Eighth-grade science is part of a two-year junior high Science curriculum. Students use a variety of classroom and laboratory investigations to develop scientific knowledge, critical thinking, and the ability to perform scientific research.  Eighth-grade science covers a variety of topics in physical science, earth science, and life science. Combined with the seventh-grade curriculum, students will be well prepared for high school science.

Textbook:
Title: Ohio ScienceFusion, grade 8
Authors: MIchael A. DiSpezio  et al.
Publisher: Houghton MIfflin Harcourt, 2015

Units of Study

Unit 1: Science, Technology, and Engineering
Unit 2: Earth’s Surface
Unit 3: The Restless Earth
Unit 4: Earth’s History
Unit 5: Reproduction and Heredity
Unit 6:  Life Over Time
Unit 7: Forces and Motion

Biology is a ninth-grade course in the high school science curriculum. Students use a variety of classroom and laboratory exercises to develop scientific knowledge, critical thinking, and the ability to perform scientific research. This course investigates the composition, diversity, complexity, and interconnectedness of life on Earth. Students engage in laboratory investigations to understand and explain the behavior of living things in a variety of scenarios that incorporate scientific reasoning, analysis, communication skills, and real-world applications. This course prepares students for the Biology Ohio State Test which earns students the Science Graduation Seal. 

Textbook Title: Biology

Author: Kenneth R. Miller and Joseph S. Levine

Publisher: Savvas

Units of study:

Unit 1: The Nature of Science
Unit 2: Ecology
Unit 3: Cells
Unit 4: Genetics
Unit 5: Evolution
Unit 6: Diversity of Life

Chemistry is a comprehensive college preparatory course which engages students in real world applications of chemistry concepts.  It builds a strong understanding of the use of chemistry in real world applications and includes environmental chemistry in every chapter. The course includes sections on formulating matter using the building blocks of chemistry, periodic trends, moles and molar mass, conservation and chemical equations.  It then proceeds to study petroleum, water, the application of chemical reactions, atomic nuclear interactions and food biochemistry.  This course utilizes lecture, discussion, laboratory exercises, student board work to practice concepts, demonstrations and online resources to engage the student in the understanding of real world applications of chemistry.   

Chemistry Units of Study

 Atoms, Matter and the Building Blocks of Chemistry

 Periodic Trends

 Moles and Molar Mass

 Chemical Equations

Acids and bases

Chemical nomencluture

 Breaking and Making Bonds / Energy

 Solutions and mixes

 Chemical Reactions

 The Nature of Atoms

 Atomic Interactions: Nuclear Chemistry 

 Food Biochemistry, life chemistry

Physics is a high school level course taken in eleventh or twelfth grade. Physics elaborates on the study of the key concepts of motion, forces and energy as they relate to increasingly complex systems and applications that will provide a foundation for further study in science and scientific literacy. Students engage in laboratory investigations to understand and explain motion, forces and energy in a variety of inquiry and design scenarios that incorporate scientific reasoning, analysis, communication skills and real-world application.

Textbook Title: Cxperience Physics

Author: Geraldine Cochran, Christopher Moore, Jason Sterlace, and Michael Wysession

Publisher: Savvas

Units of study:
Unit 1: Modeling Motion
Unit 2: Forces
Unit 3: Gravitational Forces
Unit 4: Electric Forces
Unit 5: Magnetic Forces
Unit 6: Forces in Materials
Unit 7: Energy
Unit 8: Collisions
Unit 9: Thermal energy
Unit 10: Electromagnetic Energy
Unit 11: Waves
Unit 12: Electromagnetic Radiation
Unit 13: Information and Instrumentation

Advanced Biology includes interrelationships of living organisms, levels of biological organization, human biology, social implications, biochemistry, ecology, and genetics. Advanced Biology is a rigorous detail-oriented course for 9th graders that covers topics in an in-depth manner at a fast pace and has high expectations of student work. Laboratory work and problem-solving are essential components of this class. Students should expect daily homework and outside reading. Learning will take place through lecture, problem-solving, laboratory experiences, classroom discussions, demonstrations, text readings, projects, and video assignments. Assessments require in-depth and complete detailed knowledge of each topic. This course prepares students for and goes beyond the Biology Ohio State Test which earns students the Science Graduation Seal. 

Textbook Title: Cxperience Physics

Author: Geraldine Cochran, Christopher Moore, Jason Sterlace, and Michael Wysession

Publisher: Savvas

Units of study:
Unit 1: Modeling Motion
Unit 2: Forces
Unit 3: Gravitational Forces
Unit 4: Electric Forces
Unit 5: Magnetic Forces
Unit 6: Forces in Materials
Unit 7: Energy
Unit 8: Collisions
Unit 9: Thermal energy
Unit 10: Electromagnetic Energy
Unit 11: Waves
Unit 12: Electromagnetic Radiation
Unit 13: Information and Instrumentation

This is a college preparatory course in which we will study the structure, composition, and properties of matter and the chemical changes that matter undergoes. This course is for the student who plans to pursue a college career in a science or math field or a student who wants to keep that option open. This course is rigorous, and students should expect daily homework and outside reading. Learning will take place through lectures, problem-solving, laboratory experiences, classroom discussions, demonstrations, text readings, and homework assignments. There will be approximately 14 – 16 laboratory experiences throughout the year. Students who complete Advanced Chemistry will be well prepared for AP Chemistry.

Textbook:

Title: Chemistry: Matter and Change
Authors: Buthelezi, Dingrando, Hainen, Wistrom and Zike
Publisher: Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, 2013

Units of Study:
1– Introduction to Chemistry
2 – Math Tools
3 – Properties and Classification of Matter
4 – The Atom
5 – Nuclear Chemistry & Radioactivity
6 – Electrons in the Atom
7 – The Periodic Table
8 – Chemical Bonding, Compounds & their Formulas
9 – The Mole & Gram-Mole Conversions
10 – Chemical Equations & Reactions
11 – Stoichiometry
12 – Phases of Matter
13 – Solutions
14 – Acids & Bases

Science Inquiry & Application
During the years of grades 9-12, all students must use the following scientific processes with appropriate laboratory safety techniques to construct their knowledge and understanding in all science content areas:

• Identify questions and concepts that guide scientific investigations;
• Design and conduct scientific investigations;
• Use technology and mathematics to improve investigations and communications;
• Formulate and revise explanations and models using logic and evidence (critical thinking);
• Recognize and analyze explanations and models; and
• Communicate and support a scientific argument.

AP Physics I is equivalent to a one-semester, algebra-based, college-level physics course, especially appropriate for students planning to specialize or major in any scientific field. The course explores topics related to all types of motion and introductory circuits. Algebra and trigonometry are used throughout the course.

Understanding of the basic principles involved and the ability to apply these principles in the solution of problems will be the major goal of the course. Consequently, the course will utilize guided inquiry and student-centered learning to foster the development of critical thinking skills.

The AP Physics course will also include 16-20 hands-on laboratory investigations which are comparable to introductory college-level general physics laboratories, with a minimum of four laboratory investigations per quarter. Each student will compile and maintain a lab notebook or portfolio of lab reports that can be used to demonstrate the level of rigor of this AP Physics course to colleges and universities. This course is authorized by the College Board’s Advanced Placement program. As this is a college level course, students should expect to spend significant amounts of time learning and studying outside of class time. The course is rigorous and primarily suitable for very serious, motivated, and hard-working high school students.

Units of Study:

• 1. Kinematics
  2. Forces and Translational Dynamics
  3. Work, Energy, and Power
  4. Linear Momentum
  5. Torque and Rotational Dynamics
  6. Energy and Momentum of Rotating Systems
  7. Oscillations
  8. Fluids

AP Chemistry is a full first-year college course in general chemistry for majors. The AP Chemistry course provides students with a foundation to support future advanced course work in chemistry or other science career. AP Chemistry covers each of the following content areas: states of matter, the structure of matter, reactions, intermolecular forces and bonding, chemical reactions, kinetics, equilibrium, thermodynamics, and electrochemistry. Thorough knowledge of algebra and basic trigonometry is required for the course.

 

Understanding of the basic principles involved and the ability to apply these principles in the solution of problems will be the major goal of the course. Consequently, the course will utilize guided inquiry and student-centered learning to foster the development of critical thinking skills.

 

The AP Chemistry course will also include 16-20 hands-on laboratory investigations which are comparable to introductory college-level general chemistry laboratories, with a minimum of four laboratory investigations per quarter. Each student will compile and maintain a lab notebook or portfolio of lab reports that can be used to demonstrate the level of rigor of this AP Chemistry course to colleges and universities. This course is authorized by the College Board’s Advanced Placement program. As this is a college level course, students should expect to spend significant amounts of time learning and studying outside of class time. The course is rigorous and primarily suitable for very serious, motivated, and hard-working high school students.

Textbook:

Title: Chemistry: The Central Science, 12th ed.
Authors: Brown, Lemay, Bursten, Murray and Woodward
Publisher: Pearson Higher Learning, 2011

Chapters of Study:

1      Introduction: Matter and Measurement

2      Atoms, Molecules, and Ions

3      Stoichiometry: Calculations with Chemical Formulas and Equations

4      Reactions in Aqueous Solution

5      Thermochemistry

6      Electronic Structure of Atoms

7      Periodic Properties of the Elements

8      Basic Concepts of Chemical Bonding

9      Molecular Geometry and Bonding Theories

10   Gases

11   Liquids and Intermolecular Forces

12   Solids and Modern Materials

13   Properties of Solutions

14   Chemical Kinetics

15   Chemical Equilibrium

16   Acid-Base Equilibria

17   Additional Aspects of Aqueous Equilibria

19   Chemical Thermodynamics

20  Electrochemistry

This course is an in-depth and detailed investigation into the areas of vertebrate anatomy and physiology.  In most cases the focus of the course will be on human anatomy and physiology and human disease although the course will touch on some areas of veterinary anatomy and physiology.   Learning will take place through lecture, problem solving, discussion, class demonstrations, video lessons, lab experiences and projects, workbook assignments and homework.

The focus of the course is medical and includes a study of organ system disease and diseases caused by bacteria, fungi parasites and viruses and injury.  The course investigates common human disease processes and medical physiology for all the topics covered.  Students will gain an understanding of human medicine and disease and become familiar with both normal vital signs and normal functioning of human organ systems and what happens to organ system function due to disease / illness.

Advanced highly motivated students can opt to take an intensive Honors/ AP Biology version of the course which involves additional teacher guided independent study and homework in each of the areas covered and considerable outside of class work into topics and laboratory experiences not covered in class. This can be an independent pathway to taking the AP Biology exam at the end of the year.

Textbook:

Title:  Essentials of Human Anatomy & Physiology
Author: Marieb; Keller
Publisher: Pearson, 2018

Title: Anatomy & Physiology workbook

Units of Study

1. Medical terminology
2. Anatomical orientation terminology
3. Cell biology
4. Cellular energy
5. Cell reproduction including an in-depth examination of cancer
6. DNA and biotechnology,
7. Skeletal System
8. Muscular System
9. Cardiovascular System
10. Lymphatic/ Immune System
11. Digestive System
12. Integumentary System
13. Nervous System
14. Urinary System
15. Computational Biology

Health is a comprehensive course designed to promote wellness, health literacy, and positive health behavior in young adults. CTA students take Health for 1 semester in 9^th grade.  Students learn about physical, mental and social health, the human body and how to make healthy decisions for everyday life. Emphasis is placed on classroom discussion, as well as class activities that explore how everything around us affects our health and well-being.

 

Textbook:

Title: Glencoe Health
Author: Mary Bronson
Publisher: Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, 2011

Units of Study

• Mental and Emotional Health
  • Stress management
  • Depression
  • Self-esteem
• Social Health
  • Relationships
  • Bullying
• Physical Health
  • Nutrition and Physical Activity
    • Food choices
    • Exercise habits
    • Eating disorders
  • Personal Care and Body Systems
  • Human Sexuality: Growth and Development
    • Reproductive systems
    • Menstruation & pregnancy
    • Sexually transmitted infections and diseases (STIs & STDs)
  • Drugs, Alcohol & Tobacco
    • Substance identification
    • Substance abuse
    • Driving under influence (DUI)

National Health Education Benchmarks

• Comprehend concepts related to health promotion and disease prevention
• Analyze the influence of family, peers, culture, media, technology and other factors on health behaviors
• Demonstrate the ability to use decision-making and goal-setting skills to enhance health
• Demonstrate the ability to practice health-enhancing behaviors
• Demonstrate the ability to advocate for your health

AP Computer Science A is equivalent to a first-semester, college level course in computer science. The course introduces students to computer science through programming. Fundamental topics in this course include the design of solutions to problems, the use of data structures to organize large sets of data, the development and implementation of algorithms to process data and discover new information, the analysis of potential solutions, and the ethical and social implications of computing systems. The course emphasizes object-oriented programming and design using the Java programming language. 

Units of Study for the Year