Senior School Experimental Sciences

Grade 9 Science

(SCI092) 1.0 credit

Students in Grade 9 Science will be encouraged to develop skills in the processes of scientific inquiry, and to relate science to technology, society, and the environment. This course is designed to build upon the skills acquired in the middle school curriculum with greater course content and more formalized labs. This course enables students to understand basic concepts in biology, chemistry, and physics. Students will learn scientific theories and conduct investigations related to; cell theory, organ systems, atomic and molecular structures, the properties of elements and compounds, kinematics, ways to describe objects in motion, and technology. This course, along with Grade 10 Science, will give students the proper background and skills to follow through into science courses offered in the IB program. Students require a credit in Grade 8 Science (or equivalent) to register for this course.

Grade 10 Science

(SCI102) 1.0 credit

This course builds upon the Grade 9 science curriculum and empowers students to critically examine societal issues and to engage in technological problem solving using their knowledge of science concepts and processes. Students learn scientific theories and conduct investigations related to chemical reactions and quantitative chemistry, genetics and kinematics. This course will also involve three two-week collaborative projects where all students in Grade 10 will work together to investigate a scientific concept and present their findings in a creative final product. During the project phase, students will have the opportunity to engage in hands-on activities while working collaboratively with peers from all three science classes in order to develop skills specific to science, including working cooperatively with peers. Students need a credit in Grade 9 science (or equivalent) to register for this course.

Grade 11 IB Biology SL/HL

(BIO111) 1.0 credit

IB Biology is a two-year course of study which begins in Grade 11 with this combined SL/HL class. The course is organized around the four main themes of structure and function, universality versus diversity, equilibrium within systems, and evolution. Specifically, the Grade 11 curriculum emphasizes basic chemistry and biochemistry, cell structure and function, bioenergetics, genes, chromosomes and gene technology, molecular genetics and patterns of inheritance, ecology and conservation, and the international nature of science. The course of study includes structured laboratory experiments, experimental design projects, and an interdisciplinary group project conducted with students in Chemistry, Physics, and Environmental Systems and Societies. In addition, students will complete a larger individual investigation that is assessed based on IB criteria. Students require a credit in Grade 10 Science (or equivalent) to register for this course.

Grade 11 IB Chemistry SL/HL

(CHE111) 1.0 credit

IB Chemistry is a two-year course of study which begins in Grade 11 with this combined SL/HL course. The course centers around the study of materials and the way in which they interact. During this course, students will study chemical theory and conduct experimental investigations in order to gain an appreciation of the structure and behaviour of matter and energy. Topics covered in Grade 11 include: measurement and data processing, stoichiometric relationships, atomic structure, periodicity, redox processes, chemical bonding and structure, energetics, and chemical kinetics. The course of study includes structured laboratory experiments, experimental design projects, and an interdisciplinary group project conducted with students in Biology, Physics, and Environmental Systems and Societies. In addition, students will complete a larger individual investigation that is assessed based on IB criteria. Students require a credit in Grade 10 Science (or equivalent) to register for this course.

Grade 11 IB Physics SL/HL

(PHY111) 1.0 credit

IB Physics is a two-year course of study which begins in Grade 11 with this combined SL/HL class. The Grade 11 course is designed to further students' understanding of physical phenomena while also helping students to improve their problem-solving and analytical skills. Since physics is the most fundamental of the experimental sciences, students will discover how the world was described by early philosophers and study how physics impacts their daily life. Physics topics to be covered in the Grade 11 year will include: measurement, motion, thermodynamics, waves, electromagnetism, and atomic and nuclear physics. The course of study includes structured laboratory experiments, experimental design projects, and an interdisciplinary group project conducted with students in Chemistry, Biology, and Environmental Systems and Societies. In addition, students will complete a larger individual investigation that is assessed based on IB criteria. Students require a credit in Grade 10 Science (or equivalent) to register for this course.

IB Grade 11 IB Environmental Systems and Societies SL

(ENV112) 1.0 credit

IB Environmental Systems and Societies (ESS) SL is a two-year course which begins in Grade 11. ESS is organized into eight main modules which include: foundations of environmental systems and societies, ecosystems and ecology, biodiversity and conservation, water and aquatic food production systems and societies, soil systems and terrestrial food production systems and societies, atmospheric systems and societies, climate change and energy production, and human systems and resource use. The course of study includes structured laboratory experiments, experimental design projects, and an interdisciplinary group project conducted with students in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. In addition, students will complete a larger individual investigation that is assessed based on IB criteria. Students require a credit in Grade 10 Science (or equivalent) to register for this course.

Grade 12 IB Biology SL

(BIO122) 1.0 credit

IB Biology, Standard Level (SL) is a two-year course of study which begins with the combined SL/HL course in Grade 11, and can be completed with this Grade 12 SL course. The curriculum continues to be organized around the four main themes of structure and function, universality versus diversity, equilibrium within systems, and evolution. Specifically, the Grade 12 SL curriculum builds on the skills acquired in the Grade 11 Biology SL/HL course, while investigating the following additional topics; neurobiology and behaviour, biotechnology and bioinformatics, ecology and conservation, and further human physiology. Structured laboratory experiments and reports, as well as experimental design projects, will prepare students to complete a cumulative student-directed internal assessment task. Upon completion of the course material, students will prepare for comprehensive IB exams that cover their last two years of study. Students require a credit in Grade 11 IB Biology SL/HL (or equivalent) to register for this course.

Grade 12 IB Biology HL

(BIO121) 1.0 credit

IB Biology HL is a two-year course of study which begins with the combined SL/HL course in Grade 11, and can be completed with this Grade 12 HL course. The curriculum continues to be organized around the four main themes of structure and function, universality versus diversity, equilibrium within systems, and evolution. Specifically, Grade 12 HL curriculum builds upon the skills acquired in the Grade 11 Biology SL/HL course, while investigating the following additional topics: classification and evolution, further studies in DNA and bioenergetics, plant science, evolution, impact of humans on ecosystems, and further studies in human physiology including neurobiology and behaviour. Structured laboratory experiments and reports, as well as experimental design projects, will prepare students to complete a cumulative student-directed internal assessment. Upon completion of the course material, students will prepare for comprehensive IB exams that cover their last two years of study. Students require a credit in Grade 11 IB Biology SL/HL (or equivalent) with a minimum grade of 80% to register for this course.

Grade 12 IB Chemistry SL

(CHE122) 1.0 credit

IB Chemistry SL is the second year of a two-year course of study which builds upon the skills acquired in the Grade 11 Chemistry course while investigating the following topics: equilibrium, acids and bases, organic chemistry, and medicinal chemistry. Structured laboratory experiments and reports, as well as experimental design projects, will prepare students to complete a cumulative student-directed internal assessment. Upon completion of the course material, students will prepare for a set of comprehensive IB exams that cover their last two years of study. Students require a credit in Grade 11 IB Chemistry SL/HL (or equivalent) to register for this course.

Grade 12 IB Chemistry HL

(CHE121) 1.0 credit

IB Chemistry HL is the second year of a two-year course of study which builds upon the skills acquired in the Grade 11 Chemistry course. This an advanced level course in which students will cover the core material, as well as additional Higher Level units. Topics covered include: atomic structure, periodicity, redox processes, chemical bonding and structure, energetics, chemical kinetics, equilibrium, acids and bases, organic chemistry, and medicinal chemistry. Structured laboratory experiments and reports, as well as experimental design projects will prepare students to complete a cumulative student-directed internal assessment. Upon completion of the course material, students will prepare for a set of comprehensive IB exams that cover their last two years of study. Students require a credit in Grade 11 IB Chemistry SL/HL (or equivalent) with a minimum grade of 80% to register for this course.

Grade 12 IB Physics SL

(PHY122) 1.0 credit

IB Physics SL is a two-year course of study which begins with the combined HL/SL class in Grade 11 and is completed with this Grade 12 SL course. Building on the skills and knowledge developed in Grade 11, the curriculum includes circular motion and gravitation, energy production, and astrophysics. As in the first year of the course, there will be an emphasis placed on problem solving skills. Structured laboratory experiments and reports, as well as experimental design projects, will prepare students to complete a cumulative student-directed internal assessment. Significant time will also be spent reviewing components of the Grade 11 course in preparation for three comprehensive IB exams that cover their last two years of study. Students require a credit in Grade 11 IB Physics 11 SL/HL (or equivalent) to register for this course.

Grade 12 IB Physics HL

(PHY121) 1.0 credit

IB Physics HL is a two-year course of study which begins with the combined SL/HL class in Grade 11 and is completed with this challenging Grade 12 HL course. Building on the skills and knowledge developed in Grade 11, the curriculum includes: circular motion and gravitation, energy production, wave phenomena, fields, electromagnetic induction, quantum and nuclear physics and astrophysics. As in the first year of the course, there will be an emphasis placed on problem solving skills. Structured laboratory experiments and reports, as well as experimental design projects will prepare students to complete a cumulative student-directed internal assessment. Upon completion of the course material, students will prepare for three comprehensive IB exams that cover their last two years of study. Students require a credit in Grade 11 IB Physics SL/HL (or equivalent) with a minimum grade of 80% to register for this course.

IB Grade 12 IB Environmental Systems and Societies SL

(ENV122) 1.0 credit

IB Environmental Systems and Societies (ESS) SL is a two-year course of study which begins in Grade 11. ESS is organized into eight main modules which include: foundations of environmental systems and societies, ecosystems and ecology, biodiversity and conservation, water and aquatic food production systems and societies, soil systems and terrestrial food production systems and societies, atmospheric systems and societies, climate change and energy production, and human systems and resource use. Specifically, the Grade 12 curriculum builds upon the skills acquired in the Grade 11 ESS course, with a greater emphasis on field studies. Students will examine current environmental concerns as well as conduct structured laboratory experiments and reports and experimental design projects which will be assessed using school-based and IBO criteria. Upon completion of the course material, students will prepare for comprehensive IB exams that cover material from Grade 11 and Grade 12. Students require a credit in Grade 11 IB ESS (or equivalent) to register for this course.

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