Canada · Ontario Curriculum Expectations
Grade 9 Science
This course explores the interconnected systems of the natural world through hands-on investigation and critical analysis. Students engage with the principles of biology, chemistry, physics, and earth science to understand how energy and matter flow through our environment.
Sustainable Ecosystems and Stewardship
Explores the complex interactions within local and global ecosystems and the impact of human activity on biodiversity.
Investigating how carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus move through biotic and abiotic components of an ecosystem.
Analyzing the factors that control the growth of populations and the carrying capacity of environments.
Examining how human choices affect ecosystem services and the long term health of the planet.
The Nature of Matter
A deep dive into atomic structure, the periodic table, and the physical and chemical properties of elements and compounds.
Tracing the evolution of atomic models and understanding the subatomic particles that define matter.
Exploring how the arrangement of elements predicts their reactivity and physical characteristics.
Investigating how atoms interact to form ionic and molecular compounds with distinct properties.
Principles of Electricity
Investigating static and current electricity through the study of circuits, resistance, and energy transformation.
Understanding the behavior of stationary electric charges and the laws of attraction and repulsion.
Designing and testing series and parallel circuits to understand voltage, current, and resistance.
Evaluating the efficiency and environmental impact of various methods of generating electricity.
Space Exploration and the Universe
Examining our place in the cosmos by studying celestial bodies and the technologies used to observe them.
Investigating the formation and characteristics of planets, moons, and other celestial objects.
Exploring the birth, life, and death of stars and the structure of the universe.
Analyzing the physical and biological hurdles of human and robotic exploration of space.
Earth Systems and Climate Change
Investigating the interactions between the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere and how they drive global climate.
Modeling how gases in the atmosphere trap heat and regulate Earth's temperature.
Studying how heat is distributed around the globe through currents and wind patterns.
Evaluating technological and policy-based solutions to the climate crisis.
Scientific Literacy and Engineering Design
Synthesizing scientific knowledge to solve real world problems using the engineering design cycle.
Applying iterative steps to define problems, develop prototypes, and refine solutions.
Exploring how engineers look to nature to solve complex human challenges.
Critically analyzing the societal impacts and ethical dilemmas presented by scientific advancement.