Science

Academic Program

Course of Study

Level Distinctions

COLLEGE PREPARATORY (CP) courses are designed to prepare students for the rigors of college courses. Students in college preparatory classes are open-minded and seek to develop the skills necessary to analyze and synthesize information. Students will be provided with scaffolded opportunities to solidify their time management, note-taking, and study skills. Courses are designed to build a solid foundation in a particular content area. Opportunities for enrichment will be available.

ADVANCED (A) courses are recommended for students who have demonstrated exceptional academic achievement through a combination of ability and motivation. The Advanced level assumes that students are independent learners who can work with limited teacher support. Students are advanced and enthusiastic readers who can make inferences, draw connections, and comprehend texts with sophisticated themes and vocabulary at a fairly fast pace. These courses contain considerable enrichment and acceleration. Instruction will assume that students are able to grasp concepts on initial presentation. There will be little practice or repetition within the classroom. Students are expected to be able to organize their time, to plan long-term assignments, and to seek help when necessary, all on their own initiative. Advanced course enrollment requires teacher recommendation.

INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE

It is essential for any pre-university education to equip students with the depth of discipline-specific knowledge and skills that they will need for their chosen academic and career paths. However, this must be balanced with the breadth needed to develop well-rounded students who can draw connections between different disciplines. As such, the philosophy of the IB Diploma Programme is that students should engage with a range of subjects while being able to explore specific areas of personal interest in greater depth.

IB STANDARD LEVEL (SL) courses are rigorous core content based classes that focus on the “what” beyond concepts and theories.
IB HIGHER LEVEL (HL) courses tend to delve deeper into the concepts that SL subjects cover focusing not only on the “what” but also the “how” and “why”. The core content is the same as the SL course in the same discipline, however, additional topics are covered.

3 Science credits are required for graduation. Long Trail strongly encourages students to take four years of mathematics, science, and social studies. The Dean of Academics must approve exceptions to the required course of study.

Earth Science - Gr. 6

Life Science - Gr. 7

Physical Environment - Gr. 8

Integrated Science - Gr. 9

Applied Chemistry - Gr. 10

Chemistry - Gr. 10

Levels: Advanced, IB Standard Level
Length: Two-Year Course (SL), One-Year Course (advanced)
Credit: 1 per year
Prerequisites: Successful completion of Integrated Science and faculty recommendation

Advanced Chemistry is a lab-based course which emphasizes the: 1) structure and behavior of atoms; 2) composition and properties of compounds; 3) reactions between substances and their accompanying energy changes; and 4) laws which unite these phenomena into a comprehensive system. Numerous connections between chemistry and everyday life are made. This course moves at a fast pace to accommodate the range of content covered. This course is taught through readings, discussion, lab activities, projects, and possible field trips, and prepares students for IB science offerings.

The Advanced level (year 1) of chemistry includes the following core content topics:

Stoichiometric relationships
Atomic structure
Periodicity
Chemical bonding and structure
Energetics/thermochemistry
Chemical kinetics

The two-year SL course assumes that students are independent learners who can work with limited teacher support. Students are advanced and enthusiastic readers; they can make inferences, draw connections, comprehend and appreciate texts with sophisticated vocabulary and themes read at a fast pace. Students are strong expository and narrative writers who understand grammar, mechanics, spelling and sentence/paragraph structure.

Those choosing to continue into the second year SL level course will cover:

Equilibrium
Acids and bases
Redox processes
Organic chemistry
Measurement and data processing
One of the following topics: materials, biochemistry, energy, or medicinal chemistry

An Internal Assessment (IA) is required for SL Chemistry; the initial work on this independent project will begin in Advanced Chemistry (G10) and continue in Year 2.

Biology - Gr. 11 & 12

Levels: Advanced, IB Standard Level, IB Higher Level
Two-Year Course
Credit: 2
Prerequisites: Chemistry and faculty recommendation

Biology is the study of life, spanning an extraordinary diversity of organisms and systems. This course invites students to explore living systems across multiple scales, from molecular processes within cells to global ecological interactions. Students examine how structure relates to function, how information is stored and transmitted, and how organisms interact with one another and their environment.

As a rapidly evolving field, biology plays an important role in addressing contemporary challenges such as human health, environmental sustainability, and biodiversity loss. Through their study, students develop an understanding of how scientific knowledge is generated, tested, and refined over time.

A central feature of the course is hands-on, inquiry-based learning. Students design and carry out investigations, collect and analyze data, and develop practical laboratory and field skills. Emphasis is placed on interpreting evidence, evaluating methods, collaborating with peers, and clearly communicating scientific ideas.

Advanced
A more rigorous one-year course (with a two-year option) that explores core topics in greater depth and with increased expectations for independent thinking and analysis. Students engage in more complex investigations and participate in the Group 4 Project.

IB Biology Standard Level (SL)
A two-year course that develops a strong conceptual understanding of biology alongside advanced inquiry and analytical skills. Students complete an Individual Investigation and participate in the Group 4 Project. Assessment includes both internal work and external IB examinations.

IB Biology Higher Level (HL)
A two-year, college-level course that examines biological concepts in greater depth and breadth. In addition to the Standard Level curriculum, students study advanced topics such as metabolism, plant biology, and animal physiology. The course emphasizes independent investigation, critical analysis, and synthesis of complex ideas. Assessment includes internal work and external IB examinations, along with the Individual Investigation and Group 4 Project.