genetics • Evolutionary biology • Organisms and Populations (50%) • Diversity of organisms • Structure and function of plants and animals • Ecology

15. AP Biology Labs • 12 in depth labs • 6 extra credit labs (after school hours) • 6 in class labs • Labs are highly recommended for exam preparation • Breakfast 

16. AP Chemistry • Equivalent of a college intro chemisty course taken by chemisty majors • Recommended prerequisites: • Chemistry • Physics • Algebra II • College credit available for passing the AP exam

17. AP Chemistry Topics • Structure of Matter (20%) • States of Matter (20%) • Reactions (35-40%) • Descriptive Chemistry (10-15%) • Laboratory (5-10%)

18. AP Chemistry Labs • After school hours in depth labs (extra credit, but highly recommended for students taking the AP Exam) • Classroom labs

19. AP Environmental Science Course Description • Equivalent of a college science course in environmental science • Recommended prerequisites: • Biology, Earth Systems, Chemistry, and Algebra II • Or • AP Biology • AP Chemistry • College credit available for passing the AP exam • Fills college science credit for business majors • Open to sophomores

20. APES Topics • Earth Systems and Resources (10-15%) • The Living World (10-15%) • Populations (10-15%) • Land and Water Use (10 – 15%) • Energy Resources and Consumption (10-15%) • Pollution (25-30%) • Global Change (10-15%)

21. APES Labs and Field Investigations • Water collection and analysis • Soil collection and analysis • Local system/environmental problem study

22. AP Physics B • Equivalent of a college intro physics course taken by non-physics majors • Recommended prerequisites: • Equivalent of HS Physics (not 9th grade physics) • Algebra II • College credit available for passing the AP exam

23. AP Physics B Course Description • Newtonian Mechanics • Fluid Mechanics • Thermal Physics • Electricity and Magnetism • Waves and Optics • Atomic and Nuclear Physics

24. AP Physics C • Equivalent of a college intro physics course taken by science and engineering majors • Recommended prerequisites: • Equivalent of HS Physics (not 9th grade physics) • Enrollment in Calculus • College credit available for passing the AP exam

25. AP Physics C Course Description • Mechanics and Physics • Kinematics • Newton’s laws of motion • Work, energy, and power • Systems of particles and linear momentum • Circular motion and rotation • Oscillations • Gravitation. • Electricity and Magnetism • Electrostatics • Conductors, capacitors, and dielectrics • Electric circuits • Magnetic fields • Electromagnetism

26. AP Physics Labs • AP Physics B • AP Physics C

27. Specialized Science Courses Biological Agricultural Science Biotechnology (DNA) Science Plant Science Investigation Science

28. Should I take specialized science courses? • Do you need to earn CTE credit? • Are you looking to specialize in a particular field? • Agriculture • Biotechnology • Greenhouse/Landscaping • Are you looking for an exciting challenge? • Do you want to broaden your career path possibilities? • YES!!!!

29. BAS (Biological Agricultural Science) • Fills graduation life science credit OR CTE credit • (fills biology credit) • Agriculture emphasis • Learn about • Crop growth • Animal care • Renewable energy/Ethanol and Methane

30. Biotechnology • Rigorous course in advanced biology topics • Earn CTE credit • Earn Science elective credit • Earn 3 credits of concurrent enrollment through Salt Lake Community College • Extensive hands-on laboratory training using the latest in lab equipment.

31. Biotechnology Course Highlights • Extract DNA from cheek cells. • Compare your DNA with other students from around the country. • Transform bacteria using a gene that makes them glow green. • Make yogurt and cheese • Use DNA and proteins to predict evolutionary relationships

32. Plant Science/Greenhouse • Science elective credit OR CTE credit • Emphasis on greenhouse • Learn about • Horticulture • Plant anatomy • Economic aspect

33. Investigation Science • 1 year science elective credit • Prerequisite – have taken or currently enrolled in • Biology • Chemistry • Physics (not 9th grade physics) • Science research project • Independent project • Science fair required

34. Investigation Science • Improve research skills • Improve oral and visual presentation skills • Preparation for science competitions • Envirothon • Science Olympiad • I-SWEEEP

35. Other Science Opportunities • Science Fair • Science/Health Sterling Scholar • Science Letter • Science Scholarships • Science Competitions • Science Olympiad • I-Sweep • Envirothon • Science Clubs • Astronomy • Green Club • MESA