EL Science Courses

EL Biology

During the fall semester, students will study ecology, with an emphasis on interdependence between biotic and abiotic factors on Earth. They will study the dynamics of matter and energy flow through ecosystems, with a focus on the carbon cycle and its flow through the processes of photosynthesis and cellular respiration.  Students will also engage in an exploration of DNA, and its role in storing and inheritance of genetic information. Conceptually, students move from the large scale organization of ecosystems to systems that cycle matter and smaller systems in organisms that arrange matter through genetic instructions. 

In the spring semester, students will zoom in on the basic unit of life--the cell, and learn about how the cell’s structure and function allow for the emergent property of unicellular and multicellular life. Students will also apply their knowledge of genetics and study its interaction with the environment, examining the process and evidence for evolution through natural selection. Finally, students will utilize their knowledge of Earth processes and living systems to design solutions to mitigate the effects of human populations on biodiversity and global climate change.

EL Introduction to Science

This course is designed to introduce ELD Level I students to science practices and core ideas while building English proficiency. Students will develop academic literacy through reading, writing, speaking, and listening in  the context of a variety of science concepts (e.g. structure and properties of matter) and skills (e.g. analyzing  data, arguing from evidence). The course will be organized into the crosscutting concepts, as defined by the Next Generation Science Standards, which link the different domains of science (physical, life, and earth and space). The crosscutting concepts include patterns; cause and effect; scale, proportion, and quantity; systems and system models; energy and matter; structure and function; and stability and change . Lessons will provide students with opportunities to think, speak, and act like scientists while developing confidence and proficiency with English.