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All Reading Together
Science
All students at YWLCS take year-long science courses every year from grades 7 through 12. We use a hands-on, experiential approach to science which helps students gain an understanding of concepts and processes such as chemical interactions, biological effects of chemicals, qualitative and quantitative analysis, and the difference between science and public policy. We believe that girls learn science best when they are actively engaged in doing science and thinking like scientists.
Every spring, the entire school participates in a project to investigate
the Chicago River, with students at each grade level looking at the river
from a different scientific perspective. Students visit the river, conduct
experiments focusing on chemical, biological, or physical science, and
report back their findings at the annual YWLCS Science Fair in May.
Middle School
Seventh graders begin with SEPUP’s Issues, Evidence and You, an issue-oriented year-long science course in which students conduct experiments, collect and analyze data, create models, and read and analyze information.
Eighth graders take Physical Science using materials from Constructing Ideas in Physical Science, which combines guided inquiry and direct instruction. As students perform experiments, they are guided in constructing many physical science concepts based on evidence from the experiments.
Junior Academy
Ninth graders use SEPUP’s Science and Sustainability curriculum, an integrated science/ environmental science course focusing on the role that science and technology can play in sustainable development. The course is designed around four aspects of sustainability: basic needs, food, earth’s resources, and energy. Students learn essential science concepts and skills in chemistry, biology, physics, and earth science.
Tenth graders study chemistry using curriculum developed at the University of California at Berkeley. Living By Chemistry organizes lessons around the “big ideas” of chemistry, framing the core concepts within everyday, real-world contexts.
Senior Academy
In 11th grade, students study biology using an inquiry-based curriculum. Insights in Biology develops conceptual understanding through investigations of socially and personally significant issues.
Twelfth graders study Conceptual Physics for their science requirement. Seniors may also elect to take a senior elective in addition to physics. Past senior electives have included Genetics and Anatomy.
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