An MVCDS Education

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Science

The Science Department at Maumee Valley fosters an environment where students are observant of the natural world, make inquiries about their surroundings, and have the ability to analyze and reflect in light of accepted scientific research.
  • Advanced Mechanics

    Advanced Mechanics is an algebra-based continuation of the mechanics introduced in Physics I. Students cultivate their understanding of physics through inquiry-based investigations as they explore topics such as Newtonian mechanics (including rotational motion), work, energy, and mechanical waves, and sound. It is most appropriate for those students with a strong interest in science who plan to continue to study related sciences in college such as physics, engineering, architecture, and medicine.
  • AP Biology

    This course is for students interested in delving more deeply into the broad field of biology and preparing to take the AP Biology test in May. It is designed to be the equivalent of a college introductory biology course taken by biology majors during their first year. This course will delve deeply into the molecular and cellular aspects of biology. Respiration and photosynthesis, enzymes, homeostatic maintenance, molecular genetics and gene expression will be covered. The evolutionary history of organisms is emphasized, and ecology will be reviewed. Experimental design, data accumulation and data analysis will be explored in frequent labs throughout the semester. The ability to synthesize challenging scientific concepts, analyze them, and then communicate this analysis in writing are critical skills required to be successful in this course. This course requires an extensive time commitment. Significant independent work outside of the classroom is expected, and students may need to complete additional lab work during their free periods. Additional work over school breaks may also be required in order to cover the content required by the College Board. Students are required to take the AP Exam in the spring. Juniors who do well in the course may elect to take the SAT II Biology/E or SAT II Biology/M tests.
  • AP Chemistry

    AP Chemistry is equivalent to a college-level general chemistry course that provides rigorous study in four major areas: structure of matter, states of matter, chemical reactions, and descriptive chemistry. Students must be highly motivated to tackle this rigorous course. Students will develop and demonstrate a basic ability to apply mathematical solutions to problems involving atomic theory and structures, chemical bonding, nuclear chemistry, kinetic theory, solutions, reaction types, stoichiometry, equilibrium, kinetics, thermodynamics, and descriptive chemistry. Evaluation will be based on homework, lab reports, and tests. This course requires an extensive time commitment. Significant independent work outside of the classroom is expected, and students may need to complete additional lab work during their free periods. Additional work over school breaks may also be required in order to cover the content required by the College Board. Students are required to take the AP Exam in the spring.
  • AP Physics

    AP Physics 1 is an algebra-based, introductory college-level physics course. Students cultivate their understanding of physics through inquiry-based investigations as they explore topics such as Newtonian mechanics (including rotational motion), work, energy, and power, mechanical waves and sound, and introductory charge and simple circuits. It is most appropriate for those students with a strong interest in science who plan to continue to study related sciences in college such as physics, engineering, architecture, and medicine. This course requires an extensive time commitment. Significant independent work outside of the classroom is expected, and students may need to complete additional lab work during their free periods. Additional work over school breaks may also be required in order to cover the content required by the College Board. Students are required to take the AP Exam in the spring.
  • Biology I

    Biology I is meant to give students a strong foundation in the core themes of life science. Students begin the semester learning about the characteristics and organization of life, and then build on that knowledge by studying population interactions, evolution, and patterns of inheritance. The course ends with a discussion of energy cycling. Science skills are a focus of this introductory course as students will be constructing their understanding by making claims based on gathered evidence, presenting their reasoning, and refining their understanding through frequent discussion and laboratory experiences. This course acts as a prerequisite for all other life science electives.
  • Biology II: Animal Behavior

    This course introduces students to the mechanisms and evolution of animal behavior. They will examine basic principles derived from evolution, ecology, physiology, and development. They will use these principles to explain how and why animals behave as they do in particular situations. Students will study a wide array of behaviors including foraging, communication, migration, predator-prey interactions, territoriality, mating, and parental care. Laboratory exercises will provide hands-on experience for many of these concepts. Learn why bees dance, ducklings follow their moms, and zebras hang out together!
  • Biology II: Anthropology

    Biological anthropology is the study of human biology within the framework of evolution. In this class, students will investigate human biology through the study of inheritance, population biology, and the principles of evolution. As humans are classified within the order primates, students will study the evolution, ecology, and behavior of their closest living relatives: prosimians, monkeys, and apes. Students will spend considerable time examining the fossil record of the human lineage, starting in the Miocene and concluding with the emergence of anatomically modern human beings. Finally, we will examine the significance of human adaptability and investigate the various ways in which the human species has adapted--and is continuing to adapt--to habitats around the world.
  • Biology II: Genetics

    How do geneticists study families or populations of individuals with a genetic disease to identify the disease­ associated mutations? How does a mutation in the human genome lead to a specific disease phenotype? How can this genetic information be used to benefit patient populations? These are just a few of the questions that Human Genetics addresses using examples from the current and classical scientific literature. The course looks at strategies for mapping disease-associated genetic variation and the design and interpretation of experiments to understand the genetic pathology of the mutations. From there, the focus turns to specific ways mutations are formed and the associated phenotypes, including point and frame shift mutations, large and small chromosomal rearrangements, and epigenetic modifications. The course ends with a discussion on how genetic discoveries are converted to genetic tests, how these tests are selected for an individual patient, and how this selection process applies to different life stages. There will be extensive simulations and labs during this course, allowing students to learn how to manipulate, analyze, and interpret genetic data at a molecular level.
  • Biology II: Microbiology

    In microbiology, students will survey the exciting diversity of the microbial world. Topics will include the diversity of prokaryotic life through the study of a wide array of bacterial species as well as viruses and selected eukaryotic members from the kingdoms protista and fungi. Emphasis will be on biosystematics, metabolism, economic importance, symbiosis, and the ecology of microorganisms. Students will look at extensive laboratory work including identification and culture methods.
  • Biology II: Population Ecology

    This course takes advantage of the green space on campus and uses it as a field laboratory. Students will be expand their understanding of evolutionary biology from the Biology I course and learn about population ecology and some aspects of community ecology. Topics include population growth and regulation, demography, interspecific interactions, population genetics, evolution of life histories, and conservation of populations. In addition to learning in the traditional classroom environment, students will learn how to take field data of both animal and plant populations, monitor populations on campus over time, and conduct field experiments.
  • Biology II: Zoology

    Zoology covers the evolutionary history of the kingdom animalia, beginning with a review of protozoans and concluding with an overview of vertebrates. The focus will be on comparative anatomy and physiology of invertebrates emphasizing aquatic forms, and highlighting those phyla that are of particular economic and ecological significance to humans and our environment. The laboratory component of this course will be extensive and will require the observation and dissection of many different animals.
  • Biology III: Anatomy & Physiology

    The anatomy and physiology of humans will be the focus of this course. Students will learn anatomical terminology as well as expand their understanding of basic biochemistry, cells, tissues, and homeostasis. In addition, they will learn how the human body is organized as you review the skeletal, muscular, nervous, endocrine, cardiovascular, lymphatic/immune, respiratory, digestive, urinary, and reproductive systems. Students will also be introduced to some common disease processes. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the principles of anatomy and physiology and their interrelationships. Laboratory work includes the dissection of preserved specimens, microscopic study, physiologic experiments, computer simulations, and multimedia presentations. The laboratory component of this course will be extensive and will require the observation and dissection of many different animals.
  • Biology III: Biotech

    This course uses concepts and understandings from prerequisite advanced biology courses to learn about and explore molecular genetics and microbiological techniques used to gather data and manipulate biological systems in current molecular genetics laboratories. Students will perform extensive wet bench laboratory work in order to develop a panel of molecular genetic markers that can be used to collect information on an individual's regional heritage, similar to what is used in ancestry or 23andMe genetic tests. Techniques learned will include DNA extraction and purification, polymerase chain reaction, gel electrophoresis, restriction digests, and bacterial transformations.
  • Chemistry I

    Chemistry is the science that describes matter, its chemical and physical properties, the chemical and physical changes that it undergoes, and the energy changes that accompany those processes. The course begins with a study of measurement to lay the foundation for the quantitative description of matter and its interactions. During the term, we will examine the building blocks of matter, atoms, and how the particles within atoms helped design the periodic table. We will then explore how these atoms interact and connect with one another to produce larger subdivisions of matter, ions, and molecules. When two different molecules approach one another, they may interact or react to form a new molecule; both of these processes will be described. This course will further both qualitative and quantitative understanding of concepts in chemistry through frequent laboratory work. Introduction to Chemistry is a prerequisite for many other science classes, especially advanced courses. 
  • Chemistry II

    Chemistry is the science that describes matter, its chemical and physical properties, the chemical and physical changes that it undergoes, and the energy changes that accompany those processes. The course begins with stoichiometry, the process of determining how much of a substance will be made or is needed in a chemical reaction. Focusing on chemical reactions, their rates and energetic requirements will be discussed in detail, for both forward and backward reactions. A single type of reaction, acid - base reactions, will be analyzed in more detail, conceptually understanding what distinguishes acids and bases.
  • Chemistry II: Enivornmental Chemistry

    This course extends basic chemistry concepts to qualitative and quantitative aspects of major environmental issues such as acid rain, sewage treatment, ozone destruction, human-caused climate change, air pollution, and cultural eutrophication. The impact of the cycling of matter (carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorus) will be studied as related to important Earth systems. Lab activities will involve sampling, quantitative detection, and data analysis.
  • Chemistry III: Organic Chemistry

    Every living thing on Earth is composed of carbon-based material, from humans, birds, and wolves to trees, fungi, and bacteria. Therefore, the chemistry of carbon is important and intriguing for chemists to study. Humans have been familiar with carbon’s existence since time immemorial; since then, organic chemists have used the foundations presented in this class to synthesize plastics of various strengths and pharmaceuticals that reduce the effects of a myriad of ailments. This intensive will take a deep dive into the element's chemistry, discovering the multitude of compounds that carbon can make, how these compounds interact with one another, and how their structures influence their reactivities. Through discussions and laboratories, students will become knowledgeable in some basics of organic chemistry, integral experimental techniques, and biochemistry.
  • Climate Change

    The first part of this course is designed to provide students with a fundamental understanding of basic mechanisms of weather and climate. As students learn about how weather works, they will then look at patterns of climate across the globe. After they understand the mechanisms of weather, the second part of the course will focus on how climate affects different communities, both human and non-human, and then delve into the challenges that climate change presents to ecosystems and society. This course integrates physical science, biology, and aspects of anthropology and should provide students a better understanding of how and why climate change is such a challenge for us to understand and manage.
  • Geology

    This course is designed to explore the basic concepts of geology, including the formation of rocks through the rock cycle, landscape evolution through erosion and deposition, plate tectonics (including volcanism, earthquakes, folding, and faulting), and the interpretation of Earth processes from geological data. Emphasis will be placed on the geologic time scale and interpretation of maps and landforms to aid in this process. Students will undertake the study and identification of minerals and classification of rocks and learn about their economic importance and value. Lab work and field work also will be integral to ensuring a comprehensive experience.
  • Global Public Service Academy for Health in Guatemala-Science

    The Global Public Service Academies Guatemala program is an intensive healthcare experience for high school students with a passion for careers in medicine, nursing, global or public health, behavioral health, pharmacy, biomedical engineering, dentistry, or other health occupations. Pre-trip sessions will be co-taught by Maumee Valley faculty members and members of the GPSA faculty. Students will explore the community and social issues in Guatemala, develop cross-cultural understandings, and learn basic medical interventions like measuring blood pressure, blood glucose, heart rate, respiration rate, and temperature. On-site in Xela, Guatemala students will stay with host families, work in medical clinics, and receive daily language instruction in Spanish or a local language. This is a working, immersion experience. Living conditions will be basic and home communication will be in the evening only via Twitter. Participants must be mature enough to learn, practice, and pass the required certification and safety exams before they will be permitted to do some of the work. Spanish knowledge is preferred but not required. Students will be trained prior to departure. Since this is a clinical experience, full vaccination is required. Estimated cost $4,000.
  • History of Medicine

    In this course, students will explore how our understanding of sickness has changed from prehistoric times to the modern age. Topics include how causes of disease were viewed, the types of disease most common in different times, which practitioners treated patients, and how disease was diagnosed. They will look at the differences in how disease was viewed and treated in different parts of the world historically. Students will use research, simulations, and many lab activities to recreate various techniques of diagnosis and treatment. They also will visit a modern medical lab to see how far we society has come.
  • Interdisciplinary Research Methods

    This course introduces ninth grade students to the fundamental skills and habits of mind essential to continued study in the sciences. Students will engage in meaningful research with their peers while focusing on different areas of scientific research, such as developing a strong research question and hypothesis, literature review, experiment design, data collection and analysis, and laboratory reporting. An interdisciplinary team of teachers will provide expertise and guidance. Math and social studies teachers will assist science teachers as students build understanding of cultural context of science and data analysis. In coordination with our Student Support Specialist, students will also gain the tools they will need for a successful transition from Middle School. Students will understand who they are as individual learners and practice strategies that support them in the learning process. Students will be well prepared for all future classes in high school, especially in the sciences.
  • Introduction to Engineering

    This course introduces basic engineering processes and principles through exploration and learning by doing. Students will develop skills in problem solving, research, and design while learning strategies for the engineering-design process and allowing the application of these principles to hands-on projects. Forces, torque, and Kinetic-Work Theorem will be explored through project-based designs.
  • Physics I

    This introduction to classical mechanics provides a conceptually-based exposure to the fundamental principles and processes of the physical world. Topics include data collection and graphical analysis of position, velocity, acceleration, forces, and gravity. Students will also develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills, which will be practiced during laboratory activities and projects. With this strong conceptual foundation, students are better equipped to understand the equations and formulas of physics, and to make connections between the concepts of physics and their everyday world. Thus, Physics I is a prerequisite to several physical science courses, including AP Physics.
  • Physics II: Alternative Energy

    This is a survey course of alternative energy technologies including photovoltaic, solar thermal, wind, biomass, and nuclear. Student labs will design and fabricate small-scale generation systems, collect data, and analyze variables that affect efficiency and viability of installations. Individual and societal energy needs and conservation efforts will also be addressed. Students will work primarily in small groups in order to complete projects and presentations.
  • Physics II: Astronomy

    The science of astronomy spans vast scales of space and time, from individual atoms and entire galaxies to the universe’s beginning and future fate of our sun. In this course, students will survey some of the main ideas in modern astrophysics with an emphasis on the physics of stars and galaxies. They will learn about light and gravity, Earth and our neighboring planets, comets and meteors, stars and how to measure their properties, and galaxies and the evolution of stars. Lab activities will introduce them to making astronomical observations and analysis.
  • Physics II: Electrical Engineering

    In this course, students begin by learning foundational concepts from electromagnetism. They will investigate current, voltage, resistance, energy, and magnetism. Students apply their conceptual understanding as they draw and analyze series and parallel circuits, using mathematical tools such as Ohm's Law and Kirchoff's laws. They then design and construct their own circuits, working with resistors, capacitors, inductors, diodes, and transistors. Students examine electromagnetism applications to practical, everyday devices such as motors, lifting magnets, and stereo speakers. Finally, students are exposed to cutting-edge topics in the field, including the physics behind solar cells and solid-state electronics. Students will leave the course with a better understanding of electrical engineering and its many applications to everyday life.
  • Physics II: Electromagnetism

    In this course, students will learn fundamental concepts in electromagnetism. The course explores topics such as electrostatics, electric circuits, and magnetic fields. Students apply their conceptual understanding as they draw and analyze series and parallel circuits, using mathematical tools such as Ohm’s Law and Kirchoff’s laws. They then design and construct their own circuits, working with resistors, capacitors, inductors, diodes, and transistors to examine electromagnetism applications to practical, everyday devices such as motors, lifting magnets, and stereo speakers.
  • Science of War

    Physics and science have played a role in warfare since the first human picked up a rock and used it as a weapon. This course examines this relationship and how it has changed weapons and war over the past 4,000 years. Everything from simple slings to railguns and ballistic missiles will be examined from the perspective of their role in society and the actual science behind how they work. Students will spend time on the physics and chemistry of many different weapons, so yes math will be involved as well as chemistry, physics, and even biology. Students will build and test weapons almost every day, including a paperclip trebuchet, plasticware crossbow, and a tabletop Roman mangonel. There will be daily quizzes, and a research paper covering the development of a modern weapon system.
Maumee Valley Country Day School is the only PreK-12th grade accredited, co-educational, and independent school in Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan.