Hawaiians’ reliance on knowledge derived from highly developed powers of observation has been critical in maintaining lives and communities acutely attuned to the natural world around them—earth, sea, and sky. In our modern society, knowledge of science, engineering, and technology continues to play a critical role in shaping lives that are healthy and connected—physically, intellectually, socially, and politically—to family, friends, community, and environment. Regardless of career path, scientific knowledge and methodologies play a major role in helping students understand the natural world around them and their place in it. Often, this knowledge also allows them to understand and participate in major social and public policy discussions of the day. Through the high school science curriculum at Kamehameha Schools Maui, students gain a solid foundation in scientific thought processes and methodologies.
Agriscience / Aquascience [MH09635] – Year A/B
1 Credit. Agriscience and Aquascience are combined in this course which is designed to introduce and develop skills required to create and maintain agricultural plots and aquatic fish farms. Students will engage in hands-on activities, group projects, laboratory experiments, field trips, and classroom discussions. Course topics include botany, aquatic biology, chemistry, irrigation, hydroponics, the nitrogen cycle, and farming methods. Classroom study is integrated with practical onsite production activities through the creation of agricultural plots and fish ponds utilizing aquaponics. Offered every other year. Next offered school year 2018-2019. Prerequisites: Biology or Honors Biology and Chemistry or Honors Chemistry. Required for Science & Natural Resources – Natural Resources Endorsement.
Biology [MH01104] – Semester Daily
1 Credit. Biology is designed as a college prep course that provides students an opportunity to delve into the major principles and themes of modern biological science. The course focuses on developing students’ ability to understand and conduct scientific inquiry, from identifying questions and concepts that guide a scientific investigation to designing and conducting their own laboratory investigations. Students will actively participate in group work, presentations, discussions, and lectures, and they will conduct labs individually as well as in groups. As a result of these activities, students will develop a comprehensive understanding of a cell and cell processes, the molecular basis of heredity, the process of biological evolution, and energy and organization in living systems. Required for all freshmen.
Honors Biology [MH01103] – Semester Daily
1 Credit. Honors Biology is an accelerated college prep course that, like the Biology course above, provides students with an opportunity to delve into the major principles and themes of modern biology. As a result, students develop understandings of the cell and cell processes, the molecular basis of heredity, biotechnology, the process of biological evolution, the interdependence of organisms, and energy and organization in living systems. However, while Honors Biology reviews the knowledge and skills necessary to do scientific investigations in a laboratory setting, it also delves deeper into specific topics to develop in students a much more advanced level of understanding. Expectations and standards are set high—the instructor serves as a guide, but the students are expected to demonstrate initiative. In addition, Honors Biology students will look at the use of technology in the sciences, form ideas about science from a personal and social perspective, and explore the history and nature of science. Prerequisite: A qualifying score on placement test. Teacher recommendation. Please email Ms. Holderbaum about the placement test.
Chemistry [MH01109] – Semester Daily
1 Credit. Chemistry is an intensive, one-semester, lab-oriented, introductory physical science course covering basic chemical properties and concepts. The course is designed to meet entrance requirements for all public and private universities in the United States. Students become familiar with basic chemical concepts about atoms and molecules and how they interact. They collect and analyze data that validates known chemical properties during laboratory sessions. They construct graphs and then use formulas and equations to solve real world questions. Lab investigations thus help students develop a comprehensive understanding of scientific principles that govern our physical world. Topics covered in the course include: the scientific method, scientific notation, significant figures, stoichiometry, unit analysis, atomic structure, the Periodic Table of Elements, chemical bonding, gas laws, solubility, and equilibrium. Note: Due to the rigorous and quantitative nature of the course, it is recommended that students have a strong understanding of algebra and mathematical reasoning to be successful in this course. Required for all sophomores. Prerequisite: Biology or Honors Biology.
Honors Chemistry [MH01118] – Semester Daily
1 Credit. The Honors Chemistry course moves more rapidly, covers more material, and reaches a deeper level of understanding than does the basic Chemistry course. It is suited, ideally, for students considering a science major at the college/university level. The course requires a command of mathematics. Students analyze and manipulate data utilizing higher-level mathematics during laboratory investigations—challenging the students to test their skills in areas such as algebra, roots, logarithms, and quadratic equations. Topics covered include: the phenomena of heating and cooling matter, atomic structure, Periodic Table of the Elements, chemical bonding, empirical and molecular formulas, moles and stoichiometry, gas laws, solutions and solubility, enthalpy, equilibrium, acids and bases, and reaction rates. If time allows, an introduction to Organic Chemistry will be included. Prerequisites: Sophomore standing and a qualifying score on placement test; teacher recommendation. Please email Mrs. Gann about the placement test.
Environmental Science [MH01142] – Year A/B
1 Credit. Environmental Science introduces students to environmental issues and local and global problems facing our technological society. Topics presented in this course include environmental history, ecological cycles, local and global current events, alternative energy sources, population and community ecology, and sustainability. The course emphasizes group activities and fieldwork to develop student awareness and understanding or their Hawaiian environment. This includes a project designed and constructed on campus. Offered every other year. Offered school year 2017-2018. Prerequisites: Biology or Honors Biology and Chemistry or Honors Chemistry. Required for Science & Natural Resources – Natural Resources Endorsement.
Human Body Systems [MH01146] – Year A/B
1 Credit. Students examine the interactions of body systems as they explore identity, power, movement, protection, and homeostasis. Exploring science in action, students build organs and tissues on a skeletal Maniken; use data acquisition software to monitor body functions such as muscle movement, reflex and voluntary action, and respiration; and take on the roles of biomedical professionals to solve real-world medical cases. Prereq: Chemistry or Honors Chemistry.
Introduction to Biotechnology [MH01169] – Semester Daily
1 Credit. Introduction to Biotechnology is an intermediate level course that introduces students to the rapidly growing field of biotechnology. Students study cells, DNA, and proteins in order to understand how these things can be manipulated to create new biotech products within the fields of medicine, agriculture, and other fields. Ethical implications and social considerations will also be addressed. The course has a strong laboratory component with students spending at least 50% of the instructional time in lab. Basic lab skills, along with advanced techniques such as PCR, bacterial transformation, and gel electrophoresis, are covered. Introduction to Biotechnology is considered college-prep. Students successfully completing the course should transition easily into introductory and intermediate college courses in biology, microbiology, cell biology, and genetics. Prerequisites: Biology or Honors Biology and Chemistry or Honors Chemistry. May count towards Science & Natural Resources – Health Services Endorsement.
Issues in Medicine [MH06260] – Semester Daily
1 Credit. This intermediate course explores the reality of working as a health professional. The course will focus on current issues, ranging from legal and ethical matters to local and global concerns, pertaining to health care, with a strong emphasis on critical thinking and communication skills. A variety of controversial issues, such as abortion, genetic screening, euthanasia, etc., will be covered, along with career explorations and patient simulations. Prerequisites: Biology or Honors Biology and Chemistry or Honors Chemistry. Required for Science & Natural Resources – Health Services Endorsement.
Marine Biology [MH01132] – Year A/B
1 Credit. Marine Biology engages students in the investigation of physical and chemical aspects of the ocean while exploring ecological principles and identifying human impacts on marine environments. Topics presented in the course include examination of the chemical and physical properties of water, coral reef ecology, marine plants, marine invertebrates, marine fishes, marine mammals, and reptiles. The course is highly interactive and hands-on. Frequent field activities are scheduled, weekly labs include dissections, and students maintain a number of marine aquaria. Prerequisites: Biology or Honors Biology and Chemistry or Honors Chemistry. Required for Science & Natural Resources – Natural Resources Endorsement.
Physics [MH01166] – Semester Daily
1 Credit. Physics is a college-preparatory laboratory science course designed to provide students with an understanding of the major concepts that provide the foundation for the science of physics. Students develop their understandings through active participation in lectures, practice activities, homework, labs, and tests. They are required to utilize logic and reasoning to solve problems in addition to analyzing empirical and graphical data. The course emphasis is on mechanics and includes topics such as velocity, vectors, acceleration, momentum, gravitational force, potential and kinetic energy, wave motion, and Conservation of Energy. Prerequisites: Biology or Honors Biology and Chemistry or Honors Chemistry. Successful completion of Geometry and concurrent enrollment in Algebra 2.
AP Biology [MH01176] – Year A/B
1 Credit. AP Biology emphasizes the 4 “Big Ideas” within the AP Biology curriculum framework, and the connections, enduring understandings, between them. The course and lab work is equivalent to an introductory level college course. Students passing the AP Biology exam with a 3 or better have the opportunity to earn college credit for the course, depending on the individual college’s requirements and policies. Prerequisites: Grade of “B” or higher in both Biology and Chemistry with a 75% or better score on the placement test; teacher recommendation. Recommended prior coursework: Human Anatomy & Physiology and Intro to Biotech. Please contact Mrs. Panglao about the placement test: [email protected]. May count towards Science & Natural Resources – Health Services Endorsement.
AP Physics [MH01129] – Year A/B
1 Credit. A full year AP Physics course, equivalent to the first semester of an introductory, algebra-based college Physics course that will cover the concepts and skills students will need to demonstrate in order to earn credit for the aforementioned college course. Course work will place an emphasis on kinematics and mechanics, as well as basic electronics and wave mechanics. Course relies heavily on physics concepts and application in labs. Prerequisites: C+ or better in Pre-Calculus or concurrent enrollment in Pre-Calculus.
Human Anatomy and Physiology [MH01145] – Year A/B
1 Credit. Human Anatomy and Physiology is an intermediate level course which provides students with a systematic understanding of human anatomy and physiology. Students examine each body system on a gross scale as well as on a microscopic level in order to understand their interrelationships. Laboratory investigations are included in the course as well. Prerequisites: Biology or Honors Biology and Chemistry or Honors Chemistry. Last offered SY 2016-2017.
Photonics [MH01139] – Year A/B
1 Credit. This advanced Physics course is designed as a comprehensive study of the physical phenomena of light, lasers, and their applications. It is designed to mimic a college level, lab based class (lecture and discussion M, W, F; lab Tu, Th). Major concepts examined are reflection, refraction, diffraction, spectroscopy, and image formation. Some applications to be studies are microscopes, telescopes, and holography. This is a lab based course (at least one lab activity per week) that uses white light and lasers to investigate concepts. Prerequisites: Biology or Honors Biology, Chemistry or Honors Chemistry, and Physics. Last offered SY 2016-2017.