Ottumwa High School - Argus Yearbook (Ottumwa, IA)

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Science Department Studies Life, Physics, The OHS Science Department offers all students the opportunity to study their surrounding environment from a scientific point of view. The Science Department meets this goal by offering a wide range of courses. Unified Science makes use of the traditional areas of science to provide a biological, physical, and social approach to science. The student develops an awareness and under- standing of himself and his environment. Biology offers opportunities to investigate living things and life processes of these organisims. The investigation centers primarily in the laboratory. Astronomy teaches the student how the earth is placed in relation to the sun, other planets, and the stars in the universe. The student grasps an understanding of our solar system. The Physics course is an integrated program of laboratory activities, teacher and student-directed demon- strations, films, transparencies, and laboratory equipment. The techniques involved enable the student to investigate areas of physics which deal with motion in both familiar situations and those which are more speculative. Chemistry deals with the substances that make up our environment. It also deals with the changes that take place in these substances. Advanced Chemistry will cover topics in more depth and explore areas not covered in the first year. Physiology deals with the study of the human body. It is designed for those students who may be planning careers in health or science related areas or those who simply have an interest in how the human body functions. Environmental Studies is designed to develop student awareness of man’s dependence upon natural resources and his interrelationships with the total environment. Advanced Science can be taken by students in their senior year. This course is designed for motivated, high- ability students. It allows them to design on-going, in-depth laboratory experiments with a high degree of uncertainty as the driving force of the investigation. 28 Faculty

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Foreign Languages The OHS Foreign Language Department offers four different language courses. They are French. Latin, Spanish, and Russian. French presents the basic structure of the language by means of the four basic skills of listening-speaking, reading-writing in the form of short dialogs and reading narratives. Classroom activities stress speaking with correct pronunciation of the basic vocabulary, writing and dictation, listening comprehension exercises, and short compositions. The dialogs and the narratives relate to aspects of French culture and civilization. Latin emphasizes basic grammar and vocabulary of the language. The reading selections provide information concerning Roman life, comparisons of ancient and modern civilization, and democracy and good citizenship. Through- out the course attention is given to the influence of Latin on our own and other modern languages, on our laws, our scientific and technological terminology, our literature, and our culture. Spanish presents basic structure in the form of dialogs Teach Culture and reading narratives with emphasis on oral practice. Attention is given to basic grammar, correct pronuncia- tion. basic vocabulary, writing practice, and listening to comprehensive exercises presented in the language laboratory. Future classes place emphases on Mexico and an annual student field trip to Mexico is offered to Spanish students every summer. Russian is a practical conversational course presented in the form of short, meaningful dialogs of typical everyday student situations. Listening exercises are presented in the language laboratory and in the classroom through the use of tapes. Emphasis is placed on the role of the Soviet Union as a world power and its changing relationship to the United States and the rest of the world. The Soviet way of life is examined through magazines, posters, music, souvenirs, slides and movies. All students have the opportunity to continue language courses throughout high school by taking the advanced courses offered. LEFT: Frank Kriegcr. French: ABOVE: Fred Coulter. Russian and Spanish: Virginia Small (English Dept.), Latin. Faculty 27

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And Outerspace... Science Staff: TOP LEFT: Bob McDonald, Unified Science, Physics, and Chemistry; TOP CENTER: Etta Buckingham. Biology and Physiology: TOP RIGHT: Clair Dillon, Astronomy. Geology, and Biology; FAR LEFT: Lewis Stonoking, Environmental Studies and Unified Science; LEFT: Vern Slaymaker, Chomistry; ABOVE: Dan Matheney, Biology. Faculty 29