Curriculum

13 Sections
40 Lessons
Lifetime

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Chapter One: The System of Things
What is biodiversity is and why does it matter? Students will learn why this course matters, as well as the core concepts and terms that will be covered.
4
Chapter Two: The Context of it All - Carrying Capacity and Food Chains
Understanding Canada's different contexts and why context matters in scientific inquiry. Students will also explore food chains and carrying capacities.
4
Chapter Three: We Don’t Know What We Don’t Know - Reproduction and Genetics
How to dig deeper and learn what you don't know you don't know. Students will also learn about genetics and reproduction.
4
Chapter Four: Hard Stuff is Hard - Natural Selection and Extinction
Hard decisions are hard, but good problem solving begins with asking the better question. Students will also explore the difference between natural selection and extinction, and learn why good ethics comes down to good science.
4
Chapter Five: Here’s How
Why process matters (and doesn't). Students will explore the scientific method, traditional knowledge and good stewardship, while working to build skills that will help in the scientific world and beyond.
4
Chapter Six: Your Turn
It's time to create! Students are introduced to their final project and are offered tools from diverse experts to help them excel.
4
Chapter Seven: Dig Deeper
Why critical thinking matters and how to be a better critical thinker. Students will build on and apply the knowledge they acquired in the first half of this course, in order to help them with their final project and in life.
3
Chapter Eight: Be Better
Words matter. Listening matters. Being heard matters. Students will explore the importance of good communication and consultation, while building on and applying the knowledge they acquired in the first half of this course as they pursue their final project.
3
Chapter Nine: Own Your Hypocrisy
Don't be a hypocrite: for the sake of our democracy, we need to be better critics. Students will work to improve their skills as both reviewers and reviewees, while putting their final project under the microscope for peer feedback.
3
Chapter Ten: Keep Going
Key Ideas: Keep going (sometimes). Students will explore different types of failure, why mentorship can help and the importance of resiliency.
3
Chapter Eleven: One Last Thing
That one thing everyone wishes they knew at 15. Students will explore life lessons from 150 diverse citizens and learn how this class can help them in the future, no matter what life they choose to live.
2
- 11.1
  Part One: Lesson Media
- 11.2
  Part Two: Activities
Chapter Twelve: The End (of the Beginning)
This lesson will allow for students to effectively get their message across to an audience.
1
- 12.1
  Final Submission
Additional Activities
1
- 13.1
  Extensions

Part One: Lesson Media

Students will start with the Lesson Media – available in video, audio and written format.

Key Ideas: Why critical thinking matters and how to be a better critical thinker. Students will build on and apply the knowledge they acquired in the first half of this course, in order to help them with their final project and in life.

Students can listen to the Featured Hot Take podcast – an interview with an expert that best reflects all of the meta-themes discussed in this lesson.

This podcast comes with reflection questions to help students understand how the interview relates to what they’ve learned. Again, you can decide whether students will consume this podcast at home, as an assignment, or in class.

When finished, students have the option of listening to two Hot Takes podcasts that feature longer interviews with the most prominent voices found in the Inquiry Media story. The podcasts provide an opportunity for students to reflect on their Inquiry Media, hear two perspectives unabridged and test out their newly acquired critical thinking skills to weigh the fullness of the facts presented.

After listening to the podcasts, students have the option to answer reflection questions and/or complete an activity related to what they’ve heard, further testing their comprehension.

As always, we recommend discussing the Lesson Media as a class once everyone has consumed the stories.

Resources:

Discussion Method Teaching: A Practical Guide

Best Practice Strategies for Effective Use of Questions as a Teaching Tool

Prompts That Get Students to Analyze, Reflect, Relate, and Question

The Big List of Class Discussion Strategies

Effective Class Discussions from Yale

Chapter Reflections

Part Two: Activities