As students progress through the curriculum from Grade 7 to 8, they will have the opportunity to assess and evaluate the impacts of science and technology on society and the environment. In order for students to develop scientific ways of thinking and knowing, they must simultaneously develop a conceptual understanding of scientific knowledge and ideals and a procedural knowledge of the skills and processes that develop an understanding of how scientists work and evaluate scientific ideas. MYP Science is inquiry based, and students have the opportunity to continue their scientific inquiry skills developed in previous grades. Throughout their investigations, the students have opportunities to think creatively and critically to solve problems, and make informed decisions about the environment. Scientific knowledge is divided through the four strands of Matter and Energy, Earth and Space Systems, Life Systems, and Structures and Mechanisms in order to develop scientifically informed, caring and responsible individuals.

Science Grade 7

In Grade 7, students will continue to develop the skills, strategies, and habits of mind required for scientific inquiry and problem solving as well as understanding the basic concepts of structures, heat, interactions with the environment, and pure substances and mixtures. The first unit explores the idea of being a “credible” scientist and takes a project based approach to develop experimental skills. In the structures and stability unit, students will investigate questions such as “How do structures serve a community?” They will design and construct a number of structures in order to analyse the relationship between form and function. Students then move on to investigate the properties and applications of pure substances and mixtures and evaluate the social and environmental impacts of their use and disposal. In the heat unit students explore sources of heat and the transformation and transfer of heat in order to develop an understanding of technologies that reduce heat loss. Finally, students end the year with a unit on interactions in the ecosystem by exploring questions like ‘How do the actions we choose affect the natural environment around us?’

Science Grade 8 

In Grade 8, students will continue to develop the skills, strategies, and habits of mind required for scientific inquiry and problem solving as well as understanding the basic concepts of cells, systems, fluids, water resources and chemistry. Students are introduced to the microscope and practice all the steps of the scientific method with emphasis on understanding and interpreting data, and making strong conclusions. In the cells unit, students will demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between cell structures and their functions and basic processes such as osmosis. In the systems unit, they will investigate how working systems are designed to accomplish tasks and assess their personal, social and environmental impacts. They will explore how systems are designed to optimize human and natural resources and evaluate improvements or alternatives to current models. The following unit on fluids allows students to investigate and understand the properties of fluids and analyse how these properties are used in various technologies. Students will have the opportunity to engineer their own devices that rely on these properties. Students will consolidate, apply and extend their learning through a culminating Science Fair experience.