Science
Competencies for High School
Entrance
The Catholic high schools expect entering
students to have basic competencies in science. These competencies
are in the areas of problem-solving, critical thinking, scientific
methods, and the "big" ideas in science. Students also need
competencies in laboratory safety and methods, reading and writing,
measuring, and reporting results. The purpose of freshman sources is
to introduce freshmen to specific sciences and to build laboratory
skills
Scientific Skills
- Recognize and use the scientific
method
- Conduct oneself safely in a science
laboratory
- Demonstrate familiarity with basic
laboratory equipment
- Measure accurately; use SI units and
metric conversions
- Interpret tables and
graphs
- Read and follow
directions
- Cite proper references
- Read and create maps
Exposure to "Big Ideas"
- Biology: cells, levels of organization,
biodiversity with emphasis on comparing kingdoms, evolution,
ecology, DNA, and heredity
- Earth Science: planet earth (interior
and exterior), structures and processes; solar
system
- Physical Science: atomic structure,
periodic table, formulas, reactions, energy transfers and
transformations, motion and forces
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