International Baccalaureate Program (IB)

International Baccalaureate Program (IB)

The IB program is a comprehensive and rigorous program of studies that prepares students for examinations administered world- wide in May of the students’ graduating year. The standing which students obtain on these examinations and on their IB supervised internal assessed coursework determine their IB grades, recognized by universities throughout the world. Many North American universities grant first year standing for courses in which students have achieved well on their IB Higher Level examinations. IB graduates are well prepared for post- secondary education.

IB Curriculum and Assessment division (IBCA) offers all of its examinations at two levels - Higher and Standard. Students may register for individual examinations to obtain IB Certificates. They are, however, encouraged to pursue the highest level of achievement within the program, the IB Diploma. The Diploma requires that students study six subjects, representing at least five subject areas, and write six examinations, three at the Higher Level and three at the Standard level. In addition to which, Diploma candidates must complete a major research project called the Extended essay, they must participate in extra-curricular and social service activities (CAS) and they must complete a special course called Theory of Knowledge (ToK).

While IB is designed to be a two year curriculum for the final two years of high school, almost all North American schools find it necessary to have preliminary studies in order to enrich and accelerate the studies of prospective IB students. A pre- IB year aims to raise students’ entry level skills and knowledge.

Kelvin High School offers an IB preliminary year for Grade 10 students. In this year of studies all Kelvin pre-IB students follow an identical curriculum that prepares them for possible future Diploma studies. In this preliminary year students will study two languages – English and French, two math courses - Manitoba Grade 10 and Grade 11 pre-calculus courses, two Science courses and two social science courses. The particular content of the science and social science courses may vary with the staffing of Kelvin High School and with proposed curriculum revisions received from IBCA. This handbook describes course as they exist in December of 2007.

The following chart shows the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) course groupings with the specific subjects that Kelvin offers as of the 2007 –08 school year:

Group One - Language A - English HL

Group Two - Language B – French HL or SL.

Group Three - Social Sciences – History HL or SL; Economics HL or SL

Group Four - Sciences – Chemistry SL; Physics HL or SL

Group Five - Mathematics – Mathematics SL

Group Six - Arts or Electives – Computer Science HL; Visual Arts HL or SL; Music HL or SL

In most instances students decide between Higher Level (HL) and Standard Level (SL) designations in early November of their senior year when they register for IB final examination papers. IBO allows students to attempt the examination in one or two courses, Standard Level only, at the end of their penultimate year (Grade 11), and this is called Anticipated status. At present Kelvin students are registered as Anticipated Candidates in Chemistry SL.

For all subjects, students are awarded percentage grades and course credits by Kelvin High School according to the standards determined by Education Manitoba. In addition, students writing IB set exams are awarded International Baccalaureate grades in July after the IB examinations are assessed throughout the world.

International Baccalaureate Program

Group 1 - Language A - English

English IB Grade 10 ENGB2G

This course is a preparatory year to allow students to develop the written and oral skills necessary to have success in the intensive course work at the Grade11 and Grade12 levels. It consists of the study of a variety of short stories and poetry, novels, drama (including Shakespeare), as well as works which focus primarily on skill development.

English IB Grade11/Grade 12 ENGB 3S/4S

IB English is a two year course covering a variety of themes, styles and forms of literature in greater depth than in the regular program. Poems, essays, plays and novels are studied in the context of selected topics. World literature in translation is a special feature. Students' oral and written work is assessed, both internally and externally, over two years. Students write the provincial core English examination in January of the Grade 12 year as well as the Higher Level IB exam in May of their graduating year.

Group 2 - Language B - French

The French courses in the International Baccalaureate program offer two levels of study: Standard and Higher. Starting in Grade 10, students are placed in one of these levels according to their middle years experience. The Standard level courses are intended for students who have taken the Basic Core French program. Higher level French is geared to students who have immersion experience, or exceptional abilities in the language.

Standard Level

French SL IB Grade 10 FRSB2G

This course is designed to develop vocabulary and improve pronunciation and communication skills. It also aims to provide students with a solid grounding in French grammar, with a view to preparing them for the reading and writing demands of Grades 11 and 12.

French SL IB Grade 11 FRSB3S

The Language B French curriculum uses a communicative approach, based on thematic units. A wide variety of texts will be selected with a view to developing all four language skills, listening, reading, speaking and writing. Mastery of vocabulary and accuracy in writing are essential.

French SL IB Grade 12 FRSB4S

This course, using the communicative approach, covers fully all that is required for the Manitoba Grade 12 French credit. In addition, students are expected to make a conscious effort to broaden their vocabulary and to be attentive to French idiom, preparing themselves for the oral and written IB exams.

Higher Level French

French HL IB Grade 10 FREB2G

This course is designed to reinforce grammatical structures and communication skills, and to promote the development of accurate idiomatic expression. Students are also introduced to literary analysis by studying a variety of literary texts and novels.

French HL IB Grade 11 FREB3S

The Language B French curriculum adopts a communicative approach, based on thematic units while maintaining an emphasis on literary works. A wide variety of texts will be selected with a view to developing all four language skills, listening, reading, speaking and writing. Accurate use of the language is expected.

French HL IB Grade 12 FREB4S

Literary works and texts of other kinds, grouped along thematic lines, are studied. Emphasis is also placed on the literary essay and the commentary. Students prepare for an oral exam by making presentations in class.

Group 3 - Social Sciences

Geography/Geographie IB Grade 10 GEOB2G

This geography course is a regional study of North America, the physical and human characteristics of: the Agricultural Interior, the Western Cordillera, the North, Atlantic-Canada/Appalachia, the Industrial Heartland, and the South. The goal is to examine these regions in detail in order to recognize the reciprocal relationship between humans and their environment, and to use geographical principles to understand and evaluate issues. Course work will involve individual and group assignments.

History IB Grade 11 HISB3S

This course fulfills the Manitoba requirement that all students study Canadian History. It places developments into a North American perspective in keeping with IB's regional study of the Americas. Students will be expected to complete more reading, research and writing than in the regular program. The course is thematically organized. It surveys First Nations’ history, French-English relations, Canadian-American relations, economic and social history, immigration, and foreign affairs.

History IB Grade 12 HIHB4S

This course, offered in the Grade 11 year, will begin with an analysis of the French Revolution and its consequences - Napoleon and the Concert of Europe. The shift from a feudal to an industrial capitalist economy will be studied, with an emphasis on Great Britain. Nationalism as a dominant force in this century will be looked at in terms of German and Italian unification. As well, the course will include an analysis of the major intellectual developments of the second half of the 19th century , such as liberalism, socialism and conservatism. The course will conclude with the social, political and diplomatic origins of WWI. This course must be chosen by those students wishing to do Higher Level History as part of their IB studies.

History IB Grade 12 HISB4S

The Grade12 IB History course, offered at Kelvin High School, studies historical change in the 20th century, focusing on certain themes: colonialism, war, revolutionary change and decolonization. The course is not Euro-centered but looks at 20th century history in a global context. Thus, the Americas (Argentina, Mexico, Cuba), Asia (China) and selected European countries are studied according to the themes listed above. For the years 2007-2008 the Stalinist Years will be studied as the feature intensive document study. The course is set up according to IB requirements governing both the Higher and Standard levels of study. For both levels, great emphasis is placed on writing skills, the reading of documents and the historiography of the subject. Each student is required to write a research essay on a selected topic for submission to IB examiners.

Economics IB Grade 11 and 12 ECOB3S/4S

Economics introduces the student to the basic tools of economic reasoning, offering an understanding of current problems while encouraging students to employ economic analysis in different situations. Topics discussed include the following: Resource Allocation, National Income, International Trade, Economic Development and Growth. The course is studied over 2 years and is deemed a sound introduction for university-bound students, interested in Arts, Law, Economics and Business Administration or Commerce. Portfolio work is required to be submitted to IB examiners.

Group 4 - Sciences

Grade 10 IB students take 2 credits in Science. At present, one course is Chemistry, the other essentially Physics. Students at the end of the year will have credit in Grade10 science and Grade11 Chemistry. This science program is designed to give students a strong background in science education, suitable for preparation for the IB examinations and university study.

Science IB Grade 10 SCIB2G

This course begins with an introduction to measurement in science. Science and then introduces students to the study of real world phenomena through geometric optics, kinematics and dynamics, including Newton's Law of Motion. This course also includes a strong practical laboratory component. Upon completion of this course students will be well prepared for the study of any experimental science.

Physics IB Grade 11 and 12 PHYB3S/4S

By the end of IB Grade 11 Physics, students will have covered the topics of the regular Physics Program plus additional topics. These are all done in greater depth than in regular Grade 11 Physics. By the end of IB Grade12 Physics, students will have covered all topics in Grade12 plus others, again in more depth. Students who follow this program are generally well prepared to cope with university Physics and Engineering Programs. General areas of study are: Kinematics, Dynamics, Optics, Waves, Electricity and Magnetism, as well as Modern Physics. Approximately one quarter of the time is devoted to practical work which includes an interdisciplinary group project. Both Standard and Higher Level Physics are offered.

Chemistry IB Grade 11 and 12 CHEB3S/4S

These courses are intended to prepare students for further study of Chemistry in higher education. Topics covered include: Matter, Atomic Structure, Chemical Bonding, Chemical Equilibrium and Organic Chemistry. The study of theoretical Chemistry will be supplemented, wherever possible, with laboratory work to develop manipulative and experimental skills. This course prepares students to write the Chemistry Standard Level IB exam.

Group 5 - Mathematics

Pre-Calculus Mathematics IB Grade 10 PCMB2S

In Grade 10, IB students take this course in Semester I. Students study the algebra content from the Manitoba Grade10 curriculum plus some basic theory of sets. This course also includes rational exponents and radicals, statistics, probability and sequences. The geometry portion of the course includes coordinate geometry and trigonometry. Students are expected to be competent in basic arithmetic and algebra, especially in working with integers, fractions, equations solving and the basic operations applied to algebraic expressions. Students should be willing to work hard to master more difficult concepts and logical reasoning.

Pre-Calculus Mathematics IB Grade 11 PCMB3S

The Grade 11 course is taken in Semester II of the Grade 10 year. This course includes quadratic functions, trigonometry, equation solving, coordinate geometry, deductive geometry, functions and relations from the Manitoba S3 curriculum plus some logic. At the end of the Grade 10 year, students will have obtained 2 credits in Math.

Pre-Calculus Mathematics IB Grade 12 PCMB4S

Taken in the Grade 11 year, the Manitoba Grade 12 curriculum includes theory of functions and relations, algebraic, exponential and logarithmic functions, circular functions, analytic geometry, trigonometry, binomial theorem, conic sections, further algebra and permutations, combinations, probability and statistics. Students will write the Provincial Examination in Grade 12 Pre-Calculus at the completion of this course.

Mathematic SL IB Grade 12 MAMB4S

In Grade 12, students study Calculus (differential and integral), vectors, and further analytic geometry, probability and statistics. Emphasis is placed on the logical development of the theory and in applications of the theory. Problem solving is an important feature of this curriculum. Students will be prepared to write the IB Mathematics Standard Level examination in May of the Grade 12 year.

Computer Science Grade 11 COSB3S

This course is open to Grade 10 and 11 IB students

This is a practical course which introduces computer programming using both the QBASIC and Visual Basic languages. Students will learn to create software for data processing and mathematical applications. It is an excellent course for anyone considering a career in computers, accounting, economics, engineering, management, mathematics, medicine, science or any course requiring problem solving skills.

Computer Science Grade 12 COSB4S

Prerequisite: Computer Science Grade 11

Programming in the C++ language is introduced, along with specialized topics such as algorithms, digital logic, internal representation and random number theory. Students will complete a major software development project.

Computer Science (IB) Grade 12 CSSB4S

Prerequisite: Computer Science Grade 12

This course is open to students in both the regular and IB programs who are intending to pursue further education and a career in computer science. Topics will include advanced algorithms, computer mathematics, systems analysis and problem solving techniques. Students will be expected to do some assignments through independent research. Students in the IB program may register to write the IB Computer Science Standard Level exam.

Group 6 The Arts and Electives

Visual Arts Grade 11 and 12 VIAB3S/4S

This is an art program designed for the student with a strong motivation and interest in art. This is, in effect, a 2 year program.

Year l -The first year is devoted to the attainment of fundamental skills in a variety of artistic activities - drawing, photography, sculpture, technical-architectural drawing, silk-screen, printmaking and design. These skills are taught through theme project work.

Year 2 -The majority of class time will be devoted to individual studio work and art-related visits and excursions. IB students wishing a Higher Level credit in Art Design must complete both studio and sketchbook options. Standard level students chose primarily either studio or sketchbook work to be examined externally.

Theory of Knowledge (2 half credits) TKHB3S/TKHB4S

This is a full course taken over a 2 year period. The purpose of this course is to stimulate critical reflection upon students' knowledge and experience both in and outside the classroom. Students examine what they and others know through analyzing concepts, arguments and value judgements. The 32S level is usually required for all S3 (Grade 11) IB students. The 42S level is open to all S4 (Grade 12) IB students but is a required subject only for the Diploma candidates.

Music IB Grade 11 and 12 MUSB3S/4S

A music program for students with a strong background and interest in music. The components of the course include history of western music, study of non-western music, musical literacy, performance, theory and music analysis. Open to students not intending to take the IB examination.