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Science 9/10 Curriculum

1. Curriculum Comparison: What Students Learn (Content)

 

The BC curriculum divides science into four "strands." In both grades, Indigenous knowledge is woven into every strand, focusing on sustainability, stewardship, and Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK).

 

A. Biology (Life Science)

 

  • Grade 9: Reproduction

    • Focus: How life continues.

    • Topics: Cell division (Mitosis vs. Meiosis), asexual reproduction (binary fission, budding), and sexual reproduction (human reproduction).

  • Grade 10: Genetics

    • Focus: How traits are passed down and vary.

    • Topics: DNA structure and function, genes and chromosomes, patterns of inheritance (dominant/recessive traits), mutations, and natural/artificial selection.

    • Ethics focus: GMOs, gene therapy, and cloning.

 

B. Chemistry (Physical Science)

 

  • Grade 9: Atoms & Elements

    • Focus: The building blocks of matter.

    • Topics: The Periodic Table, elements vs. compounds, the Bohr model of the atom, and naming simple ionic and covalent compounds.

  • Grade 10: Chemical Reactions

    • Focus: How matter changes and rearranges.

    • Topics: Types of chemical reactions (synthesis, decomposition, combustion, neutralization), balancing chemical equations, acids and bases (pH), and energy changes in reactions (exothermic vs. endothermic).

 

C. Physics (Physical Science)

 

  • Grade 9: Electricity

    • Focus: Moving charges.

    • Topics: Circuits (Series vs. Parallel), voltage, current, resistance (Ohm’s Law: $V=IR$), and electrical power ($P=IV$).

  • Grade 10: Energy

    • Focus: Energy transformation and conservation.

    • Topics: Kinetic and Potential energy, conservation of energy, thermal energy, and nuclear energy (fission vs. fusion and radiation).

 

D. Earth & Space Science

 

  • Grade 9: Sphere Interactions

    • Focus: Cycles on Earth.

    • Topics: The Biosphere, Geosphere, Hydrosphere, and Atmosphere. How matter cycles (Carbon, Water, Nitrogen cycles) and how energy flows through ecosystems.

  • Grade 10: The Universe

    • Focus: Formation of the cosmos.

    • Topics: The Big Bang Theory, formation of the universe, components of the universe (stars, galaxies), and astronomical data collection.

 

2. Scientific Skills (Curricular Competencies)

 

In both years, students are assessed not just on what they know, but what they can do. These are called Curricular Competencies:

  • Questioning & Predicting: Formulating hypotheses.

  • Planning & Conducting: Designing labs and safety (e.g., WHMIS).

  • Processing & Analyzing: Graphing data, identifying trends, and calculating error.

  • Evaluating: Identifying sources of error and bias.

  • Communicating: Writing lab reports and using scientific language.

 

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