Nova Scotia

Atoms and Elements

• Physical and Chemical Changes

  • Perform experiments, collect evidence, report findings, and demonstrate a knowledge of WHMIS standards in the laboratory

    • The process of scientific inquiry (9-A.1)
    • Identify control and experimental groups (9-A.2)
    • Identify independent and dependent variables (9-A.3)
    • Identify the experimental question (9-A.4)
    • Identify questions that can be investigated with a set of materials (9-A.5)
    • Identify laboratory tools (9-B.1)
    • Laboratory safety equipment (9-B.3)

  • Investigate materials and describe them in terms of their physical properties

  • Describe changes in the properties of materials that result from some common chemical reactions

    • Explore chemical structure and properties: soapmaking (9-R.5)
    • Explore chemical structure and properties: food flavours (9-R.6)

• Atomic Theory

  • Use models in describing the structure and components of atoms and molecules, and explain the appropriate operational definition

    • Classify elementary substances and compounds using chemical formulas (9-O.5)
    • Classify elementary substances and compounds using models (9-O.6)
    • Count subatomic particles in atoms and ions (9-O.7)
    • Nuclear notation for atoms and ions (9-O.8)

• Periodic Table

  • Identify examples of common elements, and compare their characteristics and atomic structure

  • Use the periodic table as a classification system and compile data about its structure

  • Identify the elements and number of atoms, given a chemical formula

    • How are substances represented by chemical formulas and models? (9-O.2)
    • Identify elementary substances and compounds using chemical formulas (9-O.3)
    • Describe the atomic composition of molecules (9-O.4)

  • Provide examples of scientific knowledge that have resulted in the development of technologies

  • Provide examples of technologies that have enhanced, promoted, or made possible scientific research

  • Explain and provide examples of how society's needs for chemistry incorporate science, technology, and environment

Characteristics of Electricity

• Electric Current

  • Describe the flow of charge in an electrical circuit and explain the factors affecting the circuit

  • Investigate, in the laboratory, and compare qualitatively, static electricity and electric current

• Series and Parallel Circuits

  • Describe series and parallel circuits involving varying resistance, voltage, and current

    • Ohm's law: voltage, current and resistance (9-U.1)

  • Rephrase questions in a testable form and clearly define practical problems

  • Use instruments effectively and accurately for collecting data

  • Identify and suggest explanations for discrepancies in data and identify potential sources of error and determine the amount of error in measurement

• Electricity, Energy, and the Environment

  • Relate electrical energy to domestic power consumption costs

  • Determine quantitatively the efficiency of an electrical appliance that converts electrical energy to heat energy

  • Describe the transfer and conversion of energy from a generating station to the home

  • Make informed decisions and propose a course of action on science, technology, and social issues, including human and environmental needs for electricity and energy

Space Exploration

• The Beginnings

  • Describe theories on the formation of the solar system

    • Gravity and its role in the universe (9-Y.10)

  • Explain the need for new evidence in order to continually test existing theories about the composition and origin of our solar system and galaxies

  • Describe theories on the origin and evolution of the universe

• The Universe

  • Describe and classify the major components of the universe

    • Structure of the universe (9-Y.8)

  • Describe and explain the apparent motion of celestial bodies

    • Gravity and its role in the universe (9-Y.10)

  • Provide and describe examples of how Canadian research projects and careers are supported through science and technology

• The Solar System

  • Describe the composition and characteristics of the components of the solar system

    • Identify objects in the solar system (9-Y.6)
    • Analyze data to compare properties of planets (9-Y.7)

  • Explain the need for new evidence in order to continually test existing theories and identify new questions that arise

  • Describe the effects of solar phenomena on Earth

  • Propose alternative solutions to space life, develop a plan and data, and defend, with a report, your group's position

Reproduction

• Cellular Processes

  • Illustrate and describe the basic processes of mitosis and meiosis

    • Introduction to cell division (9-H.1)
    • The cell cycle (9-H.2)
    • Describe phases of mitosis and the cell cycle (9-H.3)
    • Identify phases of mitosis and the cell cycle in plant cells (9-H.4)
    • Introduction to the genetic code (9-I.1)
    • Sexual reproduction and genetic variation: part I (9-J.1)
    • Sexual reproduction and genetic variation: part II (9-J.2)

  • Identify major shifts in scientific world views

  • Compile and report data and predict values of variables by doing activities on cell populations

    • Introduction to cell division (9-H.1)
    • Patterns of population growth (9-M.3)

• Reproduction

  • Identify questions and investigate, in the laboratory, the reproduction of plants and communicate findings

  • Distinguish between sexual and asexual reproductions in representative organisms

    • Sexual reproduction and genetic variation: part I (9-J.1)

  • Compare sexual and asexual reproduction in terms of their advantages and disadvantages

    • Sexual reproduction and genetic variation: part I (9-J.1)

• Genetics

  • Provide examples that arise at home, in an industrial setting, or in the environment that cannot be solved using scientific and technological knowledge

  • Discuss factors that may lead to changes in a cell's genetic information

  • Select and integrate genetics information from various sources and apply criteria for evaluating evidence and sources of information

  • Provide examples of science and technology, including Canadian, that have contributed to and developed genetic knowledge