SCIENCE
“What we know is a drop, what we don’t know is an ocean.”
Isaac Newton
Introduction
As any parent can tell you, the growing mind of a child is full of endless questions about their world. And “Why” is a simple question that is and was the starting point of a myriad of scientific inquiries:
- Why do fruits fall from trees?
- Why can we see light or hear the sound?
- Why do some molecules react together quicker than others?
At the Korean International School of Hong Kong (KIS), the Science department creates an environment that encourages all our students to ask the “Why” questions in Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Psychology, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and Lower Secondary Science.
With an experienced team of subject experts and lab technicians, the Science department has over 30 years of cumulative experience in planning and implementing inquiry-based lessons, projects and experiments that creates a rich learning environment to foster an inquisitive mindset in our students, where they ask and search for answers to the “Why” questions.
Between Year 7 to 9, our students will progress through the Cambridge Lower Secondary Science curriculum. During these years, students will “…think scientifically and develop practical [lab] skills alongside knowledge and understanding…”. The curriculum culminates in a Checkpoint exam in Year 9 that tests students’ knowledge across the three years.
Starting at Year 10, students will specialise in the courses they learn by choosing the courses that interest them for the IGCSE and A-Level curriculum. During the IGCSE curriculum from Year 10 to 11, at least one of the courses they choose must be a science course. After year 11, our students may wish to continue learning science for their A-Level curriculum in Year 12 and 13.
“Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known.”
Carl Sagan
At the science department, we have high expectations of our students to push themselves to develop their inquisitive mindset further. In addition, we hope that our students will find answers to their questions. Perhaps more importantly, we hope our students will develop new, unanswered questions that guide and motivates them as they consider their future studies at university and they consider possible career paths.
“What I love about science is that as you learn, you don’t really get answers. You just get better questions.”
John Green
