Transport of water and mineral salts through the plant (absorption in root hair cells, transport through the xylem, transpiration through the leaves)
The need for mineral salts in plants (e.g., magnesium for chlorophyll and nitrates for proteins)
Photosynthesis (chloroplasts, production of carbohydrates using light energy, the equation)
The carbon cycle
Genes and Inheritance:
DNA, genes, chromosomes
Connection between genes and organism traits
Fertilization and DNA recombination
Genes and variation in organisms
Evolution, natural selection, and changes in genes over time
Impact of environmental change on populations, including species extinction
Spring Semester
Maintaining Life:
Excretory system (kidneys, urea excreted through urine)
Impact of the mother’s health on fetal development (nutrition, smoking, and drug use)
Human Body:
Circulation and blood (blood components - blood plasma and blood cells: red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and blood groups)
Nervous system (stimulus and response, neurons - structure and functions, brain - structure and functions, spinal cord - structure and functions)
Fall Semester
Formative:
Student performance in the lesson, task completion, discussion participation and starter/exit activities will be continuously evaluated throughout the semester and recorded in the sheet of “hearts”.
Each 10 hearts will also be graded for a total of 2 grades per semester.
Summative:
Unit tests at the end of each unit (2 tests).
Lab report on DNA model and extraction of DNA from saliva.
Total number of grades: 5
Spring Semester
Formative:
Student performance in the lesson, task completion, discussion participation and starter/exit activities will be continuously evaluated throughout the semester and recorded in the sheet of “hearts”.
Each 10 hearts will also be graded for a total of 2 grades per semester.
Summative:
Unit tests at the end of the first unit (1 test).
Cambridge Progression Test for Stage 9 - Science.
Project: Research project including finding the students’ blood group with reactants and reaction time with the ruler test.
