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Located within the 75,000 acre Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore,
The Leelanau School provides the opportunity for students to experience
the natural world firsthand. As a department, we value and emphasize
the scientific method through data collection and analysis, firsthand
observation, and the application of analytical skills as frequently
as possible. Students are regularly in the field collecting information
on topics such as the health of freshwater ecosystems and bird populations
through the use of tracking, listening, reading and writing skills.
In contrast, participation in the lab for chemistry, physics, biotechnology
and anatomy is a daily experience. Exploration and constructive
style delivery methods are of major importance in this department.
Cross-curricular opportunities are utilized on a regular basis.
The use of digital photography, digital microscopy, film making
and sculpture are integral tools in several of our classes. Teachers
bring their strengths to each discipline they teach. Several of
the course offerings involve multiple teachers instructing specific
units which fall into their areas of expertise. It is a critical
departmental goal to provide every Leelanau student with as many
opportunities to learn about and to become comfortable in the natural
world. Appreciation comes from familiarity and knowledge about the
world. From appreciation comes concern and awareness, thus a cyclic
pattern of growth in knowledge and active involvement can then emerge.
Biology 1 – The Wild World of Plants, Animals, and Ecology
Do you know that the science of naming plants and animals with backbones,
identifying their anatomical parts, observing the way they breathe,
have evolved, reproduce, adapt and carry out life processes is so
fascinating that the entire fall and spring semesters are devoted
to combining a multitude of field trips and hands-on lab work to
make their secrets known to us? Winter is a time to strap on those
snow shoes and trek into the swamps, forests, meadows and bogs to
discover the way in which plants and animals interact with themselves
and the climatic conditions that surround them. This course is an excellent
foundation for enrolling in Biology 2 and, even if it is the only
course in Biology that you take, it will give you a lifelong memory
of some of the most basic understanding of life on this planet we
call earth!
Biology 2 – Life Big and Small
Imagine coming into your biology classroom, pulling on a pair of
waders, loading up a van with your classmates and traveling to a
variety of freshwater lakes, rivers, and streams to experience firsthand what it is like to live as an animal without a backbone! How
does such an organism breathe, eat, protect itself, reproduce, and
adapt to its environment? What are the evolutionary stages that
have passed that give it a formula for success? Discover for yourself,
with the help of your instructor and a myriad of resources, what
life is like as an invertebrate. Once winter arrives, we will explore
life on the molecular and cellular levels and learn how cells of
all types metabolize and propagate their genetic information to
the next generation. In the spring, it is back in the field to observe
life in the microscopic realm. By the end of the year, you will
never see the living world around you with the same set of eyes!
Anatomy and Physiology – Human Systems and Their Function
This course is an introduction to the systems of the human body
and their function. It is designed to present a balance between
general information about the human body and its systems and an
introduction to the disciplines required for medical related professions.
Exploration of various systems topics includes the physical identification
and recognition of tissues, organs and systems, along with the physiological
processes necessary for homeostasis in the body. Students explore
each system by discovering aspects of function and identification
through research of current, popular literature and through physical
contact with the concepts. Dissection activities include bird and
cat dissections and various specific organ dissections, including
the heart, lung, eye and brain. In addition, when various fresh
kill animal subjects become available in our area, the class takes
immediate advantage of these opportunities to review and apply their
knowledge of systems they have studied. This course allows the student
to study the human body from a systems approach that emphasizes
the mechanisms for physiological stimulus and response. The delicate
balance of homeostasis is of primary concern and provides the opportunity
for students to understand the human body and its ability to respond
to the world around it.
Environmental Science – Freshwater Ecology, Terrestrial Ecosystems
and Energy
This is a course designed to introduce students to the study of
different aspects of the environment using a systems approach. The
units of study include Freshwater Ecology, Terrestrial Ecosystems,
and Energy. In the freshwater ecology unit, students will be in
the field regularly collecting data and studying various aspects
of the abundant freshwater ecosystems that surround our campus.
The unique aspects of wetlands, rivers and streams, inland lakes
and ponds and the Great Lakes will be studied. Taxonomy, chemistry,
limnology, protozoology, phycology and species diversity are aspects
of study that will help students answer questions about freshwater
ecosystem health and preservation. The impact of global and local
climate changes, human impact and history on our local systems are
of particular interest in this unit. Students will also investigate
aspects of local terrestrial ecosystems. Mature deciduous forests,
dune succession sequences, old-field succession, and the inter-relationship
of groups of animals and their surroundings will be the focus of
another unit of study. In the study of energy, having built on their
understanding of ecosystems, students will focus on the flow of
energy through various levels of organisms within an ecosystem.
This course will look at human energy consumption and production,
food supplies and the manipulation of the environment to produce
energy for the human race, the impact of costs and benefits of corporate
style agriculture and world food requirements for the future. Energy
production and consumption of all types are also introduced in this
course. Electrical, heating, and transportation energy systems are
analyzed and evaluated by learning to complete an energy audit on
buildings and looking at energy efficiency in construction techniques
and appliance design. Energy generation methods, including, nuclear,
hydro, wind, fossil fuel, solar, hydrogen and other technologies,
are the focus of this unit of study.
Animal Ecology
This course juxtaposes the approach to Environmental Science in
that it focuses on the individual and species, rather than on the
study of the ecosystem. The major units studied are Animal Behavior,
Natural History, Biological Diversity and Ornithology. Ethology
(Animal Behavior) is the study of an organism’s response to
stimuli and evolutionary questions surrounding a behavior’s
origin. How animals behave and why they behave a specific way are
the foundations of this unit of study. Natural History is the study
of a species’ patterns of life that make it unique in the
animal world. Various groups of organisms are compared and contrasted,
emphasizing their unique features of their species’ life histories
and adaptations to their habitat. Emphasis is placed on local populations
of The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Biological diversity
considers how animals interact to provide for the health of the
ecosystems. How diversity evolves and its importance to the stability
of the ecosystem are key concepts covered in this unit. The study
of birds, Ornithology, ties the two previous units together. Students
will learn to identify individual species by sight, sound, and behavior.
Comparing bird life histories and various bird families allows students
to gain insight into all of the previous units of study experientially
through the magical life of birds.
Chemistry – Elements, Molecules, Bonds, and Reactions
This course is a high school level introduction to the exploration
of chemical principles and the world of physical science. These
chemical and physical principles are covered using a framework that
emphasizes the link between experience and the assimilation of new
information into that framework of understanding. Students will
participate in an entire year of guided activities while looking
for patterns in evidence and examples and then draw their own conclusions
about the process. Nomenclature and formal definitions are frequently
introduced after students have explored, scrutinized and developed
a concept.
Physics – Physical Laws and The Universe
The physics course at Leelanau uses the conceptual physics approach
to addressing the understanding of the physical laws that govern
the universe. This approach places emphasis on doing physics in
order to understand the principles. This approach is sometimes referred
to as “concepts before computation.” A three stage learning
cycle is featured in this style of learning that consists of exploration,
concept development, and application. By exploring a concept first,
students gain valuable information before being asked to analyze
it. The idea that information is best learned if it answers a question
is central to this learning strategy. The exploration develops a
need for the information found in the concept before trying to master
that concept. Students will learn physics through a combination
of reading, teacher demonstrations, lectures and teacher-led activities
to help develop the content. Equations will be used as a guide to
thinking, rather then as a recipe for plugging in numerical values.
The use of equations to thoroughly understand the variables involved
in a problem or concept is a successful method of analysis and critical
to mastering higher order thinking skills. This delivery method
of learning physics allows students greater opportunity to verbalize
their understanding, question their teachers and other students
more readily, and develop greater security in their understanding
before they begin problem solving.
Astronomy – Stars, Planets, Galaxies, Solar Systems in Our
Universe
The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the history,
techniques, materials, and methods of Astronomy, and by extension,
natural science. We intend to stretch our imaginations to be able
to visualize the geometries of the very small and the very large.
We hope to gain comfort with difficult concepts regarding the cycles
of all structures within the cosmos, including our own planet and
the solar system, all types of stars and their life cycles, galaxies
and their component parts, clusters of galaxies, and the past, present,
and future of the universe as it has been, and is currently understood.
Most importantly, we want to develop in students a delight in empirical,
scientific inquiry and an abiding curiosity about how the natural
world works.
Mathematics
At Leelanau, we view our math classes as an opportunity to improve
the learner’s problem-solving skills through investigations,
projects and practice. Whether or not the quadratic formula is remembered,
what Leelanau students learn in each math class will benefit them
for the rest of their lives. Traditionally, math students are accustomed
to sitting at their desks, watching a teacher instruct about mathematical
concepts, raising clarifying questions, and then are asked to work
out numerous problems with no real relevancy shown to how mathematics
may apply outside of the classroom. Our students develop a very
active and inquisitive learning style in mathematics and will have
the analytical skills to attack any problem and attack it with confidence
and logic.
Algebra I – Discovering Algebra – An Investigative
Approach
This course is a beginning Algebra course for high school students
with an emphasis on group work. The course begins with an in-depth
examination of graphing and its real world applications. From here,
students then begin examining linear equations and how these equations
fit with their data. Linear functions are also investigated through
a series of projects using motion detectors and the TI-83 Plus calculator.
Key topics of the course are presented in proven sequences that
will enable students to acquire all important algebraic skills.
Students will use these skills to reason mathematically to solve
logic problems, interpret graphs, make statistical inferences, and
discover polynomials.
Geometry- Discovering Geometry – An Investigative Approach
This course emphasizes visual learning in order to develop analytical
skills. We will investigate and discover different geometric conjectures
through inductive and deductive reasoning. Early in the course,
students will further develop their problem-solving skills and their
understanding of geometric terminology and notation. They will learn,
through projects and investigations, how to manipulate shapes and
lines using a compass, protractor, and the TI-83 Plus calculator.
Advanced Algebra – An Investigative Approach
This class is a continuation of the Key Curriculum Press sequence
used in both Algebra I and Geometry. Students will review all the
necessary algebraic tools and how they apply to real-world applications.
Students then move on to inquire about different types of functions,
beginning with linear models. Throughout this course, students explore
the relations of linear, polynomial, quadratic, rational and logarithmic
functions through projects, instruction, and investigations. Students
will also use written expression to demonstrate their mathematical
understanding of the concepts. This course ends with a focus on
trigonometric identities and properties.
Pre Calculus with Trigonometry: Concepts and Applications
The basis for this course is the mastery of mathematics numerically,
algebraically, graphically and verbally. Through investigations,
projects and lectures students will explore these various functions.
The first semester is spent in an in-depth study of linear, exponential,
logarithmic, periodic, and power functions. The second semester
is primarily dedicated to trigonometry. Every unit is loaded with
problems of application context and that will serve to enrich this course.
AP Calculus AB – Concepts and Applications
This course deals with solving problems using limits, derivatives,
and integrals. Students will apply these concepts graphically, numerically,
algebraically, and verbally. As in other math courses, applications
of the topics being studied are stressed. The graphing calculator
is commonly used in this class to enhance and demonstrate understanding.
AP Statistics – An Application of Statistical Methods
The topics for AP Statistics are divided into four major categories:
exploratory analysis, designing a study and experiment, probability,
and statistical inference. Students will explore how to display
and examine data with one, two, and multiple variables. They will
conduct research-based experiments and studies to discover statistical
methods to show association between variables. The students will
use random phenomena to display and describe distributions in long-run trials. Students also create models to draw conclusions from
data, look for trends, and define statistically significant behaviors.
The TI-83 calculator is an important tool used in the calculation
of p-values, chi-square statistics, t-values, and z-values.
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