MRHS Science Department

1. MRHS Science Department Course Registration Information Amanda Brady, Science ITLamanda_brady@hcpss.org

2. Typical Path for 9th Grade Science Three (3) credits needed to graduate, with standards in Earth Science, Biology, and Physical Sciences. Also, must pass a state Maryland Integrated Science Assessment (MISA).

3. Earth and Space Science Course Description In this course, students use the Science and Engineering Practices and Crosscutting Concepts of Science to build understanding of: the universe and Earth’s place in it (stars, planets, and Earth’s history); the dynamic and interrelated systems of the Earth (Earth materials, plate tectonics and other large scale system interactions, water and Earth’s surface processes, weather and climate); and the interactions between Earth’s surface processes and human activities (natural resources, natural hazards, human impact on Earth systems, and global climate change). Engineering design is incorporated as students consider technological solutions to real-world problems. This course supports environmental literacy and features learning that supports the discipline of Earth/Space Science.

4. Earth and Space Science • Solid interest in weather, history of the planet, space, and natural processes • Independence & confidence in Middle School Science is developing • Critical thinking and inference developing • Basic science and math concepts may lack • Benefit from more teacher guided instruction. • Typically enrolled in Algebra or Geometry.

5. Biology GT Course Description In this course, students use the Science and Engineering Practices and Crosscutting Concepts of Science to build understanding of important life science and Earth systems science including: how organisms live and grow (structure and function, growth and development of organisms, and organization for matter and energy flow in organisms); how and why organisms interact with their environment and the effects of these interactions (interdependent relationships in ecosystems, cycles of matter and energy transfer in ecosystems, ecosystem dynamics, functioning, and resilience, and social interactions and group behavior); how characteristics of one generation are passed to the next and how individuals of the same species and even siblings can have different characteristics (inheritance of traits and variation of traits); what evidence shows that different species are related (evidence of common ancestry and diversity, natural selection, adaptation, and biodiversity and humans); the universe and Earth’s place in it (Earth’s history including Plate Tectonics); the dynamic and interrelated systems of the Earth (water and Earth’s surface processes); and the interactions between Earth’s surface processes and human activities (natural resources, natural hazards, human impact on Earth systems, and global climate change). Engineering design is incorporated as students consider technological solutions to real-world problems. This course supports environmental literacy and features learning that supports the disciplines of Earth/Space Science and Life Science.

6. Biology GT Expectations • Exceptionally strong students who may have an interest in taking more advanced science courses in later years with solid Math backgrounds. • Strong work ethic, aptitude, interest and motivation. • Critically think, infer, and analyze data. • Independent enough to create procedures for a given lab and complete the task without assistance.

7. Changes with Testing in Science • New requirement involves an integrated Earth, Life, & Physical science assessment called the Maryland Integrated Science Assessment (MISA) • Focusing on skills and science practices more than content. • Juniors (Class of 2020) must take the assessment in 2019, Sophomores (class of 2021) must pass in 2020.