Science

Science

Junior High

Program Vision The secondary science program is guided by the vision that all students have the opportunity to develop scientific literacy. The goal of scientific literacy is to develop the science-related knowledge, skills and attitudes that students need to solve problems and make decisions, and at the same time help them become lifelong learners— maintaining their sense of wonder about the world around them.

Diverse learning experiences within the science program provide students with opportunities to explore, analyze and appreciate the interrelationships among science, technology, society and the environment, and develop understandings that will affect their personal lives, their careers and their futures.

Goals

Science education will:

• encourage students at all grade levels to develop a critical sense of wonder and curiosity about scientific and technological endeavours
• enable students to use science and technology to acquire new knowledge and solve problems, so that they may improve the quality of their own lives and the lives of others
• prepare students to critically address science related societal, economic, ethical and environmental issues
• provide students with a foundation in science that creates opportunities for them to pursue progressively higher levels of study, prepares them for science-related occupations, and engages them in science-related hobbies appropriate to their interests and abilities
• enable students, of varying aptitudes and interests, to develop a knowledge of the wide spectrum of careers related to science, technology and the environment.

Four Key Foundations

• Foundation 1 Science, Technology and Society (STS)
  • Students will develop an understanding of the nature of science and technology, the relationships between science and technology, and the social and environmental contexts of science and technology.
• Foundation 2 Knowledge
  • Students will construct knowledge and understandings of concepts in life science, physical science and Earth and space science, and apply these understandings to interpret, integrate and extend their knowledge.
• Foundation 3 Skills
  • Students will develop the skills required for scientific and technological inquiry, for solving problems, for communicating scientific ideas and results, for working collaboratively and for making informed decisions.
• Foundation 4 Attitudes
  • Students will be encouraged to develop attitudes that support the responsible acquisition and application of scientific and technological knowledge to the mutual benefit of self, society and the environment.

High School

The high school Science program is designed to assist you in gaining the scientific understanding necessary to be an effective member of society. Learning opportunities are made meaningful so that students can relate science to their lives both inside and outside of the classroom. The Science program consists of many courses, and students have several choices based on their interests, abilities, and future plans.  Science courses provide you with facts, principles and concepts to give you a better understanding of the world around you. After Science 10, you can choose to take Science, Biology, Chemistry or Physics depending on your interests, abilities and future goals. You’ll need to complete at least one Science course at the 20 level in order to obtain a high school diploma.

Science 10 is the prerequisite for all the academic sciences. This course provides you with a unified view of the biological, chemical, physical and earth sciences and an awareness of the connections among them. The four topics covered are energy and matter in chemical change, energy flow in technological systems, cycling of matter in living systems and energy flow in global systems.

Biology 20 and 30 explore the interactions of living systems with one another and with their environment, and emphasize the context of science by considering the interrelationships among science, technology and society. In Biology 20, the underlying theme is energy and matter exchange. In Biology 30, the emphasis is on adaptation and change.

Chemistry 20 and 30 are the study of matter and its changes, and emphasize the context of science by considering the interrelationships among science, technology and society. You are given an opportunity to explore and understand the natural world and to become aware of the profound influence of chemistry on your life.

Physics 20 and 30 are the study of matter and energy and their interactions. This program considers the interrelationship between science, technology and society. Physics 20 and 30 will help you understand the physics principles behind natural events you might experience and the technology you use in your daily life.

Science 20 and 30 are ideal if you are interested in science and plan to use the program for post secondary entrance. Science 20 and 30 integrate concepts related to physical, biological and earth sciences.

Science 14 and 24 are general programs that allow you to meet the credit requirements for an Alberta high school diploma.  An Alberta High School diploma requires a minimum of 10 credits (two 5-credit courses) in approved science coursework.