Science

Minimum of 3 credits of high school science, to include at least 1 credit of physical science and 1 credit of life science.

Environmental Science I – Silviculture

Prerequisite: Biology or permission of teacher – Offered 1st Semester

Students will study and explore several aspects of silviculture to include the history of forestry in the United States through reading American Canopy by Erik Rutkow. The class will interact with a local Maine state forester to discuss forest research management and sustainable wood harvesting and the study of dendrochronology with on campus trees. This course visits a local lumber mill to follow the current practices of wood processing of Eastern White Pine start to finish at Hancock Lumber. In addition, students will engage in activities such as basic tree identification, wood production techniques, and innovations in wood product usage.
Environmental Science II – Hydrology

Prerequisite: Biology or permission of teacher – Offered 2nd Semester

In this hydrology course, students will explore and learn about past and current water pollution and remediation processes by reading Erin Brockovich’s book, "Superman’s Not Coming." While studying the water cycle, the class will take trips to our local water aquifers and wastewater treatment plants. Students will learn about local road salt applications and snow dumps, as well as their effects on watersheds. The class will explore various aspects of water resources, including global water shortages, consumption practices, pollution, and desalination methods. In addition, students will focus on studying the local watershed, conducting water quality testing, and learning about the environment along Mill Brook, from the Gould Campus to the mouth of the Atlantic Ocean.
Forensics I

Prerequisite: Requires Departmental Approval – Offered 1st Semester

This lab-oriented course applies scientific principles to the investigation of crimes, ensuring that accurate and objective information reflects the events that occurred. Students will gain hands-on experience in the identification, collection, preservation, and analysis of physical evidence. Laboratory investigations focus on a variety of techniques, including fingerprint analysis, soil and glass analysis, document analysis, serology, and crime scene processing. Through these activities, students develop practical skills and a deeper understanding of how science supports the criminal justice system.
Forensics II

Prerequisite: Requires Departmental Approval – Offered 2nd Semester

Forensic Science applies scientific knowledge to ensure that accurate and objective information reflects the events that have occurred at a crime scene. This is a lab-oriented course that emphasizes the procedures and practices involved in identifying, collecting, preserving, and analyzing physical evidence. Laboratory investigations include, but are not limited to, the examination of hairs, fibers, and paint; forensic toxicology involving drugs and poisons; DNA analysis; and crime scene reconstruction using the scientific method.
AP Biology

Students may enroll in this course only with departmental approval
This is a class designed to be the equivalent of a college introductory biology course usually taken by college biology majors during their first year. A curriculum designed to prepare students for success on the advanced placement exam in biology will be followed closely and will entail significant background reading, active participation in class discussions and demonstrations, and a sincere commitment on the part of the student. Students are expected to take the AP Biology exam.
AP Biology

Prerequisite: Chemistry & Requires Departmental Approval – Year Long
This is a class designed to be the equivalent of a two semester college introductory biology course. The course curriculum includes chemistry of life, cell structure and function, cellular energetics, cell communication, cell cycles, heredity, gene expression and regulation, natural selection, and ecology. The course requires significant background reading, laboratory investigations, critical analysis, active participation in class discussions and demonstrations, and a sincere commitment on the part of the student. Significant effort outside of class is expected. Students are expected to take the AP Biology exam.
AP Chemistry

Students may enroll in this course only with departmental approval
This is a class designed to be the equivalent of a college introductory Chemistry course. A curriculum designed to prepare students for success on the advanced placement exam in chemistry will be followed closely. The students need to be highly motivated and be willing to complete extra laboratory work outside of class in order to succeed in this class. Students are expected to take the AP Chemistry exam.
AP Chemistry

Prerequisite: Algebra 2, Requires Departmental Approval – Year Long
This is a class designed to be the equivalent of a two-semester college introductory Chemistry course. The course curriculum includes atomic structure, molecular and ionic compound structure and properties, intermolecular forces, chemical reactions, kinetics, thermodynamics, equilibrium, acids and bases, and electrochemistry. Students need to be highly motivated, collaborative, and be willing to complete extra laboratory work outside of class in order to succeed. Significant effort outside of class is expected. Students are expected to take the AP Chemistry exam.
AP Physics C: Mechanics

Prerequisite: Calculus Concurrently & Requires Departmental Approval; Satisfies Physics Graduation Requirement – Year Long
This is a class designed to be the equivalent of a one semester college introductory physics course in mechanics. The course curriculum includes Newtonian physics, kinematics, work, energy, power, systems of particles, linear momentum, rotation, oscillation, and gravitation. This calculus-based course is designed for the student who desires a more rigorous mathematical treatment of physics. Significant effort outside of class is expected. Students are expected to take the AP Physics C: Mechanics exam.
AP Physics C: Mechanics, Electricity & Magnetism

Prerequisite: Calculus concurrently – Departmental approval required.
A year-long study of electrostatics and electrodynamics including charge, electric and magnetic fields, Maxwell's laws and other topics as time permits, as well as Newtonian physics, including kinematics (how things move), dynamics (why things move), forces, energy, and rotational motion. Significant effort outside of class time is expected, particularly for laboratory work. A spring independent research project is required. This calculus-based course is designed for the student who desires a more rigorous mathematical treatment of physics. Students are expected to take the AP Physics: C exam at the end of the year.
AP Physics: Electricity and Magnetism

Prerequisite: Calculus concurrently, Departmental approval required.
A year-long study of electrostatics and electrodynamics including charge, electric and magnetic fields, Maxwell's laws and other topics as time permits. Significant effort outside of class time is expected, particularly for laboratory work. A spring independent research project is required. This calculus-based course is designed for the student who desires a more rigorous mathematical treatment of physics. Students are expected to take the AP Physics: Electricity and Magnetism exam at the end of the year.
AP Physics: Mechanics

Prerequisite: Calculus concurrently
Students may enroll in the course only with departmental approval
AP Mechanics is a yearlong study of Newtonian physics, including kinematics (how things move), dynamics (why things move), forces, energy, and rotational motion. Significant effort outside of class is expected, particularly for laboratory work. A spring independent research project is required. This calculus-based course is designed for the student who desires a more rigorous mathematical treatment of physics. Students are expected to take the AP Physics: Mechanics exam at the end of the year.
Biology

Prerequisite: Chemistry
This class is designed for those with a solid understanding of the fundamentals of chemistry and is designed to develop an understanding of the biological system focusing at the molecular level. The class will include significant laboratory projects and will progress from the cellular level through animal physiology.
Biology

Prerequisite: Chemistry; Satisfies Biology Graduation Requirement – Year Long
This class is designed for those with a solid understanding of the fundamentals of chemistry and is designed to develop an understanding of the biological system focusing at the molecular level. The class will include significant laboratory projects and will progress from the cellular level through animal physiology.
Biology 100

9th Grade Requirement; Satisfies Biology Graduation Requirement – Year Long
The year-long introductory biology course is designed to teach the structure and function of living organisms through studying cell processes, heredity and the inheritance of traits, evolution and diversity, the taxonomy of human and comparative animal body systems, and ecology. Time will be spent in labs using equipment and surrounding outside environments to explore and support these foundations. This course will be assessed through laboratory projects (including the dissection of a frog), simulations, hands-on outside research projects, presentations, and homework reading assignments supporting the unit test objectives. This course will require summer reading of the introductory preface from the McGraw Hill textbook Biology 14th edition.
Chemistry

This class is designed as an introduction to the principles of Chemistry. It is aimed towards developing an ability to interpret the world on an atomic and molecular level. Significant time will be spent completing laboratory experiments and interpreting the results. While basic algebra skills are necessary, the class will be primarily conceptual in nature.
Chemistry

10th Grade Requirement; Satisfies Chemistry Graduation Requirement – Year Long
This class is designed as an introduction to the principles of Chemistry. It is aimed towards developing an ability to interpret the world on an atomic and molecular level. Time will be spent completing laboratory experiments and interpreting the results, critically analyzing phenomena, and making connections between atomic level interactions that result in macroscopic behavior. While basic algebra skills are necessary, the class will be primarily conceptual in nature.
Conceptual Physics

This year-long class is designed to prepare students for more advanced studies of science at Gould and beyond. This is achieved by developing important scientific skills such as measurement, metric system, experiment design, and scientific writing, as well as an understanding of the physical principles that form the foundation of chemistry, biology, and modern physics.
Honors Chemistry

Prerequisite: By departmental recommendation. Alg. 2 concurrently
Honors Chemistry is designed for the math/science oriented student with honors grades in previous math and science courses. There is heavy emphasis on the mathematics of chemistry with considerable independent effort required.
Honors Chemistry

Prerequisite: Requires Departmental Approval; Alg. 2 concurrently; Satisfies Chemistry Graduation Requirement – Year Long
Honors Chemistry is an introduction to the principles of Chemistry with a focus on developing an ability to interpret the world on an atomic and molecular level. Time will be spent completing laboratory experiments and interpreting the results, critically analyzing phenomena, and making connections between atomic level interactions that result in macroscopic behavior. There is heavy emphasis on the mathematics of chemistry with considerable independent effort required.
Physics

Prerequisite: Algebra 2 with an average grade of 85 or above or departmental approval.
Students in physics will engage in a brief survey of Newtonian mechanics before moving on to a variety of topics in classical and modern physics including waves and optics, relativity, electrostatics, and other topics as time permits. Because many of the topics will involve quantitative (mathematical) analysis, students should be comfortable solving problems using Algebra II.
Physics

Prerequisite: Algebra 2; Satisfies Physics Graduation Requirement– Year Long
Students in physics will engage in a brief survey of Newtonian mechanics before moving on to a variety of topics in classical and modern physics including waves and optics, relativity, electrostatics, and other topics as time permits. Because many of the topics will involve quantitative (mathematical) analysis, students should be comfortable solving problems using Algebra II.
Anatomy & Physiology

Anatomy & Physiology is designed for students who are especially interested in human biology and health and/or for students wishing to go to college for a health science, such as nutrition, pre-med, pre-dental, and the exercise sciences. This course will include practical and laboratory-based experiments that will allow students to generate and analyze data, as well as design their own research topics for the end of term evaluations.
Anatomy & Physiology

Prerequisite: Requires Departmental Approval – Semester Course
Anatomy & Physiology is a semester elective for eleventh and twelfth grade students. This course is designed for students who are especially interested in human biology and health and/or for students wishing to go to college for a health science, such as nutrition, pre-med, pre-dental, and the exercise sciences. This course will include practical and laboratory-based experiments that will allow students to generate and analyze data, as well as design their own research topics for the end of term evaluations.
Astronomy

Prerequisite: Algebra 2 concurrent, Chemistry
Astronomy is a physical science elective, less mathematically intensive than physics, intended for interested seniors and juniors. There will be considerable out-of-class commitment in the form of readings, research, and naked eye, binocular, and telescopic observations.
Comparative Aquatic Ecology

Prerequisite: Requires Departmental Approval – Semester Course
Aquatic ecology is a semester elective for eleventh and twelfth grade students that studies both the Gulf of Maine ecosystem and the local Androscoggin watershed. In this course, students will explore the dynamics of freshwater and saltwater ecosystems through the lens of Maine's endemic indicator species. Students will work to answer the questions: What are the parameters for "healthy" aquatic ecosystems in the state of Maine? What solutions exist for reducing human impact on aquatic ecosystems and how viable are they? Students can expect to work in the field both locally and on the coast.
Design Thinking

Semester Course
Design Thinking will introduce you to the methodologies of a designer across multiple fields of study, from civil engineering design to phone applications. We will go over what Design Thinking is and how to apply its methodologies to real-world projects while learning how to avoid some of the pitfalls of these methods. In this course, you will be part of a design team that will be tasked to develop solutions for various challenges. This course will utilize divergent and convergent design and Socratic discussion methods as we use the design team as a group to understand and define the challenges. This will help develop insights and possible solutions, which each student will develop and test independently, and then bring the results back to their design team for further iteration. We will also review how to share your designs with the general public using presentation techniques and public speaking tips that enhance retention and understanding.
Ecology of the Androscoggin River

This course is a field study and will meet during the afternoon sports and co-curricular activity times. Students will participate in an extensive water monitoring study of the Androscoggin River and its free-flowing tributaries. Students will be building an understanding of the needs of different fish within their freshwater ecosystems. This course will also present a scientific approach to the sport of fly fishing. We will explore basic principles of hydrodynamics and the physics involved in presenting artificial lures within or upon the water column. Each student will be required to submit a final independent project based on the data collected throughout the trimester.
Electric Vehicle Engineering

Semester Course
This course will bring together the world of bike mechanics and electric vehicles. Students will need to learn about electrical and mechanical power transmission to design and build E-Bikes. These e-bikes are meant to be ridden and will be tested in the real world to see if their actual performance compares with what you designed. Through iterations, the designs will be refined till it is ready to be tested on a long trip. This course will utilize digital fabrication techniques such as 3D printing and laser cutting to build functional prototypes. By the end of the course, students will have the knowledge and understanding to be active in our transition to electric-powered transportation.
Environmental Science

Prerequisite: Biology or permission of the teacher
Environmental science is the study of how humans interact with their environment. The focus of this senior/junior science elective lies in learning the basic ecological concepts that function in the natural world, understanding environmental problems created by human interactions with the natural world, and identifying means of mitigating or solving these problems. Laboratory and fieldwork are an integral part of the curriculum. This class is designed as a three-trimester sequence that can be taken for one, two, or all three terms.
Geology

Students of Foundations of Geology will explore Maine’s geologic history through field excursions in the watershed of the Androscoggin River, collaboration with the Maine Gem and Mineral Museum as well as classroom discussions of the geologic history that has shaped the landscape seen today. Students will gain a foundational understanding of the geologic history of earth, the mechanics of structural geology, concepts related to the formation of various minerals, processes of material cycling, and how quartinary climate events have carved the surface of the state of Maine. Upon completion of Foundations of Geology students will be able to articulate the connections between the geologic history of the earth, the distribution of resources on the planet and the landscape observed today.
Green Energy Technologies

Semester Course
Green Energy Technologies focuses on the study and development of Solar, Wind, Hydro, and other renewable energy technologies. Throughout the course, you will learn how these devices are designed and get hands-on experience building and testing your own. This class has a significant hands-on component, requiring you to use the IDEAS Center to develop and test your real-world designs. Using appropriate scientific methods, you will test your designs and assumptions to determine their efficiency and real-world impact. Through this course, you will demystify how these technologies will shape the future of power generation.
Marine Science: Explorations of the Gulf of Maine

Prerequisite: Biology or permission of the teacher
Marine Science is an elective for eleventh and twelfth grade students that studies major topics in Marine Science through looking at the Gulf of Maine ecosystem. The Gulf of Maine extends from Cape Cod in the South to Bay of Fundy and Nova Scotia in the north. It Is bordered on the southeast and east by large underwater banks which create a partially enclosed body of water, which is one of the most biologically productive ecosystems in the world.
Fall trimester: Explorations of the Gulf of Maine

Winter Trimester: Biological adaptations of marine organisms

Spring Trimester: Examining marine communities
Product Design

Semester Course
Product Design is an introduction to CAD and the foundational skills required to bring an idea to a manufacturable design. In this course, you will learn how to make a design of your own into a manufacturable product using Fusion 360 as our CAD platform. This course starts by focusing on the foundational skills required to design in CAD before being asked to create your self-created design and use FEA simulations to evaluate them in the design phase. At the end of the course, you will modify your designs to be compatible with the appropriate mass-production methods, such as 3D printing, injection molding, laser cutting, and CNC milling. Whether you want to make one, one thousand, or one million parts, this course will introduce you to scalable methods of product design and manufacturing.
Aeronautics

Cross-Listed as a Science course. Earns Science credit.
Aeronautics is a course for students interested in flight. Students who enroll in this course will learn the topics required to take the Part 107 Commercial Unmanned Pilot Exam. Those topics include learning how the FAA defines and manages airspace as well as how weather effects flight. In addition to the topics of the Part 107 exam, students will get hands-on experience flying multiple aircraft and learning how to complete various missions with them. Whether you are interested in flying drones to make a cool video, take photos, or just learn to fly for fun, this course offers something for you.
Electric Vehicle Engineering

Cross-Listed as a Science course. Earns Science credit.
This course will tie together bike mechanics and engineering. Students will learn about high-power motors, batteries, and control systems. They will build up an e-bike with a commercially available conversion kit, then design and build an e-bike of their own design using commercially available motors and parts. Students will work within a bike’s complicated geometry to design a drive train capable of withstanding the calculated forces.
Electrical Engineering

Cross-Listed as a Science course. Earns Science credit.
Electrical Engineering is about the blending of programming and electronics. Learn how to use microcontrollers to automate the world around you. Students will be tasked with creating a real world internet of things systems (IoT) using Arduino based programming (C++) and sensors. If you’ve ever wanted to create a device to notify you when your laundry is done, build a laser tag system, monitor an ecological resource, and much more, this class will give you skills to start exploring.
Outdoor Robotics

In this engineering course students will build on their skills and experience to design and create unique and innovative robots with advanced functionalities. With a focus on robot dynamics, control, and mechatronics, students will gain a deeper understanding of the math and mechanical principles required to build complex robotic solutions for real-world problems. Emphasis will be on experimentation and hands-on learning, allowing students to test and refine their designs through trial and error. By the end of the course, students will have developed valuable skills in engineering and experimentation, as well as gained practical experience in the art of robotics.
Robotics and Engineering

Cross listed as a Science course. Earns Science credit.
Learn how to design and build remote control and autonomous robots using the VEX EDR robotics system. Both planned and custom designs will be tested and improved on the new official VEX 12-foot x 12-foot competition field. Students will learn CAD design and robotics coding for a comprehensive and fun robotics experience.
Underwater Robotics

Cross listed between the Science Department and IDEAS Center. Earns Science credit.
In this class students will study and operate ROVs (Remote Operated Vehicles) and AUVs (Autonomous Underwater Vehicles) including the state of the art autonomous underwater vehicle Remus 100. Students will learn the systems and capabilities of the units as well as programming and operation. This will be an in-depth hands-on, and highly technical class providing a comprehensive understanding of ROVs and AUVs. Students will build their own ROVs, using repurposed bilge pump motors, PVC tubing, and a custom made controller. Outdoor opportunities include local ponds, lakes, and rivers. Field trip opportunities may include Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute and ocean locations.

Curriculum Detail

Browse Our Curriculum

Science

Prerequisite: Biology or permission of teacher – Offered 1st Semester

Prerequisite: Biology or permission of teacher – Offered 2nd Semester

Prerequisite: Requires Departmental Approval – Offered 1st Semester

Prerequisite: Requires Departmental Approval – Offered 2nd Semester