Sciences

Integrated Science 6 Middle School

Integrated Science 6
Grade: 6

This is a year long science course in which the students are engaged in inquiry based units and hands-on lab activities. In addition, rigor, relevancy (through the use of the Approaches to Learning), and relationships play a vital role in designing coursework and unit planning. MYP 6th Grade Science gives students chances to explore a variety of disciplines within the area of Science. Finally, students will also be given opportunities to strive to meet the characteristics of the IB Learner Profile (inquirers, knowledgeable, thinkers, communicators, principled, open-minded, balanced, reflective, caring, and risk takers) within this MYP Science course.

Unit 1 Think Like a Scientist
Unit 2 Weather and Water
Unit 3 Global Climate Change
Unit 4 Cells and Infectious Disease
Unit 5 Water Rocket Challenge
Unit 6 Human Body Systems

Integrated Science 7 Middle School

Integrated Science 7
Grade: 7

Grade 7 Science continues the journey for middle school students to explore scientific core ideas, themes, and skills that will prepare them for their future science courses. The students will learn in collaborative teams to complete hands-on labs as well as participate in phenomena based units. Grade 7 Science allows students to explore a variety of disciplines within the area of Science. Students will also have opportunities to strive to meet the characteristics of the IB Learner Profile by being inquirers, knowledgeable, thinkers, communicators, principled, open-minded, balanced, reflective, caring, and risk takers.

Unit 1 Chemical Interactions
Unit 2 Energy
Unit 3 Populations and Ecosystems
Unit 4 Earth History

Integrated Science 8 Middle School

Integrated Science 8
Grade: 8

In Grade 8 science students will continue to explore and make sense of the natural world
around them through hands-on experiences. Topics covered include examining earth’s position in the solar system, the electromagnetic spectrum, forces and energy and genetics. Students will be working in collaborative groups to design and conduct investigations and design solutions to real world problems.

Unit 1 Waves
Unit 2 Planetary Science & Gravity
Unit 3 Kinetic Energy
Unit 4 Electromagnetic Forces
Unit 5 Heredity & Adaptations

Biology High School

Grade: 9
Prerequisite: None

This course will focus on ecology, agriculture, biodiversity and life cycles. Environmental problems throughout the course will be examined from the scientific, ethical, and economic perspectives. This course serves as a strong foundation for IB Biology.

Chemistry High School

Grade: 10
Prerequisite: Biology

The course is designed to serve as a foundation for IB Chemistry. The teaching approaches are geared towards the development of inquiry-based learning, process skills and higher order thinking skills. The course starts with scientific inquiry and safe laboratory skills acquisition. Chemistry units will start with the composition and classification of matter, structure and properties of atoms, periodic table, chemical bonds, reactions and basic nuclear chemistry.

Physics High School

Grade: 10
Prerequisite: None
Note: G10 students have the option to take Physics in addition to Chemistry

This course is designed to serve as a foundation for IB Physics. It introduces the core concepts, such as mechanics, energy and waves. There is also scope to explore more modern topics such as contemporary astronomy related to our solar system and our universe. They will be introduced to the fundamental concepts and equations and have experience using mathematical approaches to solve real-world problems.

An emphasis is given to project-based learning and student-designed experiments which may not be lacking at DP level. Students will become familiar with the lab equipment and how to use it for their intended purpose. They will learn data analysis techniques and be able to show their learning through a variety of different media, including presentations, debates, lab reports, posters and videos. The focus will always be on science and its impact on the world.

Forensic Science High School

Grades: 11 or 12
Prerequisite: None

Forensic science is the gathering, examining and analysis of physical evidence from past events, often used in criminal cases in courts. This course is an elective for juniors and seniors who have successfully completed 9th and 10th grade science. Forensics is taught as a science-based lecture and lab course. Most units are organized around types of physical evidence. There is a final project which involves students working in small teams to solve a series of crimes using their knowledge and skills attained during the year. Every effort is made to expose students to modern forensic science by providing the actual equipment (when possible) used by practitioners, recent casebook readings, important court cases relating to forensics, relevant documentaries and guest speakers.

IB Biology SL and HL High School

Grades: 11 and 12 (this is a two-year course)
Prerequisite: It is recommended that only students who have at least a B in previous science courses take Biology HL

Aims of the course are to:

• Provide opportunities for scientific study and creativity within a global context that will stimulate and challenge students.
• Provide a body of knowledge, methods and techniques that characterize biology and the biological sciences.
• Enable students to apply and use a body of knowledge, methods and techniques that characterize science and technology.
• Develop an ability to analyze, evaluate and synthesize scientific information.
• Engender an awareness of the need for, and the value of, effective collaboration and communication during scientific activities.
• Develop experimental and investigative skills.
• Develop and apply the students’ information and communication technology skills in the study of science.
• Raise awareness of the moral, ethical, social, economic and environmental implications of using science and technology.
• Develop an appreciation of the possibilities and limitations associated with science and scientists.
• Encourage an understanding of the relationships between scientific disciplines and the overarching nature of the scientific method.

IB Chemistry SL and HL High School

Grades: 11 and 12 (this is a two-year course)
Prerequisite: It is recommended that only students who have at least a B in previous science courses take Chemistry HL. In addition, a strong foundation in Algebra is highly recommended.

IB Chemistry in high school is inorganic in focus. This means we study mainly the interactions of compounds that are not carbon containing as a focus, which is consistent with 1st year college chemistry. For the IB program, this is a two year endeavor to achieve an IB DP certificate. If you are not an IB Diploma student, then you can choose to take one full year. The course is a laboratory science and includes integrated laboratories that reinforce the key concepts of chemistry. The course covers concepts explaining atomic theory and structure, matter and change, chemical properties and reactions. Acids and bases, solution chemistry, stoichiometry (mathematical relationships), gasses, chemical and molecular bonds, equilibrium and reversible reactions are all covered. Higher Level, versus Standard Level and Non IB based students, will have additional in depth concept formulations and mathematics.

IB Physics SL/HL High School

Grades: 11 – 12 (this is a two-year course)
Prerequisite: Strong performance in G9 and G10 Mathematics courses, preferably students who have taken Pre-Calculus. Students should have completed G10 Physics with reasonable grades and interest.

Physics is the most fundamental of the experimental sciences, as it seeks to explain the universe itself, from the very smallest particles to the vast distances between galaxies. Despite the exciting and extraordinary development of ideas throughout the history of physics, observations remain essential to the very core of the subject. Models are developed to try to understand observations, and these themselves can become theories that attempt to explain the observations.

Besides helping us better understand the natural world, physics gives us the ability to alter our environments. This raises the issue of the impact of physics on society, the moral and ethical dilemmas, and the social, economic and environmental implications of the work of physicists.

By studying physics students should become aware of how scientists work and communicate with each other. While the scientific method may take on a wide variety of forms, it is the emphasis on a practical approach through experimental work that characterizes the subject. Teachers provide students with opportunities to develop manipulative skills, design investigations, collect data, analyze results, evaluate and communicate their findings.

IB Physics is excellent preparation for a technical university degree, such as science, engineering, or mathematics. It may also be required for entry into less obvious courses such as architecture. Students are strongly encouraged to speak to their science teacher in advance of subject choices if they are unsure about their suitability for the subject and with their counselor to learn about typical requirements for their degree of interest in various countries.

IB Environmental Systems and Societies SL/HL

Grades: 11 – 12 (this is a two-year course). Please note this course can be taken as either a Group 3 or Group 4 course.
Prerequisite: None

Environmental systems and societies (ESS) is an interdisciplinary course, encompassing both the sciences and individuals and societies and is offered at both standard level (SL) and higher level (HL). ESS is both a complex and contemporary course that engages students in the challenges of 21st century environmental issues. Consequently, it requires its students to develop a diverse set of skills, knowledge and understanding from different disciplines. Students develop a scientific approach through explorations of environmental systems. They also acquire understandings and methods from individuals and societies subjects whilst studying sustainability issues within social, cultural, economic, political, and ethical contexts. The interdisciplinary nature of the course means students produce a synthesis of understanding from the various topics studied. It also emphasizes the ability to perform research and investigations and to participate in philosophical, ethical, and pragmatic discussions of the issues involved from the local through to the global level.