Course Description:

This course enables students to develop their understanding of basic concepts of science and its multiple branches that include biology, chemistry, earth and space science, and physics. The student experience with this course will be able to relate science to technology, society, and the environment. Throughout the course, students will develop their skills in the processes of scientific investigation. Students will acquire an understanding of scientific theories and conduct investigations related to sustainable ecosystems; atomic and molecular structures and the properties of elements and compounds; the study of the universe and its properties and components; and the principles of electricity.

Aims and Objectives:

• Identify Earth's four spheres (biosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, and atmosphere), and describe how these spheres interact to maintain sustainability and biodiversity.
• Describe the limiting factors and explain how these factors affect the carrying capacity of an ecosystem.
• Describe the complementary processes of photosynthesis and cellular respiration concerning the flow of energy and the cycling of matter within ecosystems
• Explain how human activities can disrupt the balance achieved by these processes.
• Use appropriate terms to describe elements and compounds.
• Describe the physical and chemical properties of common elements and compounds.
• Assess social, environmental, and economic impacts of the use of elements, such as heavy metals.
• Explain the relationship between atomic structure and the arrangement of elements in the periodic table.
• Compare the relative sizes of the major components of the solar system using an appropriate format.
• Use appropriate terminology related to the study of the universe, including orbital radius and satellite.
• Compare and contrast properties of celestial objects visible in the night sky, drawing on information gathered through research and using an appropriate format.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the major scientific theories about the structure, formation
• Evolution of the universe and its components and of the evidence that supports these theories
• Explain how materials allow static charges to build up or to discharge.
• Analyze the design of technological devices that improve electrical efficiency or protect other devices by using or controlling static electricity.
• Determine the energy consumption and operating costs of various appliances.
• Calculate the efficiency of an energy converter.

Expectations:

• Biology: Sustainable Ecosystems

Throughout this course, students will:

1. Analyze the effect of human activity on populations in ecosystems by interpreting data and generating graphs.
2. Interpret data from undisturbed and disturbed ecosystems, communicate the results graphically, extrapolate from the data and infer the importance of biodiversity for sustainable ecosystems.
3. Plan and carry out investigations into how using fertilizer affects water quality and the fertility of the soil and explain how fertilizer use affects the survival of a terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem.
4. Evaluate the effectiveness of actions people are taking to ensure that ecosystems are sustainable.
5. Assess the impact of human activities on the sustainability of terrestrial and/or aquatic ecosystems, and evaluate the effectiveness of courses of action intended to remedy or mitigate negative impacts.

• Chemistry: Atoms, Elements, and Compounds

By the end of this course, students will:

1. Use appropriate terms to describe elements and compounds.
2. Describe the physical and chemical properties of common elements and compounds.
3. Assess social, environmental, and economic impacts of the use of elements, such as heavy metals.
4. Explain the relationship between atomic structure and the arrangement of elements in the periodic table.
5. Compare the physical properties of elements within and between groups in the periodic table.
6. Plan and conduct an inquiry into the properties of common household and laboratory substances.
7. Build models of simple molecules.
8. Conduct inquiries into the physical and chemical properties of common compounds.

• Earth and Space Science: The Study of the Universe

By the end of this course, students will:

1. Use appropriate terminology related to the study of the universe.
2. Represent the distance of stars from Earth using scientific notation.
3. Compare and contrast properties of celestial objects visible in the night sky by researching and analyzing information.
4. Describe the characteristics of the major components of the solar system, including the Sun, the planets, and the Moon.
5. Plan and conduct a simulation to show the interrelationship between a star’s brightness and its distance from Earth.

• Physics: The Characteristics of Electricity

Throughout this course, students will:

1. Describe the relationship between potential difference, current, and resistance.
2. Explain what different meters measure and how they measure electrical quantities identify and explain the parts of a simple circuit.
3. Explain the characteristics of electric current, potential difference, and resistance and how they differ in series and parallel circuits explain how different factors change the resistance of an electric circuit.
4. Learn about the differences between electrical insulators and conductors.

Unit-wise Progression:

Teaching/Learning Methodologies:

The students are provided with almost all the material they would need to learn. The students will be provided with the whole resource of the course. The textbook will be attached to the course; the students will be able to download extra reading packs according to the lessons for a deep understanding of the concerned lesson. This course has almost all the things included for the learning of the students/learners as well as for the entertainment. This course includes the activities in the form of cumulative activities, moreover as the course would start the student will be given specific lab access for every topic, which they need about. The students will be able to solve the scientific problems by applying the acquired knowledge from this course. The assessments for every unit, the assessment of every lesson will be checked and reports will be designed. The students will be given full-time access to ask the questions to teacher about the lessons. Proper lectures for every lesson will be conducted. The student will have to give the reflection feedback for the previous lecture and then the teacher will start the next lecture. The student will be able to ask queries about the lesson at the end of the lecture

• Lesson plans
• PowerPoint presentations
• Videos
• Reading Packs
• Assignment for Learning
• Assessment of Learning
• Quiz   

All of these are a cluster of downloadable and embedded files that will be provided to each candidate with the progression of the course.

E-Learning Approach:

The first condition of learning is to have the will for it because E-learners direct their learning. This is an advantage but sometimes problems may occur. An E-learner should aim to keep his/her self-motivation for learning at the highest level. E-learners have to spend certain times of the day for education. They should not make themselves sit in front of the computer for long hours.

It is a fact that the planned educational sessions increase achievement. When deciding on the time for education, e-learners should choose less busy hours in the day when education could be less interrupted. They should keep their attention away from the external factors as much as they can. After completing each course, e-learners should think about the knowledge they attained and how to use it.

This would increase the level of motivation. E-learners should determine daily targets for themselves. E-learners should not hesitate to contact their teachers or peers via e-mail or forums if they need to reinforce or repeat a topic.

Strategies for Assessment and Evaluation of Student Performance:

Assessment is the ongoing gathering of information related to the individual student’s progress in achieving the curriculum expectations of the course. To guide the student to his/her optimum level of achievement, the teacher provides consistent and detailed feedback and guidance leading to improvement. Strategies may include:

• Diagnostic assessment
• Formative assessment
• Summative assessment
• Performance assessment
• Portfolio assessment
• Rubrics
• Checklists

The final grade will be based on:

Resources Required by the Student:

• Microsoft Suite (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, etc.)
• A laptop, or Mac, or Android, or any other operating system functional enough to use the web browser and use online software.
• Curriculum Reference: The Ontario Curriculum, Sciences