SCIENCE
SCIENCE DEPARTMENT
Courses in the science curriculum at Warsaw Community High School are designed to:
Develop an understanding of the science concepts that show the orderly occurrences in nature.
Give practice in solving challenging problems through the experimental design process and scientific argumentation.
Engage the student to think and reason in a way that will lead to logical solutions to problems.
Students are encouraged to discuss, analyze, predict, develop skills and apply scientific concepts to problems in everyday life.The course offerings are varied enough to be relevant to the average citizen living in a scientific world as well as to prepare students with a solid background leading to a scientific career. The courses are activity-centered and built around laboratory experiences.
SCIENCE COURSES
PLTW - Honors Principles of Biomedical Science
PBS provides knowledge and skills in fields such as biology, anatomy & physiology, genetics, microbiology, and epidemiology and engages students in how this content can be applied to real world situations, cases, and problems.
Prerequisites - B or higher in math and science courses
PLTW - Honors Human Body Systems
HBS engages students in the study of basic human physiology at rest and under stress to observe the interactions between various body systems.
Prerequisites - B or higher in PBS
PLTW - Honors Medical Interventions
MI studies medical practices to support humans in treating disease and maintaining health by extending and improving the quality of life, gene therapy, organ transplants, pharmacology, surgery, prosthetics, rehabilitation and supportive care.
Prerequisites - B or higher in HBS
PLTW - DC4 Biomedical Innovation
BI is a capstone course designed to give students the opportunity to design innovative solutions for the health challenges of the 21st century while working through open ended problems addressing physiology, clinical medicine, public health and biomedical engineering.
Prerequisites - B or higher in MI
Biology I
State mandated graduation requirement that studies biochemistry, cell structure and function, cell division, inheritance, DNA, matter cycles, interaction in our environment, history of the Earth and evolution.
Honors Anatomy and Physiology
Anatomy and Physiology is a laboratory-based course that investigates the structure and function of the human body. Topics covered will include the basic organization of the body and major body systems along with the impact of diseases on certain systems.
Prerequisites - B- or higher in Biology I and Chemistry I
Honors Biology II Zoology
Students will examine structures, functions and processes of invertebrates and vertebrates. Laboratory investigations involve in-depth analysis of specific anatomical features through dissection.
Prerequisites - B- or higher in Biology I or Chemistry I
Honors Biology II Microbiology Genetics Immunology
Examines structures, functions, and processes of living organisms with a focus on microorganisms and their interactions with humans from a medical perspective using specialized equipment and laboratory techniques.
Prerequisites - B- or better in Biology I and Chemistry I (can take concurrently)
AP Biology
AP course established by the College Board studies evolution and biological systems through in-depth course work and inquiry-based laboratory work.
AP Exam required to take with fee around $94.
Prerequisites - B- or higher in Biology I, Chemistry I and another chosen Honors science course
Earth Space Science
Introduction course focuses on studying the universe and solar system, Earth cycles and systems, atmosphere and hydrosphere, solid Earth and its processes.
Honors Earth Space Science II
Extended laboratory, field and literature investigations-based course whereby students apply concepts from other disciplines aimed at investigating earth and space scientific problems related to personal needs and community issues.
Prerequisites - B- or better in Biology I and either Chemistry I or Physics I or PLTW course.
Integrated Chemistry Physics
Introduction course that develops student understanding of both the basics of chemistry and physics by designing and conducting scientific investigations.
Prerequisites - Biology I and Algebra I
Chemistry I
Students will compare and contrast, and synthesize useful models of the structure and properties of matter and the mechanisms of its interactions by conducting laboratory experiments to prove concepts learned.
Prerequisites - B- or higher in Algebra I and Biology I
Honors Chemistry II
Extended laboratory, field, and literature investigations-based course whereby students examine the chemical reactions of matter in living and nonliving materials.
Prerequisites - Chemistry I and Algebra II
AP Chemistry
AP course established by the College Board studies structure of matter, states of matter and chemical reactions through in-depth course work and inquiry-based laboratory work using scientific critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
AP Exam required to take with fee around $94.
Prerequisites - Chemistry II and Pre-Calculus/Trigonometry (can take concurrently)
Environmental Science
Interdisciplinary course that integrates biology, earth science, chemistry and other disciplines where students design and carry out lab and field investigations. Prerequisites - Biology I
AP Environmental Science
AP course established by the College Board investigate scientific principles, concepts and methodologies required to understand the interrelationships of the natural world through in-depth course work and laboratory work. AP Exam required to take with fee around $94.
Summer Assignment
Prerequisites - Biology I and Chemistry I
Physics I
Course focuses on velocity and acceleration, forces, energy, linear momentum, oscillating systems, mechanical waves, sound, and simple circuits. Students will design and conduct laboratory investigations.
Prerequisites - B- or better in Geometry, Algebra II (can be taken concurrently)
AP Physics I Algebra Based
AP course established by the College Board studies algebra-based physics concepts of momentum, work, energy, power, mechanical waves and sound through in-depth course work and laboratory work.
AP Exam required to take with fee around $94.
Prerequisites - Precalculus/Trigonometry (can take concurrently)
AP Physics C Mechanics
AP course established by the College Board studies kinematics, laws of motion, work ,energy and power, linear momentum, motion and rotation, and gravitation through in-depth course work and laboratory work.
AP Exam required to take with fee around $94.
Prerequisites - Calculus AP (can be taken concurrently)
AP Physics C Electricity and Magnetism
AP course established by the College Board studies electrostatics, conductors, capacitors, and dielectrics, circuits, magnetic fields and electromagnetism through in-depth course work and laboratory work.
AP Exam required to take with fee around $94.
Prerequisites - AP Physics C Mechanics, Calculus BC (taken concurrently)
PEER TUTOR SCIENCE - ELEMENTARY DISSECTION SERIES
Students explore the structure, physiology, and classification of various animals by leading dissections for elementary-age children. Students expected to learn and show their understanding by actively engaging with elementary students during the dissection lab.
Students must be able to drive themselves to the elementary schools.
Required Prerequisite - Biology I and an upper level (2nd year) science course