Scholars explore movement of energy through biological systems, population dynamics, cell structure and how nutrients are used by the cell for life, bimolecular structures including lipids, proteins, sugars and DNA/RNA, genetics and heredity, evolution, classification, plants and comparative anatomy (dissections).  Daily activities reinforce learning including frequent group presentations to assess learning (modeling in biology) to report findings and reflect learning.  This course includes topics of human reproduction and evolution.                         Prerequisite: Grade of “B” or better in Algebra I or Geometry

Energy changes affect matter through both physical (thermal and interaction energies) and chemical (breaking and reforming bonds).  Scholars learn nomenclature, balancing chemical equations, mathematical processes including conversions, density, heat capacity, mole equations, stoichiometry, and gas equations. The process of scientific discovery is explored through the history of the atomic theory development and the men and women important to this process.   Topics in acids, bases, reaction rates, nuclear chemistry, and basic organic chemistry are explored.  Daily activities, labs and lab reports, as well as modeling techniques of drawing what the particles and energy are doing are used to obtain not only hands-on but minds-on understanding.

Prerequisite: Biology, Algebra 1

Scholars explore the form and function of the systems of the human body.  This course begins with a review of the atom and biochemistry, the course progresses from biomolecules, to cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems.  Emphasis is placed on learning the bones, muscles, and all of the major organs.  Systems reviewed include the skeletal, muscular, nervous, digestive, circulatory, respiratory, endocrine, and reproductive.    Scholars will also learn study techniques for success in college courses related to allied health and science. This course includes a unit on human reproduction and utilizes both artistic and real images of the human body.  Dissection is a significant part of the learning process and several dissections are performed during the course.

Dual Enrollment option with Rio Salado College

The computer 1 class is offered to student using an approved curriculum from the Rio Salado course number CIS 105. This is a survey class and covers a broad range of current information technologies. The goals of this course are to provide a broad set of technology introduction to scholars in order to pique their interest in pursing something more specific in terms of technology as science, or technology as practice. Technology as science would include such disciplines as computer science, informatics, cybernetics Technology as practice includes work as a computer systems administrator, building data networks, applying information systems to business systems. The Computer I class prepares students to follow either track as it is a survey course covering hardware, data networks, operating systems, and application programs. The focus is on the Microsoft Office Suite including MS-Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. Students are also exposed to cloud based applications including the Google Apps for Education. Scholars are also introduced to other operating systems (Linux) and virtualization. Scholars make use of the command line in Windows as well as BASH on Linux. Scholars are also introduced to web technologies write HTML, CSS and will be introduced to Javascript. The course also includes a brief introduction to relational data bases and how to use Microsoft Access.

Prerequisite: 811 Computers Class or teacher recommendation

Dual Enrollment option with Rio Salado College CIS 105