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 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 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 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 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 Integrated Science 11 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 11. 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 HIS11 will engage with content in biology, chemistry and physics and be prepared to enter an honors level course in their 12th grade year. Honors Integrated Science 11 carries Dual Enrollment credit through Virginia Wesleyan University

Integrated Science 12 is open to seniors who have completed three years of Integrated Science. Interdisciplinary Studies in Science will explore different interdisciplinary topics each trimester.

The fall trimester will focus on the interdisciplinary field of marine science that explores the Chesapeake Bay watershed and other watersheds around the world which are vast and complex ecosystems. This trimester provides an in-depth examination of marine environments, including their physical, chemical, biological, and geological aspects, emphasizing their interconnectedness and global significance. Through lectures, laboratory exercises, field trips, and independent research, students will gain comprehensive knowledge and understanding of various rivers and bays and the life within them.

The winter trimester will be an integrative study of nutrition, anatomy & physiology, and agriculture; a holistic approach to understanding the relationship between human health, nutrition, and agricultural practices in America and worldwide. Students will explore the anatomical and physiological basis of nutrition, investigate the role of agriculture in providing nutritious food, and examine the impact of dietary choices on human health and wellbeing. Through lectures, laboratory sessions, field trips, and hands-on activities, students will understand the complex relationship between food production, anatomy, physiology, and nutrition.

Spring trimester will study community health and social determinants of health while examining the social, economic, and environmental factors influencing health outcomes at the community level. Students will explore the complex interaction between individual behaviors, community resources, and social structures in shaping health disparities and inequities. Through theoretical frameworks, case studies, community-based projects, and experiential learning, students will develop a deeper understanding of the social determinants of health and strategies for promoting health equity and social justice within communities.

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 Ecological Research is a project-based course open to 11th and 12th graders. Students in this course will participate in ongoing field-based research. Projects include year-to-year monitoring of variables in local ecosystems, for example, water quality in Urbanna Creek and 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 may 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 teh VA Junior Academy of Sciences. This course is recommended for 11th and 12th grade students who are interested in field science and who may be interested in majoring in a science in college. Eleventh grade students must also enroll in Integrated Science 11 or Honors Integrated Science 11. Honors Ecological Research carries Dual Enrollment credit through Virginia Wesleyan University.