SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COURSES Principles of Science 1 (7)
Principles of Science 2 (8)
The objective of this course is for students to develop and apply an understanding of the principles of science through lab-based activities and concept exploration. Initially, students learn how to safely use laboratory equipment, collect data while performing laboratory investigations, use technology to organize, illustrate, and analyze data, and effectively communicate results of their experiments. After completing the introductory unit, students study human biology and health with an integrated focus on environmental science through engineering and computer programming. The course serves as an introduction to the biological sciences and the interactions of organisms with environmental processes. The course culminates in a Challenge Based Learning project that focuses on the design thinking process as a way of solving a real world, community based problem.
The objective of this course is for students to continue to use the principles of science to investigate earth processes and the interactions of humans with matter and forces in their environment. During the first half of the course, students explore the theory of plate tectonics by examining tectonic processes and analyzing patterns in volcanology, seismology, geography, and geochronology data collected. In the second half of the course, students conduct a variety of experiments dealing with simple and compound machines. This course is designed to serve as an introduction to the earth sciences and to build a foundation for further study in the physical sciences.
7th Grade Robotics and Programming (7) Can be taken instead of a Performing Arts or Visual and Media Arts course. This course serves as an introduction to the basics of robotics and programming. The first two-thirds of the course is an introduction to designing and building a LEGO EV3 robot and coding using the Mindstorms block based software. The use of proper building techniques, robotic sensors, and are stressed. Programming techniques such as loops, functions, and conditional statements are covered. The last part of the course is a short introduction to JavaScript and/or HTML/CSS programming.
8th Grade Robotics and Programming (8) Can be taken instead of a Performing Arts or Visual and Media Arts course. Eighth Grade Robotics is a mathematics, science, and technology-integrated course that imparts foundational knowledge to engineering, design, and robotics. Throughout the year, students create and use engineering notebooks, learn the engineering design process, and hone sketching and dimensioning skills to build VEX robots and program the robots using arduino and C++.
ROBOTICS COMPETITION
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An additional opportunity will be available for both 7th and 8th grade students wishing to participate in a competitive robotics experience with the VEX platform. Teams will meet after school approximately 2 days per week and occasional Saturdays during the Fall and Winter. Enrollment in a Robotics elective is welcomed but not required.
