Page 7 - The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 11 and 12: Science, 2008 (revised)

Fundamental Concepts
Change the focus of the curriculum and instruction from teaching topics to“using” topics to teach and assess deeper, conceptual understanding.
Lynn Erickson, Concept-Based Curriculum and Instruction (2006), p. 7
Fundamental concepts are concepts about phenomena that have not changed fundamen- tally over time and that are common for all cultures. The fundamental concepts in science provide a framework for the deeper understanding of all scientific knowledge – a structure that facilitates integrated thinking as students draw from the knowledge base of science and see patterns and connections within the subdisciplines of science, and between science and other disciplines. The fundamental concepts addressed in the curricula for science and technology in Grades 1 to 8 and for science in Grades 9 to 12 are similar to concepts found in science curricula around the world.
As students progress through the curriculum from Grades 1 to 12, they extend and deepen their understanding of these fundamental concepts and learn to apply their understanding with increasing sophistication. The fundamental concepts are listed and described in the following chart.
FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS
Matter
Matter is anything that has mass and occupies space. Matter has particular structural and behavioural characteristics.
energy
energy comes in many forms, and can change forms. It is required to make things happen (to do work). Work is done when a force causes movement.
systems and Interactions
A system is a collection of living and/or non-living things and processes that interact to perform some function. A system includes inputs, outputs, and relationships among system components. natural and human systems develop in response to, and are limited by, a variety of environmental factors.
structure and Function
this concept focuses on the interrelationship between the function or use of a natural or human-made object and the form that the object takes.
sustainability and stewardship
sustainability is the concept of meeting the needs of the present with- out compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
stewardship involves understanding that we need to use and care for the natural environment in a responsible way and making the effort to pass on to future generations no less than what we have access to ourselves. Values that are central to responsible stewardship are: using non-renewable resources with care; reusing and recycling what we can; switching to renewable resources where possible.
Change and Continuity
Change is the process of becoming different over time, and can be quantified.
Continuity represents consistency and connectedness within and among systems over time. Interactions within and among systems result in change and variations in consistency.
INTRODUCTION