Science

Science courses in Upper School offer students a survey of the core sciences through lab-based instruction. In all classes, students design unique and genuine experiments. Ninth grade students are taught many practical skills and concepts using the physical sciences to prepare them well for higher-level thinking and communicating effectively as future scientists in advanced courses. Starting in 10th grade, students can select a traditional route or an accelerated route. Depending on the route taken, students have numerous choices during junior and senior year designed to support any college aspiration. AP Biology, AP Environmental Science, AP Physics C, AP Chemistry, and Neurobiology and Psychology are offered to students who have met the prerequisites. Students are expected to take four years of science in their time at VMS.

Science Courses Offered in 2024-2025

Foundations in Chemistry & Physics

Required: 9th grade
Meetings per ten-day rotation: Five 80 minute periods
Prerequisites: None

In this course, students will practice thinking scientifically by studying and experimenting with the physical world. Topics in both chemistry and physics will be covered in both classroom and lab settings to introduce students to the Upper School course offerings. Interactive labs and demonstrations will be used to strengthen important science skills like collecting measurements and making sense of data. This course will prepare students to think critically about the physical world and give them direction in the science course offerings available to Upper School students.

Biology

Open to: 10th grade
Meetings per ten-day rotation: Five 80 minute periods
Prerequisites: Foundations in Chemistry and Physics

This laboratory science course takes a molecular approach to the study of life while also integrating the driving force of evolution. Students will learn how life works at the molecular level through numerous lab investigations and will improve their communication skills through well-supported lab analysis and write-ups. Essential biological processes will be examined closely including: a survey of biochemical structure and function, cells and membrane transport, cellular respiration, protein synthesis, cellular division, microbes and disease, evolution and natural selection, and molecular genetics. A “storyline” instructional approach will be used for some, but not all of the topics. Students will be well prepared for future coursework in the biological sciences in college or AP Biology during their senior year.

Accelerated Biology & Chemistry

Open to: 10th grade
Meetings per ten-day rotation: Five 80 minute periods
Prerequisites: B+ or higher in Foundations in Chemistry & Physics; must be enrolled in or have taken Algebra II/Trig or higher math; current teacher and Department Chair recommendation required

Chemistry
This course is designed to give students a rich understanding of how and why matter interacts on earth in an accelerated semester of instruction. Students develop a strong foundation in the language of chemistry and learn how to apply this foundation to increasingly complex reactions. Many lab investigations will be conducted to bring concepts to life as students learn how to report data properly in support of conclusions. Areas of study include: bonding, formulas, qualitative reactions, stoichiometry, acid-base chemistry, and oxidation-reduction reactions.

Biology
This laboratory science course takes a molecular approach to the study of life while also integrating the driving force of evolution in shaping life’s metabolism. Students will learn how life works at the molecular level through numerous lab investigations and will improve their communication skills through well-supported lab analysis and write-ups. Essential metabolic processes will be examined closely including: a survey of biochemical structure and function; cells and membrane transport; cellular respiration; protein synthesis; cellular division; and molecular genetics.

Advanced Chemistry

Open to: 11th and 12th grade
Meetings per ten-day rotation: Five 80 minute periods
Prerequisites: Foundations in Chemistry & Physics

This course is designed to give students a rich understanding of how and why matter interacts on Earth. Students develop a strong foundation in the language of chemistry and learn how to apply this foundation to increasingly complex reactions. Many lab investigations will be conducted to bring concepts to life as students learn how to report data properly in support of conclusions. Areas of study include: bonding, formulas, qualitative reactions, stoichiometry, solutions, equilibrium, thermodynamics, acid-base chemistry, and oxidation-reduction reactions. A “storyline” instructional approach will be used for some, but not all of the topics.

Neurobiology and Psychology

Open to: 11th and 12th grade
Meetings per ten-day rotation: Five 80 minute periods
Prerequisites: Biology and Chemistry

This course will explore Neuroscience and Psychology through the lens of scientific inquiry. Students will understand how the physiology of the brain helps to explain human behavior and disorders of the brain. Neuroscience is the study of the nervous system and its constitutive parts—nerve cells and neural circuits—and the way in which these structures interact with the environment to mediate behavior (Psychology). In this yearlong course, we will explore the structure and function of the nervous system—from the microscopic inner workings of a single nerve cell, to the transmission of signals within a network of neurons, to the staggering complexity of the brain. Case studies will be used frequently to connect learning with differences of the human brain. Students can expect lab and group-based work, written analyses, and rigorous content.

AP Environmental Science

Open to: 11th and 12th grade
Meetings per ten-day rotation: Five 80 minute periods
Prerequisites: A- or higher in Biology (or B+ in accelerated Biology); current teacher and Department Chair signature on completed application; and completion of summer assignment

The AP Environmental Science course is designed to be the equivalent of a one-semester, introductory college course in environmental science. This course is a rigorous science course that stresses scientific principles and analysis and will include a laboratory component as well as issues-based projects. The content of the course follows the AP curriculum and will give students a deeper understanding of current environmental issues and a framework to understand human impacts and future solutions. Topics of study include: ecosystems, population dynamics, earth systems, land use, energy, biodiversity, pollution and global change.

AP Physics C-Mechanics

Open to: 11th - 12th grade
Meetings per ten-day rotation: Five 80 minute periods
Prerequisites: A- or higher in Foundations in Physical Science and Calculus corequisite; current teacher and Department Chair signature on completed application; and completion of the summer assignment

This course will be an in-depth, calculus-based look into the theories of Newtonian Mechanics. It is designed for first-year physics students and is equivalent to an introductory college physics course in mechanics. In order to address each concept thoroughly and to cater to varied learning styles, the course is taught through classroom discussion, hands-on experiments, problem-solving in small groups, demonstrations, and investigations into real-world applications. Calculus is considered a corequisite course, meaning it may be taken concurrently. The syllabus of this course will follow the format laid out by the College Board in order to prepare students to take the AP Physics C Mechanics Exam in May. By the end of this course, students will not only know the fundamental laws of physics, they will also be familiar with the origin of these laws and learn to apply them to situations in the world around them.

AP Physics C-Electricity and Magnetism

Open to: 11th - 12th grade (offered every other year - will be offered in 2024-2025)
Meetings per ten-day rotation: Five 80 minute periods
Prerequisites: A- or higher in Foundations in Chemistry & Physics and Calculus corequisite; current teacher and Department Chair signature on completed application; and completion of the summer assignment

This is a calculus-based, college-level physics course, especially appropriate for students planning to specialize or major in physical science or engineering. The course explores topics such as electrostatics; conductors, capacitors, and dielectrics; electric circuits; magnetic fields and electromagnetism. Introductory differential and integral calculus is used throughout the course, making Calculus a corequisite course. The class will involve written problem-solving both in class and at home in support of substantial hands-on labs as well as demonstrations and investigations into real-world applications. The syllabus of this course will follow the format laid out by the College Board in order to prepare students to take the AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism exam in May. By the end of this course, students will better understand the role that charged particles play in the universe, and how the motion of and forces generated by those charged particles can generate large scale phenomena.

AP Biology

Open to: 11th and 12th grade
Meetings per ten-day rotation: Five 80 minute periods
Prerequisites: A- or higher in Biology (or B+ in Accelerated Biology); current teacher and Department Chair signature on completed application; and completion of the summer assignment

This course is a college-level biology course aimed at providing an in-depth look at the structures and processes governing life on Earth. Biochemistry, heredity, natural selection and ecology are the focus areas of this class. Lab skills are honed through inquiry-based experiments and an examination of feline anatomy during a dissection project to conclude the course. Students prepare for and take the AP Biology exam in the spring. By the end of this class, students will have developed an enduring understanding of the essential interactions that shape life on Earth, from the molecular to the ecosystem level.

Environmental Chemistry

Open to: 11th - 12th grade
Meetings per ten-day rotation: Five 80 minute periods
Prerequisites: Biology and Chemistry

This course will explore the chemistry of air, water, soil, and energy. Students will understand the sources, reactions, effects, and fates of chemical species found in air, water, and the Earth’s soil and energy resources. Students will explore environmental issues and topics through a chemistry lens. This course is divided into three major parts that reflect the most pressing issues in Environmental Chemistry today: (1) Atmospheric Chemistry and Air Pollution; (2) Water Chemistry and Water Pollution; (3) Fossil Fuels, Renewable Energy Sources, and Hazardous Waste. Case studies will be used frequently to connect learning to the world around them. Students can expect labs driven through inquiry, group-based work, rigorous content, and a new lens for seeing the environment.

AP Chemistry

Open to: 11th - 12th grade (offered every other year - will be offered in 2024-2025)
Meetings per ten-day rotation: Five 80 minute periods
Prerequisites: A- or higher in Chemistry (or a B+ in Accelerated Chemistry); must be enrolled in or have taken Precalculus or higher math; Department Chair signature on completed application; and completion of the summer assignment

The AP Chemistry course provides students with a foundation to support future advanced coursework in chemistry. Students develop critical thinking and reasoning skills through class work and extensive lab work. Understanding of chemistry and science practices/literacy will be developed as students explore topics such as atomic structure, intermolecular forces and bonding, chemical reactions, kinetics, thermodynamics, and equilibrium. By the end of this course, students will have acquired the skills and knowledge to be successful on the AP exam and in future college-level coursework.