This is an introductory Science course. Students will learn how to conduct experiments using the scientific method. They will learn how Science fits into everyday life. Students will build basic laboratory skills and practice scientific thinking while covering introductory units on General Science, Chemistry, Physics, and Life Sciences. During Semester 2, students will plan and carry out a Science Investigation and present their findings formally to the school community. Assessment Programs can be consulted for Semester 1 and Semester 2.
These are the minimum expectations of students in the class. Student notebooks will be checked and graded by this rubric, which is pasted into their notebooks. These grades will go into their classwork portfolio to be counted toward their semester grade.
In Grade 7, students will continue to build on their scientific thinking, laboratory techniques and report writing skills, all of which play an important part in 21st Century science. Students will practice these skills as they work through units in the Life Sciences and Physical Sciences. Topics include energy flow through ecosystems, diet and digestion, basic chemistry, forces and motion, and other topics that touch on some of the main themes in modern science: evolution, interdependence, causality, form and function, and equilibrium. During Semester 2, students will plan and carry out a group-based Science Investigation and present their findings to the school community. You can access the Assessment Programs here for Semester 1 and Semester 2.
These are the minimum expectations of students in the class. Student notebooks will be checked and graded by this rubric, which is pasted into their notebooks. These grades will go into their classwork portfolio to be counted toward their semester grade.
Students study units in Chemistry, Physics and Biology. In all sciences, students will cover a range of topics and continue to develop their core scientific skills through a variety of labs, activities, and homework.
The International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) is a two-year comprehensive course designed to provide the student with the necessary background for advanced studies in Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Each year of the two-year program is a balanced course in Combined Science. Students study units in Chemistry, Physics and Biology, the three disciplines being taught by specialist teachers in purpose built laboratories. Each discipline is equally weighted in each semester in terms of both time allocation and contribution to the semester grade and the year grade. Learners gain an understanding of the basic principles of each subject through a mixture of theoretical and practical studies. They learn how science is studied and practiced, and become aware that the results of scientific research can have both positive and negative effects on individuals, communities and the environment. As well as focusing on the individual sciences, the syllabus helps learners to understand the technological world in which they live, and take an informed interest in science and scientific developments.
At Saint Maur International School, emphasis is placed on Core Scientific Skills and Studentship which form the foundation for being good students and scientists. These skills are vertically articulated throughout Grades 6 - 12 to allow students to become familiar with and build upon earlier expectations. While the Grade 9&10 course culminates in the IGCSE Examination at the end of Grade 10 (Cambridge IGCSE Combined Science 0653), the Saint Maur curriculum aims to go above and beyond the Cambridge syllabus in order to adequately prepare students to take IB courses in any of the disciplines in Grades 11 and 12.
IGCSE Resources:
- Website - Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE)
- Detailed Curriculum - Cambridge IGCSE Combined Science 0653 (for examination in 2023 and 2024)
- Detailed Curriculum - Cambridge IGCSE Combined Science 0653 (for examination in 2025, 2026 and 2027)
The International Baccalaureate, formerly known as the International Baccalaureate Organization, is a nonprofit foundation headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and founded in 1968.