Science

2 terms, solid, 2 credits, B, Approved as Natural/Physical Science course by NCAA

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Pre-Algebra

How do things move and why do they move that way? If energy is conserved, why do we have to conserve energy?   How is the world different at its extremes? How do we know what we know?  These four questions guide the course, which emphasizes a conceptual understanding of physics while studying the causes and effects of motion, conservation of energy and momentum, the nature of matter, and the origin and nature of waves. Hands-on activities such as measuring the strength of nuclear radiation of different sources or exploring the relationship between the temperature of an object and the rate at which it cools play a significant role in our learning process. 

2 terms, solid, 2 credits, B, Approved as Natural/Physical Science course by NCAA

Prerequisites: Successful completion of Algebra I and Physics.

Understanding fundamental chemistry concepts to improve your scientific literacy is the core of Chemistry. In this course, students will explore various types of chemical reactions and what is happening with them at the nanoscale. There are many exciting and rigorous lab activities that include applications to the real world and cooperative team work. The course introduces topics and examines relationships in the following areas: atomic structure, periodicity, bonding, formula writing and nomenclature, chemical reactions and equation writing, mole concept, stoichiometry, energy, states of matter, and solutions.

1 term, solid, 1 credit, C, Approved as Natural/Physical Science course by NCAA

Prerequisite:  Successful completion of Chemistry.

This lab-centered introductory course clarifies and broadens biological concepts and stresses unifying science principles. Major themes include biochemistry, cellular structure and function, genetics, evolution, ecology, and kingdom diversity. Content is strengthened with guided or independent experiments, and multimedia computers are used both as learning aids and as the medium for creative projects. Local field trips strengthen the lessons centered on ecological and environmental applications. Students should leave with a greater understanding and appreciation for life, a solid understanding of scientific methodology, and the ability to apply what they have learned to global issues.  

1 term, solid, 1 credit, B, Approved as Natural/Physical Science course by NCAA

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Chemistry and Biology.

"For the record… I didn't die on Sol 6.  Certainly the rest of the crew thought I did, and I can't blame them." - Astronaut Mark Watney 

In Andy Weir's The Martian, astronaut Mark Watney is left alone on Mars for 560 days.  As a scientist, he uses his knowledge, skills, and creativity to survive.  Could you?  In this project-based course, students will build their understanding of biology, chemistry and engineering concepts and apply their knowledge, skills and creativity to meet similar challenges to those faced by Astronaut Watney. Students will be given an inventory of supplies with which to address 3 challenges:  How will they get food?  How will they get water?  How will they call for help?  In this lab intensive course, the content students will explore is approximately 50% biology and 50% chemistry. 

1 term, solid, 1 credit, Approved as Natural/Physical Science course by NCAA

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Chemistry and Biology.

Fron·tier:  /frənˈtir/ noun : the farthermost limits of knowledge or achievement in a particular subject

Have you ever looked up at the night sky and wondered, "What's out there?"  Have you ever swam in the ocean and wondered, "What's down there?"   How do we answer these questions when we cannot visit frontiers such as black holes and hydrothermal vents?   Arriving at answers takes imagination, creativity, and a fundamental understanding of physics, chemistry and biology.  Students will learn about the physical environments of deep space and the deep sea and explore the tools available to investigate these remote frontiers.  Through experimentation and observation, students will gain an understanding of the underlying models and science of the big questions that guide cutting-edge research.  In this lab intensive course, the content students will explore is approximately 45% biology, 45% physics and 10% chemistry. 

1 term, solid, 1 credit, B, Approved as Natural/Physical Science course by NCAA

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Chemistry and Biology.

Molecular biology is one of the fastest growing fields in biology.  This course will introduce students to molecular biology concepts, and have them apply molecular biology laboratory skills to achieve a variety of results.  The course will begin with an introduction to DNA's chemical structure and the central role it plays in protein production.  Students will then participate in a series of laboratory activities where they will learn to transfer genetic material from eukaryotic organisms to prokaryotic organisms, and make sure that the transferred genes are fully functional.  Student will use RNAi (interference RNA) to manipulate the expression of genes in C. elegans worms and use more recent techniques of gene manipulation, such as CRISPR.  Finally, students will end the course with an exploration of ethical questions and issues related to the development and utilization of molecular biology techniques.

In addition to performing numerous laboratory activities, students will explore the conceptual framework about what is happening at a molecular level and how various molecular biology techniques are used to manipulate genomes. 

1 term, solid, 1 credit, B, Approved as Natural/Physical Science course by NCAA

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Chemistry and Biology.

This introductory course emphasizes nomenclature and location of body structures and the physiological functions of body parts. Students discover the scientific process through a study of body systems whose primary responsibility is support and protection. Units covered include basic chemistry, genetics, cell structure and metabolism, tissues, integumentary system, skeletal system, muscular system, and nervous system. 

1 term, solid, 1 credit, Approved as Natural/Physical Science course by NCAA

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Chemistry and Biology.

Students will practice and expand upon core understandings and skills learned in an introductory chemistry course that would appear in an introductory college chemistry course. The material will be in the context of the visual arts working towards a gallery exhibition of the students’ art work and understanding of both advanced chemical principles and basic visual arts. Students will learn how to create various materials used in art forms such as paints, dyes, and clays and deeply understand the chemistry behind them. The culminating experience will include students using the materials they created to make art for a gallery exhibition.

2 terms, solid, 2 credits

Admission Requirements: Advanced Biology with Research requires a GPA of 3.85 or higher in both Chemistry and Biology.  Potential students must also complete a course application that will be reviewed by the instructor and members of the Science Department.

Advanced Biology with Research explores the evolutionary transition of ancestral wolves into modern wolves and modern domestic dogs.  Throughout this course, students will actively engage in the scientific method, learning what it means to develop engaging scientific questions, devising experiments to answer those questions, and supporting scientific conclusions with evidence.  Success in this course requires that students perform self-directed research with adult guidance and be responsible for their own learning.

At the end of this course, students will be able to answer 5 questions:

• What is behavior and how is it impacted/controlled by an organism’s “shape”?
• What determines the shape of an individual organism throughout its lifespan?
• How is an organism’s shape passed from one generation to the next?
• How can an organism’s shape change over time?
• How did wolves become dogs?

Students will answer these questions by exploring a wide variety of biological topics, including anatomy, physiology, animal behavior, molecular biology, genetics, and evolution.  During this semester long course, students will participate in both classroom and laboratory activities, engaging with foundational biological concepts, exploratory labs, case studies, and other interactive activities related to wolf-dog evolution. 

Unique Features of the Course:

Research focus.  The goal of science is to develop new knowledge through research and scientific experimentation, but it is also important for scientists to communicate their findings to others.  During this course, students will complete three research projects, each showcasing a unique approach to research and communicating the findings with a different audience.

Consolidating research for a mass audience:  In their first research project, students will identify an area of personal interest related to wolves and/or dogs and conduct research into the topic using peer-reviewed scientific sources.  Students will then share their knowledge with a mass audience by making significant contributions to a Wikipedia page.

Developing a research proposal:  The second research project builds upon the research students completed in the first project, but with a focus on identifying existing gaps in the scientific knowledge.  Once a gap is identified, students will write a research proposal for a scientific research project that will fill in one or more of the informational gaps.

Moving beyond wolves and dogs:  It isn’t enough to memorize facts.  True education provides students with the skills to apply their learning in new ways.  In this final research project, each student will select a new species, and research its evolutionary history.  Students will then collaborate with a team of classmates and assume the role of “museum curators” charged with developing a museum exhibit based around the theme, “Evolution: What we know and how we know it.”  Each team will plan out a museum exhibit and put together a proposal about the exhibit.   Successful proposals will incorporate all the species team members researched individually, showcase an understanding of the biological themes covered throughout the course, and present the information in an engaging format that is accessible to a public audience.

• Students will attend a field trip to the Wolf Park near Purdue University as part of the course.  The Wolf Park gives students the opportunity to move beyond the theoretical and experience a live wolf pack.  They will also get to see how wildlife researchers work with zoological parks to study wildlife and educate the public.  This field trip will be scheduled on a weekend and is required for all class participants.

2 terms, solid, 2 credits

Pre-requisites: Physics (any Physics credit at Culver, completed) and AP Calculus (completed or taking simultaneously)

This 700-level, two-term, project-oriented, calculus-based course explores the interrelated nature of electricity and magnetism, balancing hands-on activities with intellectually challenging physics ideas ranging from advanced circuits to Maxwell’s equations and their applications. Innovation is highly encouraged!

2 terms, solid, 2 credits

Pre-requisites: Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, 3.85 GPA in Chem and Biology, Departmental approval through application

This research-based, college-level course is designed for students who are passionate about understanding the natural environment. The curriculum focuses on the unique ecosystems surrounding campus, including the lake, wetlands, and atmosphere. Students will engage in hands-on fieldwork, data collection, and analyses to explore biogeochemical cycles. Through collaborative projects, students will gain a deeper understanding of the scientific process which will prepare them to engage in undergraduate research in college. This course aims to foster the Culver competencies of Building Understanding, Supporting Conclusions, Perseverance, and Collaboration.

3 terms, solid, 3 credits, D, Approved as Natural/Physical Science course by NCAA

Admission to AP Biology requires a minimum PSAT Score of 1100 plus earn a GPA 3.85 or higher in Chemistry.  

Advanced Placement Biology engages students in the rigorous study of biological concepts in preparation for the AP Exam and possible advanced standing in their freshman year at college. Accompanied by in-depth laboratory experiments, this course provides a thorough background in methods used by biologists in solving research problems and biological principles including ecology, biochemistry, Mendelian genetics, evolution, genetic biotechnology, cellular structure and physiology, animal/plant structure and physiology, and animal behavior. Emphasis is placed on the integration of biological principles and other science disciplines. Students enrolled in the course are required to take the Advanced Placement Biology Exam in May.

3 terms, solid, 3 credits, C, Approved as Natural/Physical Science course by NCAA

Admission to AP Environmental Science requires a minimum PSAT Score of 1070 plus earn a GPA 3.70 or higher in Chemistry. 

The goal of the AP Environmental Science course is to provide students with the scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies required to understand the interrelationships of the natural world, to identify and analyze environmental problems both natural and human-made, to evaluate the relative risks associated with these problems, and to examine alternative solutions for resolving and/or preventing them. Using our environment as a living laboratory, students in AP Environmental Science will discover the interconnectedness of the Earth, nature, and society. Students will build upon understandings from previous science courses to examine the natural environment and explore the complexities behind the global and local decisions we make as humans and how these decisions impact the environment and the life it supports. Connections will be made to economics, politics, and sociology as students address environmental issues involving sustainability, resource management, and global changes. Students will participate in a class research project which will require excursions outside the normal class day. Students enrolled in the course are required to take the Advanced Placement Exam in Environmental Science in May.

3 terms, solid, 3 credits, B, Approved as Natural/Physical Science course by NCAA

Admission to AP Chemistry requires a minimum PSAT Score of 1160 plus earn a GPA 3.85 or higher in Chemistry. 

Advanced Placement Chemistry is the equivalent of a rigorous freshmen college course in general chemistry. Emphasis is placed on the theoretical aspects of chemistry and how these principles apply to the real world. Quantum theory of atomic structure is dealt with, as are modern theories of chemical bonding. In addition, the elements of physical chemistry, including stoichiometry, thermodynamics, chemical equilibrium, chemical kinetics, and electrochemistry are studied. Much effort is made to follow the Recommended Laboratory Program for Advanced Placement Chemistry from the College Board. Additional topics include some basics of inorganic and organic chemistry, as well of biochemistry. Students enrolled in the course are required to take the Advanced Placement Chemistry Exam in May.

2 terms, solid, 2 credits, C, Approved as Natural/Physical Science course by NCAA

Admission to AP Physics C: Mechanics requires a minimum PSAT Score of 1140 plus earn a GPA 3.85 in Chemistry or 3.0 in AP Chemistry.  AP Physics C also requires completion of AP Calculus AB (taken in the prior year) with grades of A- or higher or concurrent enrollment in AP Calculus BC.

Advanced Placement Physics C provides a systematic introduction to the principles of classical mechanics and emphasizes problem-solving. Topics are limited to those covered during a first semester physics course taken by science majors in college. Mathematics is used to understand the physics of the topics, and calculus will be used to derive equations and solve problems. Computers are used extensively to analyze and graph data, present simulations, and provide content. If the student has not yet completed Calculus, enrollment in a Calculus course in Terms 1 and 2 is required.  Advanced Placement Physics C: Mechanics is only offered in Term 3 and 4.  Students enrolled in the course are required to take the Mechanics section of the Advanced Placement Physics C test in May. 

2 terms, solid, 2 credits, C, Approved as Natural/Physical Science course by NCAA

Prerequisites: Physics, Chemistry, Biology and 1 Science Elective. Students will be required to fill out Honors in Science application. 

This laboratory science course provides the competency to plan and execute a self-directed scientific research project to fulfill requirements for graduating with Honors in Science. Research projects that qualify for local, state, national, or international competitions will be submitted. It is anticipated that as a student proceeds through and reflects upon the research phase of this course, the student will increase his/her appreciation for science and developed a working awareness of the interrelationship of science, technology, and society.

Honors Project

Candidates will engage in an original, laboratory-based, high school-appropriate scientific research project, produce a scientific research poster to be displayed in the Roberts Hall of Science, and present their research to the Science Department faculty. Candidates are awarded HONORS based on the determination of the Science Department faculty leadership team