Students must successfully complete a minimum of one science credit in Grade 9 and one in Grade 10, as listed in the following table.
| Grade 9 (Senior 1) |
Grade 10 (Senior 2) |
Grade 11 * (Senior 3) |
Grade 12 * (Senior 4) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Science (10F) | Science (20F) | Optional Courses | Optional Courses |
* In Grade 11 and in Grade 12, Biology, Chemistry, Physical Science, and Physics are optional courses.
Further information about graduation requirements is available.
In the Kindergarten to Grade 12 science classroom, students are actively engaged in "doing" science and developing related skills and attitudes, as well as extending their understanding of science concepts. In addition, they make links between science and daily life, and learn to appreciate both the power and limitations of science as a way of understanding their world.
Grade 9 students are required to achieve one credit in Grade 9 (Senior 1) Science (10F).
Grade 9 students further their understanding of science concepts in the following units (thematic clusters):
- Reproduction
- Atoms and Elements
- Nature of Electricity
- Exploring the Universe
These topic areas serve as contexts for students to develop the following skills, attitudes, and understanding about the nature of science:
- Recognize that scientific knowledge has evolved and that technology has played an important role in this process.
- Plan and conduct experiments that constitute a fair test, including controlling variables, recording and analyzing data, and drawing conclusions that explain the results of investigations.
- Make decisions on science-related issues, based on the evidence and methods commonly employed among the sciences.
- Investigate societal, environmental, and economic impacts of science and technology.
- Recognize the importance of maintaining a balance between the needs of humans and a sustainable environment.
- Appreciate the contributions of people of various cultures to the development of science and technology.
Grade 10 students are required to achieve one credit in Grade 10 (Senior 2) Science (20F).
Grade 10 students deepen their understanding of science concepts in the following units (thematic clusters):
- Dynamics of Ecosystems
- Chemistry in Action
- In Motion (the Physics of Objects in Motion)
- Weather Dynamics
These topic areas serve as contexts for students to develop the following skills, attitudes, and understanding about the nature of science:
- Recognize that scientific knowledge has evolved and that technology has played a role in this process.
- Plan and conduct experiments that constitute a fair test, including controlling variables, recording and analyzing data, and drawing conclusions that explain the results of investigations.
- Make decisions on science-related issues, based on the evidence and methods commonly employed among the sciences.
- Investigate societal, environmental, and economic impacts of science and technology.
- Recognize the importance of maintaining a balance between the needs of humans and a sustainable environment.
- Appreciate the contributions of people of various cultures to the development of science and technology.
In Grade 11, Biology, Chemistry, Interdisciplinary Topics in Science, and Physics are optional courses.
In Grade 12 Biology, Chemistry, Interdisciplinary Topics in Science, and Physics are optional courses.