Science 9

Mrs. A. Bradley
2016/17

Goals

The goals of the Alberta science education system are to:

 Encourage students to develop a critical sense of wonder and curiosity about

scientific and technological endeavours.
 Enable students to use science and technology to gain new knowledge and solve
problems.
 Prepare students to critically address science-related societal, economic, ethical
and environmental issues.
 Provide students with a foundation in science that creates opportunities for the
study of science at higher levels.
 Enable students to develop knowledge of wide spectrum of careers related to
science, technology and the environment.

Units of Study

Unit 1 – Biological Diversity 8 weeks

Focusing Questions: What is biological diversity?

How do living things pass on their characteristics to
future generations?
What impact does human activity have on biological
diversity?

Key Concepts:

- biological diversity - inheritance

- species - chromosomes, genes and DNA
- diversity within species - cell division
- habitat diversity - natural and artificial selection of genetic
- niches characteristics
- populations
- asexual and sexual reproduction
Unit 2 – Matter and Chemical Change 10 weeks

Focusing Questions: How are the properties of a material affected during

a chemical change?
How can it be determined if a change is chemical or
physical?
What ideas, theories or models help us explain that a
chemical change has occurred?

Key Concepts:

- WHMIS and safety - factors affecting reaction rates

- substances and properties - periodic table
- endothermic and exothermic reactions - elements compounds and atomic
- reactants and products theory
- conservation of mass - chemical nomenclature

Unit 3 – Environmental Chemistry 7 weeks

Focusing Questions:
What compounds are found in our local and global
environment?
How do these compounds help sustain life?
How do changes in the concentration and distribution
of these compounds affect living things?

Key Concepts:

- chemicals essential to life - concentration and dispersal

- substrates and nutrients
- air and water quality
- organic and inorganic material
- acids and bases
- ingestion and absorption of materials
- evidence of toxicity
- stability and biodegradability
- hazards, probability and risk
assessment
- uncertainties in environmental
monitoring and assessing toxicity and
risk
Unit 4 – Electrical Principles and Technologies 9 weeks

Focusing Questions: How do we obtain and use electrical energy?

How does electrical devices use and control the
amount of energy received?
What new technologies can be used or developed that
are efficient and effective in their energy use?

Key Concepts:

- forms of energy - electrical energy storage

- energy transformation
- generation of electrical energy
- electric charge and current
- circuits
- renewable and non-renewable energy
- energy transmission
- measures and units of electrical
energy
- electrical resistance and Ohm’s law

Unit 5 – Space Exploration 5 weeks

Focusing Questions: How have humans attained a presence in space?

What scientific technologies have been developed for
space exploration?
How have these technologies for space exploration
benefited Earth?

Key Concepts:

- technologies for space exploration and observation

- reference frames for describing position and motion in space
- satellites and orbits
- distribution of matter through space
- composition and characteristics of bodies in space
- life-support technologies
- communication technologies

Required Material
  Science Focus 9 text
 Blue or black pens for writing notes
 Pencils and eraser
 3 ring binder
 calculator

Evaluation

 Assignments/Activities 10%
 Quizzes 20%
 Labs/projects 15%
 Unit exams (at the end of each unit) 25%

o Midterm 10%
o Final (P.A.T) 20%

***** I will be using the Science Focus 9 textbook as well as various internet websites
(i.e. Edquest.ca, Alberta Education, etc.) *******

Classroom Expectations
Students are expected to:

1. Come to class regularly.

2. Be on time for class.
3. Show respect to:
I. The classroom and its belongings
II. Your classmates and their belongings
III. The teacher
IV. The educational assistants

4. Come to class prepared (i.e. Binder, textbook, pens/pencils, homework, etc.).

5. Hand in completed assignments on time!!
6. Make up any missed work. See me or a classmate for missed
notes/assignments.
7. Unexcused absences will NOT be tolerated.
8. Follow the school dress code.
9. Other