Science and Technology

Children best acquire scientific knowledge through experimenting, manipulation and exploration with science materials. We promote children’s natural curiosity for the scientific world through interactive, hands-on learning, offering many opportunities for experiments, labs and exploration. We go far beyond what is normally expected in the Ontario curriculum. Turnbull students graduate very motivated and with the advanced competence to pursue sciences.

Science

A well equipped, purpose-built science lab, a wealth of resources, textbooks and equipment, as well as specialized science teachers teaching to small classes, ensure a very enriching experience for our students. They develop strong problem solving strategies and are spurred on to also question, explore and learn outside of their time in the classroom.

A school wide Science Fair celebrates our school’s emphasis on science. Every year many of our Grade 7 and 8 students qualify for, and have great success at, the Regional Science Fair, with some then winning a spot at the Canada Wide Fair where they have also received high honours and awards.

Computers & Technology

Two state of the art computer labs ensure that every student has regular computer classes and a curriculum which reinforces a variety of skills through cross-curricular assignments that deepen their learning. These include Internet safety, research, web animation, graphic design, video editing, publishing, graphing and keyboarding. In addition, students participate in a number of coding courses in grades 3 through 8 which helps develop their logic skills.

Having access to enriching and engaging technologies, such as two portable iPad labs, SmartBoards, scan-and-project devices, eInstruction’s Classroom Response System, mathematical video tutorials on our private web site, and a wide range of educational software are only a few ways in which we deepen the learning activities for our students.

Our primary students have an additional computer class a week in French, using many French sites and educational software to enhance their acquisition of this second language.

Students find our cross-curricular approach very motivating by making assignments “real”. They often use technology to enhance what they are learning and presenting in the classroom. Students do presentations using Smart Boards, PowerPoint, and document cameras. They create sophisticated posters on a Canadian history topic using computer graphic design and PhotoShop. Creating magazines for senior English class motivates students to communicate well. Such approaches result in deeper investigation of their assignments with a motivating way of presenting their work with pride.

Our grade 8 students also assist with key pages of our annual Year Book, learning many design, layout and graphic skills.