Level: Form III (7th–9th grades), Form IV (10th–12th grades)
Subject(s): Science/Nature Study
Description:
This high school introductory physics & chemistry course combines up-to-date science with a Christian worldview and an educational approach that aims for wonder, integration, and mastery. Concepts covered include the nature of scientific knowledge, motion, Newton’s laws, variation and proportion, energy, heat and temperature, waves, sound, light, electricity and DC circuits, fields and magnetism, chemical substances, atomic models and density, atomic bonding, and chemical reactions. (Visit the publisher’s FAQ to learn more about how this publisher approaches the subject of evolution.) The Novare curriculum aims to nurture fascinated students who deeply understand and remember their science. Meeting Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, this course will include both lab and lecture/discussion components.
This course is accelerated, and as such, students will be expected to complete all reading assignments, all end-of-chapter question assignments, quizzes, five lab reports, a lab journal, and two end-of-semester exams. Each student (or family) will need access to Google Classroom for assignments and grades.
Prerequisites: must have completed Algebra I and pass a placement exam.
Materials:
Families purchase the following required supplies:
- Accelerated Studies in Physics and Chemistry, 2nd edition, by John D. Mays (ISBN: 9780998983349)
- Student Lab Report Handbook, 2nd edition, by John D. Mays (ISBN: 9780988322875) (one per family)—Note that this resource is used for all BHSC highschool-level science classes and can be reused each year and/or shared among siblings.
- NEWLY Required since 2024-2025: Accelerated Studies in Physics and Chemistry Solutions Manual, 2nd edition (ISBN: 9780998983394)
- Lab goggles (such as these)—Goggles must fit up against the skin all the way around the eyes, and vented goggles are recommended.
- For a lab journal: a composition notebook like this one, OR a graphing notebook like this one: Quadrille-ruled notebook
- 3″x5″ index cards (or other flashcards/notes/study tools)
- 3-ring binder with five tab dividers and lined notebook paper
- *Graphing calculator, such as the ones recommended for HS math at BHSC (one per student)
*As of May 2025, the SAT Calculator Policy has been revised and graphing calculators (with CAS) are no longer allowed for the PSAT or SAT. While CAS is beneficial in college, for our high school students please see the following options:
- Purchase a calculator with CAS (Mrs. Panam prefers TI-89 and up with CAS) that is suitable for use in college STEM programs—even though such calculators cannot be used on standardized tests like the PSAT and SAT. If choosing this option, also select one or both of the next two options if your student plans to take standardized tests like the PSAT/SAT.
- Use an online calculator (like DESMOS)—this means the student will need access to a laptop/desktop/tablet with access to internet. It is recommended that students master using this online calculator prior to taking a standardized test to avoid any issues during testing. (Students can also practice using the provided online test calculators via practice online PSAT/SAT tests.)
- Purchase an allowed calculator following the College Board’s instructions—here are some examples of allowed TI calculators, the underlined ones are BHSC’s recommendations:
- TI-83 Plus graphing calculator
- TI-84 Plus graphing calculator
- TI-84 Plus CE graphing calculator
- TI-84 Plus CE Python graphing calculator
- TI-Nspire™ CX graphing calculator
- TI-Nspire™ CX II graphing calculator
