2016-2017 SC101 Physical and Life Science syllabus.pdf -...

SUIS Wan Yuan US High School
Class Title: SC101 Physical and Life Sciences
Instructors: Yvonne Wu, Althea White Office: C103
Course Introduction:
For students who enter their first year in SUIS high school stream will be required to complete and hence earn
their first science credit with the course SC 101, “Physical and Life Sciences”. This course is designed to
provide the student with a worthwhile educational experience brought about through questioning & predicting,
practicing scientific investigations & exploration, the development of both inquiry based and analytical skills,
fostering critical thinking strategies and raising awareness about the relationship of science with society and
technology (STS) including its’ environmental impacts and political & ethical issues.
Within this course candidates will be required to apply eight essential scientific practices, all of which are aimed
at improving a student’s performance with: demonstrating understanding of subject core ideas; scientific
literacy; critical thinking and problem solving; constructing testable explanations, arguments and predictions as
well as the ability to independently apply knowledge to explain phenomena across the science disciplines &
beyond.
Course assessment
The primary purpose of assessment is to improve student learning. Assessment practices are equitable for all
students, and expectations and explanations are clearly communicated and defined. Effective assessments allow
teachers and students to analyze their learning and understand what needs to be improved, highlight their
strengths, and experience successful learning.
Students will encounter a variety of assessment during their participation in SC 101, all of which are aligned to
the NGSS student performance expectations. Assessment of core content experienced within SC 101 revolves
around 8 essential science practices, which a student will be constantly engaged in throughout their studies.
Engaging in the practices of science helps students understand how scientific knowledge develops; such direct
involvement gives them an appreciation of the wide range of approaches that are used to investigate, model, and
explain the world (Framework for Science Education; National Research Council; 2012).
The 8 essential science practices:
Practices for K - 12 Science Classrooms
1. Asking testable questions (for science) and defining problems (for engineering).
2. Developing and using models or representations to explain scientific phenomena.
3. Planning and carrying out investigations.
4. Analysing and interpreting data.
5. Using mathematics and computational thinking.
6. Constructing explanations based on evidence (for science) and developing
solutions (for engineering).
7. Engaging in argumentation and justification of claims using evidence.