Learning Recommendations:

• Successful completion of SCI125 – Chemistry Lab Methods
• Proficiency in lab technique, grade level reading, and graphing

General Description: 

• Year-long course, which fulfills a lab science requirement for graduation and college entrance.
• Provides a knowledge base that helps students understand the nature of life and prepares them to make informed decisions about health, medicine, genetics, and the environment.
• Emphasis on using the scientific practices, focusing on developing and using models, constructing explanations, and engaging in evidenced-based reasoning.
• Successful completion of this course supports students as they prepare for the Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science (WCAS).
• This course fulfills college prep requirements as outlined by the Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) as a lab-based science course.

Content:  Students will be actively engaged in learning and experiencing the following:

• Ecology, specifically matter and energy in ecosystems, population dynamics, and human impact on the biosphere.
• Cellular biology, energetics, cell growth and division.
• Genetics, including molecular inheritance, genetic regulation of processes, and biotechnology.
• Evolution of populations, biodiversity and modern classification.
• Ecosystem interactions, including group behavior.

Skills taught in this course:

• Laboratory techniques
• Use and care of microscopes
• Problem solving and critical thinking strategies
• Data analysis and graphic techniques

Strategies:  Students will learn through a combination of:

• Lecture/Discussion
• Inquiry-based laboratory work
• Critical thinking exercises
• Multimedia offerings (computer simulations, video features)
• Online textbook, web activities & reinforcement
• Demonstrations (teacher or student-directed)
• Student project and research
• Cooperative learning
• Interdisciplinary applications are used when appropriate/possible
• Communication
• Scientific inquiry

Homework:  Students should expect homework assignments 2-3 times in a typical week. Often, homework will involve completion of an in-class assignment or laboratory investigation. It may also involve work from the textbook to reinforce concepts, practice worksheets, or independent research, to name a few. Additionally, students are expected to review and study on a daily basis.

Course Fee / Materials: goggles, set of colored pencils, lined paper, basic calculator, #2 pencils, two colors of pen.