Science

Living Environment is a comprehensive, two-semester, introductory biology course that includes a mandated laboratory component. The topics covered include: life characteristics, scientific method, biological tools, cells, plants and animal physiology, classification of organisms, reproduction, Mendelian and modern genetics, evolution and ecology. The course is designed to prepare students for the Living Environment Regents Exam. To be eligible to take the Living Environment Regents Exam, a student must complete all laboratory activities to the satisfaction of their teacher, with a complete set of each student’s finished labs kept on file, as mandated by the State Board of Regents.

NOTE: This course will terminate in a Regents exam.

This course introduces scientific investigations, methods, observations and communication along with common tools and methods used for understanding Earth and its environments. Minerals and rocks that make up the Earth's crust. Earth's features, identification, and uniqueness as a planet are also covered in this course. Students will also examine continental drift, seafloor spreading, plate tectonic movement, plate boundaries, landforms, volcanic activity, earthquakes, and mountains resulting from plate tectonic processes as well as surface processes that create and modify landforms. The course also explores water on earth, covering its distribution, states, and the processes involving Earth’s water. Students will learn how features and processes of the atmosphere determine weather and climate, how life is supported on planet Earth, and how Earth scientists learn about Earth's past as well as Earth’s history. The course continues with human dependence on natural resources for energy and materials, the effects of human overpopulation and overconsumption on Earth's systems, and concludes with introducing the objects of our solar system and explorations beyond our solar system.

 A one semester course covering the fundamentals of biochemistry. Topics covered include: the structure and function of important biomolecules such as carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids, proteins and nucleic acids; enzyme kinetics and the use of cofactors & coenzymes; and metabolic pathways including glycolysis, TCA, electron-transport system, fatty acid and amino acid pathways. Laboratory work includes current biochemical laboratory techniques such as chromatography and electrophoresis, application of specific topics described above, and analysis of data from laboratory experiments.

This course focuses on helping students get a clear understanding of motion, energy, electricity, magnetism, and the laws that govern the physical universe. Students explore complex scientific concepts and make real-world connections to understand the impact on daily life.