Science 8

Core Competencies

Communicating
 
Collaborating
Critical and Reflective Thinking
 
Creative Thinking
Personal Awareness and Responsibility
 
Positive Personal and Cultural Identity
 
Social Awareness and Responsibility

Students are expected to know the following:

Students are expected to be able to do the following:

Big Ideas

Big Ideas

Life processes are performed at the cellular level

  • Sample questions to support inquiry with students:
    • How can you tell if something is living?
    • How do humans and micro-organisms interact?
.

The behaviour of matter can be explained by the kinetic molecular theory and atomic theory
  • Sample questions to support inquiry with students:
    • What are some practical applications of the kinetic molecular theory?
    • What is the relationship between the atomic theory and kinetic molecular theory?
.
Energy can be transferred as both a particle and a wave
  • Sample questions to support inquiry with students:
    • How does electromagnetic energy behave like both a particle and a wave?
    • What are the properties and behaviours of light?
    • How do you sense light?
.
The theory of plate tectonics is the unifying theory that explains Earth’s geological processes
  • Sample questions to support inquiry with students:
    • How does the movement of Earth’s tectonic plates cause observable changes and effects?
    • How does tectonic plate movement affect you locally?
    • What evidence of plate tectonic movement is shared by First Peoples?
.

Content

Learning Standards

Content

characteristics of life
living things respire, grow, take in nutrients, produce waste, respond to stimuli, and reproduce; there is debate as to whether or not to classify viruses as living things
cell theory
  • living things are made of one or more cells
  • all cells come from pre-existing cells
  • the cell is a basic unit of life
and types of cells
  • prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells
  • plant and animal cells
  • cells contain structures that carry out essential functions
photosynthesis and cellular respiration
the relationship of micro-organisms
  • micro-organisms are key to nutrient recycling in ecosystems as they act as decomposers
  • viruses and bacteria can cause disease and can also be used in industry (e.g., production of cheese and salami) and agriculture (e.g., production of striped tulips)
with living things:
  • basic functions of the immune system
    • the immune system provides a barrier to infections and a number of non-specific and specific responses to fight infection (e.g., fever, antibodies, phagocytes, inflammation)
    • different populations have greater immunity to certain infections than other populations (e.g., impact of smallpox epidemic on First Peoples)
  • vaccination
    vaccination can prevent the spread of infectious disease
    and antibiotics
    antibiotics are effective only against living organisms, such as bacteria, and not against viruses; overuse of antibiotics can lead to the development of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria (“superbugs”)
  • impacts of epidemics
    regional outbreaks (e.g., smallpox, measles)
    and pandemics
    global outbreaks (e.g., Spanish flu, SARS)
    on human populations
kinetic molecular theory (KMT)
explains how particles move in different states
atomic theory
provides evidence for the existence of atoms and molecules
and models
models can be used to represent:
  • the arrangement and motion of particles in different phases
  • the arrangement of and forces that bind protons, neutrons, and electrons in an atom
  • the quarks and leptons in protons, neutrons, and electrons
protons, neutrons, and quarks
protons and neutrons (made of quarks) are held together in the nucleus by a strong nuclear force
electrons and leptons
electrons (a type of lepton) are held at a distance from the nucleus through electromagnetism
types
types of electromagnetic radiation: the electromagnetic spectrum consists of radio, microwave, infrared, light, UV, X-ray, and gamma rays
and effects
effects of electromagnetic radiation: positive effects include cancer treatments; negative effects include sunburns
of electromagnetic radiation
light:
  • properties
    properties of light:
    • acts like both a wave and a particle
    • wavelength, amplitude, frequency
  • behaviours
    behaviours of light:
    • reflection, refraction, absorption, transmission, scattering
    • images formed by lenses and mirrors
    • effects of translucent, transparent, and opaque objects
  • ways of sensing
    ways of sensing light: human vision, optical instruments, cameras
plate tectonic movement
  • types of plate movements
  • plate boundaries
  • earthquakes and volcanoes
major geological events of local significance
First Peoples knowledge of:
  • local geological formations
  • significant local geological events
layers of Earth 

Curricular Competency

Learning Standards

Curricular Competency

Questioning and predicting

Questioning and predicting

Matter is anything that has mass and takes up space. Energy is the ability to cause change or do work. The universe is made up of matter and energy.

  • Key questions about matter and energy:
    • What is the relationship between matter and energy and the cell theory?
    • How do matter and energy connect to the kinetic molecular theory?
Demonstrate a sustained intellectual curiosity about a scientific topic or problem of personal interest
Make observations aimed at identifying their own questions about the natural world
Identify a question to answer or a problem to solve through scientific inquiry
Formulate alternative “If…then…” hypotheses based on their questions
Make predictions about the findings of their inquiry

Planning and conducting

Collaboratively plan a range of investigation types, including field work and experiments, to answer their questions or solve problems they have identified
Measure and control variables (dependent and independent) through fair tests
Observe, measure, and record data (qualitative
evidence expressed through words, descriptions, interviews, narratives
and quantitative
evidence expressed through numbers and measurement
), using equipment, including digital technologies, with accuracy
how close a measured value is to the actual value
and precision
how close measurements of the same type are to each other
Use appropriate SI units and perform simple unit conversions
Ensure that safety and ethical guidelines are followed in their investigations

Processing and analyzing data and information

Experience and interpret the local environment

Apply First Peoples perspectives and knowledge, other ways of knowing

Ways of knowing refers to the various beliefs about the nature of knowledge that people have; they can include, but are not limited to, Aboriginal, gender-related, subject/discipline specific, cultural, embodied and intuitive beliefs about knowledge.

, and local knowledge as sources of information

Construct and use a range of methods to represent patterns or relationships in data, including tables, graphs, keys, models, and digital technologies as appropriate
Seek patterns and connections in data from their own investigations and secondary sources
Use scientific understandings to identify relationships and draw conclusions

Evaluating

Reflect on their investigation methods, including the adequacy of controls on variables (dependent and independent) and the quality of the data collected
Identify possible sources of error and suggest improvements to their investigation methods
Demonstrate an awareness of assumptions and bias in their own work and secondary sources
Demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of evidence (qualitative and quantitative)
Exercise a healthy, informed skepticism and use scientific knowledge and findings from their own investigations to evaluate claims in secondary sources
Consider social, ethical, and environmental implications of the findings from their own and others’ investigations

Applying and innovating

Contribute to care for self, others, community, and world through personal or collaborative approaches
Co-operatively design projects
Transfer and apply learning to new situations
Generate and introduce new or refined ideas when problem solving

Communicating

Communicate ideas, findings, and solutions to problems, using scientific language, representations, and digital technologies as appropriate
Express and reflect on a variety of experiences and perspectives of place
Place is any environment, locality, or context with which people interact to learn, create memory, reflect on history, connect with culture, and establish identity. The connection between people and place is foundational to First Peoples perspectives of the world.
  • Key questions about place:
    • How does place inform your questions and inquiries?
    • How does place influence your ability to plan and conduct an inquiry and make predictions about outcomes?
    • How does your understanding of place affect the ways in which you collect evidence and evaluate it?
    • As you consider the significance, worth, or value of an outcome or finding, how can you show different ways of knowing?
    • How can your understanding of place influence project designs?
    • How do the place-based experiences and stories of others affect the ways in which you communicate and collaborate?