Course Description / Rationale
This course furthers students’ understanding of the processes that occur in biological systems. Students will study theory and conduct investigations in the areas of biodiversity; evolution; genetic processes; the structure and function of animals; and the anatomy, growth, and function of plants. The course focuses on the theoretical aspects of the topics under study, and helps students refine skills related to scientific investigation.
| Unit Titles and Descriptions | Time Allocated |
| Diversity of Living Things Students will analyse the effects of various human activities on the diversity of living things;. They will . investigate, through laboratory and/or field activities or through simulations, the principles of | 20 hours |
| Evolution Students will analyse the economic and environmental advantages and disadvantages of an artificial selection technology, and evaluate the impact of environmental changes on natural selection and | 22 hours |
| Genetic Processes Students will evaluate the importance of some recent contributions to our knowledge of genetic processes, and analyse social and ethical implications of genetic and genomic research; They will investigate genetic processes, including those that occur during meiosis, and analyse data to solve basic genetics problems involving monohybrid and dihybrid crosses; Students will demonstrate an understanding of concepts, processes, and technologies related to the transmission of hereditary characteristics | 22 hours |
| Animals: Structure and Function Students will analyse the relationships between changing societal needs, technological advances, and our | 22 hours |
| Plants: Structure and Function Students will evaluate the importance of sustainable use of plants to Canadian society and other cultures;. They will investigate the structures and functions of plant tissues, and factors affecting plant growth; Students will demonstrate an understanding of the diversity of vascular plants, including their structures, internal transport systems, and their role in maintaining biodiversity. | 10 hours |
| Final Assessment | |
| Independent Research Project (STSE Connections) Exam This is a proctored exam worth 30% of your final grade. | 12 hours 2 hours |
| Total | 110 hours |
Prerequisite: Science, Grade 10, University Preparation (SNC2D)
Resources required by the student:
Note: This course is entirely online and does not require or rely on any textbook.
- A scanner, smart phone camera, or similar device to upload handwritten or hand-drawn work
Resources provided by Ontario Study ePortal:
- Interactive Periodic Table
Overall Curriculum Expectations
| A. Scientific Investigation Skills and Career Exploration | |
|---|---|
| A1 | demonstrate scientific investigation skills (related to both inquiry and research) in the four areas of skills (initiating and planning, performing and recording, analyzing and interpreting, and communicating); |
| A2 | identify and describe careers related to the fields of science under study, and describe the contributions of scientists, including Canadians, to those fields. |
| B. Diversity of Living Things | |
| B1 | analyse the effects of various human activities on the diversity of living things; |
| B2 | investigate, through laboratory and/or field activities or through simulations, the principles of scientific classification, using appropriate sampling and classification techniques; |
| B3 | demonstrate an understanding of the diversity of living organisms in terms of the principles of taxonomy and phylogeny. |
| C. Evolution | |
| C1 | analyse the economic and environmental advantages and disadvantages of an artificial selection technology, and evaluate the impact of environmental changes on natural selection and endangered species; |
| C2 | investigate evolutionary processes, and analyse scientific evidence that supports the theory of evolution; |
| C3 | demonstrate an understanding of the theory of evolution, the evidence that supports it, and some of the mechanisms by which it occurs. |
| D. Genetic Processes
| |
| D1 | evaluate the importance of some recent contributions to our knowledge of genetic processes, and analyse social and ethical implications of genetic and genomic research; |
| D2 | investigate genetic processes, including those that occur during meiosis, and analyse data to solve basic genetics problems involving monohybrid and dihybrid crosses; |
| D3 | demonstrate an understanding of concepts, processes, and technologies related to the transmission of hereditary characteristics. |
| E. Animals: Structure and Function | |
| E1 | analyse the relationships between changing societal needs, technological advances, and our understanding of internal systems of humans; |
| E2 | investigate, through laboratory inquiry or computer simulation, the functional responses of the respiratory and circulatory systems of animals, and the relationships between their respiratory, circulatory, and digestive systems; |
| E3 | demonstrate an understanding of animal anatomy and physiology, and describe disorders of the respiratory, circulatory, and digestive systems. |
| F. Plants: Anatomy, Growth, and Function | |
| F1 | evaluate the importance of sustainable use of plants to Canadian society and other cultures; |
| F2 | investigate the structures and functions of plant tissues, and factors affecting plant growth; |
| F3 | demonstrate an understanding of the diversity of vascular plants, including their structures, internal transport systems, and their role in maintaining biodiversity. |
If you have any questions about the course, please email support@onstudy.ca.