Final Draft: August 2006 - Nelson

1 Final draft : August 2006 Please note: this Final draft of Science Grade 9 has been provided to assist school districts, schools, and teachers in preparing to deliver Science Grade 9 in 2007/2008, the first of year of prescribed implementation. Although this document is provided as draft material, it is anticipated that the Final Science Grade 9 curriculum will be consistent with this draft . Feedback on an earlier draft of Science 8 to 10 was collected from June to December 2005. This feedback was provided by focussed review sessions as well as interested teachers, students, parents, school district staff, education partners, and stakeholders. This Final draft of Science Grade 9 reflects revisions made as a result of this feedback. The ministry of education has provided this Final draft of Science Grade 9 for informational purposes only. Feedback on this draft is not required. SCIENCE GRADE 9 Integrated Resource Package 2006 GBG 017 Copyright 2006 ministry of education , Province of British Columbia.

2 Copyright Notice No part of the content of this document may be reproduced in any form or by any means, including electronic storage, reproduction, execution, or transmission without the prior written permission of the Province. Proprietary Notice This document contains information that is proprietary and confidential to the Province. Any reproduction, disclosure, or other use of this document is expressly prohibited except as the Province may authorize in writing. Limited Exception to Non-Reproduction Permission to copy and use this publication in part, or in its entirety, for non-profit educational purposes within British Columbia and the Yukon, is granted to (a) all staff of BC school board trustees, including teachers and administrators; organizations comprising the Educational Advisory Council as identified by Ministerial Order; and other parties providing, directly or indirectly, educational programs to entitled students as identified by the School Act, 1996, , or the Independent School Act, 1996, , and (b) a party providing, directly or indirectly, educational programs under the authority of the Minister of the Department of education for the Yukon Territory as defined in the education Act, 2002, TABLE OF CONTENTS IMPLEMENTATION SEPT.

3 2007 SCIENCE 9 3 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Acknowledgments .. 5 PREFACE Preface .. 7 INTRODUCTION TO SCIENCE 8 TO 10 Rationale .. 11 Requirements and Graduation Credits .. 11 Graduation Program Examination .. 11 Goals for Science 8 to 10 .. 12 The 2006 Science 8 to 10 Revision .. 12 Curriculum Organizers .. 13 Aboriginal Content in the Science 8 to 10 Curriculum .. 13 Suggested Time Frame .. 14 Science K to 10: At a Glance .. 16 CONSIDERATIONS FOR PROGRAM DELIVERY Alternative Delivery Policy .. 19 Addressing Local Contexts .. 19 Involving Parents and Guardians .. 19 Course Requirements Respecting Beliefs .. 20 Safety Considerations .. 20 Confidentiality .. 20 Inclusion, Equity, and Accessibility for all Learners .. 21 Working with the School and Community .. 21 Working with the Aboriginal Community.

4 22 Information and Communications Technology .. 22 Copyright and Responsibility .. 22 PRESCRIBED LEARNING OUTCOMES Prescribed Learning Outcomes .. 27 Prescribed Learning Outcomes Grade 9 .. 30 STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT Introduction .. 33 Grade 9 Processes of Science .. 38 Life Science .. 41 Physical Science .. 43 Earth and Space Science .. 47 TABLE OF CONTENTS 4 SCIENCE 9 IMPLEMENTATION SEPT. 2007 CLASSROOM ASSESSMENT MODEL Introduction .. 53 Classroom Model Grade 9 Processes of Science .. 59 Life Science .. 62 Physical Science.

5 67 Earth and Space Science .. 83 LEARNING RESOURCES Learning Resources .. 103 GLOSSARY Glossary .. 107 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS IMPLEMENTATION SEPT. 2007 SCIENCE 9 5 any people contributed their expertise to this document. The Project Manager was Mr. Wa l Afifi of the ministry of education , working with other ministry personnel and our partners in education . We would like to thank all who participated in this process. SCIENCE 8 TO 10 IRP WRITING TEAM Matthew Bourget School District (Comox) Andrew Chisholm School District No 57 (Prince George) Diana Kermer School District No 36 (Surrey) Barbara McKinley School District No 44 (North Vancouver) GT Publishing Services, Ltd. project coordination, writing, and editing M PREFACE IMPLEMENTATION SEPT. 2007 SCIENCE 9 7 his Integrated Resource Package (IRP) provides information teachers will require in order to implement Science 8 to 10. This document supersedes the Science 8 to 10 Integrated Resource Package 1996, according to the following implementation schedule: September 2006 for grade 8; September 2007 for grade 9; September 2008 for grade 10.

6 The information contained in this document is also available on the Internet at The following paragraphs provide brief descriptions of the components of the IRP. INTRODUCTION The Introduction provides general information about Science 8 to 10, including special features and requirements. Included in this section are a rationale for teaching Science 8 to 10 in BC schools information about graduation program requirements and provincial examinations goals for Science 8 to 10 information about the revision process that led to the publication of this document descriptions of the curriculum organizers groupings for prescribed learning outcomes that share a common focus Aboriginal content in the science curriculum suggested time allotments for each course a graphic overview of the curriculum content from K to 10 CONSIDERATIONS FOR PROGRAM DELIVERY This section of the IRP contains additional information to help educators develop their school practices and plan their program delivery to meet the needs of all learners.

7 PRESCRIBED LEARNING OUTCOMES This section contains the prescribed learning outcomes. Prescribed learning outcomes are the legally required content standards for the provincial education system. They define the required attitudes, skills, and knowledge for each subject. The learning outcomes are statements of what students are expected to know and be able to do by the end of the course. STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT This section of the IRP contains information about classroom assessment and measuring student achievement, including sets of specific achievement indicators for each prescribed learning outcome. Achievement indicators are statements that describe what students should be able to do in order to demonstrate that they fully meet the expectations set out by the prescribed learning outcomes. Achievement indicators are not mandatory; they are provided to assist teachers in assessing how well their students achieve the prescribed learning outcomes. Also included in this section are key elements descriptions of content that help determine the intended depth and breadth of prescribed learning outcomes.

8 CLASSROOM ASSESSMENT MODEL This section contains a series of classroom units that address the learning outcomes. The units have been developed and piloted by BC teachers, and are provided to support classroom assessment. These units are suggestions only teachers may use or modify the units to assist them as they plan for the implementation of this curriculum. Each unit includes the prescribed learning outcomes and suggested achievement indicators, a suggested timeframe, a sequence of suggested assessment activities, and sample assessment instruments. T PREFACE 8 SCIENCE 9 IMPLEMENTATION SEPT. 2007 LEARNING RESOURCES This section contains general information on learning resources, providing a link to titles, descriptions, and ordering information for the recommended learning resources in the Science 8 to 10 Grade Collections.

9 GLOSSARY The glossary defines selected terms used in this Integrated Resource Package. INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION TO SCIENCE 8 TO 10 IMPLEMENTATION SEPT. 2007 SCIENCE 9 11 his Integrated Resource Package (IRP) sets out the provincially prescribed curriculum for Science 8 to 10. The development of this IRP has been guided by the principles of learning: Learning requires the active participation of the student. People learn in a variety of ways and at different rates. Learning is both an individual and a group process. In addition to these three principles, this document recognizes that British Columbia s schools include students of varied backgrounds, interests, abilities, and needs. Wherever appropriate for this curriculum, ways to meet these needs and to ensure equity and access for all learners have been integrated as much as possible into the learning outcomes, achievement indicators, and assessment activities.

10 Science 8 to 10, in draft form, was available for public review and response from June to December, 2005. Feedback from educators, students, parents, and other educational partners informed the development of this updated IRP. RATIONALE Science education in British Columbia is designed to provide opportunities for students to develop scientific knowledge, skills, and attitudes that will be relevant in their everyday lives and their future careers. In addition to introducing them to current concepts, findings, and processes in various scientific disciplines biology, physics, chemistry, astronomy, and geology it encourages them to develop a positive attitude toward science examine basic concepts, principles, laws, and theories through scientific inquiry demonstrate respect for precision develop awareness of assumptions in all forms of science-related communication separate fundamental concepts from the less important or irrelevant identify supporting or refuting information and bias recognize that scientific knowledge is continually developing use given criteria for evaluating evidence and sources of information actively gain knowledge, skills, and attitudes that provide the basis for sound and ethical problem solving and decision making assess the impact of science and technology on individuals, society.