Science

The m ission of Science instruction at Baxter Academ y is to prepare our students to be knowledgeable, scientifically literate, responsible citizens and problem solvers in an increasingly com plex, dynam ic, and interconnected world. We seek to build upon fundam ental understanding of all scientific fields by nurturing student curiosity, disciplined inquiry skills, and understanding Science in a real-world context, while developing student ability and opportunity to further discover and incorporate Science in their lives.

Baxter students can choose a journey that takes advantage of Baxter innovations where learners reach graduation benchm ark with foundations in a sem ester each of the traditional core sciences of global science, biology, chem istry and physics within the first two years followed by an applied and advanced options junior and senior years.

Alternatively, students can take a m ore traditional route with full years of Biology, Chem istry and Physics while also still having access to applied and additional advanced science courses. This is recom m ended for students who plan to m ajor in Engineering or Biology/M edical/Health or other Science when they are in college.

Science Foundations STEM 100 (En) Biology I (Pr) Chem istry I (Pr) Introduction to Physics (Pr)

Science Core Biology I & II Chem istry I & II Ecology Im m unology River & Storm Water Analysis Nuclear Chem istry and Electrom agnetism Genetics Oceanography Physics of M usic

Advanced Science Advanced Biology I & II Advanced Chem istry Calculus Based Physics Hum an Anatom y and Physiology Extraplanetary Clim atic M odeling Algebra Based Physics Calculus Based Physics Forensics

STEM Science SCI 100 All entering first year students enroll in this course. An integrated m ath/science course for incom ing 9th graders to explore the topics in science and provide evidence for placem ents. Standards Assessed: EN/PR Forces & M otion, Clim ate Change

Introduction to Physics SCI 200 An introductory course to core concepts in physics. Optics, electrom agnetism , electicity, optics, forces and m otion will be studied. Standards Assessed: PR in Forces & M otion

Biology I SCI 250 This introductory course to core concepts in biology & ecology. Topics include bio-m olecules, cellular biology, biodiversity, evolution, and ecology. Skills in laboratory -based inquiry, tracing inputs and outputs, and introductory balancing of chem ical interactions will be em phasized. Standards Assessed: PR in Heredity & Evolution and M atter & Energy

Chem istry I SCI 260 A lab course focused on the basics of chem istry. The course will cover ionic reactions, stoichiom etry, electron configurations, precipitation reactions, m odels of the atom and periodic trends. A sem ester course focused on the connection between chem istry and our im pact on earth. Students will be connecting their knowledge of chem istry to learn about and propose solution surrounding alternative energy sources. Biology I & II SCI 350, full year A lab course focused on the fundam entals of Biology. Topics that will be covered include cellular structure, genetics, inheritance, natural selection in populations and ecosystem s, and interactions between these system s. Students will apply their knowledge through analysis of available and collected data. Students investigate biotechnology, m icrobiology, ecology, form s, processes and system s of life. Standards Assessed: AD in Heredity & Evolution and Clim ate Change, GB in Statistics.

Chem istry I & II SCI 361, full year A lab course focused on the basics of chem istry. The course will cover ionic reactions, stoichiom etry, electron configurations, precipitation reactions, m odels of the atom and periodic trends. This course continues onto nuclear chem istry, therm odynam ics, kinetics, and predicting the products of reactions. Students will conduct dem onstration, inquiry based and student led lab investigations in Chem istry. Standards Assessed: GB-AD in M atter & Energy and Clim ate Change.

Algebra Based Physics SCI 420, year long An algebra based year long physics course to introduce a wide range of physics topics to students. The topics covered include kinem atics, Newton?s laws, circular and rotational m otion, energy, m om entum , oscillations, waves, and sound. Standards Assessed: GB/AD in Force & M otion.

Calculus Based Physics SCI 550, year long A calculus based physics course aligned to the first sem ester of a college physics course. The focus is on solving challenging m echanics problem s, to prepare students to be successful in a first-year college physics course. The course will include som e labs, with an em phasis on error analysis. Standards Assessed: AD/EX in Forces & M otion.

Ecology SCI 301 This course addresses the EQ?s through the lens of M aine?s varied and com plex ecosystem s. Students will learn about ecological relationships, as well as the ways in which energy, m atter, and inform ation flow within and between ecosystem s. There will be an em phasis on identifying and addressing ways in which hum ans can alter their im pact on the environm ent. Standards Assessed: GB Heredity & Evolution, Clim ate Change.

Im m unology SCI 302 This course addresses the EQ?s through the lense of im m unology. Students will learn about the im m une response, the cell biology of the im m une system , the nature of antigens, antibodies, B and T cells. The nature of tum or im m unology and cancer developm ent will also be covered, with an em phasis on the role of the im m une system to m aintain hom eostasis in an organism . Standards Assessed: GB Heredity & Evolution, M atter & Energy.

Genetics SCI 304 In this course students investigate the storage of genetic inform ation in DNA, its transm ission from cell to cell and from generation to generation, and its expression during protein synthesis. Students investigate patterns of inheritance for various traits using principles of M endelian and m olecular genetics. Students also investigate the application of biotechnology for m eeting hum an needs in the areas of genetics, reproduction, developm ent, and evolution. Standards Assessed: GB Heredity & Evolution. Nuclear Chem istry and Electrom agnetism SCI 352 This course addresses the EQs through investigations surrounding the electrom agnetic spectrum , the relationship between m agnets and electricity, Coulom b?s Law, Gravitation, planetary system s, and Nuclear chem istry topics such as fission and fusion. Students will also investigate potential careers in nuclear chem istry applications. Standards Assessed: GB Force & M otion and M atter & Energy,

River and Storm Water Analysis SCI 351 This sem ester course will look at the forces acting within the flow of rivers and storm water runoff. It will also cover topics in chem istry relating to pH , pollution the im pact to ecology. Standards Assessed: GB Force & M otion, Clim ate Change, and M atter & Energy.

Oceanography SCI 353 This course looks at traditional physics questions from the view of ocean sciences. The interaction of m atter and energy lead to integration of organism s and living system s so interesting to aspiring oceanographer. Standards Assessed: GB Force & M otion and Clim ate Change.

Physics of M usic SCI 360 This interdisciplinary course explores the natural intersection between m usic and physics through an understanding of sound waves, m usic theory, and the cultural differences that surround this intersection. Standards Assessed: GB Forces & M otion, M usic, and Aesthetics & M eaning.

Advanced Biology I & II SCI 442 A lab science course for students who have dem onstrated Heredity and Evolution standards at the benchm ark level or above and have the desire to explore advanced biology topics at the advancing and excelling level. This course will focus on topics at the intersection of m olecular biology, ecology, m icrobiology, genetics, biochem istry, physiology, biotechnology, and developm ental biology. Standards Assessed: Heredity and Evolution AD/EX.

Hum an Anatom y and Physiology SCI 405 Hum an Anatom y and Physiology is a hands on laboratory course that investigates the form s, processes and system s of the hum an body. Students will study the basic organization of the body, the biochem ical com position and interactions, the parts of the m ajor body system s as well as how they work together. Case studies of infectious and genetic diseases and current discoveries in m edicine will enhance our study. This class is designed for students who have an interest in pursuing a career in the health fields and for students who want to learn m ore about their own bodies and how to m aintain a healthy lifestyle. Standards Assessed: AD Heredity & Evolution.

Advanced Chem istry SCI 401 A course for students who have dem onstrated ability at the benchm ark level or above and wish to explore advanced chem istry topics through laboratory investigations. This course will focus on reaction kinetics, equilibrium , predicting products of reactions, redox reactions, therm odynam ics, and an introduction to organic chem istry. Standards Assessed: AD/EX M atter & Energy. Forensics SCI 402 A course focused on the overlap between chem istry and biology and how both are used to solve problem s in forensics. Students will participate in labs to try to answer questions about epidem iology and crim e scenes. The course will focus on DNA analysis, fingerprinting, organic chem istry, polym er/fabric analysis, anatom y, m icrobiology, epidem iology, and genetics. A student leaving this course should understand the connection between gene expressions and specific anatom y and physiology, how to read results from a variety of laboratory tests, and how to analyze data about the spread of disease. Standards Assessed: AD/EX M atter & Energy and Heredity and Evolution.

Extraplanetary Clim actic M odeling SCI 406 Students will be able to: Explain the evidence for past clim ate changes on M ars, Venus and other celestial bodies in our solar system . Explain and dem onstrate the interactions between various astronom ical objects and phenom ena. Investigate the effects that various astronom ical objects and phenom ena have on one another and on Earth. Standards Assessed: AD/EX Clim ate Change and Forces & M otion.