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Science

The Christchurch School Science Department is designed to introduce students to the basic concepts of the physical and biological sciences, and to cultivate an interest in the field of science.  The Science Department provides a strong inquiry-based curriculum aimed at developing a student’s innate curiosity regardless of a student’s weaknesses or strengths. In keeping with the goals of the entire curriculum, the members of the department utilize a differentiated program that includes problem-based instruction, hands-on laboratory activities, class discussions, group activities and lectures. 

  • Integrated Science 9

    Integrated Science 9 is the first in a sequence of three integrated science courses. In this course students will develop science skills while they explore the local area, with an emphasis on data analysis. Investigations will include an assessment of forest health, a comparison of wetland biodiversity and an exploration into the geologic history of the Christchurch School campus. Broader investigations will explore some major theories in science including the Big Bang Theory, Darwinian evolution, and Newton’s laws of motion. Through these investigations students will come to understand how scientists perceive the world, how they design experiments and build understanding. During each investigation students will work with related content in biology, physical science, and earth science. Students will engage with content in biology, chemistry, and physics.

  • Honors Integrated Science 9

    Honors Integrated Science 9 is offered to 9th grade students who wish to challenge themselves by taking an advanced course in science. The course is developed with similar course goals as regular Integrated Science 9. Students in this course, however, have higher expectations for their ability to complete more work independently, engage in even more complex thinking skills, and have established effective written and verbal communication skills. Students in HIS9 will engage with content in biology, chemistry, and physics.

  • Integrated Science 10

    Integrated Science 10 is the second in a sequence of three integrated science courses. In this course students will develop new science skills, with an emphasis on experimental design, and reinforce their data analysis and other skills acquired in previous science classes. Students will design experiments to discover how different variables interact, for example, to form bubbles of different sizes, to affect the boiling point of water or to affect yeast fermentation. Students will also conduct investigations into the link between land use and water quality in the Rappahannock River watershed. Through the experiments and investigations students will come to understand how scientists design experiments to answer questions and understand interactions in the natural world. During each investigation students will work with related content in biology, chemistry, physical science, and earth science.

  • Honors Integrated Science 10

    Honors Integrated Science 10 is offered to students who wish to challenge themselves by taking an advanced course in science. The course is developed with similar course goals as regular Integrated Science 10. Students in this course, however, have higher expectations for their ability to complete more work independently, engage in even more complex thinking skills, and have established effective written and verbal communication skills. Students in HIS10 will engage with content in biology, chemistry, and physics, and earth science.

  • Integrated Science 11

    Integrated Science 11 is the third in a series of three integrated science courses. In this course students will continue to build their science skills with an emphasis on the process of conducting scientific research to refine questions and to design robust scientific investigations. Students will investigate complex systems in and around the Chesapeake Bay.

  • Honors Biology

    Honors Biology is a college level biology course that builds upon the concepts introduced in Honors Integrated Science 9-11 to help students understand the living world. The underlying principles and theories that guide this course are evolution, cellular processes, energy and communication, genetics and information transfer and interactions of biological systems. This course is recommended for honors-level 12th grade students who plan to major in a science in college. Honors Biology carries Dual Enrollment credit through Virginia Wesleyan University.

  • Honors Chemistry

    Honors Chemistry is the equivalent of a first-year college chemistry course. This class will investigate these following complex topics: chemical kinetics, equilibrium, thermodynamics, electrochemistry, materials science, buffer systems, coordination complexes, nuclear chemistry, organic chemistry, and biochemistry. This course is recommended for honors-level 11th or 12th grade students who plan to major in a science in college. This course may be taken as a junior but not in place of Integrated or Honors Integrated Science 11.

  • Forensics

    Forensics explores the intriguing world of forensic science learning the basic scientific principles, laboratory techniques, and reasoning skills used to solve crime. Learn to analyze crime scene evidence, including fingerprinting, fiber analysis, ballistics, arson, trace evidence analysis, poisons, drugs, blood spatters, blood samples, or psychology through case studies and simulated crime scenes. Apply scientific methods to solve fictional crimes using forensic tools and technical resources, questioning and interviewing, forming and testing hypotheses, conducting data collection, and developing conclusions. This integrated science course blends biology, chemistry, physics, and critical thinking to introduce you to forensics fundamentals. This will be a graded course regardless if it is a graduation requirement or an elective course.
    Prerequisites: Integrated Science 10 or equivalent
    Open to 10th, 11th and 12th grade students

  • Honors Chemistry

    Honors Chemistry is the equivalent of a first year college Chemistry course. This class will investigate these following complex topics: chemical kinetics, equilibrium, thermodynamics, electrochemistry, materials science, buffer systems, coordination complexes, nuclear chemistry, organic chemistry, and biochemistry.

  • Honors Physics

    Honors Physics is an introduction to kinematics, Newtonian dynamics, work and energy, gravitation, waves, fluid mechanics, kinetic theory, and thermodynamics. Students will conduct experiments, collect data, analyze results, and draw conclusions, fostering a deeper understanding of physics principles. Honors Physics Dual Enrollment credit through Virginia Wesleyan University is pending.

    Prerequisites: Science department permission or petition, and completion of Precalculus with a B- or better and taking Calculus concurrently. This course is recommended for honors-level students who plan to major in a science or engineering in college.
    Open to 11th and 12th grade students

  • Honors Science Research

    Honors Science Research is a project-based course open to 11th and 12th graders. Students in this course will conduct individual research projects and participate in long term science-based research projects. Projects may include year-to-year monitoring of variables in local ecosystems, for example, water quality in Urbanna Creek or
    carbon sequestration in trees on campus. Some projects continue year-to-year, and some are completed within a single school year. Students are encouraged to propose their own projects and begin a project in their 11th grade year and complete it in their 12th grade year. Students will work towards publishing their work in a peer-reviewed
    journal or other appropriate outlet. Those students who take the course for two years will be expected to publish their work with the Virginia Junior Academy of Sciences.

    This course is recommended for 11th and 12th grade honors students who are interested in field science and who may be interested in majoring in a science in college. Honors Science Research carries Dual Enrollment credit through Virginia Wesleyan University. 

    Prerequisites: Honors 10th, Integrated Science or 11th Integrated Science, Science department permission, and petition.
    Open to 11th and 12th grade students

  • Human Anatomy & Physiology

    Human Anatomy & Physiology explores the structure and function of the human body learning the basic scientific principles, laboratory techniques, and reasoning skills used to study cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems. The course delves into how these components work together to maintain life, emphasizing homeostasis, the body's ability to regulate its internal environment. The course also examines diseases and disorders, and recent advancements in medicine. Students interested in pursuing careers in health-related fields, such as nursing, medicine, sports training, physical therapy, or animal care should consider this elective. This will be a graded course regardless if it is a graduation requirement or an elective course.
    Prerequisites: Integrated Science 10 or equivalent
    Open 10th, 11th and 12th grade students

  • Marine Science

    Marine Science explores the watery depths of our planet and understand how vital the oceans are to our existence. This course provides students with an overview of the marine environment, including the origins of the oceans, the nature of the marine habitat including chemical, physical, and geological aspects, ecology of the sea zonation, marine communities, classification, and man's interrelationship with the oceans. Students will learn about the processes that influence the hydrosphere, as well as the influence of the hydrosphere on the environment.

    This course emphasizes the use of laboratory and field investigation to collect data on structure, function, and interactions of diverse marine organisms and ultimately explore issues involving the human impact on the marine environment. Laboratory investigations including the use of scientific inquiry, research, measurement, problem solving, and experimental procedures are an integral part of this course. This will be a graded course regardless if it is a graduation requirement or an elective course.
    Prerequisites: Integrated Science 10 or equivalent
    Open 10th, 11th and 12th grade students

Faculty

Christchurch School

49 Seahorse Lane,
Christchurch, Virginia 23031
804.758.2306