Grade 7

Thermal Energy and Heat Technology

• Warming and cooling
• Thermal effects on matter
• Energy transfer systems

Structural Strength and Stability

• Describing structures and their construction
• Strength, forces and efficiency
• Stability and centre of gravity

Interactions with Ecosystems

• How organisms interact
• Keeping the system going
• The big picture: levels of life

Pure Substances and Mixtures

• Mixtures on pure substances
• Solutions
• Working with solutions and mixtures

Earth's Crust

• Minerals, rocks and soils
• Earthquakes, volcanoes and mountains
• The story of the earth's crust

Grade 8

Unit 1 – Cells and Systems

• Investigate living things with a focus on cells and systems using microscopes
• Learn processes that take place within the cell and investigate tissues, organs and organ systems
• Identify body's defense systems

Unit 2 – Optics

• Broaden understanding of how light is produced, transmitted and detected
• Identify colours as different wavelengths of light; explore why objects appear to have colour
• Study properties of reflection and refraction, along with their everyday applications
• Investigate concave and convex mirrors and lenses; look at how these devices function in optical tools; discover how the human eye compares to a camera lens

Unit 3 – Fluids

• Investigate the properties of fluids, including viscosity, density and compressibility
• Conduct experiments to determine factors that affect flow
• Compare the effects of fluids with different densities on the buoyant force of an object
• Use the particle theory of matter to explain relationships among pressure, volume and temperature
• Learn about the ability of liquids and gases to transmit forces in hydraulic and pneumatic devices

Unit 4 – Water Systems

• Investigate the properties of water and its global impact, comparing fresh and salt water
• Describe factors that affect ocean currents and regional climates
• Determine causes of flooding; identify sources of drinking water; explore water pollution problems

Grade 9

Research

• Topics to be checked by teacher
• Research using library, Internet and other media sources
• Topics may be expanded upon and used towards school science fair in February

Chemistry

• History of the atomic theory
• The atom
• Physical and chemical reactions
• Periodic table and the elements
• Compounds
• Balancing equations

Reproduction and Heredity

• Cell cycle and asexual reproduction
• Sexual reproduction and variation
• Human development
• Biotechnology

Science Fair

• All students must present a project
• May be research and display, experimentation or innovation  

Characteristics of Electricity

• Static electricity
• Understanding charges and electron movement
• Practical electricity and common circuits
• Electricity and the environment

The Earth and Space 

• Historical views of our planet
• The solar system
• Distances among the stars
• Issues of space exploration