The Basics of High School Science Curriculum

The middle school science experiments pave the way for the fulfillment of the high school science curriculum. Students of middle school age are first introduced to serious science, it is then they will develop a passion for learning more. The curriculum for high school classes needs to continue with the same learning scale, in introducing more lab time, science kits, and the use of science modules, though by this point, the lab time should hold more weight. There needs to be a good mix of textbook learning, lecturing and lab time each week in the lesson plans for high school science.

High school science curriculum contains the basics required for graduation by most all high school seniors and some electives. The basics are biology and physical science. Sometimes earth science is traded with middle school science curriculum for physical science. Occasionally you may find a high school offering environmental science as one of the basics. Biology is the one where the lab experiments are more necessary. It is during biology that dissections occur; bug and leaf collections are done. It seems these are a rite of passage through the high school years and have been a part of the curriculum for decades.

The high school science curriculum electives are chemistry, physics, anatomy, zoology, astronomy, and the AP classes for biology, chemistry, and biology. If a student desires to go into any medical field or any technology field, they should take as many science courses as they can in high school. These science electives are more involved and a little tougher than the basics, because they go over a lot more materials. Normally in order to take these classes the student must have passed and must maintain a certain grade level. Taking these elective science classes look good on transcripts for applications to colleges and universities later.

The National Science Education Standards helps to create high school science curriculum that gives the students a well-rounded education with science. Once a student graduates from high school, they should have had plenty of lab time, practicing on lab experiments as well as the textbook training and lecturing. If these classes are taught right, the student will be well prepared for their college years and learning science in college will be a bit easier for them.