Page 62 - The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 9 and 10: Science, 2008 (revised)

a1. demonstrate scientific investigation skills (related to both inquiry and research) in the four areas of skills (initiating and planning, performing and recording, analysing and interpreting, and communicating);
a2. 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.
A1. Scientific Investigation Skills
THE ONTARIO CURRICULUM, GRADES 9 AND 10 | science
SPECIFIC EXPECTATIONS
Throughout this course, students will:
Initiating and Planning [IP]*
a1.1 formulate scientific questions about observed relationships, ideas, problems, and/or issues, make predictions, and/or formulate hypotheses to focus inquiries or research
a1.2 select appropriate instruments (e.g., soil sam- pling instruments, a pneumatic trough and test tubes, magnifying lenses, an electroscope) and materials (e.g., ebonite rods, star charts, oxygen testing splints, pH paper) for particular inquiries
a1.3 identify and locate print, electronic, and human sources that are relevant to research questions
a1.4 apply knowledge and understanding of safe practices and procedures when planning investi- gations (e.g., appropriate techniques for handling, storing, and disposing of laboratory materials [following the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System–WHMIS]; safe operation of electrical equipment; safe handling of bio- logical materials), with the aid of appropriate support materials (e.g., the Reference Manual on the WHMIS website; the Live Safe! Work Smart! website)
Performing and Recording [PR]*
a1.5 conduct inquiries, controlling some vari- ables, adapting or extending procedures as required, and using standard equipment and materials safely, accurately, and effectively, to collect observations and data
a1.6 gather data from laboratory and other sources, and organize and record the data using appro- priate formats, including tables, flow charts, graphs, and/or diagrams
a1.7 select, organize, and record relevant infor- mation on research topics from various sources, including electronic, print, and/or human sources (e.g., Statistics Canada publications, NASA or EnerGuide websites, personal inter- views), using recommended formats and an accepted form of academic documentation
Analysing and Interpreting [AI]*
a1.8 analyse and interpret qualitative and/or quantitative data to determine whether the evi- dence supports or refutes the initial prediction or hypothesis, identifying possible sources of error, bias, or uncertainty
a1.9 analyse the information gathered from re- search sources for reliability and bias
a1.10 draw conclusions based on inquiry results and research findings, and justify their conclusions
a. Scientific inveStigation SkillS and career exploration
OVERALL EXPECTATIONS
Throughout this course, students will:
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* The abbreviation(s) for the broad area(s) of investigation skills – IP, PR, AI, and/or C – are provided in square brackets at the end of the expectations in strands B–E to which the particular area(s) relate (see pp. 19–21 for information on scientific investigation skills).