Simple Questions lead to Complex Answers Simple Answers often ignore Complex Realities The statement above, says a great deal about the philosophy of the coursework and the instructor. Answering simple questions can be quite a complex task. As science could be considered a verb -- something you do -- it makes sense to learn science by doing. When you learn by answering questions, you'll end up owning what you've learned and hopefully possessing it for the rest of your life. Problem is,...answers lead to more questions,...which lead to more answers... Welcome to the Tucson High web site for classes taught by Jim Sinex. This site deals with the "Baseline Science" class for incoming Freshmen students. This course are designed around the State of Arizona Standards for Science Education and the questions and interests of the most important component of the classroom, the students who are here to learn about the world in which they are inheriting. Whether you are a student carbon-unit, a parent/guardian-type, or simply a web-based explorer, please feel free to browse this site at length or in short. It is designed to be useful to all and beneficial to the educational process of any who veture here. Hopefully it will prove to be both useful and fun. Please Note: This year Baseline Science will be taught as two separate classes, Integrated Science 1-2 & General Biology 1-2. The basic methodology of this class remains.

The THMS Science Baseline: The Tucson High Science Baseline is a combination of two full classes in entry level science. THMS uses a Physics-First methodology and offers incoming Freshmen a course in Integrated Science that allows students to begin with Physics and then Chemistry during their Freshman year. Students then follow up with a full year of Biology during their Sophomore year. Frankly, this is not enough time to do the subjects justice, but it is the best way to get a broad spectrum of information presented in two years of curriculum. This Baseline Strand condenses this study into a single year by doubling the class time during the year. While three years of Science required by the state for High School Graduation, we encourage all students to explore the vast offerings of lab science offered at THMS during each year that they attend Tucson High. Hopefully, we'll hook our student into becoming a life long learner and admirer of the sciences. Below, you will find a sketch of the course load taught within the Baseline Science Magnet Strand.

Baseline Science 1-2: The Physical Sciences (Integrated Science 1-2)
Section 1	The Science of being a Student: We begin with a huge leap to the end of our story. Understanding how our brain works and how it allows us to tell the story of our existence is essential to understanding thought. It all begins with being a student.
Section 2	Ancient Thought and the Science of Physics: The ancients were as smart and talented as we are today and maybe more so. Our study of physics reveals a struggle to understand the physical forces that make everything work.
Section 3	Chemical Origins and Properties: Understanding our ultimate origins (as much as science can do so) allows us to understand the origin of the chemistry that acts as a building block for all matter that makes everything that is everything.
Section 4	Understanding Earth: There is a relevance gained through the understanding of basic astronomy and planetary science. Through this study we will gain a foundational standard that leads to a better understanding of all that we perceive.
Baseline Science 3-4: The Biological Sciences (General Biology 1-2)
Section 1	Understanding Life through Phenotypes: Early on and through most of our history we've described and understood life through what we perceive through our senses. What we see is often what we get. There's more, but we begin here.
Section 2	Understanding Life through Genotypes: Adding mathematics and technological innovation, a more complex and yet simple explanation for the existence of life and the parameters in which it exists is revealed.
Section 3	A Natural History of Animalia:There is a story intimated beginning with the work of Charles Darwin the states that all life came from a common ancestor. To the best of our ability, we will look into this interesting idea.
Section 4	Human Origins and Migration: There is something that makes a Homo sapiens a Human. That "something" lead to our survival at a time when that survival was uncertain and allows us to thrive on this Arthropod dominated planet.

 

Science is a thing that makes us Human

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Science is a problem-based philosophy that uses observation and method as means of solving problems in an organized and unprejudiced manner. As problems are a basic part of life, science is a basic life skill.

Critical Thinking is an intellectually disciplined form of analysis. Along with Mathematics, Logic, Strategy, Ethics and Artistic Composition, Science is an important form of critical thinking.

Remember:	Simple Questions lead to Complex Answers
	Simple Answers often ignore Complex Realities