SCIENCE

Science at Lynnhaven is something students do, not just study. From the creek beds and forest trails on our campus to the banks of the James River, students observe, question, collect data, and build explanations from evidence. Our five-year sequence moves from the systems of our planet to the systems of living things to the forces that shape both. Along the way, students build the skills of working scientists: asking good questions, designing investigations, analyzing data, and communicating what they find.

To graduate, students complete Earth Science, Biology, and Applied Physics, plus one advanced science course of their choosing. Honors options are available beginning in 10th grade for eligible students.

Earth Science explores the systems that shape our planet: rocks and minerals, water, weather and climate, and Earth’s place in space. Students read the landscape around them, from campus soils to the James River watershed, and connect geologic time to the changes happening today. Fieldwork, mapping, and data analysis are central to the course.

Biology examines life at every scale, from cells and genetics to evolution and ecosystems. Students investigate how living things grow, reproduce, adapt, and depend on one another, through lab work and field observation. The course also asks students to weigh real questions in modern biology, such as genetic technology and conservation.

Applied Physics connects the laws of motion, energy, and electricity to the world students use every day. Students build, test, and refine designs, working through hands-on problems that bring the mathematics of physics to life. The course emphasizes engineering thinking: define the problem, prototype, measure, and improve.

Students choose at least one advanced course, and many take more.

Advanced Biology takes students deeper into topics introduced in Biology, including molecular and cellular processes, genetics, physiology, and ecology. Students read scientific literature, design and carry out their own investigations, and present their findings. [Prerequisite: Biology.]

AP Environmental Science is a college-level course that examines how natural systems work and how human activity affects them. Students study energy, pollution, biodiversity, land and water use, and environmental policy, with field studies along the James River. Students prepare for the AP Environmental Science exam in May.

Advanced Physics builds on Applied Physics, taking students into waves, sound, light, thermodynamics, and modern physics. Through experiments, demonstrations, and problem-solving, students deepen both their conceptual understanding and their quantitative skills, giving them a strong foundation for college science. Prerequisite: Applied Physics.

Field Biology takes science outdoors. Students identify and study local plants, birds, insects, and other wildlife on our campus and in the James River Park System. They learn field methods used by working biologists, including surveys, species identification, and long-term observation, and contribute data to real conservation and citizen-science projects.