Grade 9 - Foundation Year

Meta 9 is an innovative Grade 9 program that combines three courses: Science 9, Social Studies 9 and Applied Design, Skills and Technology. There are  six teachers dedicated to this program that involves all of the students for the full academic day, every other day. The integrated nature of the course includes mini-lectures, labs, assignments, project-based activities, simulations, design challenges, field trips and much more. The students have the opportunity to work in a number of settings and are exposed to a variety of learning methodologies. Community involvement which includes field trips across the island is also incorporated. Additionally, students learn how to manage and improve their executive functioning skills as we focus on developing these highly important skill sets. Perhaps most importantly, the students develop a thorough understanding of who they are as learners and set themselves up for success for the demanding rigour of senior courses.

English 9 students will read independently as well as assigned nonfiction prose, novels, short fiction, verse, Shakespeare, and selections from Homer’s Odyssey.  Students will write approximately once a week in a variety of different styles, with particular attention to artistic description as well as the expository paragraph and then keyhole essay.  Students will be introduced to the writing process.  Students will speak informally and formally, at times from memory, at times with interpretive emotion. Grade 9 teachers give particular emphasis to the foundations of grammar, the gods and goddesses of Greek myth, poetry, and short fiction.  A formal exam concludes the year. The journey begins here; say hello to Romeo and Juliet on the way.

Coursework begins with a study of exponents and the laws governing order of operations with respect to rational numbers, bases and their exponents. A problem solving context is used to derive patterns and relationships to introduce and explore linear equations and the algebra that is used to solve them. Polynomials are also explored with students, concretely, pictorially and symbolically. Students model, record and explain their approach to solving problems involving addition and subtraction of polynomial expressions. Graphing of linear relationships and extrapolating and interpolating from graphs introduces students to some of the concepts involved in critically analyzing and intelligently displaying data. Students move through the course to then conduct a study of statistics within a social context and brings them to an understanding of statistical bias in the collection, analysis and display of data. A study of 2D and 3D shapes requires students to solve problems and justify solution strategies involving circles, tangents, polygons and the surface area of objects. A unit on transformations involves students in drawing scale diagrams of 2D shapes and gaining an appreciation of line and rotational symmetry. Technology is incorporated into the curriculum through such means as data collection and GPS devices which provide information students can discuss, display and analyze within the classroom.

21st Century Studies 9 is a fast-paced course divided into four rotations which cover five main topics: Technology and the Problem Solving Process; Introduction to Business and Marketing; Researching Social Issues; Media Literacy and Advertising Awareness; and Executive Functioning. Through simluations, problem and project-based learning, and interactive group projects, students develop their critical and creative thinking skills. 

Students are introduced to the concept of change and the factors that contributed to the dramatic shifts that occurred in Europe and North America during the period 1500-1815. Specific areas of study include the English Revolution, Industrial Revolution, American Revolution and French Revolution. Themes such as society and culture, politics and law, economy and technology, and the environment are used to analyze the nature of change and develop students’ critical thinking skills.

Course content includes examinations of how the expansion of European hegemony significantly altered the political, social and cultural systems of many of the world’s non-European peoples, particularly in Africa, Asia and the Americas. As well as how during a period of scientific change and new technologies (the Industrial Revolution), major challenges to the established systems of thought regarding religion, politics and social structure (the Enlightenment) were to take the form of revolutions in England, America and France, political and social upheavals through which the modern world was beginning to emerge.

This course consists of a number of disparate but complementary units. Biology introduces students to the central idea of DNA and its role in storing the genetic information that determines the activities of cells. The structure and function of cells and their organelles is examined and the role of the nucleus highlighted. The behaviour of chromosomes in cell division is linked to the cell cycle, mitosis and the causes of cancer. Asexual and sexual reproduction are compared and contrasted, together with the biotechnology and ethical issues behind therapeutic and reproductive cloning. Students are made aware of the various technologies such as in-vitro fertilization that are available to assist infertile couples.

Chemistry focuses on the structure of the atom and the development of the Bohr model and its application to the modern Periodic Table. Ionic and covalent bondings are studied as are the formulae of binary and polyatomic compounds.

In physics, the main topic is electricity, both static and current. Circuits with parallel and series components are constructed and studied and the concepts of voltage, resistance and current are taught involving calculations from which students derive important principles such Ohm’s law. Electrical energy, power and efficiency are discussed with relation to the world’s energy needs.

In space science, students identify and describe a range of instruments that are used in astronomy (e.g. telescopes, spectroscopes, satellites, probes, robotic devices) and study examples of how astronomers use astronomical and space exploration technologies to advance understanding of the universe and solar system (e.g. using red shift to support the idea of an expanding universe, using parallax to measure distance).

This course is designed for students who have had some previous French instruction or any student who already speaks or has studied a Romance language in the past such as: Latin, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and Romanian. Listening, speaking and writing skills are emphasized, alongside a sound grammatical understanding. Students will be exposed to French in an engaging way through the storytelling method which will facilitate the genuine acquisition of the language. 

This class will expose the students to the diverse and exciting Spanish-speaking world. The majority of instruction will be conducted in Spanish. There will be a heavy emphasis on listening and speaking. New material and new concepts will be introduced through a thematic approach. Students will be able to discuss topics relating to school, after-school activities, celebrations, travel, eating, shopping and getting around town. The students will also learn to describe events in the present and the future. There is a very strong cultural component to the class where the students will learn about various cultural traditions from the Spanish-speaking world. An in-depth look at Mexico will take place through presentations on various aspects of the culture and history.

English Language Enrichment is not available as a course in 2018-19; if needed, private tuition ca be arranged for students.