Science Courses
OFFERED
AT
WEBER HIGH SCHOOL
Why take science?
 Learn important life skills:
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spotting patterns, and working out reasons for them, and spotting
errors and mistake
how to appraise and evaluate conflicting evidence and any bias in
that evidence
not accepting arguments (or dismissals) based on authority but from
evidence
skeptical evaluation (investigating before taking things at face value)
logical deductions and inference (learn to evaluate evidence and
make conclusions based on evidence)
 Prepare for college
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Boost ACT/SAT scores
Have a more attractive portfolio for college acceptance applications
 Increase your marketability in the job field
WHS Science Faculty
 Mr. Cruff, Department Head
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B.S. Biology, Chemistry minor
 Mrs. Goff
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B.S. Secondary Education [Math, Chemistry, Physics composite]
M.S. Chemistry Education
 Mr. LeDuc
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B.S. Zoology, Chemistry minor
B.S. Secondary Education [Biology Composite]
M.S. Geosciences
 Mrs. Pearce
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B.S. Secondary Education [Biology Composite]
 Mrs. Radle
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B.S. Secondary Education [Biology Composite]
M.Ed.
 Mr. Shaffer
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B.S. Agricultural Education
 Mrs. Swenson
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B.S. Wildlife Biology
B.S. Secondary Education [Biology Composite]
M.S. Biology
 Mr. Thorpe
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B.S. Chemical Engineering
Science Department Courses
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AP Biology – LeDuc
AP Chemistry – Cruff
AP Environmental Science – LeDuc
AP Physics B – Thorpe
AP Physics C – Thorpe
Animal Science – Campbell, Shaffer
Astronomy - Thorpe
Biology – LeDuc, Radle , Swenson
Biology: Agricultural Science and Technology – Shaffer
Biotechnology – Swenson
Chemistry – Cruff, Goff
Earth Systems - Warren
Greenhouse Plant and Soil Science – Shaffer
Investigative Science – Radle
Medical Anatomy & Physiology – Radle, Eure
Medical Forensics – CSI – Pearce
Physics – Thorpe
Possible Studies Outline
 General Studies for the
college bound student
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9th Grade Earth Systems
10th Grade Biology
11th Grade Chemistry
12th Grade Physics
 Honors student
 9th Grade Earth Systems or
Biology
 10th Grade Chemistry and Biology,
or Chemistry and Physics
 11th Grade AP Biology, AP
Chemistry, AP Environmental
Science, or AP Physics
 12th Grade AP Biology, AP
Chemistry, AP Environmental
Science, or AP Physics
 Advanced student (very rigorous)
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9th Grade Earth Systems or Biology
10th Grade AP Biology and Chemistry,
or Chemistry and Physics
11th Grade AP Chemistry and Physics,
or AP Environmental Science and
Physics, or AP Physics B
12th Grade AP Chemistry, or AP
Environmental Science, or AP Physics C
 Specialized studies
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9th Grade Earth Systems, Biology, or
Physics with Technology
10th Grade Biology, Physics, Chemistry,
or Astronomy
11th Grade Bioag, Biotech, Plant Science,
or Astronomy
12th Grade Bioag, Biotech, Plant
Science, or Astronomy
Science Course Flow Chart
Regular Science Courses
EARTH SYSTEMS
BIOLOGY
CHEMISTRY
PHYSICS
Should I take regular science courses beyond the graduation
requirement?
 Are you planning on attending college?
 Are you majoring in science?
 Do you want to significantly boost your ACT/SAT scores?
 Do you want your college application to look more
attractive?
 Do you enjoy hands on, work?
 Are you looking for an exciting challenge?
 Do you want to broaden your career path possibilities?
YES!!!!
Earth Systems
 Physical science credit
or elective credit
 Good prerequisite for
other science courses
 Topics covered:
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Universe Development
Life on Earth
Plate Movement
Water Cycles
Atmosphere
Earth’s Energy
Biology
 Life science credit or
science elective credit
 Good prerequisite for
other science courses
 Labs
 Use microscopes
 Get your own DNA
 Dissections
Chemistry
 Physical science credit or
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science elective credit
Good prerequisite for
other science courses
Highly recommended
course for college bound
students
Course IS available for
sophomores
Labs
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Energy in reactions
Chemical reactions
Acids and Bases
Physics
 Physical science credit or
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science elective credit
Good prerequisite for
other science courses
Highly recommended for
college bound students
More in depth than 9th
grade physics (physics
with technology)
Labs
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Acceleration and Velocity
Collisions
Electricity and Magnetism
AP Science Courses
AP BIOLOGY
AP CHEMISTRY
AP ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
AP PHYSICS B
AP PHYSICS C
Should I take AP science courses?
Are you planning on attending college?
Are you majoring in science?
Do you want to significantly boost your ACT/SAT scores?
Do you want your college application to look more
attractive?
 Do you enjoy hands on, rigorous work?
 Are you looking for an exciting challenge?
 Do you want college credit?
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High school courses are MUCH smaller than freshman college
courses, you get more attention from your teacher at Weber High
YES!!!!
AP Biology Course Description
 Equivalent of a college
intro biology course taken
by biology majors
 Recommended
prerequisites:
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Biology and Chemistry
Or AP Chemistry
 College credit available
for passing the AP exam
 Open to sophomores
AP Biology Big Ideas
 Big Idea 1: The process of
evolution drives the diversity
and unity of life
 Big Idea 2: Biological
systems utilize free energy and
molecular building blocks to
grow, to reproduce and to
maintain dynamic
homeostasis
 Big Idea 3: Living systems
store, retrieve, transmit and
respond to information
essential to life processes
 Big Idea 4: Biological
systems interact, and these
systems and their interactions
possess complex properties
AP Biology Labs
 12 in depth labs
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6 extra credit labs (after
school hours)
6 in class labs
 Labs are highly
recommended for exam
preparation
 Breakfast 
AP Chemistry
 Equivalent of a college
intro chemisty course
taken by chemisty
majors
 Recommended
prerequisites:
Chemistry
 Physics
 Algebra II
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 College credit available
for passing the AP exam
AP Chemistry Topics
 Structure of Matter
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(20%)
States of Matter (20%)
Reactions (35-40%)
Descriptive Chemistry
(10-15%)
Laboratory (5-10%)
AP Chemistry Labs
 After school
hours in depth
labs (extra credit,
but highly
recommended for
students taking
the AP Exam)
 Classroom labs
AP Environmental Science Course Description
 Equivalent of a college science course in environmental
science
 Recommended prerequisites:
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Biology, Earth Systems, Chemistry, and Algebra II
Or
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AP Biology
 AP Chemistry
College credit available for passing the AP exam
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 Fills college science credit for business majors
 Open to sophomores
APES Topics
 Earth Systems and Resources
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(10-15%)
The Living World (10-15%)
Populations (10-15%)
Land and Water Use (10 –
15%)
Energy Resources and
Consumption (10-15%)
Pollution (25-30%)
Global Change (10-15%)
APES Labs and Field Investigations
 Water collection and
analysis
 Soil collection and
analysis
 Local
system/environmental
problem study
AP Physics B
 Equivalent of a college
intro physics course
taken by non-physics
majors
 Recommended
prerequisites:
Equivalent of HS Physics
(not 9th grade physics)
 Algebra II
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 College credit available
for passing the AP exam
AP Physics B Course Description
 Newtonian Mechanics
 Fluid Mechanics
 Thermal Physics
 Electricity and
Magnetism
 Waves and Optics
 Atomic and Nuclear
Physics
AP Physics C
 Equivalent of a college
intro physics course
taken by science and
engineering majors
 Recommended
prerequisites:
Equivalent of HS Physics
(not 9th grade physics)
 Enrollment in Calculus
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 College credit available
for passing the AP exam
AP Physics C Course Description
 Mechanics and Physics
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Kinematics
Newton’s laws of motion
Work, energy, and power
Systems of particles and linear
momentum
Circular motion and rotation
Oscillations
Gravitation.
 Electricity and Magnetism
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Electrostatics
Conductors, capacitors, and
dielectrics
Electric circuits
Magnetic fields
Electromagnetism
AP Physics Labs
 AP Physics B
 AP Physics C
Specialized Science Courses
ANIMAL SCIENCE
ASTRONOMY
BIOLOGY: AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
BIOTECHNOLOGY
GREENHOUSE PLANT AND SOIL SCIENCE
INVESTIGATIVE SCIENCE
MEDICAL ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY (MAP)
MEDICAL FORENSICS - CSI
Should I take specialized science courses?
 Do you need to earn CTE credit?
 Are you looking to specialize in a particular field?
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Agriculture
Biotechnology
Greenhouse/Landscaping
Medicine
Space Science/Astronomy
 Are you looking for an exciting challenge?
 Do you want to broaden your career path possibilities?
YES!!!!
Animal Science
 Student will be exposed to animal science and
technology principles which include genetics,
anatomy, physiology/nutrition, diseases, pests, and
management practices.
 The scientific processes of observation,
measurement, hypothesizing, data gathering,
interpretation, analysis, and application are stressed.
 Career opportunities and educational preparation
are examined.
 Learning activities are varied, with classroom, lab,
and field experiences emphasized.
Astronomy
 Historical
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Developments
Physical Principles
The Sky and Calendar
The Solar System
Stellar Evolution
Galaxies and the LargeScale Structure of the
Universe, dark stuff
Cosmology
Astronomy
 Observation labs
 Star Parties
 In-class labs on
physical principles
 1 semester science
elective credit
 All concepts and little
to no math
Biology: Agricultural Science and Technology
 Fills graduation life
science credit OR CTE
credit
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(fills biology credit)
 Agriculture emphasis
 Learn about
 Crop growth
 Animal care
 Renewable energy/Ethanol
and Methane
Biotechnology
 Rigorous course in advanced biology topics
 Earn CTE credit
 AND Earn Science elective credit
 Earn 4 credits of concurrent enrollment through Salt
Lake Community College
 Extensive hands-on laboratory training using the latest
in lab equipment.
Biotechnology Course Highlights
 Learn about:
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Biochemistry
DNA structure
Gene expression
Protein synthesis
Recombinant DNA strategies
 Perform many experiments
like those done in modern
research settings
 This is one of the fastest
growing job fields in the
country
 Modern medicine is based on
many biotechnology concepts
Greenhouse Plant and Soil Science
 Concurrent enrollment
course
 Science elective credit OR
CTE credit
 Emphasis on greenhouse
 Learn about
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Horticulture
Plant anatomy
Economic aspect
Investigative Science
 1 year science elective
credit
 Prerequisite – have
taken or currently
enrolled in
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Biology
Chemistry
Physics (not 9th grade
physics)
 Science research project
 Independent project
 Science fair required
Investigative Science
 Improve research skills
 Improve oral and visual
presentation skills
 Preparation for science
competitions
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Envirothon
Science Olympiad
I-SWEEEP
Medical Anatomy and Physiology (MAP)
 Earn Science Elective Credit
 OR Earn CTE credit
 Learn about the human body
 Explore careers in the health sciences
 11th and 12th grade
Medical Anatomy and Physiology (MAP)
 Complete dissection labs
 View operations
 Learn important medical terminology
Medical Forensics
 A 3rd science credit option
 Develop forensics techniques into collecting and
processing evidence from crimes affecting a human
body, learn Medical processes dealing with forensics
Topics covered Medical Forensics
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Laboratory techniques
Anatomy (animal cadavers)
Trace evidence
Fingerprints
Hair & Fiber
Serology (blood)
Forensic Psychology (profiling)
Mortality (autopsy)
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Entomology (insects)
Anthropology (bones)
Odontology (teeth)
Toxicology (poisons)
DNA
Crime Scene Investigation
This is a year-long content intensive course. A proper lab notebook is required.
It is Science elective OR CTE credit.
Taught by Mrs. Pearce, B.S., Biology Composite Major, Advanced Health
Science endorsed.
Other Science Opportunities
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Science Fair
Science/Health Sterling Scholar
Science Letter
Science Scholarships
Science Competitions
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Science Olympiad
I-Sweep
Envirothon
 Science Clubs
 Astronomy Club
 Science Club
 MESA
 Science Groups
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Green Group