Using this Curriculum Guide
Each of the units in this curriculum guide has a similar structure, beginning with a Unit Overview that provides a context for the unit and identifies the major areas of focus within the unit. The overview also includes Key Questions that students should be able to answer upon completing the unit, Key Concepts that provide a broad overview of the scientific principles of the unit, and Suggested Themes for the context of the unit.
The Foundational Objectives describe the broad learning goals of the unit. There is not necessarily a one-to-one relationship between foundational objectives and student activities. Rather, students undertake a variety of activities throughout a unit, or throughout the entire course, to attain the foundational objectives of Science 10. Foundational objectives are more global in nature than their related specific learning objectives, integrating several concepts, skills or abilities.
The Learning Objectives describe specific learning outcomes that each student should achieve. Throughout a unit, several learning objectives may contribute to the development of a single foundational objective. Some foundational objectives include enrichment learning objectives. These are provided as a recommended focus for teachers who wish to spend more time on a specific foundational objective.
Each Foundational and Learning Objective in Science 10 is based on one or more of the four foundations of scientific literacy: STSE, Skills, Knowledge, and Attitudes and one or more of the Common Essential Learnings. Teachers should incorporate other CEL objectives into lessons and units where appropriate.
Following the learning objectives are Key Questions for that particular foundational objective. Students who have successfully achieved the foundational objective should be able to answer all of those Key Questions. Teacher may choose to use the Key Questions as an advance organizer for that foundational objective. These are followed by Key Concepts, which serve two purposes. The first is as a guide indicating the suggested depth of coverage of ideas within Science 10. The second is to provide teachers with a common set of definitions for important concepts within that foundational objective. The Pre-Instructional Questions indicate the prior knowledge students need to achieve the learning objectives within the foundational objective. Teachers will need to provide additional instruction if students are unable to answer these questions.
The last component of each unit is Suggested Teaching Strategies and Activities. Teachers are not expected to attempt all of the activities listed under any Foundational Objective. Rather, teachers should choose from among the suggested activities and integrate other activities from key resources or other sources in order to ensure that students achieve all of the foundational and learning objectives. The sequence of activities is left to the teacher's discretion.
The grouping of learning objectives within each foundational objective provides a suggested teaching sequence. Other groupings of outcomes are possible and, in some cases, may be preferred in order to take advantage of local situations. Teachers are best able to plan their own teaching sequence to meet the learning needs of the students.