Chemistry: Semester 2

Course Learning Outcomes

The main purpose of this course is to help you become proficient in core principles of chemistry.

Here are some of the main things you will learn to do:

  1. Organize the elements that make up our Earth and our atmosphere.
  2. Solve, in a common-sense fashion, chemical problems dealing with results from an experiment or reaction.
  3. Discuss atoms—their makeup, what they do, and how they do it.

Required Resources:

  • Reliable access to a computer and internet connection

Chemistry: Semester 1

Course Learning Outcomes

The main purpose of this course is to help you become proficient in core principles of Chemistry. I hope that this course will help you get the most out of building your scientific thinking foundation. Here are some of the main things you will learn to do:

  1. Organize the elements that make up our earth and our atmosphere.
  2. Solve, in a common-sense fashion, chemical problems dealing with results from an experiment and/or reaction.
  3. Discuss atoms—their makeup, what they do, and how they do it.

Required Resources:

  • Reliable access to a computer and internet connection

Physics: Semester 2

Required Resources:

  • Reliable access to a computer and internet access

 

Physics: Semester 1

Required Resources:

  • Reliable access to a computer and internet connection

LAB MATERIALS:

  • Ruler
  • Paper
  • Pencil
  • Tape measure
  • Protractor (ideally, magnetic directional compass)
  • Ball or toy car (something that will easily roll)
  • Straight, flat board
  • Stopwatch
  • Bathroom scale
  • Access to an elevator
  • Access to stairs
  • Toy dart gun
  • Velcro
  • Kitchen (or postal) scale
  • Candy thermometer
  • 25 pennies
  • Pan
  • 2 styrofoam cups
  • Small strainer

Physical Science

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to do the following:

  1. Describe the motion of an object in terms of position, velocity, acceleration, and time.
  2. Describe forces acting on objects and how they affect the motion of objects.
  3. Explain the transformation of energy among various forms.
  4. Describe properties of matter and the structure of atoms.
  5. Balance basic chemical equations.
  6. Explain how electricity is produced.
  7. Describe properties of different kinds of waves.

Required Resources:

  • Reliable access to a computer and internet connection

Environmental Science

Required Resources:

  • Reliable access to a computer and internet connection

 

Biology: Semester 2

Required Resources:

  • Reliable access to a computer and internet connection

LAB MATERIALS:

  • Paper
  • Pencil
  • Scissors
  • White bread
  • Wheat bread
  •  Sandwich bags
  • 4 glasses
  • Measuring cups
  • 4 stalks of celery (with leaves–if possible)
  • Food coloring (4 different colors)
  • Stopwatch
  • Oyster, clam, or mussel
  • Colored pencils
  • Fabric or blindfold
  • Several labs call for various, common food items
  • Lab 7 requires a friend or family member

Biology: Semester 1

Required Resources:

  • Reliable access to a computer and internet connection

LAB MATERIALS:

  • Paper
  • Pencil
  • M&M’s
  • Scissors
  • Coins
  • Tape
  • Cup
  • Rubbing alcohol
  • Leaf from tree or house plant
  • Green split peas
  • Liquid dish soap
  • Table salt
  • Measuring cups
  • Wooden stick
  • Meat tenderizer (or approved replacement: pineapple juice or contact lens solution)
  • Blender
  • Strainer
  • Small glass container (or test tubes)
  • 2 bowls
  • 5 cups of four different types of dry beans (or a multi-bean mix)
  • 2 trays (or cookie sheets)

Astronomy

Course Outline: 

  1. Observing the Night Sky
    2. Historical Highlights in Astronomy
    3. The Solar System: The Terrestrial Planets
    4: The Solar System—Jovian Planets, Comets, Asteroids, etc.
    5: The Sun and Other Stars
    6: Galaxies

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, you should have done the following:

  1. Developed a basic knowledge of astronomy, both historical and observational.
  2. Acquired an appreciation for astronomy and the night skies.
  3. Learn how astronomers study the universe and exercise some of those skills yourself.

Course Materials

This course is self-contained. You do not need a separate astronomy book to complete the units.

Required Resources

Access to a computer and internet access.