science curriculum registration assistance o’fallon township high school

Science CurriculumRegistration Assistance

O’Fallon Township

High School

Science Curriculum Information

The O’Fallon Township High School science curriculum offers a variety of courses designed to meet the needs of all students.

Students are required to complete two years of science by the

end of their junior year.

The two required years of science must include one Life Science course and one Physical Science course.

After meeting this requirement, students are encouraged to take additional science courses.

Many OTHS science courses have prerequisites. The course prerequisites are listed after each course description.

Course Options by Student Class

Freshman• Freshmen taking their first

science course (click here)

Sophomore• Sophomores taking their first

science course (click here)

• Sophomores who have already taken a science course (click here)

Junior • Juniors who have taken one

science course (click here)

• Juniors who have taken more than one science course (click here)

Senior

• Seniors who have taken one science course (click here)

• Seniors who have taken more than one science course (click here)

FIRST-YEAR SCIENCE COURSES

Life Science Courses:

• Biology 1 • Honors Biology 1

Physical Science Courses:

• Physical/Earth Science

A first year science student is either: 1. an entering Freshman to OTHS or 2. a Sophomore student who has not yet taken a

science course

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SECOND-YEAR SCIENCE COURSES

Life Science Courses:• Biology 1• Honors Biology 1• Integrated Life Science• Environmental Science

Physical Science Courses: • Physical/Earth Science• Geology 1• Chemistry 1• Honors Chemistry 1• Physics 1• Honors Physics 1

A second year science student is any student who has successfully completed one year of science at the high school level.

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ADDITIONAL SCIENCE COURSES

Additional courses may be taken after meeting the two-year science requirement, assuming other prerequisites are met.

ADDITIONAL SCIENCE COURSES

Life Science Courses:

• Biology 1• Integrated Life Science• Environmental Science• Human Anatomy & Phy

siology• Honors Biology 2

Physical Science Courses:

• Physical/Earth Science• Geology 1• Chemistry 1• Honors Chemistry 1 • Chemistry 2• Honors Chemistry 2• Physics 1• Physics 2• Honors Physics 1• Honors Physics 2

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ADDITIONAL SCIENCE COURSES

Teacher Assistants

• Science Lab Assistant

• Science Individualized Instruction

Electronics

• I360: Fundamentals of Digital Technology• I365: Principles and Applications of Digital Technology• I460: Advanced Digital Technologies• I465: Honors Digital Technologies

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Biology 1

Course Description: One year, life science course Provide students with knowledge of introductory

biological principles Content progression from cells to simple organisms, to

more complex organisms to man Connection between living things and the environment

and the significance of concepts to human welfare Introduction to laboratory exercises that reinforce

concepts and stimulate interest

Biology 1

Course Prerequisites:None

Biology 1

Course Highlights: Water Purification Lab Insect/Leaf Collection – Rock Springs Park Bacteria Cleaner Lab Earthworm, Squid, and Shark Dissections Arthropod Anatomy Lab Invertebrate Zoo Project

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Chemistry 1

Course Description: One year, physical science course Strong mathematics background is critical to student

success Highly recommended for college bound students Structured to reinforce and enhance students’ problem

solving, critical thinking, science reasoning, and lab skills Content deals with the study of matter, its forms, and

changes. Areas covered include: matter, atomic structures,

equations, mass relationships, solution chemistry and qualitative analysis

Chemistry 1

Course Prerequisites:

Successful completion of a first year life science course

ANDAdvanced Algebra I with a C or better OR

Algebra 1 with an A OR instructor consent

Chemistry 1

Course Highlights: Class lecture is coupled with significant

laboratory time Second semester final exam is a lab practical You get to see, first hand, lecture and theory

vs. reality through lab activities Improve your math grade by cross-curricular

reinforcement Gas bubbles of fiery doom, sugar monsters,

and hydrogen combustion explosions

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Chemistry 2

Course Description: One year, physical science course Continuation of first year chemistry with

emphasis on solution chemistry, gas laws, acid-base chemistry, organic chemistry, forensic chemistry, nuclear chemistry, thermal chemistry, and qualitative analysis

Significant class time is spent performing lab activities to reinforce topics

Requires strong mathematics background

Chemistry 2

Course Prerequisites:

Chemistry 1 with a C or better

ORChemistry 1 teacher consent

Chemistry 2

Course Highlights: Class lecture is coupled with significant laboratory

time Extensive forensic study including: evidence, crime

scene, fingerprinting, hair analysis, fiber analysis, blood analysis, document analysis, toxicology, crime scene mysteries

Expanded qualitative analysis unit Ten test tube “mystery” final exam Quantitative and qualitative labs reinforce teamwork,

critical analysis, and scientific reasoning

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Environmental Science

Course Description: One year, life science course Introduction to the interrelationship of man and

his natural environment; explore the significance of balancing biodiversity and sustainability

topics include: renewable vs. nonrenewable resources, biomes, field ecology, environmental issues, and interactions between living and non-living factors of ecosystems

calculation, evaluation, use of basic statistics, and proper use of the scientific method are emphasized throughout the course

Environmental Science

Course Prerequisites:

Successful completion of a first year physical science course

ANDSuccessful completion of a first year math

class

Environmental Science

Course Highlights:labs for reinforcement of conceptshands-on field workvisiting guest speakersfield trip to Giant City State Park and

Touch of Naturefield trip to an eco-friendly subdivision

and natural watershed area

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Geology 1

Course Description: One year, physical science course Emphasis on earth’s materials, processes, and

history Hands-on, laboratory course for students that

enjoy learning through personal engagement Areas covered include: rocks and minerals,

maps, geologic history, volcanoes, earthquakes, plate tectonics, mountain building and groundwater

Geology 1

Course Prerequisites:

Successful completion of a first year life science course

ANDSophomore or above

Geology 1

Course Highlights: Significant laboratory work with rock and

mineral specimens Field studies in Illinois Caverns and the

Missouri Ozarks Direct application of classroom materials to

surrounding environment Lecture is reinforced and developed through

lab-based activities

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Geology 2

Course Description: One year, physical science course In depth studies of mountains, oceans, soil,

sand, groundwater, historical geology Cross curriculum project studies of the Seven

Summits, Grand Canyon, Hawaii Designed to prepare students for college

studies in the earth sciences

Geology 2

Course Prerequisites:

Successful completion of Geology I

Geology 2

Course Highlights:Field studies on the Great River Road

and Shawnee National ForestField studies on school groundsApplication of material to real life

surroundingsProject based curriculumAlternative assessment options

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Honors Biology 1

Course Description One year, life science course Structured to enforce and enhance students’ problem

solving ,critical thinking , science reasoning , and laboratory skills

Highly recommended for college bound students Vocabulary and reading skills are essential for student

success Areas covered include: cellular structures/functions, cell

division, human genetics, invertebrate/vertebrate anatomical study, plant/animal classification, microbiology, and plant biology

Honors Biology 1

Course Prerequisites:

Invitation only based on:Science placement test

ANDTeacher recommendation

Honors Biology1

Course Highlights: Class lecture is coupled with significant laboratory

time Many individual and group activities all designed to

stimulate student interest and promote learning of key concepts

Dissections of various organisms including earthworms, squid, crayfish, spider, grasshopper, starfish, and shark

Use chemical indicators to test for various organic compounds

Improve your vocabulary using and understanding biological and medical terminology

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Honors Biology 2

Course Description One year, college-level, life science course Elective enrollment for credit at Saint Louis University through the 1818

Dual Credit Program Class intended for the advanced junior or senior student with strong

study skills Highly recommended for students interested in any biology field major in

college Prepares students to take the Advanced Placement exam to earn college

credit Course stresses biological content, critical thinking, science reasoning,

and use of scientific literature Labs are college-level to reinforce lecture concepts, lab skills, and

analytical thinking Content covers molecular, cellular, genetics, ecology, evolution, zoology,

and botany branches of biology

Honors Biology 2

Course Prerequisites:

Completion of Chemistry 1 OR Honors Chemistry 1 with a C or better

ANDCompletion of Biology 1 with an A OR Honors Biology 1 with a B or better

Honors Biology 2

Course Highlights: Earn college credits during high school Build skills necessary for success in all college

courses Advanced lab experiences that reinforce and support

classroom lecture Field trip to Shaw Nature Reserve for field work Some labs include: cat dissection, fruit fly genetic

crosses, restriction digest and gel electrophoresis of DNA, genetic engineering of bacteria, enzyme catalysis, dissolved oxygen content

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Honors Chemistry 1

Course Description: One year, physical science course Covers all Chemistry 1 topics and lab work at a more rapid pace

with more difficult assignments. These topics include: data analysis, matter, atoms, electrons, moles, periodic table, bonding, naming, chemical reactions, stoichiometry, solutions, & qualitative analysis

Additional topics, not covered in Chemistry 1, include: gas laws, acid-base chemistry, and expanded study of solutions

Requires greater depth in problem solving ability and higher level of math background than Chemistry 1

Significant class time is spent performing lab activities designed to reinforce concepts, promote critical thinking, and improve scientific reasoning

Honors Chemistry 1

Course Prerequisites:

Successful completion of a first year life science course

ANDHonors Algebra 1 or Honors

Geometry with a B or better

Honors Chemistry 1

Course Highlights: Class lecture is coupled with significant laboratory

time Second semester final exam is a qualitative analysis /

titration lab first hand exposure to lecture and theory vs. reality

through lab activities Improve your math grade by cross-curricular

reinforcement Gas bubbles of fiery doom, sugar monsters, and

hydrogen combustion explosions

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Honors Chemistry 2

Course Description: Designed to challenge students possessing exceptional

abilities in science and math by increasing their problem solving and critical thinking skills necessary for success in college chemistry

Elective enrollment for up to eight semester hours of credit at Saint Louis University through the 1818 Dual Credit Program

Areas covered include: review of first year topics, chemical equilibrium, chemical kinetics, coordination chemistry, and electrochemistry

Nearly one third of the course time is lab based

Honors Chemistry 2

Course Prerequisites:

Honors Chemistry 1 with a B or better

OR Chemistry 1 with an A and teacher

consent

Honors Chemistry 2

Course Highlights: Develop an understanding of and an appreciation for

the connections of chemistry with other disciplines and with everyday experiences

First semester lab work emphasizes quantitative analysis, titration methods, and percent by mass

Second semester lab work emphasizes qualitative analysis identification of unknowns

Course provides supplemental background for Advanced Placement Chemistry Examination

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Honors Physics 1

Course Description: One year, physical science course Strong mathematics background is critical to student

success Highly recommended for college bound students Structured to reinforce and enhance students’ problem

solving, critical thinking, science reasoning, and lab skills Content deals with the study of Kinematics,

Thermodynamics, and Electromagnetism. Areas covered include: motion, energy, momentum,

rotation, heat, thermodynamics, electricity and magnetism.

Honors Physics 1

Course Prerequisites:

Must have taken or be concurrently enrolled in Honors Algebra 2 or Trigonometry

ANDSuccessful completion of a first-year

life science course

Honors Physics 1

Course Highlights: Class lecture is coupled with significant laboratory

time Second semester project involving the design and

construction of an electric motor tested in races You get to see, first hand, lecture and theory vs. reality

through lab activities Improve your math grade by cross-curricular

reinforcement Dynamic demonstrations involving swinging bowling

balls, sparking capacitors and magnetic levitation

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Honors Physics 2Course Description: One year, physical science course Elective enrollment credit at Saint Louis University through the 1818

Dual Credit Program Strong mathematics background is critical to student success Highly recommended for college bound students Structured to reinforce and enhance students’ problem solving,

critical thinking, science reasoning, and lab skills Content deals with the study of waves, fluids, nuclear structure,

optics and robotics Areas covered include: statics, fluid dynamics, gravitational forces,

nuclear theory, fission, fusion geometric optics, wave optics, AC circuits and robot construction

Honors Physics 2

Course Prerequisites:

Must received at least a B in Physics 1 or Honors Physics 1 AND Instructor consent

Honors Physics 2

Course Highlights: Class lecture is coupled with significant laboratory

time Second semester project involving the design and

construction of a robot for use in a national robotics competition

You get to see, first hand, lecture and theory vs. reality through lab activities

Improve your math grade by cross-curricular reinforcement

Several hands on projects including: the designing of an atomic bomb, building a telescope, involvement in an engineering design competition, and building a spectrometer

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Human Anatomy & Physiology

Course Description: One year, life science course Content covers structure of normal and abnormal

functioning human body systems, genetic disorders, cancer, immunology, and bacteriology

Course is of interest to all students interested in the human body, good health, and diseases

Strongly recommended for students considering a career in any branch of medicine

Structured to stress medical vocabulary, student problem solving skills, and critical thinking skills

Significant lab component

Human Anatomy & Physiology

Course Prerequisites:

Completion of Biology 1 with a B or better

OR Completion of Honors Biology 1 with a C or

better

OR Biology 1 teacher recommendation

Human Anatomy & Physiology

Course Highlights: Spring Field Trip to view a Human Cadaver Dissections include fetal pig, sheep brain, cow

eyeball, and chicken wing Labs that supplement lecture, model medical

testing methods, organ functioning, or physiological processes

Student “medical teams” diagnose patient disorders based on medical tests/symptoms

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I360: Fundamentals of Digital Technology

Course Description: 1 Semester, 1/2 credit Open to juniors and seniors This course provides learning activities related

to testing, maintenance, and repair of components in digital and analog electronic circuits and systems found in radio, televisions, DVD/VCR players, and computers

The course examines the principles of diodes, transistors, and digital logic circuits including AND, OR, NOT logic

I360: Fundamentals of Digital Technology

Prerequisite:• Completion of Introduction to

Electricity/Electronic Technology

OR • Algebra 1 with a grade of "C" or better

OR• Instructor Consent

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I365: Principles and Applications of Digital Technology

Course Description: 1 Semester, 1/2 credit Open to juniors and seniors This course provides the student with the

knowledge and skills in the area of digital applications such as memory devices.

It also examines the architecture and programming techniques of a microprocessor (the CPU in a computer).

I365: Principles and Applications of Digital Technology

Prerequisite:

Completion of Fundamentals of Digital Technology

ORInstructor Consent

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I460: Advanced Digital Technologies

Course Description: 1 Semester 1/2 credit Open to juniors and seniors This course provides learning activities that are related

to various digital and microprocessor applications, including fundamental machine coding from the instruction set of a microprocessor to perform a particular function/application on a robot platform.

Students will also learn Computer Design and Networking fundamentals.

I460: Advanced Digital Technologies

Prerequisite:

Completion of Principles & Applications of Digital Technology

OR Instructor Consent

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I465: Honors Digital Technologies

Course Description: 1 Semester 1/2 credit Open to seniors This course offers more advanced digital and

microprocessor applications including digital to analog interfacing, applicable to programming, and controlling a robot using the ‘C’ programming format.

In addition the student will be introduced to automated systems and industrial instrumentation.

I465: Honors Digital Technologies

Prerequisite:

Completion of Advanced Digital Technologies

OR Instructor Consent

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Integrated Life Science

Course Description: One year, life science course Hands-on lab intensive course Topics include human senses, fitness and

nutrition, genetics, classification, ecology, kingdoms of fungi & plants

Designed to reinforce and enhance students’ problem solving, critical thinking, scientific reasoning, and lab skills needed for future success

Integrated Life Science

Course Prerequisites:

Successful completion of a first year physical science course

Integrated Life Science

Course Highlights: significant laboratory time Evaluation/improvement through a student-designed

health and exercise program Extensively explore a specific student-selected

ecosystem and the roles & interactions of both the living and non-living factors within that ecosystem

Course includes three fieldtrips (in-house guest speaker, SLUE 3-D cadaver demonstration, and Missouri Botanical Gardens)

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Physical Earth Science

Course Description: One year, physical science course Designed to give students knowledge of and

appreciation for the fundamental physical properties and workings of the earth, moon, solar system, and universe

Students are provided with the opportunity of inquiry based laboratory exercises that correspond to lecture material

Areas covered include: Methods of science, matter, motion, energy, earth processes, electromagnetic radiation, atomic structure, chemical bonding, chemical reactions, solar system, origin of the universe, and stellar evolution

Physical Earth Science

Course Prerequisites:None

Physical Earth Science

Course Highlights: Lecture is coupled with hands on laboratory

activities Students will further develop scientific

graphing skills Students will acquire dimensional analysis

skills Students will develop note taking skills from

lecture and discussions

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Physics 1

Course Description: One year, physical science course Strong mathematical background is needed; critical

thinking skills will be developed Taught as a college level course; great for college prep Course investigates the behavior of natural

phenomena such as motion, force, electricity, and magnetism

Physics 1 has a large hands-on component; labs and projects constitute a significant portion of the class

Physics 1

Course Prerequisites:

One year of life science

ANDSuccessful completion of or concurrent

enrollment in Advanced Algebra II

Physics 1

Course Highlights: Introduction to a variety of new scientific equipment and tools A large portion of class time is spent in hands on demonstrations

and lab experiences. Preparation for college by the application of prior mathematics

knowledge to real world situations in observing motion, heat, energy, electricity, magnetism.

Gain an understanding of theoretical concepts as well as lots of common knowledge. Want to know how batteries, lightning, plasma screen TV’s, and touch screens work? Want to know why you can’t jump out of a moving elevator before it crashes to the ground (like in the cartoons!)? Take Physics!!

Labs are “non-cookbook”. You will learn by doing, investigating, and exploring

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Physics 2

Course Description: One year, physical science course Strong mathematical background is needed; critical

thinking skills will continue to be developed Taught as a college level course; great for college prep Course continues the study began in Physics 1 Students will study statics, fluids behavior, nuclear

physics, waves, light and sound, astronomy, and AC circuits

Physics 2 has a large hands-on component; labs and projects constitute a significant portion of the class

Physics 2

Course Prerequisites:

Completion of Physics 1

OR Completion of Honors Physics 1

AND Completion of Advanced Algebra II (or

higher math course)

Physics 2

Course Highlights: Students will be introduced to a variety of new scientific

equipment and tools A large portion of class time is spent in hands on demonstrations

and lab experiences Physics prepares the student for college by the application of

prior mathematics knowledge to real world situations in observing fluids, waves, light and sound, and AC circuits

Gain an understanding of theoretical concepts as well as lots of common knowledge. Want to know how airplanes fly, how musical instruments work, how bridges and building stand up, and how microscopes and telescopes work? Take Physics 2!!

Labs are “non-cookbook”. You will learn by doing, investigating, and exploring

Students will complete significant projects involving airplanes and aviation, rocketry, and astronomy

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Science Lab Assistant

Course Description: 1 Semester, 1/4 credit per semester Open to juniors and seniors 2 Semester Limit No more than two laboratory assistants will be

assigned to any science teacher during a given period. Student laboratory assistants will be required to aid

the teacher in preparation for instruction in the classroom and to

assist the teacher in the preparation, organization, maintenance, distribution, and storage of laboratory materials and equipment.

Note: In order for a student to be a Lab Assistant, it must be their sixth class.

Science Lab Assistant

Prerequisite:

Successful completion of advanced-level

course works in the field of science in which the student will assist

AND Written consent from the instructor who

they will assist

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Science Individualized Instruction

Course Description: 1 Semester 1/2 credit per semester Open to juniors and seniors 2 Semester Limit No more than one individualized instruction student will be assigned to any

science instructor during a given semester. Students will be required to select a topic for scientific study and research. Laboratory work MUST be a component of the study. The assigned science instructor must approve the topic and project for research

during the first four weeks of the semester. A written contract, specifying work to be completed and criteria for grading, must

be signed by both student and instructor, and submitted to the department chairperson for filing.

At the end of the semester the student must submit a written report to the instructor summarizing conclusions reached through their research.

After grading, a copy of this report will be placed on file with the department chairperson and will be available for perusal by any member of the science department faculty.

Science Individualized Instruction

Prerequisite:

Completion of advanced-level course work in the field of science in which the student will work

ANDWritten consent from the instructor who will

oversee the work and assign a grade

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