Course Developer/Reviser: Mr. Ed. Quigley / Mr. Bryan Velasquez
Development Date: September 2010
Prerequisite: Science, Grade 9, Academic
Curriculum Policy: Growing Success: Assessment, Evaluation, and Reporting …………….in Ontario Schools. 2010
Guidelines: Ministry of Education. The Ontario Curriculum,
Grades 11 and 12, Science, 2008 (Revised)
Course Description:
This course enables students to enhance their understanding of concepts in biology, chemistry, earth and space science, and physics, and of the interrelationships between science, technology, society and the environment. Students are also given opportunities to further develop their scientific investigation skills. Students will plan and conduct investigations and develop their understanding of scientific theories related to the connections between cells and systems in animals and plants; chemical reactions with a particular focus on acid-base reactions; forces that affect climate and climate change and the interaction of light and matter.
Note:
Scientific investigation skills and career exploration specific expectations will be addressed within each unit of study
Overall Expectations:
A. Scientific investigation skills and career exploration
By the end of this course, students will;
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->demonstrate scientific investigation skills (related to both inquiry and research) in the four areas of skills (initiating and planning, performing and recording, analysing and interpreting, and communicating)
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->identify and describe a variety of careers related to the fields of science under study, and identify scientists, including Canadians, who have made contributions to those fields
B. Biology
By the end of this course, students will:
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->evaluate the importance of medical and other technological developments related to systems biology, and analyse their societal and ethical implications
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->investigate cell division, cell specialization, organs, and systems in animals and plants, using research and inquiry skills, including various laboratory techniques
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->demonstrate an understanding of the hierarchical organization of cells, from tissues, to organs, to systems in animals and plants.
C. Chemistry
By the end of this course, students will:
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->analyse a variety of safety and environmental issues associated with chemical reactions, including the ways in which chemical reactions can be applied to address environmental challenges
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->investigate, through inquiry, the characteristics of chemical reactions
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->demonstrate an understanding of the general principles of chemical reactions, and various ways to represent them.
D. Earth and Space Science
By the end of this course, students will:
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->analyse some of the effects of climate change around the world, and assess the effectiveness of initiatives that attempt to address the issue of climate change
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->investigate various natural and human factors that influence Earth’s climate and climate change
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->demonstrate an understanding of natural and human factors, including the greenhouse effect, that influence Earth’s climate and contribute to climate change.
E. Physics
By the end of this course, students will:
<!--[if !supportLists]-->- <!--[endif]--> evaluate the effectiveness of technological devices and procedures designed to make use of light, and assess their social benefits
<!--[if !supportLists]-->- <!--[endif]--> investigate, through inquiry, the properties of light, and predict its behaviour, particularly with respect to reflection in plane and curved mirrors and refraction in converging lenses
<!--[if !supportLists]-->- <!--[endif]-->demonstrate an understanding of various characteristics and properties of light, particularly with respect to reflection in mirrors and reflection and refraction in lenses.
Outline of Course Content
Unit | Title | Time |
1 | Climate Change | 22 hours |
2 | Chemistry | 36 hours |
3 | Biology | 24 hours |
4 | Physics | 22 hours |
5 | Review & Final Examination | 6 hours |
| |
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Teaching/Learning Strategies
Along with some of the strategies noted in the assessment for, as, and of learning charts below, strategies will include (but not be limited to):
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->Personal Reflection
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->Group & Pair Work
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->Group and Class Discussion
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->Student-Directed Planning
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->Organizational Skills
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->Student – Teacher Conferencing
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->Development of Notes & Organizers
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->Guided and Independent Reading
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->Vocabulary Building
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->Exemplars
Strategies for Assessment and Evaluation and Evaluation of Student Performance
Assessment and Evaluation
The tools highlighted in the bold will be used for the three different types of assessments:
Assessment as Learning | Assessment for Learning | Assessment of Learning |
Student Product n Entrance tickets n Exit tickets | Student Product n Assignment n Journals/Letters/Emails n Quizzes (scale) <!--[if !supportLists]--> <!--[endif]-->Portfolios (rubric) Posters (rubric/scale) Graphic organizers (scale) Peer feedback (anecdotal/checklist) n Reports (rubric) Webbing/Mapping (rubric/scale) n Entrance ticket Vocabulary notebooks (anecdotal) <!--[if !supportLists]--> <!--[endif]-->Visual Thinking Networks (rubric) | Student Product n Assignment n Tests (scale) Exam <!--[if !supportLists]--> <!--[endif]-->Portfolio (rubric) Posters (rubric/scale) <!--[if !supportLists]--> <!--[endif]-->Graphic organizers (scale) Reports (rubric) Essays (rubric) <!--[if !supportLists]--> <!--[endif]-->Visual Thinking Networks (rubric) |
Observation n Whole class discussions (anecdotal) | Observation n Class discussions (anecdotal) <!--[if !supportLists]--> <!--[endif]-->Debate (rubric) <!--[if !supportLists]--> <!--[endif]-->PowerPoint presentations (rubric) n Performance tasks (rubric) | Observation <!--[if !supportLists]--> <!--[endif]-->Debate (rubric) n Performance tasks (scale/rubric) |
Conversation n Student teacher conferences (checklist) n Small Group Discussions (checklist) n Pair work (checklist) Debate (rubric) | Conversation n Small group discussions (checklist) Pair work (scale) n Peer-feedback | Conversation <!--[if !supportLists]--> <!--[endif]--> Student teacher conferences (checklist) Question and Answer Session (checklist) |
The Final Grade
Percentage of Final Mark | Categories of Mark Breakdown |
70% | Assessment of Learning Tasks Throughout the Term |
30% | Final Written Examination |
The balance of the weighting of the categories of the achievement chart throughout the course is:
Knowledge: 30% Communication 20%
Thinking/Inquiry: 30% Application 20%
Program Planning Considerations for Science
Planning Science Programs for Students with Special Education Needs.
Given the diversity of student strengths and needs, we provide performance tasks that respect students’ particular abilities, examine the strengths and learning needs of each student as well as the knowledge and skills that all students are expected to demonstrate in order to accommodate, and/or modify the curriculum expectations as recorded in the student's Individual Education Plan (IEP).
Program Considerations for English Language Learners.
This Science course can provide a wide range of options to address the needs of ESL/ELD students. Assessment and evaluation exercises will help ESL students in mastering the English language and all of its idiosyncrasies. In addition, since all occupations require employees with a wide range of English skills and abilities, many students will learn how the operation of their own physical world can contribute to their success in their social world.
The Environment
Students are encouraged to think about fairness, equity, social justive and citizenship in global society by exploring environmental issues and supporting the development of environmental literacy. Students acquire knowledge, skills and perspectives that foster understanding of their fundamental connections to each other, to the world around them and to all living things.
The Role of Information and Communications Technology in Science. Information technology is considered a learning tool that must be accessed by science students when the situation is appropriate. As a result, students develop transferable skills through their experience with word processing, internet research, presentation software, and telecommunication tools, as would be expected in any environment.
Resources
<!--[if !supportLists]-->1. <!--[endif]-->Textbook: Pearson Investigating Science 10
<!--[if !supportLists]-->2. <!--[endif]-->Lab equipment: goggles, apron, pH-meter, pipettes, test tubes, etc
<!--[if !supportLists]-->3. <!--[endif]-->Web info: to find information about chemicals
<!--[if !supportLists]-->4. <!--[endif]-->Computers: for lab reports (report and data analysis), web browse
<!--[if !supportLists]-->5. <!--[endif]-->Calculators (scientific only), translators, dictionaries