Alberta

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Skills available for Alberta grade 7 science curriculum

Objectives are in black and IXL science skills are in dark green. Hold your mouse over the name of a skill to view a sample question. Click on the name of a skill to practise that skill.

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Alberta Program of Studies: Heat and Temperature Alberta Program of Studies: Heat and Temperature
Alberta Program of Studies: Interactions and Ecosystems Alberta Program of Studies: Interactions and Ecosystems
Alberta Program of Studies: Planet Earth Alberta Program of Studies: Planet Earth
Alberta Program of Studies: Plants for Food and Fibre Alberta Program of Studies: Plants for Food and Fibre
Alberta Program of Studies: Structures and Forces Alberta Program of Studies: Structures and Forces

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B Plants for Food and Fibre

B.STS-K Outcomes for Science, Technology and Society (STS) and Knowledge
- B.STS-K.1 Investigate plant uses; and identify links among needs, technologies, products and impacts
  - B.STS-K.1.a illustrate and explain the essential role of plants within the environment
    - How do plants use and change energy? (7-M.1)
    - Identify the photosynthetic organism (7-M.2)
  - B.STS-K.1.b describe human uses of plants as sources of food and raw materials, and give examples of other uses (e.g., identify uses of plants as herbs or medicines; describe plant products, and identify plant sources on which they depend)
  - B.STS-K.1.c investigate trends in land use from natural environments (e.g., forests, grasslands) to managed environments s (e.g., farms, gardens, greenhouses) and describe changes
  - B.STS-K.1.d investigate practical problems and issues in maintaining productive plants within sustainable environments, and identify questions for further study (e.g., investigate the long-term effects of irrigation practices or fertilizer use)
    - Understand an experimental protocol about plant growth (7-B.5)
- B.STS-K.2 Investigate life processes and structures of plants, and interpret related characteristics and needs of plants in a local environment
  - B.STS-K.2.a describe the general structure and functions of seed plants (e.g., describe the roots, stem, leaves and flower of a common local plant)
    - Identify plant parts and their functions (7-I.1)
    - Identify flower parts and their functions (7-I.2)
  - B.STS-K.2.b investigate and interpret variations in plant structure, and relate these to different ways that plants are adapted to their environment (e.g., distinguish between plants with shallow spreading roots and those with deep taproots; describe and interpret differences in flower form and in the timing of flower production)
  - B.STS-K.2.c investigate and interpret variations in needs of different plants and their tolerance for different growing conditions (e.g., tolerance for drought, soil salinization or short growing seasons)
  - B.STS-K.2.d describe the processes of diffusion, osmosis, conduction of fluids, transpiration, photosynthesis and gas exchange in plants
    - Diffusion across membranes (7-H.2)
    - How do plants use and change energy? (7-M.1)
  - B.STS-K.2.e describe life cycles of seed plants, and identify example methods used to ensure their germination, growth and reproduction (e.g., describe propagation of plants from seeds and vegetative techniques, such as cuttings; conduct a germination study; describe the use of beehives to support pollination)
    - Angiosperm and conifer life cycles (7-L.1)
    - Moss and fern life cycles (7-L.2)
- B.STS-K.3 Analyze plant environments, and identify impacts of specific factors and controls
  - B.STS-K.3.a describe methods used to increase yields, through modifying the environment and by creating artificial environments (e.g., describe processes used in raising bedding plants or in vegetable production through hydroponics)
  - B.STS-K.3.b investigate and describe characteristics of different soils and their major component (e.g., distinguish among clayey soils, sandy soils and soils rich in organic content; investigate and describe particle sizes, compaction and moisture content of soil samples)
  - B.STS-K.3.c identify practices that may enhance or degrade soils in particular applications
  - B.STS-K.3.d describe and interpret the consequences of using herbicides, pesticides and biological controls in agriculture and forestry
- B.STS-K.4 Identify and interpret relationships among human needs, technologies, environments, and the culture and use of living things as sources of food and fibre
  - B.STS-K.4.a investigate and describe the development of plant varieties through selective breeding, and identify related needs and problems (e.g., identify needs leading to the development of new grain varieties; identify problems arising from the development of new plant varieties that require extensive fertilization)
  - B.STS-K.4.b investigate and identify intended and unintended consequences of environmental management practices (e.g., identify problems arising from monocultural land use in agricultural and forestry practices, such as susceptibility to insect infestation or loss of diversity)
  - B.STS-K.4.c identify the effects of different practices on the sustainability of agriculture and environmental resources (e.g., identify positive and negative effects of using chemical fertilizers and pesticides and of using organic farming practices)
B.S Skill Outcomes
- B.S.1 Initiating and Planning: Ask questions about the relationships between and among observable variables, and plan investigations to address those questions
  - B.S.1.a define practical problems (e.g., identify problems in growing plants under dry conditions)
  - B.S.1.b identify questions to investigate arising from practical problems and issues (e.g., What methods will help limit moisture loss from plants and soil? What reduction in the loss of soil moisture can be achieved through the use of a plastic ground sheet or through the use of a plastic canopy?)
  - B.S.1.c rephrase questions in a testable form, and clearly define practical problems (e.g., rephrase a broad question, such as: "What amount of fertilizer is best?" to become "What effect will the application of different quantities of fertilizer X have on the growth of plant Y and its environment?")
  - B.S.1.d state a prediction and a hypothesis based on background information or an observed pattern of events (e.g., predict the effect of a particular plant treatment)
  - B.S.1.e formulate operational definitions (e.g., define the health of a plant in terms of its colour and growth pattern)
- B.S.2 Performing and Recording: Conduct investigations into the relationships between and among observations, and gather and record qualitative and quantitative data
  - B.S.2.a research information relevant to a given problem
  - B.S.2.b construct and test a prototype design to achieve a specific purpose (e.g., develop and test a device for watering house plants over a two-week absence)
    - Identify parts of the engineering-design process (7-C.1)
  - B.S.2.c observe and record data, and create simple line drawings (e.g., describe plant growth, using qualitative and quantitative observations; draw and describe plant changes resulting from an experimental procedure)
  - B.S.2.d estimate measurements (e.g., estimate plant populations; estimate the surface area of a leaf)
    - Choose units of distance, mass and volume (7-V.1)
- B.S.3 Analyzing and Interpreting: Analyze qualitative and quantitative data, and develop and assess possible explanations
  - B.S.3.a identify strengths and weaknesses of different methods of collecting and displaying data (e.g., compare two different ways to measure the amount of moisture in soil; evaluate different ways of presenting data on the health and growth of plants)
  - B.S.3.b use and/or construct a classification key (e.g., distinguish among several grain varieties, using a classification guide or key)
  - B.S.3.c compile and display data, by hand or computer, in a variety of formats, including diagrams, flow charts, tables, bar graphs and line graphs (e.g., prepare a record of a plant's growth that charts its development in terms of height, leaf development, flowering and seed production)
  - B.S.3.d identify new questions and problems that arise from what was learned
    - Evaluate tests of engineering-design solutions (7-C.2)
    - Use data from tests to compare engineering-design solutions (7-C.3)
- B.S.4 Communication and Teamwork: Work collaboratively on problems; and use appropriate language and formats to communicate ideas, procedures and results
  - B.S.4.a receive, understand and act on the ideas of others (e.g., adopt and use an agreed procedure for counting or estimating the population of a group of plants)
  - B.S.4.b communicate questions, ideas, intentions, plans and results, using lists, notes in point form, sentences, data tables, graphs, drawings, oral language and other means (e.g., show the growth of a group of plants over time through a data table and diagrams)
  - B.S.4.c evaluate individual and group processes used in planning, problem solving, decision making and completing a task

Alberta

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B Plants for Food and Fibre

B.STS-K Outcomes for Science, Technology and Society (STS) and Knowledge

B.STS-K.1 Investigate plant uses; and identify links among needs, technologies, products and impacts

B.STS-K.1.a illustrate and explain the essential role of plants within the environment

B.STS-K.1.b describe human uses of plants as sources of food and raw materials, and give examples of other uses (e.g., identify uses of plants as herbs or medicines; describe plant products, and identify plant sources on which they depend)

B.STS-K.1.c investigate trends in land use from natural environments (e.g., forests, grasslands) to managed environments s (e.g., farms, gardens, greenhouses) and describe changes

B.STS-K.1.d investigate practical problems and issues in maintaining productive plants within sustainable environments, and identify questions for further study (e.g., investigate the long-term effects of irrigation practices or fertilizer use)

B.STS-K.2 Investigate life processes and structures of plants, and interpret related characteristics and needs of plants in a local environment

B.STS-K.2.a describe the general structure and functions of seed plants (e.g., describe the roots, stem, leaves and flower of a common local plant)

B.STS-K.2.c investigate and interpret variations in needs of different plants and their tolerance for different growing conditions (e.g., tolerance for drought, soil salinization or short growing seasons)

B.STS-K.2.d describe the processes of diffusion, osmosis, conduction of fluids, transpiration, photosynthesis and gas exchange in plants

B.STS-K.3 Analyze plant environments, and identify impacts of specific factors and controls

B.STS-K.3.a describe methods used to increase yields, through modifying the environment and by creating artificial environments (e.g., describe processes used in raising bedding plants or in vegetable production through hydroponics)

B.STS-K.3.b investigate and describe characteristics of different soils and their major component (e.g., distinguish among clayey soils, sandy soils and soils rich in organic content; investigate and describe particle sizes, compaction and moisture content of soil samples)

B.STS-K.3.c identify practices that may enhance or degrade soils in particular applications

B.STS-K.3.d describe and interpret the consequences of using herbicides, pesticides and biological controls in agriculture and forestry

B.STS-K.4 Identify and interpret relationships among human needs, technologies, environments, and the culture and use of living things as sources of food and fibre

B.STS-K.4.b investigate and identify intended and unintended consequences of environmental management practices (e.g., identify problems arising from monocultural land use in agricultural and forestry practices, such as susceptibility to insect infestation or loss of diversity)

B.STS-K.4.c identify the effects of different practices on the sustainability of agriculture and environmental resources (e.g., identify positive and negative effects of using chemical fertilizers and pesticides and of using organic farming practices)

B.S Skill Outcomes

B.S.1 Initiating and Planning: Ask questions about the relationships between and among observable variables, and plan investigations to address those questions

B.S.1.a define practical problems (e.g., identify problems in growing plants under dry conditions)

B.S.1.b identify questions to investigate arising from practical problems and issues (e.g., What methods will help limit moisture loss from plants and soil? What reduction in the loss of soil moisture can be achieved through the use of a plastic ground sheet or through the use of a plastic canopy?)

B.S.1.d state a prediction and a hypothesis based on background information or an observed pattern of events (e.g., predict the effect of a particular plant treatment)

B.S.1.e formulate operational definitions (e.g., define the health of a plant in terms of its colour and growth pattern)

B.S.2 Performing and Recording: Conduct investigations into the relationships between and among observations, and gather and record qualitative and quantitative data

B.S.2.a research information relevant to a given problem

B.S.2.b construct and test a prototype design to achieve a specific purpose (e.g., develop and test a device for watering house plants over a two-week absence)

B.S.2.c observe and record data, and create simple line drawings (e.g., describe plant growth, using qualitative and quantitative observations; draw and describe plant changes resulting from an experimental procedure)

B.S.2.d estimate measurements (e.g., estimate plant populations; estimate the surface area of a leaf)

B.S.3 Analyzing and Interpreting: Analyze qualitative and quantitative data, and develop and assess possible explanations

B.S.3.a identify strengths and weaknesses of different methods of collecting and displaying data (e.g., compare two different ways to measure the amount of moisture in soil; evaluate different ways of presenting data on the health and growth of plants)

B.S.3.b use and/or construct a classification key (e.g., distinguish among several grain varieties, using a classification guide or key)

B.S.3.c compile and display data, by hand or computer, in a variety of formats, including diagrams, flow charts, tables, bar graphs and line graphs (e.g., prepare a record of a plant's growth that charts its development in terms of height, leaf development, flowering and seed production)

B.S.3.d identify new questions and problems that arise from what was learned

B.S.4 Communication and Teamwork: Work collaboratively on problems; and use appropriate language and formats to communicate ideas, procedures and results

B.S.4.a receive, understand and act on the ideas of others (e.g., adopt and use an agreed procedure for counting or estimating the population of a group of plants)

B.S.4.b communicate questions, ideas, intentions, plans and results, using lists, notes in point form, sentences, data tables, graphs, drawings, oral language and other means (e.g., show the growth of a group of plants over time through a data table and diagrams)

B.S.4.c evaluate individual and group processes used in planning, problem solving, decision making and completing a task