Scientific Investigation Skills & Career Exploration

Throughout this course, students will:

A1. demonstrate scientific investigation skills (related to both inquiry and research) in the four areas of skills (initiating and planning, performing and recording, analysing and interpreting, and communicating);

A2. identify and describe careers related to the fields of science under study, and describe contributions of scientists, including Canadians, to those fields.

Human Impact on the Environment

By the end of this course, students will:

B1. analyse selected current environmental problems in terms of the role human activities have played in creating or perpetuating them, and propose possible solutions to one such problem;

B2. investigate air, soil, and water quality in natural and disturbed environments, using appropriate technology;

B3. demonstrate an understanding of some of the ways in which human activities affect the environment and how the impact of those activities is measured and monitored.

Human Health & The Environment

By the end of this course, students will:

C1. analyse the effects on human health of environmental contaminants and a significant environmental phenomenon;

C2. investigate how different environmental factors can affect people’s health and their lifestyle choices; C3. demonstrate an understanding of the ways in which environmental factors can affect human health and how their impact can be reduced.

Energy Conservation

By the end of this course, students will:

D1. evaluate initiatives and technological innovations related to energy consumption and conservation, and assess their impact on personal lifestyles, social attitudes, and the environment;

D2. investigate various methods of conserving energy and improving energy efficiency;

D3. demonstrate an understanding of the basic principles of energy production, with reference to both renewable and non-renewable sources, and of various methods of energy conservation.

Natural Resource Science & Management

By the end of this course, students will:

E1. assess the environmental impact of the harvesting and/or extraction of resources, including ways of reducing this impact, and analyse threats to the sustainability of natural resources;

E2. investigate methods scientists use to classify and monitor natural resources, and conduct investigations using those methods;

E3. demonstrate an understanding of the sustainable use of resources and its relationship to the biodiversity and sustainability of ecosystems.

The Safe & Environmentally Responsible Workplace

By the end of this course, students will:

F1. assess workplace situations with respect to safety and environmental issues, and propose a course of action to address unsafe working conditions;

F2. investigate a variety of safe and environmentally responsible workplace practices;

F3. demonstrate an understanding of general workplace safety procedures and environmentally responsible practices.