Overview: Ecosystems develop and are maintained by natural processes and are affected by human action. To foster an understanding of ecosystems, this unit develops student awareness of ecosystem components and interactions, as well as natural cycles and processes of change. Building on this knowledge, students investigate human impacts and engage in studies that involve environmental monitoring and research. By reflecting on their findings, students become aware of the intended and unintended consequences of human activity, and recognize the need for responsible decision making and action.

Focusing Questions: How do human activities affect ecosystems? What methods can we use to observe and monitor changes in ecosystems, and assess the impacts of our actions?

Candy plot study human interactions, Ecosystem change in a jar, Mealworm lab, Owl Pellet Study, Science 7 unit A labs summary, Tools for the Task, Wetlands lab

Overview: Humans have always depended on plants as a source of food and fibre, and to meet a variety of other needs. To better meet these needs, technologies have been developed for selecting and breeding productive plant varieties and for maximizing their growth by modifying growing environments. Long-term sustainability requires an awareness of the practices humans use and an examination of the impacts of these practices on the larger environment.

Focusing Questions: How do we produce useful plant products? What techniques do we use, what knowledge are these techniques based on, and how do we apply these techniques in a sustainable way?

Carnation Wonder, Greenhouse growing conditions, Growing Conditions of Plants, Science 7 unit B labs summary, Soil Sleuth, Speeding up germination, The role of a flower, tomatosphere

Overview: The production, transfer and transformation of heat energy plays an important role in meeting human needs. In learning about heat, students investigate sources and uses of heat energy and consider the impact of resource usage on our long-term ability to meet energy needs. In focusing their studies, students explore different applications, investigate the scientific principles involved and consider questions about the nature of heat. The particle model of matter is introduced to help students explain their observations and understand relationships between heat and temperature.

Focusing Questions: What heat-related technologies do we use to meet human needs? Upon what scientific principles are these technologies based? What implications do these technologies have for sustainable use of resources?

Absorb that Energy, Baffle you skin, Building your own Thermometer, Calibrating a Thermometer, Expanding solids, Expansion and Contraction of Liquids, Expansion and Contraction of Matter Demos, Plateau Problem, Science 7 unit C labs summary, The Right Device, Thermal conduction

FR Analyse Thermos, FR Conçois ta propre bouteille isolante, FR- Déjoue ta peau, FR-Absorber l’énergie, FR-La dilatation des solides, FR-L’appareil de conduction, FR-L’étalonnage du thermomètrer

Overview: Structures can be found in both natural and human-constructed environments, serving a variety of purposes and taking a wide range of forms. In learning about structures, students investigate the properties of materials used, and test them under different loads and forces. They examine different ways that structural components are configured, analyze forces involved, and investigate resulting effects on structural strength and stability. As part of their study, students also examine construction methods used in the past and the present and learn how science and technology link together in developing safe and efficient designs that meet human needs.

Focusing Questions: How do structures stand up under load? What forces act on structures, and what materials and design characteristics contribute to structural strength and stability?

Examining Forces, Internal forces - microscopic inv, Paper Olympics, Phone Book Friction Experiment, Science 7 unit D labs summary, Types of Bridges, Balanced balcony, Golf ball bridge, Tissue testing, Traditional structures

Overview: The scientific study of Earth is based on direct observation of landforms and materials that make up Earth’s surface and on the sample evidence we have of Earth’s interior. By studying this evidence, we discover patterns in the nature and distribution of Earth’s materials, and in the kinds of changes that take place. This knowledge can be used in developing models for geologic structures and processes—models that help both scientists and students enlarge their understanding of their observations, and guide further investigation and research.

Focusing Questions: What do we know about Earth—about its surface and what lies below? What evidence do we have, and how do we use this evidence in developing an understanding of Earth and its changes?

Candy bar plate tectonics, Crayon rock cycle, Determining Age, Geologists mystery, Internet volcanoes lab, Make a lasting impression, Plate movement activity, Rocks that Fizz, Science 7 unit E labs summary, Snack Tectonics, dinos plate tectonics, towelgeology

Overview: The materials that we use—including natural and manufactured ones—often take the form of fluids. Students learn that such diverse substances as air, natural gas, water and oil are fluids. In further investigations, they discover that many common household materials are aqueous solutions or suspensions in which the main component is water. Students learn that the properties of individual fluids are important to their use, including such properties as density, buoyancy, viscosity and the fluid’s response to changes in temperature and pressure. The particle model of matter is introduced to help students make a conceptual link between the nature of matter and the specific behaviour of fluids.

Focusing Questions: What are fluids? What are they made of and how do we use them? What properties of fluids are important to their use?

Calculating the Density of Various Fluids, Coke Distillation Lab 08, Compressing Fluids Lab, Density Graph various fluids, Density Mini Lab, Density of Solids, Drink Mixture Solubility, Egg Carton Hydraulic Monsters, Flow Rates, Investigating Markers, Paper Chromatography, Rate of dissolving, Saturated and Unsaturated solutions, Science 8 unit A labs summary, Temperature and solubility 

Overview: Living things take a variety of forms as reflected in their structures, internal processes and ways of responding to their environments. Finding pattern within this diversity has been a major challenge for the biological sciences and has led to the development of ideas, such as systems, cells, structures and functions—ideas developed from the study of all living things. Using these ideas, students learn to interpret life at a variety of levels, from individual cells to complex organisms. To develop their understanding, students investigate ways that components of a living system work together and, through these studies, learn that healthy organisms—including healthy humans—function as balanced systems within a life-supporting environment.

Focusing Questions: How can we make sense of the vast diversity of living things? What do living things have in common—from the smallest to the largest—and what variations do we find in the structure and function of living things?

Changes in Heart Rate, Letter e Lab, Osmosis and diffusion, Plant vs Animal Cells, Science 8 unit B labs summary, Spreading Diseases, Tracking down diseases, Unicelluar Organisms Lab, Urinalysis

FR - Cellule animale vs vegetale, FR - Organismes unicellulaire, FR - Osmose et diffusion, FR -Introduction au Microscope la lettre e

Overview: Our understanding of the world is based largely on what we see—both directly, and aided by optical devices that improve and extend our vision. Such tools as the microscope and telescope have helped extend knowledge in a variety of science fields, from the study of cells and stars to studies of the nature of light itself. In learning about light, students investigate its interactions with different materials and interpret its behaviour using a geometric ray model. Students then use their understanding of light to interpret a variety of light-based technologies and envisage new technologies we may use in the future.

Focusing Questions: What do we know about the nature of light? What technologies have been developed that use light, and what principles of light do they show?

Checking out images, Eye Dissection, Herschel experiment, Illuminating the nature of light, Light Up Your Life, Pinhole Camera, Reflection - The Law of Reflection, Refraction From Air to Solids, Science 8 unit C labs summary

Overview: Machines are used for many purposes in our daily lives when we need to transfer energy into motion or move materials in a controlled way. In learning about mechanical devices, students investigate how components are linked so that energy is transferred efficiently and desired functions are performed. A comparison of past and present technologies helps students recognize that different approaches have been used over time to meet common needs. Evaluations of efficiency, effectiveness and impacts on daily life, the community and the environment are important considerations in this unit.

Focusing Questions: How is energy transferred in mechanical devices? How do mechanical devices provide for controlled application of energy in ways that are efficient, effective and responsible?

Bicycle Gears, Bouncing Ball Lab, Hydraulic jack, Mousetrap Machines Assignment, Reynolds Alberta Museum form, Rube Golberg Performance Assessment, Science 8 unit D labs summary, Simple Machines-The right machine for the job, complex machines

Overview: Earth is sometimes described as the water planet: over two-thirds of Earth’s surface is covered by oceans and freshwater features. By exploring examples of aquatic systems, students come to appreciate the dynamic nature of these systems and learn about the interaction of land forms, sediments, water and climate. Students also investigate factors that affect the distribution and health of living things in aquatic environments and the supply and quality of water for human use.

Focusing Questions: How do water, land and climate interact? What are the characteristics of fresh water and saltwater systems, and how do they affect living things, including humans?

Aquatic Guide, Changing Water Quality, Pond Diversity, Salt water into fresh water, Science 8 unit E labs summary, Stream flow, Testing Water Quality

Overview: Biological diversity is reflected in the range of species found in local and global environments and by subtle variations in characteristics found within individual species. In this unit, students learn that diversity is maintained through natural processes of sexual and asexual reproduction, though the survival of individual species—and variations within those species—may be influenced by ecological and human-caused factors. Students examine trends toward loss of diversity and examine related issues concerning environmental quality and the impact of technologies.

Focusing Questions: What is biological diversity, and by what processes do diverse living things pass on their characteristics to future generations? What impact does human activity have on biological diversity?

Chromosomes of a Frimpanzee Student Worksheet – simplified, Flower Variation, Genetics Practice Problems - Computer Lab, Human Variation, Martian Mallow Mobots, Natural Selection and Evolution Teddy Graham L, Protective coloration and survival, Reproductive strategies, Sci 9 Biodiversity labs summary, Variation in the human hand

Overview: Different materials have different properties. The ability to distinguish between different substances and make sense of their properties, interactions and changes requires the development of ideas about chemical substance. In this unit, students are introduced to the formal study of chemical substance through laboratory investigations and introductory studies of chemical theory. In the laboratory, students observe and compare chemical substances and, with guidance on safety, investigate the properties of materials and the ways they interact. In conjunction with these studies, students are introduced to ideas about elements and compounds, and corresponding structural ideas about atoms and molecules. Theoretical ideas are introduced as means for explaining, interpreting and extending their laboratory findings; these ideas include a general introduction to the periodic table, chemical nomenclature and simplified ways of representing chemical reactions.

Focusing Questions: What are the properties of materials, and what happens to them during chemical change? What evidence do we have of chemical change; and what ideas, theories or models help us explain that evidence?

Conservation of Mass, Endothermic Exothermic Reactions, Factors that Affect Rates of Reaction Lab, Identifying Mystery Substances, Ionic or molecular, Modeling Molecular and Ionic Compounds, Observing Chemical Reactions, Physical vs Chemical Change LAB, Reaction Demo Procedures, Sci 9 Chemistry labs summary, Uncorked - rates of reaction 2

FR Physical Vs Chemical Change Lab, FR-Ioniquie ou Moleculaire, FR-La loi de la conservation de la masse

Overview: Environments are often viewed from a physical and biological perspective, but to fully understand how they function, it is important to view them from a chemical perspective as well. A study of environmental chemistry helps students understand that chemical substances make up the underlying fabric of the world and are part of the process in all natural cycles and changes. Through this unit, students also become aware of human-produced chemical substances that enter and interact with environments, and they investigate potential impacts of different substances on the distribution and abundance of living things.

Focusing Questions: What substances do we find in local and global environments? What role do they play, and how do changes in their concentration and distribution affect living things?

Acid Rain and Soil, Acids and Bases lab - Preparing Solutions, Aquatic Guide, Bury your garbage, Dissolved Oxygen Lab, Identifying Acids and Bases, Neutralizing Acids, One in a million, Phosphate lab, Sci 9 Environmental Chemistry labs summary, Science 9 Unit C videos, Telltale Creatures, Testing Organic Molecules, infobook

Overview: Electricity provides the means to energize many devices, systems and processes that are part of our technological environment. Electrical devices are used to transfer and transform energy, to provide mechanisms for control and to transmit information in a variety of forms. In this unit, students learn the principles that underlie electrical technologies, by studying the form and function of electrical devices and by investigating ways to transfer, modify, measure, transform and control electrical energy. Using a problem-solving approach, students create and modify circuits to meet a variety of needs. Students also develop skills for evaluating technologies, by comparing alternative designs and by considering their efficiency, effectiveness and environmental impact.

Focusing Questions: How do we obtain and use electrical energy? What scientific principles are involved? What approaches can we use in selecting, developing and using energy-consuming devices that are efficient and effective in their energy use?

Choosing Electrolytes, Circuits Wiring your Home, Current or Static Electricity, Electrical Circuits Lab, Fruity cells, Insulators and Conductors, Phantom Power, Resistance Lab, Resistance and Circuit Online Lab Links, Resistance and Circuits Gizmo, Sci 9 Electricity labs summary, Static Electricity Investigation, You've got the power

Overview: Technologies have played an essential role in the study of space and in the emerging use of space environments. Our modern understanding of space has developed in conjunction with advances in techniques for viewing distant objects, for transmitting images and data through space, and for manned and unmanned space exploration. A study of space exploration provides an opportunity for students to examine how science and technology interact and to learn how one process augments the other. Students become aware that technologies developed to meet the challenges of space are applied to new purposes.

Focusing Questions: How have humans attained a presence in space? What technologies have been developed and on what scientific ideas are they based? How has the development of these technologies contributed to the exploration, use and understanding of space and to benefits on Earth?

Analyzing Parallax, How Far is it, Position of objects in space, Sci 9 Space labs summary, Spectral analysis of elements, doppler effect

FR-Position of objects in space