Living Environment is a lecture and laboratory course based upon the Core Curriculum as produced by the New York State Education Department.  It is comprised of the ten main “Key Ideas” listed below

Standard #1:  Students will use mathematical analysis, scientific inquiry, and engineering design, as appropriate, to pose questions, seek answers, and develop solutions

Key Idea 1:  The central purpose of scientific inquiry is to develop explanations of natural phenomena in a continuing and creative process.

Key Idea 2:  Beyond the use of reasoning and consensus, scientific inquiry involves the testing of proposed explanations involving the use of conventional techniques and procedures and usually requiring considerable ingenuity

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Key Idea 3:  The observations made while testing proposed explanations, when analyzed using conventional and invented methods, provide new insights into natural phenomena.

Standard #4:  Students will understand and apply scientific concepts, principles, and theories pertaining to the physical setting and living environment and recognize the historical development of ideas in science.

Key Idea 1:   Living things are both similar and different from each other and from nonliving things.

Key Idea 2:   Organisms inherit genetic information in a variety of ways that result in continuity of structure and function between parents and offspring.

Key Idea 3:   Individual organisms and species change over time.

Key Idea 4:   The continuity of life is sustained through reproduction and development.

Key Idea 5:   Organisms maintain a dynamic equilibrium that sustains life.

Key Idea 6:   Plants and animals depend on each other and their physical environment.

Key Idea 7:   Human decisions and activities have had a profound impact on the physical and living environment

In addition to a daily lecture, students will be scheduled for a lab period once a week.  As a prerequisite for admission to the Regents Examination in Living Environment, each student must have successfully completed 1200 minutes (30 labs) of laboratory experience with satisfactory written reports for each laboratory investigation.  IN ADDITION, students must complete the mandatory labs that are given to us by the NYS Education Department each year on a rotating basis.