Science

SFCS Science teachers Susan Cooper and Karin Overby are implementing the use of IPADs with projectors in their classrooms this year.  Incorporating these enables them to broaden the scope of how they teach difficult concepts.  Students now learn through the use of video clips, animations, illustrations and Internet sites to facilitate more effective teaching.

Upper School Science teacher Susan Cooper also completed an online safety class which was sponsored by Flinn Scientific. The course outlined the best practices in lab safety on the high school level.

The Science teachers at SFCS are members of both the National Science Teachers' Association and the American Chemical Society.  Membership in these organizations enables Shannon Forest to stay current on cutting edge science developments.  The school is also eligible for many discounts on conferences and supplies.

Upper School Science

The Upper School Science Department is cutting costs and thinking green as they make modifications in their guidelines, but still provide high quality experiments and learning experiences. Here are some of the steps being followed that are environmentally cautious and reduce expenses:

  • Students are using lower concentrations or less hazardous forms of chemicals.
  • Safety is first with students always working with the lowest concentrations possible of strong acids.
  • Substitution solutions are made for pure solids. The LD 50 of copper (II) chloride is 140 mg/kg, this is extremely toxic. Students are using 1 M CuCl2 solution reducing the hazard almost tenfold!
  • Ethyl alcohol with a pinch of sodium chloride is used to replace methyl alcohol for laboratory burners.
  • The Science Department is also avoiding the use of finely divided metals. For example, granular zinc is safer than zinc dust; magnesium ribbon is safer than magnesium powder, sodium chlorate is more stable than potassium chlorate and ammonium chloride is less hazardous than ammonium nitrate.

Following these guidelines creates a win-win scenario for the department – reduced costs and environmental safety.

 

Upper School Science Classes

The Upper School Science Department at Shannon Forest Christian School (SFCS) offers nine Lab Sciences for students in 9th – 12th Grades.  These include: Biology, Pre-AP Biology, AP Biology*, Chemistry, Pre-AP Chemistry, AP Chemistry*, Human Anatomy, Physics, and Nutrition.

* Offered on a rotation basis

Students in 5th – 7th Grades study scientific concepts, Earth Science, Life Science – an introduction to Biology and Physical Science – an overview of Physics and Chemistry.

Lower School students explore a variety of topics through hands-on experiments, interactive discussions, field trips and projects.

KT & K5 students study teacher developed units on topics such as space, zoo animals, plants, etc.

  • All Upper School Honors curriculum exceed state standards and are college preparatory.
  • The average Upper School Science teacher’s longevity at SFCS is six years.
  • Out of 15 students selected to participate in the 2009 ACSI Science Fair, 11 achieved a superior rating and 4 a rating of excellent.  4 students were recognized with awards at the Greenville County Science Fair.
  • SFCS is proud to have graduated students who have excelled at major universities with majors in Science.

 

Pickles & Eggs in Upper School Science?

science eggperimentscience in a pickleStudents in Susan Cooper’s Human Anatomy and Physiology recently performed autopsies on large pickles!  Students observed the superficial structure of the pickles to determine any ‘abnormalities’ that could relate to the pickle's “death.”  They also viewed the pickle’s internal organs, took tissue samples, viewed them under a microscope and took pH fluids.  Based on their findings, students came up with a cause of death.

Students in Biology CP and Honors recently performed an experiment where they each took an egg and completed a process that allowed them create the process of osmosis, causing the contents of the egg to come up through the straw.