WILLIAM LYON MACKENZIE

COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE
SNC1D GRADE 9 ACADEMIC SCIENCE COURSE OUTLINE

Welcome to Grade 9 Science! This course will help you to gain a deeper understanding of chemistry, ecology, electricity, space and astronomy
as well as an understanding of the interrelationships between science, technology and the environment. You will also be given opportunities to
increase your skills in scientific inquiry, including designing and performing experiments. Please read the following document paying close
attention to your responsibilities and how you will be evaluated. Good luck!

Resources Assessment and Evaluation

Teacher: Mr. Devine The primary purpose of assessment and evaluation is to improve
Phone: 416.395.3330 x 20095 student learning. Assessment can take on one of three forms
Email: sean.devine@tdsb.on.ca (described below). See page 31 of Growing Success for a detailed
Course Website: D2L Website (Connect through AW page) description of assessment.

Textbook: The grade 9 science textbook. The replacement cost of Assessment FOR learning determines how learning
Diagnostic
the textbook is $90. should proceed at the beginning of a unit.

Booklets: On a regular basis your teacher will use information and
worksheets that have been compiled into a complete booklet by the Formative
Mackenzie Science Department. These booklets are available for
free download (see link below). You will be expected to come to
class with the appropriate pages from the booklets.
https://sites.google.com/site/scienceatmac/grade-9- Summative
science/resources-booklets
Assessment AS learning provides feedback for a student
to determine where improvement is needed. An
example of this is homework.
Assessment OF learning evaluates what a student has
learned at the conclusion of a unit/course. An example
of this is a test or exam.

Evaluation of student achievement will be defined by four broad

Tools for Success/Learning Skills Achievement Categories (described below). The category weighting
 Understand and follow this course outline for semester work is shown.
and the policies outlined in the Science
Department Safety Policy Document.
Responsibility
 Arrive on time
Semester Work 70%
 Come prepared to work with all necessary
Specific content acquired in the
tools Knowledge &
course and the comprehension 25%
Understanding
of its meaning and significance.
 Keep an organized notebook
Organization  Keep an organized calendar of important
The use of critical and creative
dates
Thinking & thinking skills and inquiry,
15%
Investigation research, and problem-solving
 Stay on task skills.
 Avoid disrupting the learning of others.
Independent
Work
 Do homework regularly and complete all The conveying of meaning
assigned work Communication 15%
through various forms.
 Review/study the work often
The use of knowledge and skills
 Be a responsible group member. Application to make connections within and 15%
 Help your peers succeed by sharing ideas, between various contexts.
Collaboration tutoring and studying together
 Prepare for labs as a team with a focus on
Final Exam
each other’s safety
(may include a lab and/or culminating activity 30%
 Be active participants in the classroom component up to 10%)
 Ask questions when unsure of the material
Initiative & seek extra help when needed.
 Ensure that you get any missed handouts Accommodations/Modifications
and catch up on missed work Accommodations will be made by the teacher to meet your needs to
the best of his/her ability. Modifications to programs may occur in
 Set goals and make good choices regarding consultation with you, your parent/guardian and school team. You
Self-
academic success. and your teacher will work together to ensure successful learning.
Regulation
 Respect yourself, classmates and teachers.
2018-2019
Cheating/Plagiarism
Examples of plagiarism include copying or paraphrasing from a source (electronic or print) without acknowledging the source. Copying a fellow
classmate’s work is plagiarism. Any evaluation in which plagiarism/cheating is identified will receive a mark of zero. Please refer to student agenda
for further explanation and citation information.

Late and Missed Assignments

The Evaluation of Late and Missed Assignments
Students are responsible for completing and submitting work for evaluation on time. They are responsible for being aware of each due date and
the ultimate deadline which is the last opportunity to submit an assignment for evaluation.
Sufficient time and notice will be given for tests and for students to complete assignments. There are a number of strategies to be used to help
prevent and/or address late and missed assignments which may be employed by the teacher as outlined in Growing Success page 43. When a
number of strategies have been tried, marks may be deducted up to and including the full value of the assignment.

Missed Tests and Presentations

If a student is aware that they will miss a scheduled test/presentation they must advise the teacher ahead of time and an alternate arrangement
will be made between the student and teacher. On the day of the absence alternate arrangements will be made provided there is parental
notification to the office and the teacher that the test/presentation will be missed. Professional judgment will be used by the teacher in
determining the evaluation of missed tests and presentations.

Overall Course Expectations

Specific expectations can be found at the Ministry of Education’s Website: http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/curriculum/secondary/science.html
A. SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION SKILLS AND CAREER EXPLORATION
Throughout this course, students will:
 demonstrate scientific investigation skills (related to both inquiry and
research) in the four areas of skills (initiating and planning, performing and
recording, analyzing and interpreting, and communicating);
 identify and describe a variety of careers related to the fields of science
under study, and identify scientists, including Canadians, who have made
contributions to those fields.
B. BIOLOGY: SUSTAINABLE ECOSYSTEMS
 Ecosystems are dynamic and have the ability to respond to change, within
limits, while maintaining their ecological balance.
 People have the responsibility to regulate
their impact on the sustainability of
ecosystems in order to preserve them for
future generations.
By the end of this course, students will:
 assess the impact of human activities on
the sustainability of terrestrial and/or
aquatic ecosystems, and evaluate the
effectiveness of courses of action intended
to remedy or mitigate negative impacts;
 investigate factors related to human activity that affect terrestrial and
aquatic ecosystems, and explain how they affect the sustainability of
these ecosystems;
 demonstrate an understanding of the dynamic nature of ecosystems,
particularly in terms of ecological balance and the impact of human
activity on the sustainability of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
C. CHEMISTRY: CHEMICAL REACTIONS
 Elements and compounds have specific physical and chemical properties
that determine their practical uses.
 The use of elements and compounds has both
positive and negative effects on society and the
environment.
By the end of this course, students will:
 assess social, environmental, and economic impacts
of the use of common elements and compounds,
with reference to their physical and chemical
properties;
 investigate, through inquiry, the physical and chemical properties of
common elements and compounds;
 demonstrate an understanding of the properties of common elements and
compounds, and of the organization of elements in the periodic table.
D. EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE: THE STUDY OF THE UNIVERSE
 Different types of celestial objects in the solar system and universe have
distinct properties that can be investigated and quantified.
 People use observational evidence of the properties of the solar system
and the universe to develop theories to explain their formation and
evaluation.
 Space exploration has generated
valuable knowledge but at
enormous cost.
By the end of this course, students
will:
 assess some of the costs, hazards,
and benefits of space exploration
and the contributions of Canadians to space research and technology;
 investigate the characteristics and properties of a variety of celestial
objects visible from Earth in the night sky;
 demonstrate an understanding of the major scientific theories about the
structure, formation, and evolution of the universe and its components
and of the evidence that supports these theories.
E. PHYSICS: THE CHARACTERISTICS OF ELECTRICITY
 Electricity is a form of energy produced from a variety of non-renewable
and renewable sources.
 The production and consumption of electrical
energy has social, economic, and
environmental implications.
 Static and current electricity have distinct
properties that determine how they are used.
By the end of this course, students will:
 assess some of the costs and benefits
associated with the production of electrical
energy from renewable and non-renewable
sources, and analyse how electrical efficiencies and savings can be
achieved, through both the design of technological devices and practices
at home;
 investigate, through inquiry, various aspects of electricity, including the
properties of static and current electricity, and the quantitative
relationships between potential difference, current, and resistance in
electrical circuits;
 demonstrate an understanding of the principles of static and current
electricity.

2018-2019