SCIENCE

Science 9

Areas of study are clustered under the following:

• Biology: Cells are derived from cells.

• Chemistry: The electron arrangement of atoms impacts their chemical nature.

• Physics: Electricity is the flow of electrons.

• Earth Science: The biosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere are interconnected, as matter cycles and energy flows through them.

The core competencies – communication, thinking, and personal and social responsibility – will be emphasized.

Marine Science 9

This course covers the BC Science 9 curriculum but places an emphasis on the science of the ocean and all its inhabitants. It is recommended that Marine Science 9 students also take Marine PHE 9.

Students in this course may have the opportunity for additional activities such as a visit to the Vancouver Aquarium, a tour of a Coast Guard vessel, and a study of intertidal life.

Science 10

Areas of study are clustered under the following:

• Biology: Genes are the foundation for the diversity of living things.

• Chemistry: Chemical processes require energy change as atoms are rearranged.

• Physics: Energy is conserved and its transformation can affect living things and the environment.

• Earth Science: The formation of the universe can be explained by the Big Bang theory.

Marine Science/PHE 10

Students will take Marine Science 10 as a linear class paired with Physical and Health Education 10 and will receive credit for both courses. The courses will be taught with a marine focus in an interdisciplinary, project-based way that will take students from the classroom into the marine environment.

Students will have the option to earn their Pleasure Craft Operator Card and/or complete the PADI Open Water Diver course, and will gain experience on the water by learning to canoe during the PHE portion of the class. A year end optional canoeing and camping trip to Bamberton Provincial Park is offered as part of this course. There may be a cost to students who choose to participate in a variety of local field trips that occur throughout the year.

Marine Biology 11

The Marine Biology 11 course is a single semester course with students earning credit for Biology 11. This will be a very different experience from a regular Biology 11 course as it is taught with a marine theme and has a much larger lab and outdoor component. Students successfully completing this course are encouraged to continue to Biology 12 and Geography 12.

Experiential lab work will include:

• kayak trips in local waters to experience hands-on marine biology,

• field trips to the Vancouver Aquarium, Beaty Biodiversity Museum at UBC, and Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre,

• an optional 4-day marine biology field trip to the Bamfield Marine Science Centre,

• an emphasis on current climate change research,

• understanding local forests as part of marine ecosystems,

• measurement of oxygen production in kelp forests,

• analysis of satellite data to measure changes in ocean salinity,

• Expert guest speakers from biology and climate change fields both in the classroom and with a visit to the University of Victoria Biology Department.

Through these kinds of local, experiential activities, students will have a better understanding of marine environments as interconnected systems and responsible ocean stewardship.

Life Sciences 11 (previously Biology 11)

In Life Sciences 11, students will be introduced to the realm of life’s diversity – from bacteria, to squid, to the giant Douglas Fir. Students will gain a better understanding of the interaction between people, other life forms and our environment. Life Sciences 11 is not a prerequisite for Anatomy & Physiology 12 - they are two separate courses.

Life Sciences 11 is made up of the following units:

• Microscopy

• Adaptation and Evolution

• Viruses, Bacteria, Protists

• Mycology, Green Algae, Mosses, and Ferns

• Gymnosperms, Angiosperms

• Invertebrate Zoology, Vertebrate Zoology

• Ecology

The emphasis in this course is on lab work, which is a must to learn skills and processes for post-secondary work.

IB Biology (HL)

This course will give you a solid foundation in the fundamentals of biology for university. The course is covered over a two year period over three semesters of study. Depending on the result in the course, students can receive first year university credit at some post-secondary institutions. Core Topics covered include Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Genetics, Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity and Human Physiology. Additional higher level topics include Nucleic Acids, Metabolism (cellular respiration and photosynthesis), Plant Biology, Genetics and Evolution and Animal Physiology. There is also an extended unit on Human Physiology that will be covered.

All students will complete a self-directed experiment for their internal assessment, as well as participate in the collaborative, cross-disciplinary Group 4 Sciences project

Please note that there is a tuition fee for all IB level courses

IB Chemistry (SL)

Chemistry (SL) provides the foundational skills and knowledge for students well-prepared for first year chemistry at university. Two main ideas are at the centre of this course: Structure of Matter (the nature of matter from simple to more complex forms) and Reactivity of Matter (how and why chemical reactions occur). Topics covered include Atomic Theory and the Periodic Table, the Mole concept and Stoichiometry, Organic Chemistry, Ionic and Covalent Bonding and Structure, Intermolecular forces, Electrons in Atoms, Reaction Kinetics and Bond Energies, Chemical Equilibria, Acids and Bases, and Electrochemistry.

The skills required for the study of chemistry will be emphasized throughout the course. These include: experimental techniques, technology, mathematics, exploring and designing, collecting and processing data, and concluding and evaluating. All students will complete a self-directed experiment for their internal assessment, which will encompass all of these skills. A significant part of the course will be dedicated to laboratory work.

An indicator of success for this course is a grade of 80% or higher in Foundations of Math and Pre-Calculus 10.

Please note that there is a tuition fee for all IB level courses