Canada · Ontario Curriculum Expectations
Grade 10 Science
A comprehensive survey of biological, chemical, and physical systems through the lens of inquiry and sustainability. Students investigate the interconnectedness of natural phenomena and develop scientific literacy through hands-on laboratory work and data analysis.
Genetics and Diversity of Life
Students examine the molecular basis of heredity and how DNA influences the characteristics of living organisms. The unit explores how genetic variation drives the process of evolution and biodiversity.
An investigation into the structure of DNA and how genetic information is passed from one generation to the next.
Exploring how environmental pressures lead to the survival of specific traits within a population over time.
An analysis of modern genetic technologies and their implications for medicine, agriculture, and society.
Chemical Reactions and Matter
This unit focuses on the patterns of chemical change and the predictable ways in which atoms rearrange to form new substances.
Students decode the organization of elements and predict their reactivity based on atomic structure.
Investigating how atoms join together to create the diverse range of substances found in the universe.
A study of chemical equations and the fundamental law that matter is neither created nor destroyed.
Physics of Motion and Energy
Students investigate the laws governing motion and the transfer of energy in mechanical systems.
Measuring and describing the movement of objects through displacement, velocity, and acceleration.
Analyzing how forces interact to change the state of motion of various objects.
Tracing the flow of energy from potential to kinetic forms in everyday machines and natural systems.
Earth Systems and Climate
An exploration of the complex interactions between the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere that regulate Earth's climate.
Understanding how Earth's atmosphere traps heat and the role of various gases in maintaining temperature.
Investigating how water and air move heat around the planet to create weather patterns.
Analyzing the evidence for rapid climate change and its effects on global ecosystems.
Cosmology and the Universe
Students look beyond Earth to understand the origins of the universe and the life cycles of stars.
Examining the evidence for the expansion of the universe and its hot, dense beginnings.
Tracing the path of a star from a nebula to its final stages as a white dwarf, neutron star, or black hole.
Reviewing the tools and missions that have expanded our knowledge of the solar system.
Sustainable Ecosystems
This culminating unit integrates biology and earth science to evaluate how human activity impacts ecological balance.
Analyzing the movement of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus through biotic and abiotic components.
Studying the factors that control the growth and decline of species populations.
Investigating scientific methods used to repair damaged ecosystems and protect biodiversity.