Middle School Science (BS, ES, AAF-S)

SCIENCE 

Refer to the chart in Graduation Requirements for high school science credit options.

Biology (Foundation/Core) | Course #3111 | Credit (BS) | Grade 9 | Credits 1.0
The biology Science with Engineering Education Standards (SEEd) standards explore the patterns, processes, relationships, and the environments of living organisms. Students analyze data on the role of matter cycles and energy flow when organisms interact with their environment to explain how the stability and change of an ecosystem and biodiversity can be affected. Students investigate the structures and functions of living organisms needed in order to support necessary life functions. Students explore the cause and effect relationships of heredity, the role of DNA in gene expression and protein synthesis, and how gene expression can be altered by environmental and genetic causes. Students investigate how the mechanisms of genetic variation can lead to diversity within and among species and explain how the unity among species as well as the great diversity of species is a result of evolution by natural selection. Additionally, students design and evaluate solutions to problems that exist in these areas. 

Biology H (Foundation/Core) | Course #3004 | Credit (BS) | Grade 9 | Credits 1.0
The biology Science with Engineering Education Standards (SEEd) standards explore the patterns, processes, relationships, and the environments of living organisms. Students analyze data on the role of matter cycles and energy flow when organisms interact with their environment to explain how the stability and change of an ecosystem and biodiversity can be affected. Students investigate the structures and functions of living organisms needed in order to support necessary life functions. Students explore the cause and effect relationships of heredity, the role of DNA in gene expression and protein synthesis, and how gene expression can be altered by environmental and genetic causes. Students investigate how the mechanisms of genetic variation can lead to diversity within and among species and explain how the unity among species as well as the great diversity of species is a result of evolution by natural selection. Additionally, students design and evaluate solutions to problems that exist in these areas. 

Earth Science  (Foundation/Core) | Course #3101 | Credit (ES) | Grade 9 | Credits 1.0
The Earth and space science, Science with Engineering Education Standards (SEEd) Standards investigate processes and mechanisms that have resulted in the formation of our Earth, galaxy, and universe. Students develop models to illustrate the life span of the Sun and the role of nuclear fusion releasing energy in the Sun’s core. Students analyze and interpret data to construct an explanation for Earth’s 4.6 billion year history and explore changes to Earth’s systems. Students develop and use a model of Earth’s interior to describe the cycling of matter by thermal convection. Students plan and carry out an investigation on the properties of water to determine its effects on Earth materials. Students use computational thinking to explain sustainable and natural resources, focusing on responsible stewardship. Additionally, students design and evaluate solutions to problems that exist in these areas. 

Earth Science H  (Foundation/Core) | Course #3102 | Credit (ES) | Grade 9 | Credits 1.0
The Earth and space science, Science with Engineering Education Standards (SEEd) Standards investigate processes and mechanisms that have resulted in the formation of our Earth, galaxy, and universe. Students develop models to illustrate the life span of the Sun and the role of nuclear fusion releasing energy in the Sun’s core. Students analyze and interpret data to construct an explanation for Earth’s 4.6 billion year history and explore changes to Earth’s systems. Students develop and use a model of Earth’s interior to describe the cycling of matter by thermal convection. Students plan and carry out an investigation on the properties of water to determine its effects on Earth materials. Students use computational thinking to explain sustainable and natural resources, focusing on responsible stewardship. Additionally, students design and evaluate solutions to problems that exist in these areas. 

Environmental Science AP (Foundation/Core) | Course #3105 | Credit (ES) | Grade 9 | Credits 1.0
This course is a core curriculum science course. The goal is to provide students with the scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies required to understand the interrelationships of the natural world, to identify and analyze environmental problems – both natural and human-made, to evaluate the relative risks associated with these problems, and to examine alternative solutions for resolving and/or preventing them. University credit can be earned with a successful performance on the Advanced Placement (AP) exam.

Integrated Science 7 | Course #3050 | Grade 7 | Credits .5/1.0
The seventh-grade Science with Engineering Education Standards (SEEd) standards look for relationships of cause and effect which enable students to pinpoint mechanisms of nature and allow them to make predictions. Students will explore how forces can cause changes in motion and are responsible for the transfer of energy and the cycling of matter. This takes place within and between a wide variety of systems from simple, short-term forces on individual objects to the deep, long-term forces that shape our planet. In turn, Earth’s environments provide the conditions for life as we know it. Organisms survive and reproduce only to the extent that their own mechanisms and adaptations allow. Evidence for the evolutionary histories of life on Earth is provided through the fossil record, similarities in the various structures among species, organism development, and genetic similarities across all organisms. Additionally, mechanisms shaping Earth are understood as forces affecting the cycling of Earth’s materials. Questions about cause and effect and the ongoing search for evidence in science, or science’s ongoing search for evidence, drive this storyline. 

Integrated Science 8 | Course #3051 | Grade 8 | Credits 1.0
The eighth-grade SEEd standards describe the constant interaction of matter and energy in nature. Students will explore how matter is arranged into either simple or complex sub- stances. The strands emphasize how substances store and transfer energy which can cause them to interact physically and chemically, provide energy to living organisms, or be harnessed and used by humans. Matter and energy cycle and change in ecosystems through processes that occur during photosynthesis and cellular respiration. Additionally, substances that provide a benefit to organisms, including humans, are unevenly distributed on Earth due to geologic and atmospheric systems. Some resources form quickly, allowing them to be renewable, while other resources are nonrenewable. Evidence reveals that Earth’s systems change and affect ecosystems and organisms in positive and negative ways. 

Marine Biology and Oceanography | Course #3166 | Credit (AAF-S) | Grade 9 | Credits .5/1.0
The study of the marine environment, living and nonliving, will be studied in this course. Fish, marine mammals, the physical environment of the sea and environmental challenges facing the world's oceans are examined. This course is also available as a USTAR course which is taught after school or during the summer.

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LEGEND (Credit)

ILA = Individual Lifetime Activities
ELA = English Language Arts
FL = Fitness for Life
M = Mathematics
PS = Physical Science
PST = Participation Skills & Techniques
Sr. ELA= Senior English Language Arts
S = Foundation/Core Science
WH = World History
USH = US History
USGC = US Government & Citizenship

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