Sciences 11-12

CHEMISTRY 11 (MCH-11)

This course makes the transition from a qualitative to a serious quantitative study of chemical reactions through daily assignments and lab activities. The topics covered will include:

• measurement

• properties & classification of matter

• naming compounds

• stoichiometry

• solutions and reactions

• trends in the periodic table

• chemical bonding and electronegativity

• organic chemistry

This course will include daily assignments and lab activities. Strong math skills are required.

EARTH SCIENCE 11 (MESC-11)

This course examines the earth and its place in the universe. Topics include a study of:

• geology (rock and mineral identification, resources, weathering and erosion, plate tectonics, earthquakes and volcanoes)

• atmospheric sciences (pressure and winds, evaporation and precipitation, weather and climate)

• oceanography (basins and currents)

• astronomy (stars and galaxies, sun and solar system, earth and moon)

The course provides students with a solid foundation of knowledge about the earth sciences so they will better appreciate the environment around them. The course is a full four-credit senior science course that requires good work habits.

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE 11 (MEVSC11)

Environmental Science explores how the natural world works and human impacts on it. Environmental Science 11 focuses on local ecosystems, population ecology, and current issues like climate change and plastic overuse. Field trips to local estuaries and forests will cover conservation, restoration, and sustainable practices, emphasizing practical solutions for daily life.

FARM STUDIES 11 (YAAPS1B)

This hands-on, experiential course will consist of both work in the classroom and on the farm. Classroom learning will consist of exploring local food production and consumption, and practical ways to integrate concepts of food safety, agricultural issues and sustainability. Farm fieldwork will include crop planning, seed starting, planting, weeding, harvesting, greenhouse management, pest management, soil health, crop storage, and record keeping. Food grown on the farm will be distributed to a variety of school and community groups, including foods and cafeteria programs. 

*This course does not satisfy the science requirements for high school graduation or university acceptance.

LIFE SCIENCES 11  (MLFSC-11)

Life Sciences 11 is a survey course of all living things. The course emphasizes the diversity of micro-organisms, plants and animals and integrates topics in ecology and evolution. Through a series of dissection labs, students will have the opportunity to examine the trends of complexity in a group of organisms. Students will develop the skills to work individually and as members of a team to make accurate observations and to design their own experiments and communicate the results.

PHYSICS 11 (MPH-11)

Physics 11 will explore the topics of kinematics, Newton’s laws of motion, forces, energy, electric circuits, and mechanical waves through the lens of the following big ideas:

• An object's motion can be predicted, analyzed, and described.

• Forces influence the motion of an object.

• Energy is found in different forms, is conserved and can do work.

• Mechanical waves transfer energy but not matter

This course has an emphasis on problem-solving and students will regularly be asked to solve word problems. Strong math skills are required.

ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY 12 (BIOLOGY 12) (MATPH12)

This course specializes in the advanced field of physiology and cellular biology and thus requires a good working knowledge of chemistry. It is a demanding course and should only be attempted by students willing to devote considerable time to its study. The topics in this course include biochemistry, cell biology, cellular metabolism, and human anatomy and physiology (digestion, circulation, respiration, excretion, nervous system and reproduction).

CHEMISTRY 12 (MCH-12)

Chemistry 12 builds on the key concepts and foundational skills learned in Chemistry 11 and is an important course for students wishing to take post-secondary science or science-related courses. Chemistry 12 is a demanding course that will require students to have strong problem-solving skills. The topics include: 

• reaction kinetics 

• equilibrium

• solubility and precipitation reactions

• acids, bases, salts, buffers and ph

• electrochemistry

The Chemistry 12 content contains many word problems. Students need to be persistent and methodical. Strong math skills are required.

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE 12 (MEVSC12)

Environmental science is the interdisciplinary study of how the natural world works and our human impact on it. Environmental Science 12 focuses on global ecosystems and builds on the ecology learned in Environmental Science 11. We will incorporate multiple field trips to explore our planet’s diverse ecosystems, including our oceans, looking at conservation, restoration and sustainable human uses. We will also focus on many current environmental issues, including the climate emergency and our overuse of plastic, looking not just at the problems, but working towards real-life global solutions and how we can help implement them. 

FARM STUDIES 12 (YAAPS2B)

This hands-on, experiential course will consist of both work in the classroom and on the farm. Classroom learning will consist of exploring local food production and consumption, and practical ways to integrate concepts of food safety, agricultural issues and sustainability. Farm fieldwork will include crop planning, seed starting, planting, weeding, harvesting, greenhouse management, pest management, soil health, crop storage, and record keeping. Food grown on the farm will be distributed to a variety of school and community groups, including foods and cafeteria programs. This course does not satisfy the science requirements for high school graduation or university acceptance.

GEOLOGY 12 (MGEOL12)

Students will investigate the materials and processes of the Earth. Topics include a study of the following:

• Earth’s materials and resources, such as rocks, minerals, coal and oil

• geological time and techniques for relative and absolute dating

• the earth’s layers, plate tectonics, and seismology

• surface processes, such as weathering, erosion and glaciation

• the hydrosphere and the importance of groundwater

The course will be of interest to a broad range of students, from those wishing to be better informed about local geology to those wanting to pursue post-secondary studies in this field.

PHYSICS 12 (MPH-12)

Physics 12 builds on the key concepts and foundational skills learned in Physics 11. It explores the topics of momentum, relative motion, special relativity, equilibrium, circular motion, gravitation, electrostatics, and electromagnetism. Students will learn about each of these topics through the lens of the following big ideas:

• Momentum is conserved within a closed and isolated system.

• Measurement of motion depends on our frame of reference.

• Forces can cause linear and circular motion.

• Forces and energy interactions occur within fields.

Students interested in post-secondary science education, especially engineering, should consider taking Physics 12. Strong math skills are required. This course is run following a hybrid delivery. Please see details under the Home tab. 

SPECIALIZED SCIENCE 12 (MSPSF 12)

This course covers chemistry, biology, physics, and earth sciences, encouraging inquiry and exploration. Students focus on scientific research skills like planning, experimenting, analyzing data, and innovating. They will design and conduct a study of personal interest and present their findings in a research paper as their final project. Completing or taking a grade 11 science course is recommended. While this course fulfills the senior science graduation requirement, students should verify post-secondary program requirements as this course may not meet their individual program specifications.