Science

Science is the study of Nature; it probes the mysteries of life and the secrets of the Cosmos. Science represents truths common to all people, a shared wealth of knowledge and possibilities for all humanity. In its rejection of dogma and insistence on investigation and discovery, the scientific method has great affinity with fundamental Quaker values. Indeed, as every individual bears the “light within,” so does Nature herself bear the Lumen Naturalis, the objective truth of Nature which scientists have sought through the ages.

In the context of an increasingly technological world, the science curriculum at Friends Seminary helps to empower students. Beyond particular skills and ideas, students should develop a sense of what is at stake in the process of science as such, as well as what validity to attribute to the truths that emerge from this process. Only with this perspective will students be able to take their place both as responsible citizens in a technological society, as well as citizens of the Earth and of the Cosmos.

The Science Department at Friends is committed to making science accessible to all students. To this end, the curriculum is designed to instill a sense of competency by building a firm foundation in all the sciences and by addressing the need for students with different learning styles. Each student is required to complete at least three years science coursework, two of which must be laboratory science. For students entering the ninth grade, the course sequence is as follows: Physics in the ninth grade, Chemistry in the tenth grade, and Biology (recommended) in the eleventh grade. In addition, students are invited to choose from science electives that are offered. Placement of students in advanced courses and approval for advanced courses is determined by the Science Department. Placement is based upon the student’s prior performance in science courses and preferred learning style as indicated by previous teachers or the students themselves. In all cases, students are placed where they will have the greatest opportunity to experience challenge and success.

Biology I

Biology is the study of life, and life is all around us with millions of species inhabiting the Earth. Building off of molecular concepts learned in chemistry, we will explore the complexity of life on earth from the microscopic cellular level to the larger biosphere. We will examine evolution, cell biology, biochemistry, photosynthesis, cellular respiration, and genetics. Major themes include: the structure and function relationships in a wide variety of life forms and the influence of variation on evolutionary trends. Experiments, lectures, discussions, and research will be integrated so that students will be able to recognize the fundamental biological concepts in their immediate world as well as understand the methods and significance of current research in the field. This course will parallel the Biology 1A course in topics presented but not in depth of coverage and therefore Bio I is best suited for students who prefer structured review and reinforcement of concepts while learning. The class pacing is an introductory level course and provides scaffolding as problems ramp up in difficulty and moves at a pace which is somewhat slower than the demanding pace of level IA.

Full year course – 4 credits

Prerequisite(s): Chemistry I or IA
Biology IA

Biology is the study of life, and life is all around us with millions of species inhabiting the Earth. Building off of molecular concepts learned in chemistry, we will explore the complexity of life on earth from the microscopic cellular level to the larger biosphere. We will examine evolution, cell biology, biochemistry, photosynthesis, cellular respiration, and genetics. Major themes include: the structure and function relationships in a wide variety of life forms and the influence of variation on evolutionary trends. Experiments, lectures, discussions, and presentations will be integrated so that students will be able to recognize the fundamental biological concepts in their immediate world as well as understand the methods and significance of current research in the field. This course moves faster than the Biology 1 course and explores topics in greater depth and therefore this course is best suited for students with strong critical thinking skills as well as the ability to take abstract principles and apply them to broader concepts in the course. Level IA courses require students to make connections using scientific facts and data driven applications. Because of the quick pace of this course, students will be asked to take more ownership of their learning.

Full year course – 4 credits

Prerequisite(s): Chemistry I or IA. Permission of department.
Biotechnology

Recent advances in DNA science allow us to diagnose and treat genetic disorders, solve crimes, alter our food and learn more about our evolutionary past. As Spider-Man eloquently put it, “with great power comes great responsibility.” We will follow that advice as we consider the moral implications of advances in biotechnology. Join us as we investigate these topics in the lab and debate the relevant controversies.

4 periods/cycle

Full year course - 4 credits

Prerequisite(s): Chemistry and junior or senior standing
Advanced Biology

Advanced Biology is a year-long class in which students continue their exploration of biology by deepening their understanding of some select areas of Biology I or Biology IA, and then continue on into new areas of biology. Concepts such as cell biology will be briefly reviewed, and then the class will move deeper into areas of biochemistry, moving onto aspects of organismal diversity, comparative anatomy, and physiology. Students who enjoy biology and for whom a career in biology or medicine is of interest will be well served by the course content.

Full year – 4 credits

Prerequisite(s): A- in Biology IA or an A in Biology I. Permission of department.
Chemistry I

Chemistry is the study of the composition of matter and the changes that matter endures. This course introduces basic chemistry with an emphasis on the applications of chemical concepts to the “real world.” Students will encounter traditional chemical concepts and laboratory skills through student-centered activities and labs. While the course is conceptual in nature, there is a mathematical component. This course will best serve students who are growing in their math skills and require periodic review of math concepts that connect to the discipline to which they are learning. The class pacing is an introductory level course and provides scaffolding as problems ramp up in difficulty and moves at a pace which is somewhat slower than the demanding pace of level IA. Major topics include: metrics, states of matter, mixtures, atomic structure, chemical periodicity, chemical bonding, solubility, acids and bases, stoichiometry, and gas laws.

Full year course – 4 credits

Prerequisite: Physics I
Chemistry IA

This course introduces basic chemistry with an emphasis on the atomic and molecular theories. The focus of this course will be on understanding what matter is and how it behaves. Students will participate in inquiry-based laboratory activities that will require them to have strong analytical skills and the ability to comprehend abstract concepts. This course is best suited for students who find they have strong math skills and who find they have a mastery of concepts at a faster pace. Level IA courses require students to make connections using scientific facts and data driven applications. Because of the quick pace of this course, students will be asked to take more ownership of their learning.

Full year course – 4 credits

Prerequisite(s): Physics I and Permission of department.
Advanced Chemistry

This advanced course will build on the foundational concepts of introductory chemistry courses and focuses on advanced chemical concepts, such as kinetics, thermodynamics, electrochemistry and organic chemistry. Students will learn analytical lab techniques and hone their critical-thinking and problem solving skills through inquiry-guided labs and project based learning. Topics will include Stoichiometry, Atomic Structure & Spectroscopy, Chemical Kinetics, Acid-Base Equilibria, Chemical Thermodynamics, Electrochemistry and Organic Chemistry. Students will design and perform experiments that allow them to identify unknown substances, determine the concentration of food dye in sports beverages, calculate the percent composition of synthetic pain relievers to name a few. Not only will students collect and plot data from these experiments, but they will analyze it and perform calculations in order to draw conclusions. This course requires students to have a strong foundation in algebra. Students will also explore how the concepts we are studying relate to real world issues, such as energy, medicine and environmental chemistry by reading contemporary articles and publications.

Full year course – 4 credits

Prerequisite: A- in Chemistry IA or an A in Chemistry I. Permission of department.
Physics I

Physics employs an inquiry based, student centered approach to understanding the physical world and prepares students for learning science in Friends Seminary’s Upper School. Students investigate the physical world utilizing an experiential approach in which data are collected and analyzed to reveal fundamental physical laws. With energy storage and transfer as a recurring theme, the emphasis in this course is on developing a deep, conceptual understanding of the core skills needed to do classical mechanics. Students develop important scientific skills including experimental design, data collection and interpretation, and drawing logical conclusions. In addition, an emphasis is placed on communicating one’s understanding through a variety of representations: verbal, diagrammatic, graphical and mathematical. Students are encouraged to collaborate, make mistakes together and grow as learners.

Full year course – 4 credits
Advanced Physics

This advanced course brings together the fundamentals of physics from the introductory courses and both applies as well as introduces new ideas and advanced mathematical computations in order to determine physical quantities in sophisticated, real world situations. For example, students will learn to apply Newton’s second law to outer space and to explain the motion of moons and satellites. Topics include Kinematics, Dynamics, Circular Motion and Gravitation, Energy, Momentum, Torque and Rotational Motion. The year culminates using project based learning where students work in teams on a design and construction challenge related to real world themes. Students in this course routinely design, implement, and analyze experiments to illuminate a physics principle and then present their results for critique. In this way, a vibrant learning community is created in the classroom.

Full year course – 4 credits

Prerequisite(s): A- in Physics IA or A in Physics I. Permission of department.
Anatomy & Physiology

This course will explore the anatomy and physiology of the human body via detailed investigation of some of the major systems, how diseases interrupt those systems, how medical interventions affect the systems, and how sports training impacts the systems of those who train. Acting as compelling narratives, heath, fitness, and medicine will frame core content, lab investigations, and assessments. Student learning in Anatomy & Physiology will move well beyond the descriptive to an actively connected understanding of the human body. Students with a trajectory toward medical fields such as physician, nurse, physical therapist, athletic training, or veterinary medicine will be served well by this course, as will students interested in any aspect of scientific research, or interest in their own physical health.

Spring semester – 2 credits
Ecology

Ecology is the study of how organisms interact with their environment, and this semester class allows interested students to explore many facets of ecological theory and practice. The units listed below will take us through abiotic-biotic and biotic-biotic interactions with a special emphasis on how human influence over their environments have set a dangerous course for the entire biosphere, and what can still be done about it. Through deep discussion of ecological theory and empirical lab work, students will master the core concepts of ecology and be able to apply those concepts within the spheres of biological and environmental sciences.

Fall semester – 2 credits
Environmental Science

Environmental Science is a lab driven investigative course where students will probe the natural processes that regulate land, air, and water. Paramount in this course is the focus on students designing their own experiments and interpreting the results. However the acquisition of knowledge without a call to action is incomplete. One of the big ideas of this course is the focus on how the priorities of today affect future generations. Investigations assessing the effects of global climate change are central to this conversation. Ultimately students will come to see science as a way to lead healthier, more sustainable, and ethical lives.

Prerequisites: Chemistry
5 classes per cycle
Full year - 4 credits
Neuroscience

Have you ever wondered how a fear response occurs? Or how learning and memory are encoded in the human brain? Specialized cells called neurons use the information in our environment to exact a specific pattern of responses which shape and predict our behavior. Neuroscience is a branch of science which examines the structure and function of the nervous system through observation and simulation of the human brain. While psychology is the interdisciplinary branch of science concerned with studying the human brain via observations of behavior and has known intersections with neuroscience, this course will examine the biological basis of behavior while also examining the effects of neurological disorders. Students will study how learning, memory and decision making processes are formed in the brain and lead to specific behaviors. This course will also cover disruptions in brain function due to injury and disease with a specific focus on brain lesions, neurological disorders and stroke. Students will be exposed to reading peer reviewed research articles as a conduit to discussing, presenting and analyzing research studies in neuroscience and discipline subfields such as integrative neuroscience.

Fall semester – 2 credits

Prerequisite(s): Chemistry I or IA. Good academic standing in Junior or Senior year.
Science, Ethics & Action

This course investigates the intersection of science, ethics, and society, encouraging students to grapple with complex issues at the forefront of scientific innovation and human values. From gene editing and artificial intelligence to environmental justice and public health, students will explore how scientific advances create ethical dilemmas that demand thoughtful, reasoned responses. Through discussions, Socratic seminars, debates, and position papers, students will analyze ethical frameworks, consider diverse perspectives, and develop their own informed stances. The course culminates in a service-oriented project where students choose a science-ethics issue and take meaningful action to address it within their community or beyond.

5 periods per cycle
One semester, two credits
Open to Juniors and Seniors