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SCIENCE
Science will foster the students’ understanding of scientific knowledge, principles, and processes. Furthermore, through the understanding and practice of scientific methodology and skills, this department will actively provide opportunities for students to be curious, explore the complexities and order of Creation, and navigate their learnings using critical thinking skills. Through these practices, we hope to inspire a deeper appreciation for their Creator and instill in them a greater responsibility as stewards of His created world.
Graduation Requirements Statement
To graduate, students need to take Science 10 and a Science course at the Grade 11 or 12 level.
GENERAL SCIENCE
Science 9
Prerequisite: Science 8
Description:
This course focuses on four major areas of science (chemistry, electricity, reproductive biology and earth science) and issues that pertain to those topics. The course is designed to present a study of science that is Christ-centered and shows the pervasiveness of God in all aspects of life. Throughout the year, we will endeavour to uncover the underlying worldviews influencing the scientific concepts so that a clearer Christian worldview can be established.
Science 10
Prerequisite: Science 9
Graduation Requirement: Science 10
Description:
This course focuses on four major areas of science (genetics, chemistry, astronomy and energy) and issues that pertain to those topics. The course is designed to present a study of science that is Christ-centered and shows the pervasiveness of God in all aspects of life. Throughout the year, we will endeavour to uncover the underlying worldviews influencing the scientific concepts so that a clearer Christian worldview can be established.
BIOLOGY
Anatomy and Physiology 12
Prerequisite: Science 10 and Grade 11 standing
Graduation Requirement: Science 11 or 12
Description:
This course encompasses two major topics of study: cellular biology and human physiology. Areas of concentration in cellular biology will focus on cell structure, cell compounds, biological molecules, DNA, protein synthesis, and cancer. The human physiology unit will emphasize the six major body systems: circulatory, digestive, respiratory, nervous, urinary, and reproductive.
Recommendations:
It is strongly recommended that students take Chemistry 11 prior to or concurrently while taking Anatomy and Physiology 12.
Students should be extending in their understanding of chemical bonding, chemical reactions, polarity and enzymatic reactions and factors that affect their properties.
Life Science 11
Prerequisite: Science 10
Graduation Requirement: Science 11 or 12
Description:
Students are given the opportunity to develop their skills and gifts by equipping them with the knowledge of Creation through studying the diversity of organisms, and exploring a Christian worldview with which we study them. Life Science 11 is a challenging course that concentrates on taxonomy and adaptation, and exploring innumerable interesting and exciting facts and theories about the animal and plant diversity of life in God’s Creation.
Recommendations:
Students should be proficient in identifying and analyzing unifying characteristics of organisms and cellular processes, and basic laboratory skills including using a microscope and using dissecting tools.
Environmental Science 11
Coming for the 2024-25 school year.
PHYSICS
Physics 11
Prerequisite: Science 10 and Foundations of Math and Pre-Calculus 10
Graduation Requirement: Science 11 or 12
Description:
In this course, students develop and use mathematics tools and experimentation to study the nature of motion and the forces affecting motion. These are extended to the study of gravity, inertia, the conservation of energy and electric circuits. The course also gives an overview of the nature of light and waves.
Recommendations:
- Students should be highly proficient in problem solving including taking a complex, essentially non-mathematical scenario and figuring out what mathematical concepts and tools are needed to make sense of it.
- Students should be highly proficient in algebra including solving multi-step equations with variables.
Physics 12
Prerequisite: Physics 11 (min. 67%) and at least Grade 11 standing
Graduation Requirement: Science 11 or 12
Description:
This course is designed to provide students with grounding in the discipline of physics. There is a greater emphasis on the use of logical, analytical inquiry than in Physics 11. The range of topics includes equilibrium and circular motion, fields (gravitational, electric, and magnetic), momentum, and special relativity.
Recommendations:
- Students should be highly proficient in problem solving including taking take a complex, essentially non-mathematical scenario and figure out what mathematical concepts and tools are needed to make sense of it, Algebra including solving multi-step equations with variables, and solving problems that involve acceleration and forces.
- Students are recommended to have taken Pre-Calculus 11.
AP® Physics 2
Prerequisite: Pre-Calculus 11 (min. 86%) at RCS and Physics 11 (min. 86%) at RCS
Corequisite: Pre-Calculus 12
Graduation Requirement: Science 11 or 12
Description:
AP Physics 2 is an algebra-based, introductory college-level physics course that explores topics such as thermodynamics, fluid statics and dynamics, electrostatics, DC circuits and RC circuits, magnetism and electromagnetic induction, geometric and physical optics and quantum physics, and atomic and nuclear physics. Through inquire-based learning, students will develop scientific critical thinking and reasoning skills. These skills will support a deeper understanding of their Creator and instill their responsibility as stewards of God’s creations. In this course, 25% of the instructional time will be spent in hands-on laboratory work.
Recommendations:
Students should be highly proficient in problem solving including taking take a complex, essentially non-mathematical scenario and figure out what mathematical concepts and tools are needed to make sense of it.
Students should be extending in:
- consistently and accurately representing relationships symbolically with clear and in-depth explanations,
- representing complex relationships with appropriate units and connects with previous learning, and
- consistently and accurately applying and interpreting the characteristics of functions through graphing their understanding of Physics 11 topics especially kinematics, forces and energy.
- their critical thinking skills especially in applying newly learned concepts to new situations.
Additional Information:
This course has an optional Advanced Placement Exam in May (fees apply). Successful completion of the exam may give students post-secondary credits, depending on the institution.
Students will also receive credit for Physics 12.
CHEMISTRY
Chemistry 11
Prerequisite: Science 10
Graduation Requirement: Science 11 or 12
Description:
This course provides a comprehensive overview of all aspects of chemistry and challenges the student to explore and appreciate the intricacies of the chemical world that God created with love and care. The major areas of study include Atomic Theory, Classification of Matter, The Mole Concept, Chemical Reactions, Stoichiometry, Solution Chemistry and Organic Chemistry.
Recommendations:
Students should be highly proficient in problem solving including taking take a complex, essentially non-mathematical scenario and figure out what mathematical concepts and tools are needed to make sense of it.
Chemistry 12
Prerequisite: Chemistry 11 (min. 67%) and at least Grade 11 standing
Graduation Requirement: Science 11 or 12
Description:
The purpose of this course is to provide the student with an opportunity to discover more sophisticated theories and concepts as they explore how chemistry relates to daily life, industry and the environment. The major areas of study include Reaction Kinetics, Dynamic Equilibrium, Solubility Equilibrium, Acids and Bases, and Oxidation-Reduction Chemistry. They will also gain a deeper appreciation of the intricacy and complexity of God’s creation. There is an emphasis on mathematical calculations, problem solving, and practical lab skills.
Recommendations:
- Students should be highly proficient with unit conversions and stoichiometry.
- Students should be proficient in solution chemistry and the nature of chemical reactions.
- Students are recommended to have taken Pre-Calculus 11.