The Science Subject Area aims to form students who are innovative, creative, & reflective thinkers, informed decision makers, effective communicators, and critical & collaborative problem solvers. They would grow to become responsible digital citizens and stewards of the environment, committed and equitable nation builders of the country, and active players in the Asia-Pacific Region in an ever-changing global society, all for the greater glory of God.

The Science Subject Area of the Ateneo de Manila Junior High School (AJHS) envisions to provide a globally competitive Science Education that forms scientifically, technologically, and environmentally literate future-ready young persons-for-others, who are nurtured by a community of committed formators in the spirit of the markers of Jesuit education – Ignatian Spirituality and Discernment, Magis, and Cura Personalis.

The Science Program of the AJHS is a holistic package carefully designed for Grades 7 to 10 students that is aligned with the Department of Education (Dep-Ed) K-12 and Matatag Curricula. Its purposeful implementation using the Ignatian Pedagogical Paradigm (IPP) as a framework begins with the context of the students.  This will lead them to think critically and reflectively to be able to decide and act responsibly about the world around them.  The program equally emphasizes the importance of knowing and understanding science concepts and the learning and application of scientific skills.   

With the use of various learning approaches and appropriate technologies aimed at increasing the level of student engagement in the learning process, the teachers are able to guide and facilitate the students in the following areas:

• understanding and application of scientific knowledge and metacognitive skills both in local and global settings,

• development and demonstration of scientific attitudes and process skills in preparation for more complex lessons in science,

• inculcation of love of country, care for the environment, leadership, and respect for life.

The Science Research (SciRe) Program of the Science subject area of Ateneo Junior High School is a four-year developmental, integrative, bridging program that prepares the students for the rigorous, specialized, or strand-based research courses in the Senior High School. This program is anchored on projects that promote and contribute to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as part of the call for a more sustainable living under the Laudato Si'.

Essential to the program are its three functional descriptors:

• Developmental. The SciRe Program aspires to form students who have a strong foundation on the scientific process skills by scaffolding the skills through mere introduction, gradual reinforcement, and eventual mastery.

• Integrative. The SciRe Program is directed to the reinforcement and mastery of the skill by seamless coupling of the skills with scientific knowledge or content in the specialized science subject at a given grade-level.

• Bridging. The SciRe Program links the basic scientific literacy and skills from grade school to meet the pre-requisite expectations of the Senior High School quantitative and qualitative research courses.

In addition to the 5 C’s of the Junior High School, the SciRe Program aspires to form students to be critical problem solvers, responsible stewards of nature, innovative thinkers, informed decision-makers, and effective communicators adhering to the Department of Education's vision of the 21st-century learner in science. This is concretized by highlighting sustainability, innovation, scientific ethics, and scientific communication as related themes to the entire program.

Aligned with the AJHS Science Program, the green education initiatives aim to nurture students to become environmentally literate. Similarly, this promotes sustainable practices to achieve a more sustainable planet in the future. Various hands-on learning experiences were designed to equip students with the importance of environmental stewardship.

The key features are the following:

• Experiential. The concepts of learning by doing and discovery are woven together to allow students to navigate and explore. With this approach, the metacognitive and creative minds of the students will be further developed and strengthened. 

• Transdisciplinary. This transfer of knowledge approach ensures integration and connections with other subject areas and disciplines. Here, the students’ personal experiences will enable them to gather a more holistic view for a better understanding of the environmental problems. This way, they are able to formulate feasible solutions to problems encountered.

• Community Project-Based. The subject area recognizes the importance of community involvement. Hence, integration with other subject areas, partnerships with parents, and other stakeholders are explicitly targeted so students learn the value of civic consciousness and responsibility. On top of their SciRe, each grade level will experience the following: Garden-Based Learning (Grade 7); Aquaponics (Grade 8); Hydroponics (Grade 9) and the Mini-Greenhouse (Grade 10).

• Technology-based. The virtual laboratory experience is maximized to complement classroom-based learning. The application of cutting-edge resources such as Gizmos, Phet simulation, Minecraft Education, Pasco laboratory instruments, etc. are some of the innovative ways that offer a more flexible avenue for students to tackle multifaceted challenges and concepts.