The Grade 9 course provides students with a foundation for learning the concepts and skills needed to prepare them for the future. Here are the areas of focus:

Students will:

• engage in an experiential approach to learning science concepts

• enhance their learning and skills throughout the course in the areas of biology, chemistry, physics, and Earth and space science

• investigate practical applications and various careers, including those in the skilled trades, enabling students to make connections between science and everyday life

Biology

Students will:

• learn about the environment through the concept of sustainable ecosystems and the interconnectedness of various ecological factors and processes, such as biodiversity, air and water quality and soil health

• recognize how human activities, including those that contribute to climate change, impact the environment, and explore ways to restore the balance in ecosystems

• investigate natural processes, such as the flow of energy and the cycling of matter, and their importance in maintaining balanced ecosystems

Chemistry

Students will:

• learn about the importance of chemistry in their daily lives, including the use and safe disposal of elements and compounds found in familiar products such as smartphones

• examine the impacts of chemical processes and technologies on society and the environment

• increase their understanding of the nature of matter, the structure of atoms and properties of elements and compounds, by exploring the periodic table of elements and through hands-on investigations

Earth and space science

Students will:

• expand their knowledge of the impacts of space exploration on society and the environment

• learn about the importance and effect of technological innovations derived from space exploration

• continue learning about the components of the solar system and the universe

• develop a better understanding of the Sun and its relationship to processes on Earth

Physics

Students will:

• understand the impacts of electrical energy production and consumption on society and the environment, and explore initiatives to achieve sustainable practices

• learn about the nature of electric charges, including their behavior in static electricity and electric current, through investigations (for example, building a circuit)

• examine the relationships between various characteristics of electricity