Science | The Dunham School, Baton Rouge, LA

Science 5 is an inquiry-based class that promotes student engagement through investigations, labs, and experiments. Students work with lab partners and groups to promote active collaboration and develop their understanding of ways to conduct controlled experiments by isolating variables. The major units of study include variables, mixtures and solutions, environments, and space, rocketry, and engineering.  All fifth grade students participate in the Middle School Science Showcase. 

Science 5 Advanced is an inquiry-based class that requires students to incorporate logical-mathematical thinking into their scientific inquiries, such as formal measurement, the concept of variability, and relational logic.  Students study the topics covered in Science 5 while working with lab partners and groups.  Science 5 Advanced students participate in the Middle School Science Showcase.

Science  6 is a hands-on, experiential class that promotes development of advanced concepts by classifying, testing, experimenting, and determining cause-and-effect relationships among objects, organisms, and systems.  Students conduct labs and experiments that provide them with evidential understanding of weather and water, diversity of life, chemical interactions, and models and designs.  In addition, sixth grade students participate in the Middle School Science Showcase

Science 6 Advanced provides students with a more in depth study of the topics covered in the Science 6 course.  Students are challenged to solve real world problems through multi-tiered investigations while collaborating with lab partners. Science 6 Advanced students participate in the Middle School Science Showcase.

Science 7 is a hands-on, inquiry-based class in which students study and develop an understanding of the cell and its structure, function, processes, and responses to the environment. The course concludes with a study of ecology, focusing on the relationship of organisms living and functioning together within an ecosystem. Labs and investigations serve as an introduction to a more comprehensive, experiential approach to science.

Science 7 Advanced allows students to experience a more in depth study of the topics covered in Science 7. Students actively construct, revise, and extend basic models about the structure and function of the natural world that will affect everything they have learned thus far about science.

Science 8 is an experiential science class in which students begin their formal study of chemistry, anatomy, biotechnology, and geology by focusing on constructive and destructive forces. This course will include activities, exercises, and interactions that require students to investigate scientifically in an experiential approach to these topics. In addition, students will participate in the Future City competition throughout the school year.

Physical Science is a laboratory science course that explores topics regarding matter and energy.  The course includes an introductory study of basic chemistry, motion and forces, waves, electricity, and magnetism.  Emphasis will be placed on science fundamentals and science inquiry to develop the skills necessary for future study in laboratory sciences. These skills include critical thinking, using scientific models, taking accurate measurements, and interpreting data (1 credit).

Physical Science Honors provides a more in-depth study and applications of the topics covered in Physical Science.  In addition to the units of study in college-preparatory Physical Science, students will apply the basic concepts of chemistry and physics in real-world situations.  All Physical Science Honors students will participate in the science fair as an opportunity to enhance the inquiry based approach to the study of science (1 credit; weighted on maximum 4.5 point scale).

Biology I is a laboratory science course designed to introduce students to the basic foundations of biology.  Units of study will focus on cell biology, cellular energy, genetics, ecology and evolution. This course has a strong emphasis on how “abiotic” and “biotic” factors relate in the environment.  The use of experiential learning will reinforce scientific reasoning skills as well as increase understanding of and retention of course content (1 credit).

Advanced Placement Biology is modeled on a comparable college course, offers students a college level course experience, and gives students the experiences needed to be successful on the College Board Biology exam.  Content will include biochemistry, cellular biology, genetics, organismal biology, and ecology. This course will focus on advanced scientific inquiry and reasoning skills, such as designing a plan for collecting data, analyzing data, applying mathematical routines, and connecting concepts in and across scientific domains. All students who take this course will sit for the Advanced Placement Exam in May (1 credit; weighted on maximum 5 point scale).

Chemistry is a laboratory science course designed to guide students through the foundational topics of chemistry. Units of study will focus on bonding, nomenclature, reactions, stoichiometry, periodicity, atomic structure, gasses, liquids and solids, solutions and acids and bases. The course is designed with a hands-on, inquiry-based approach, with emphasis placed on mathematical reasoning as well as the ability to interpret and analyze data in various forms. The laboratory component of this course will provide hands-on lab experience, including the use of technology, and a firm grounding in laboratory safety (1 credit).

Chemistry Honors provides a more in-depth study and applications of the topics covered in Chemistry.  In addition to the units of bonding, nomenclature, reactions, stoichiometry, periodicity, atomic structure, gasses, liquids and solids, solutions, and acids and bases, students will also study electrochemistry and nuclear chemistry.  The laboratory component of this course will provide hands-on lab experience, including the use of technology, and a firm grounding in laboratory safety. All Chemistry Honors students will participate in the science fair as an opportunity to enhance the inquiry based approach to the study of science (1 credit; weighted on maximum 4.5 point scale).

Advanced Placement Chemistry is modeled on a comparable college course, offers students a college level course experience, and gives students the experiences needed to be successful on the College Board Chemistry exam.  Units of study will include atomic theory, structure and periodicity, bonding, reactions, stoichiometry, kinetic molecular theory, thermodynamics, kinetics, equilibria, electrochemistry and nuclear chemistry. This course instructs students in laboratory procedural tasks and using mathematics and logic to solve chemistry problems. The laboratory component of this course will provide hands-on lab experience, including the use of technology, and a firm grounding in laboratory safety. All students who take this course will sit for the Advanced Placement Exam. (1 credit; weighted on maximum 5 point scale).

Physics is a laboratory science course designed to establish an understanding of physics from an experiential approach.   Major topics for study include motion in one and two dimensions, vectors, forces, work and energy, momentum and collisions, torque, fluid mechanics, heat and thermodynamics, sound and light and reflection, electric force and fields, current and resistance, circuits, magnetism, and atomic and subatomic physics.  The course will require group and independent laboratory investigation and mathematical application through project-based learning.  This will include design and testing of unit-specific projects.  Emphasis on the use and application of technology in this course will enhance the study of the physics content through data collection and analysis (1 credit).

Physics Honors provides a more in-depth study and applications of the topics covered in Physics. In addition to the study of the many units taught in college-preparatory physics, students will also study robotics and its application in a variety of fields.  Emphasis on problem solving and the use and application of technology in this course will distinguish the difficulty of this curriculum from the college preparatory course.  All Physics Honors students will participate in the science fair as an opportunity to enhance the inquiry based approach to the study of science. (1 credit; weighted on maximum 4.5 point scale).

Advanced Placement Physics is modeled on a comparable college course, offers students a college level course experience, and gives students the experiences needed to be successful on the College Board Physics exam.  Prerequisites for this course are Pre-Calculus and Physics. Instruction is provided in each of the following six content areas: kinematics, Newton’s laws of motion, work, energy and power, systems of particles and linear momentum, circular motion and rotation, and oscillations and gravitation. Students in this course learn physics through an experiential and problem-solving approach. Students be required to complete advanced laboratory work and laboratory reports for each laboratory experiment. All students who take this course will sit for the Advanced Placement Physics C Exam in May. (1 credit; weighted on maximum 5 point scale).

Pre-Engineering is an introduction to the study of applied STEM concepts through the study of the diverse fields of engineering. The course will expose students to the various disciplines within the engineering field: chemical, biological, electrical, and environmental engineering. Through a heavy emphasis in applied chemistry, the study of energy, and material science concepts, student will develop an understanding of all engineering disciplines.  Through project-based learning, in tandem with the local engineering industry, students will reframe their understanding of applied mathematics and science. A heavy use of technology, collaborative learning, and applied science are cornerstones for this course.  Prerequisites of biology, chemistry, and physics are required. (1 credit).

Computer Science is the foundational computer course at Dunham. The design of the course is to have students understand computer systems, operating system concepts, application software, and web page creation.  Units of study include basic HTML, Java Script, and CSS.  In addition, the course introduces students to introductory level computer programming.  This course is recommended for students interested in math, science, engineering, or any STEM field major.  Prerequisite/corequisite: Algebra I; (1 credit).

Advanced Placement Computer Science is modeled on a comparable college course, offers students a college level course experience, and gives students the experiences needed to be successful on the College Board Computer Science A exam.  The course emphasizes object-oriented programming methodology with a concentration on problem solving and algorithm development and is meant to be the equivalent of a first-semester college-level course in Computer Science. It also includes the study of data structures, design and abstraction, but these topics are not covered to the extent that they are in Computer Science AB. All students who take this course will sit for the Advanced Placement Computer Science Exam in May. (1 credit; weighted on maximum 5 point scale).

Anatomy and Physiology is an introductory look into the anatomy and physiology of the human body.  One semester of study is dedicated to anatomy including a study of the skeletal system, smooth muscle, and cardiovascular systems.  The second semester includes a study of the energy systems of the human body, organs, somatic and special senses, and injuries.  Prerequisite: Biology; (1 credit).