7th Grade Life Science is a course that will help students learn about the living world around them. The course is prepared to teach the students about how this field of science relates to their lives and to make science interesting and exciting. Students learn about the natural world by using labs, projects, videos, and even by bringing some of that life into the classroom to examine! The following is a list of units studied in 7th grade life science: Intro to science and science skills; Characteristics of life; Cells; Heredity; Classification; Bacteria and viruses; Protists and fungi; Animals and Animal behavior; and Ecology.

Physical Science is the study of matter and energy and the fundamental laws that describe its behavior. This course will provide an overview of topics that will be studied later in high school in Chemistry and Physics courses. Units that will be presented in this course are, 1. Electricity and Magnetism, 2. Sound and Light, 3. Motion, 4. Forces, 5. Matter, and 6. Chemical Reactions.

Earth Science is the study of the processes and materials that have shaped our planet over time. The course will provide an overview of the many different sub disciplines within the geosciences while maximizing the opportunities for local field trips and research projects. Units that will be presented in this course are 1. Rocks and Minerals, 2. Plate Tectonics, 3. Earthquakes and Volcanoes, 4. Astronomy, 5, Avalanches, 6. Erosion and Weathering, 7. Oceans, and 8. Energy resources.

Biology is all about how life works! Students will be learning about all living things, from cells to plants, from the simplest animal to the complex human body. The course is prepared to teach the students about how this field of science relates to their lives and to make science interesting and exciting. Biology is taught via different learning techniques, using essential questions to guide students while employing a lot of class discussion, hands-on labs & journal reflection. The following is a list of questions used to guide the learning in Biology: What is life? What is the structure of life? How does energy flow through life? How does life store and use information to sustain itself? What makes each living thing unique? How does life create life? What creates diversity of life over time? How does life maintain itself? How do living things interact with each other and their environment? and What impact do humans have on life?

The history & future of life on earth is strongly tied to the seas. Marine biology is a course that will help students learn more about the physical and biological features of the oceans. It is an exciting and interactive course that entails a lot of hands-on activities and field trips to better understand the ocean environment. The following is a list of units that are studyied in Marine Biology: Basic principles of oceanography; The ocean in motion; Properties of seawater; Marine ecosystems; Marine plants and plankton; Marine invertebrates; Marine fish; Marine mammals; and Human impacts and marine debris.

Anatomy & Physiology is an upper level course in which students will be exploring the different systems of the body and learning the different structures and how they function. Students will also learn a lot about health, disease and medicine. Learning is accomplished via notes, hands-on-labs, projects and many animations and videos. Students will have to work hard in this course, but will learn so many amazing things about the human body! The following is a list of units in the order they will be covered in Anatomy: Introduction to A & P – body systems and language; Biochemistry; Cells; Tissues; Integumentary system; Skeletal system; Muscular system; Nervous system; Circulatory system; Respiratory system; Lymphatic/immune system; Digestive system; Urinary system; and the Reproductive system.

Chemistry is the study of matter and how it changes. In this course we will learn the history behind the current working model that we use to describe chemical reactions. We will practice applying the model in a variety of different theoretical cases and verify that the model works in the laboratory. A variety of opportunities exist for involvement in applied chemistry research projects around Cordova. The level of class involvement in these projects will depend on student interest and maturity.

Physics is a one-year course that provides an introduction to the qualitative and quantitative study of physical objects, their interactions and the laws and theories, which govern their behavior. It also provides opportunities for the development of investigative skills, and is designed to train students in the analytical approach to problem-solving. Students will learn to apply their knowledge of physics to real world problems. As students progress through the course, they will increase their scientific literacy and understanding of the role of physics and technology in society.

This course is a year long survey including topics in physical and historical geology, earth materials, plate tectonics, geologic structures, landforms, geologic time, fossils and earth history. Laboratories will focus on the identification of rocks and minerals and interpretation of topographic and geologic maps. For students taking this course for college credit there are two extended field trips to areas outside Cordova.