Tonights schedule: Please help yourself to a handout at the front one per family, please

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Tonights schedulePlease help yourself to a
handout at the front (one per family, please)
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Campus map
F111 (Choir)
Gym
F114 (Band)
Aud
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Monta Vista High SchoolScience DepartmentCourse
Selection Night

• March 2, 2009

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The Science Experience

• All classes meet state standards
• Average class size is 32
• Weekly labs
• Technology includes
• LCD projectors in all classrooms
• Teacher laptop
• Student laptop carts
• LabPros to collect data
• Biotech equipment

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Recommended Class Sequence I
Physics Physics Honors AP
Physics Physiology AP Biology AP Chemistry AP
Environmental Science
Chemistry or Chemistry Honors
Biology
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Recommended Class Sequence II
Chemistry Chemistry Honors Chem AP AP
Physics Physiology AP Biology AP Chemistry AP
Environmental Science
Physics or Physics Honors
Biology
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FUHSD Graduation Requirements

• Must pass 2 science courses (passing is a minimum
  of a D)
• 1 must be Life Science
• Biology, AP Biology, and Physiology
• 1 must be Physical Science
• Chemistry or Chemistry Honors (cannot receive
  credit for both)
• Physics or Physics Honors (cannot receive credit
  for both)

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UC/CSU Requirements
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Choosing a science class

• Consider
• Graduation and collegerequirements
• Student goals andinterests
• Current teachersrecommendation
• Other commitments
• English-language understanding Sheltered
  classes are limited to ELD students (see your
  assistant principal)

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What class should I take?

• Students should be choosing classes based on what
  best suits what they need to learn for where they
  are going.
• Follow your passion
• Take the most rigorous possible but look at your
  entire course schedule and your extracurricular
  activities.

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Chemistry Chemistry Honors

• Focus on concepts related to life outside the
  classroom.
• Weekly hands on labs that gives students hands on
  experience and reinforce concepts taught in
  coursework.
• Production of H2 gas
• from a metal and HCl
• Colligative Properties
• ice cream lab

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Chemistry or Chemistry Honors?
Recommended prerequisites

• Chemistry
• Passing grade in Biology
• Other notes
• Remember you will be adding a History class to
  your schedule next year as well.
• If you are a student who does not love science
  put the extra effort into English or History

• Chemistry Honors
• B or better in Biology
• More math intensive B or better in
  Geometry/higher, concurrent enrollment in Algebra
  2/higher
• Curriculum at its most rigorous
• Asked to be more independent
• Additional independent study for SAT 2-Chemistry
  suggested
• Strongly recommended for advancement to AP
  Chemistry

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Physics Physics Honors

• Motion, Waves, Electricity, Magnetism
• Hands-on experiences using CBLs (calculator-based
  labs)
• Velocity
• Force
• Cupertino Traffic Challenge
• student teams use physics to
• analyze traffic issues in Cupertino
• and to propose solutions.
• Egg Drop students build a vehicle that will
  protect an egg dropped from the top of the
  bleachers and then explain why it works.

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Physics or Physics Honors?
Recommended prerequisites

• Physics
• Passing grade in previous MV science course
• B or better in Geometry and concurrent enrollment
  in Algebra 2/higher

• Physics Honors
• B or better in previous MV science course
• More math intensive B or better in Algebra2/Trig
  and concurrent enrollment in Precalculus/higher
• Curriculum at its most rigorous
• Other notes
• Good preparation for SAT 2-Physics
• Strongly recommended for advancement to AP Physics

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Physiology

• Focus on health issues facing contemporary
  Americans (stress, diabetes, obesity,
  cardiovascular problems, cancer, etc.)
• Emphasis on personal health
• CPR certification
• Health internship in the community

• Recommended prerequisites
• B or better in Biology AND B or better in either
  Chemistry course
• Other notes
• Good preparation for anyone considering a career
  in healthcare

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Want to take an AP Class?

• AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Physics, AP Env.
  Science
• Offered to Juniors and Seniors.
• Recommended prerequisites for
• AP Bio Biology Chemistry
• AP Chem Algebra 2 Honors Chemistry
• AP Physics Precalculus and Physics Honors
• AP Environmental Science Biology and Chemistry
• College Level Course. Requires independent
  reading and study beyond classroom instruction
• Take national CollegeBoard exam in May scored 0
  to 5, scores 3-5 typically get college course
  credit

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AP Biology

• Equivalent to first year college biology course
• Problem Solving Based
• Molecular Biology
• Plants Animals
• Biweekly labs
• DNA-based labs.
• Ex Students have opportunity to explore their
  own DNA.
• Independent experiments
• Product development

• Recommended prerequisites
• B or better in Biology AND B or better in either
  Chemistry course
• Other notes
• Good preparation for SAT 2-Biology and AP exam

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AP Chemistry

• Various chemistry concepts covered at first year
  college level. Good foundation for college chem.
• 60 overlap of content between Chemistry H. and
  AP
• Weekly labs
• Calculator/computer based labs including data
  analysis.
• Inquiry based labs related to real life. Ex
  simulation of breathalyzer test.
• Year end field trip to The Tech Museum

• Recommended prerequisites
• A in Chemistry (and teacher recommendation) or B
  or better in Chemistry Honors
• Concurrent enrollment in Math Analysis or
  Precalculus
• Other notes
• Good preparation for SAT 2-Chemistry and AP exam

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AP Physics

• Introductory Calculus, Kinematics, Dynamics,
  Electricity Magnetism
• Problem-solving and interactive discussions
• Weekly quizzes and exams
• Other notes
• On the 2007 AP (Level C) exams, 30 out of 33
  students received a 5 on the exam

• Recommended prerequisites
• A in Physics (and teacher recommendation) or B or
  better in Physics Honors
• B or better in or concurrent enrollment in
  Calculus AB/BC

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AP Environmental Science

• An interdisciplinary course focusing on two big
  ideas
• the interrelationships of the natural world
• the relationship between humans and the natural
  world
• Ecology, biodiversity, population
• Water, air, land resources quality
• Energy, global climate change
• Current env. Issues, laws

• Labs, fieldwork, projects
• Recommended prerequisites
• B or better in Biology AND B or better in either
  Chemistry course
• Other notes
• Good preparation for AP exam

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Summer and Online Courses?

• Summer extension and online (not remedial)
• As little as 60 hours of instruction
• Must be pre-approved by MV administrator (see
  your students assigned assistant principal or
  dean)
• Only certain online science courses with a lab
  component are accepted for UC/CSU credit (see UC
  admissions for details), and are changing
• Not recommended

• Monta Vista Science
• 180 hours of instruction time for content to be
  learned at a greater depth
• Excellent laboratory experiences
• Consider
• Content of the course and students ability to
  review content on their own
• Expectations of next instructor, if any

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For more information

• Science Department website
• http//www.mvhs.fuhsd.org/
• elizabeth_mccracken/science/index.htm
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
• Summer science programs, competitions,
  scholarships
• Course textbook information (ISBN, etc.)
• Contact Science Department Chair
• Elizabeth_McCracken_at_fuhsd.org
• 408-366-7600 x 8862 (email is preferred)