Prince Edward Island

Life Science: Habitats and Communities

• Habitats and Populations

  • use the terms habitat, population and community in appropriate contexts (104-6)

  • identify questions to investigate about the types of plants and/or animals at a local habitat and the conditions under which they live (204-1)

  • identify various methods for finding answers to questions related to their local habitat and select one that is appropriate (204-6)

  • make observations and collect information related to local habitats and their associated populations of plants and animals (205-5, 302-1)

  • identify their own and their families' impact on habitats and describe how personal actions help conserve habitats (108-6, 108-3)

    • Science literacy: how can a community protect sea turtles? (4-J.1)

  • compile and display the data collected in the habitat study using tallies, tables and/or bar graphs (206-2)

  • present the procedures and results of their habitat studies, compare their results with those of other class members, recognizing that results may vary, and suggest explanations for these discrepancies (104-4, 206-3)

• Collecting Scientific Information using Models of Natural Habitats

  • construct and/or maintain a model of a natural habitat and use it to make observations and collect information about organisms in this habitat (205-10, 205-5)

  • suggest improvements to the model of the natural habitat to make it more realistic and habitable for organisms (206-6)

• Behavioural and Structural Features of Animals that Enable them to Survive in their Habitat

  • compare the external features and behavioural patterns of various animals and relate these features to their ability to meet their basic needs in their natural habitats (302-2, 300-1)

    • Introduction to adaptations (4-G.1)
    • Animal adaptations: beaks, mouths and necks (4-G.2)
    • Animal adaptations: feet and limbs (4-G.3)
    • Animal adaptations: skins and body coverings (4-G.4)

  • carry out procedures and ensure a fair test to explore how appearance affects visibility (205-1)

  • predict the structural and/or behavioural adaptations needed for an animal to live in a particular habitat, real or imagined (204-3)

    • Animal adaptations: beaks, mouths and necks (4-G.2)
    • Animal adaptations: feet and limbs (4-G.3)
    • Animal adaptations: skins and body coverings (4-G.4)

• Structural Features of Plants that Enable them to Survive in their Habitat

  • using appropriate terminology, compare the structural features of plants that enable them to thrive in different kinds of places (300-2, 104-6)

    • Identify plant parts and their functions (4-F.2)
    • Identify flower parts and their functions (4-F.4)

  • describe how scientists' knowledge of plant growth has led to agricultural innovations and techniques (106-4)

  • describe current investigations into local or regional habitat issues (105-1)

• Food Chains

  • classify organisms according to their role in a food chain and draw a diagram to illustrate the food chain (302-3, 104-6, 206-1)

    • Identify roles in food chains (4-I.3)
    • How does matter move in food chains? (4-I.4)

  • predict how the removal of a plant or animal population affects the rest of the community (301-1)

    • Use food chains to predict changes in populations (5)

  • relate habitat loss to the endangered or extinction of plants and animals (301-2)

• The Impact of Technology on Natural Habitats

  • identify examples of positive and negative effects of technological developments on natural habitats (108-1)

Physical Science: Light

• Optical Devices

  • describe that knowledge of the properties of light has led to the development of optical devices that extend our ability to observe (106-1, 106-4)

  • compare how light interacts with a variety of optical devices (107-1, 303-8)

    • How does light travel and interact with matter? (4-E.2)

  • construct an optical device that performs a specific function (205-10)

  • identify women and men in their community who have careers that deal directly with lenses, mirrors and prisms (107-10)

• Sources of Light

  • distinguish between objects that emit their own light and those that require an external source to be seen (303-3)

    • How do we see objects? (4-E.1)

  • make observations and collect information during investigations to determine if an object emits its own light and draw conclusions based on the evidence gathered (205-5, 206-5)

  • provide examples of how human-made sources of light have been designed to solve problems in the home and at school (107-4)

  • identify positive and negative effects of exposure to light (108-1)

  • identify ways of conserving energy through conservative use of home lighting (108-6)

• Light Radiates from a Source

  • make observations about how light is dispersed from a variety of light sources (205-5)

    • How do we see objects? (4-E.1)
    • How does light travel and interact with matter? (4-E.2)

  • demonstrate that light travels in all directions away from a source (303-2)

    • How do we see objects? (4-E.1)

  • conclude that light travels in a straight line based on evidence gathered through their own research and observation (206-5)

• Objects that Absorb, Transmit, and/or Reflect Light

  • investigate how light interacts with a variety of objects in order to determine whether the objects cast shadows, allow light to pass and/or reflect light (303-4)

    • How does light travel and interact with matter? (4-E.2)

  • classify objects as opaque, transparent or translucent (206-1)

  • predict changes in the location, shape and relative size of a shadow when an object is placed in different positions and orientations relative to the light source and screen (303-5)

  • plan a procedure and make observations to determine changes in a shadow's location, shape and relative size when an object is placed in different positions and orientations relative to a light source and screen (204-7, 205-5)

  • make observations and collect information about the reflective properties of surfaces of different shapes and textures (205-5)

• Bending Light

  • demonstrate and describe how a variety of media can be used to change the direction of light (303-6)

    • How does light travel and interact with matter? (4-E.2)

  • make observations and collect information about the refractive properties of materials of different shapes (205-5)

• Dispersion of Light

  • demonstrate that white light can be separated into colours and use the term "dispersion" for this process (303-7, 104-6)

  • follow a set of procedures to make and use a colour wheel (205-3)

  • communicate and listen to others during investigations with colour wheels (207-1)

Physical Science: Sound

• Objects that Make Sound

  • identify objects by the sounds they make (303-9)

  • describe examples of sound technologies that are used by people to meet their everyday needs (107-1)

• Sound Vibrations

  • relate vibrations to sound production (303-10)

  • compare how vibrations travel differently through a variety of solids and liquids and through air (303-11)

• Pitch, Loudness and Sound Technology

  • identify and rephrase questions about ways to change pitch and loudness in a testable form (104-6, 204-1, 204-2)

  • state a prediction and hypothesis about the effect a modification will have on the pitch and loudness of the sound produced, based on the pattern of sounds produced (204-3)

  • demonstrate and describe how the pitch and loudness of sounds can be modified (301-3)

  • use the term "decibels" in descriptions of sound intensity (104-6)

  • demonstrate processes for solving technological problems by designing and constructing a device which has the ability to create sounds of variable pitch and loudness (104-1, 205-2)

  • evaluate personally constructed musical devices with respect to their ability to vary their pitch and loudness (206-7)

  • identify and use a variety of sources and technologies to gather pertinent information about Canadians who have contributed to sound technology (107-12, 205-8)

• The Ear, Hearing Loss and Noise Pollution

  • describe and illustrate how the human ear is designed to detect vibrations (300-3)

  • compare the range of sounds heard by humans to that heard by some animals (300-4)

  • describe examples of devices that enhance our abilities to hear and collect sound data, such as hearing aids, sonar, amplifiers, oscilloscopes and ultrasound (106-1)

  • demonstrate processes for investigating the extent of noise pollution in their surroundings and work with group members to evaluate the processes used in investigating noise pollution (104-1, 207-6)

  • identify the positive and negative effects of technological devices that produce loud sounds and identify the need for protection from and prevention of hearing loss (108-1, 206-9)

  • describe specific personal actions or products that can help reduce this noise pollution (108-3)

  • identify examples of current research related to sound (105-1)

Earth and Space Science: Rocks, Minerals and Erosion

• Collecting and Comparing Rocks and Minerals

  • demonstrate respect for the habitats of animals and the local environment when collecting rocks and/or minerals from their local area (108-3)

  • describe the distinction between minerals and rocks (104-6)

    • Identify minerals using properties (4-K.3)
    • Identify rocks using properties (4-K.4)

• Properties of Rocks and Minerals

  • use appropriate tools to make observations and collect information in order to describe rocks and minerals according to physical properties (204-8, 205-5, 300-6)

  • record observations of their rocks and minerals in chart form and/or using notes in point form (205-7)

  • compare different rocks and/or minerals from their local area with those from other places (300-5)

  • classify their rocks and minerals according to several properties and create a chart or diagram that show the method of classifying (206-1, 207-2)

    • Classify rocks and minerals by color, shape, and texture (4-K.1)

  • compare their classification schemes of the rocks/minerals to those of others and recognize that results may vary (104-4)

• Uses for Rocks and Minerals

  • describe how rocks and minerals are used (107-1)

  • relate the characteristics of rocks and minerals to their uses (300-8)

  • use appropriate terms to describe some positive and negative effects of the extraction and/or utilization of rocks and minerals (104-6, 108-1)

• Erosion and Weathering

  • describe effects of wind, water and ice on the landscape (301-5)

    • Changes to Earth's surface: erosion (4-K.2)

  • demonstrate a variety of methods of weathering and erosion (301-6)

    • Changes to Earth's surface: erosion (4-K.2)

• Soil Formation and Composition

  • describe ways in which soil is formed from rocks (301-4)

• Record in Rocks

  • identify and describe rocks that contain records of Earth's history (300-7)

    • How do rock layers form? (4-K.7)
    • Introduction to fossils (4-L.1)
    • Identify and classify fossils (4-L.2)
    • Interpret evidence from fossils in rock layers (4-L.5)

• Sudden and Significant Changes in the Land

  • describe natural phenomena that cause sudden and significant changes to the landscape (301-7)

    • Changes to Earth's surface: earthquakes (4-N.1)
    • Changes to Earth's surface: volcanic eruptions (4-N.2)