Upper School Science
The Beaver Science Program offers students an opportunity to study physics, chemistry, and biology using equipment and laboratories of exceptional quality. Learning in the science curriculum is a student-centered and interactive process that reinforces investigation and discovery. Each course offers students unique opportunities for developmentally appropriate experimental and project work. Through experimental work, students exhibit their approach to scientific inquiry, logical thinking, precision and accuracy in measurement, control of variables, and clear, concise reporting of findings.
Requirements
30 credits of science including Physics, Chemistry Foundations, Biology Foundations, and any Application course are required for graduation. By completing their foundation courses in 9th & 10th grades, students have access to a wide-range of application science electives as juniors and seniors.
Honors
After the first term of Conceptual Physics in 9th grade, students are recommended by the Science faculty for Honors placement in the remaining Foundations courses for 9th and 10th grade. Once students have completed the Foundations sequence they can opt into Honors placement for Applications courses in Biology and Chemistry. At least one Applications course must be taken successfully at the Honors level before students can enroll in any Advanced Honors level course in all science disciplines. In addition to engagement, curiosity, and content mastery, Honors students in Science display strong organization and communication skills, can work effectively independently as well as collaboratively, and are willing to grapple with new and challenging material.
Science FAQs
We offer conceptual physics to all of our 9th grade students as their first Upper School science experience at Beaver for a number of reasons. Physics is a very tangible and hands-on way for students to learn about designing and building, as well as exploring the engineering design process. Projects allow students to prototype, iterate, refine, and display their work—learning essential skills in data collection and visualization, communication, and collaboration along the way. Students that wish to have a calculus-based physics experience can take our Advanced Physics term-long electives in 11th and 12th grade.
All students begin their first term in physics in an integrated classroom, but taking on new and progressively more challenging work, students work with teachers to determine if honors placement for the second term is the right fit for the student. Honors placements are revisited by the student and teacher each year as the student progresses through science at Beaver.
By completing their foundation courses in 9th & 10th grades, students have access to a wide-range of application science electives as juniors and seniors.
- All 9th-grade students take physics foundations; from there students can take biology or chemistry foundations.
- Application courses are open to students who have completed the foundation level courses.
- Advanced courses are open to students who have completed both the prerequisite foundation and applications courses.
Examples from the Science classroom
