The Pan-Canadian Science Curriculum recommends objectives for all science units in each grade as a way of unifying the science courses taught from province to province. Most provinces have adopted the objectives into their own curricula, and have designed courses around them.

Though grade 9 courses still vary slightly across the country, presented below is a complete unit plan which covers all of the objectives in the Pan-Canadian Protocol. This unit can be used as-is to cover many (if not all) of your provincial expectations, or modified as you see fit. The reference numbers given for each lesson below refers to the Pan-Canadian specific learning outcomes.

In addition to the online unit plan below, you will find a second unit plan in pdf format here (67K), created by Siow-Wang Lee and John Percy, 2004, which offers a new perspective to the unit, as well as ideas for lessons throughout the unit.

A complete listing of the Pan-Canadian Curriculum Objectives for grade 9 Earth and Space Systems can be found here, while provincial curriculum objectives listed by province and grade can be found here.

For further activities designed for the grade 9 level, and expanding upon the topics presented here, take a look at the CSA grade 9 resources.

CSA grade 9 resources.

NEW! Need an idea for a summative assessment activity? Check here!

Grade 9 Earth and Space Systems: Space Exploration

312-1: Describe theories on the formation of the Solar System.

Lesson: Solar Nebula Theory and the Formation of the Solar System

Lesson Overview: The lesson helps students gain an understanding of the Solar Nebula theory, the most widely accepted theory describing the formation of the solar system. The lesson uses the students as visual representatives of the atoms within a nebular cloud, and they act out the collapse of the atoms into a protostar and protoplanets within a young solar system.

Other objectives included: 110-6

312-2: Describe and classify the major components of the universe.

Lesson 1: Hunting for Galaxies in the Hubble Deep Field

Lesson Overview: This activity involves having students analyze the Hubble Deep Field images to identify galaxies. Students also will classify and sort galaxies according to the physical characteristics. Students will be required to write explanations for the classification techniques they used.

Other objectives included: 208-5, 209-4, 211-3

Lesson 2: Variable Stars: What are they and why do we study them?

Lesson Overview: In this lesson, students will learn what variable stars are and by what processes astronomers study them. Students will begin with an Internet-based activity (Variable Star Telescope Simulator) , in which they will learn the following: (~30 minutes)

• Interpolation
• Stellar Magnitudes
• How to find variable stars
• Brightness estimation
• Precision in data
• Star-hopping
• Locating variables with star maps
• Brightness determination of actual variable stars
• How amateur astronomers can assist professionals in studying variable stars
  

Upon completing the Variable Star Telescope Simulator activity, students will then use the Variable Star Applet to investigate the characteristics of variable stars that produce their variability. In the applet, students will be presented with two different kinds of variable stars - intrinsic variables (stars that vary in brightness due to their own internal workings) and eclipsing binary stars (two stars in close orbit around one another that eclipse each other causing dramatic changes in brightness).

Other objectives included: 109-3, 111-5, 209-4, 210-3, 210-16

312-3: Describe theories on the origin and evolution of the universe.

Lesson: The Big Bang and the Formation of the Universe

Lesson Overview: This activity involves having students analyze the results of a Big Bang demonstration. The teacher will use the explosion of a balloon filled with coloured confetti to model the results of the Big Bang. Students will the analyse data from the demonstration, and research various theories of the formation of the universe.

Other objectives included: 110-6, 113-3, 210-16

312-4: Describe and explain the apparent motion of celestial bodies.

Lesson: Apparent Motions in the Night Sky

Lesson Overview: In this lesson, students will view the applets, The Celestial Sphere and Circumpolar Motion, in a computer lab to gain an understanding of the Earth's rotation, and how it affects our perception of stellar movement.

Other objectives included: 111-5, 208-5, 209-4, 210-3, 210-9

312-5: Describe the composition and characteristics of the components of the solar system.

Lesson: An Explorative Journey Through the Solar System

Lesson Overview: The lesson involves dividing students into groups of 3 and assigning each group a planet to research (ensure that all nine planets will be covered). The groups will research their given planet for important characteristics and qualities and they will also construct a model of that planet out of Styrofoam balls. After they complete the models, the teacher will guide the students on a walk, placing the planets at their correct distances from the sun as they go. As the planets are placed, the group that researched that planet will provide the rest of the class with information corresponding to it.

Other objectives included: 209-4, 211-1, 211-3

312-6: Describe the effects of solar phenomena on Earth.

Lesson 1: The Solar Cycle

Lesson Overview: In this activity students will be using the spreadsheet to assist them in investigating the solar cycle. Since the nature of the activity requires that students use computers, it is recommended that the teacher schedule a minimum of 2 consecutive class periods in the computer lab.

The lesson plan will guide students through the procedures involved with downloading data from the Internet, importing the data into a spreadsheet, using the spreadsheet to graph the data, and using a spreadsheet formula to help organize the data.

A modification to the lesson would replace the downloading and importing data with having the students key the values into the spreadsheet using the printable data set. It is suggested this option would be best suited for students who have not had previous experience with spreadsheets.

Other objectives included: 111-5, 208-5, 209-4

Lesson 2: The Amazing and Beautiful Aurora

Lesson Overview: Students will use an Internet WebQuest research activity to learn of the intricate nature of the aurora borealis. Students will learn that the aurora are connected to sunspots and solar flares and that they can be seen from both extreme northern and southern latitudes. Students will also observe several amazing and beautiful images of the aurora and they will have the opportunity to draw and sketch the aurora.

In a second activity, students will create oil pastel rubbings depicting aurora. This activity will follow the students’ research of aurora and will enable them to draw a connection between the science and inherent beauty of the aurora.

Many provinces also include expectations regarding Canadian research projects. Here is a lesson which does just that.

Extension Lesson: Canada's Role in Astronomy and Space Science

Lesson Overview: In this lesson, the students will work in groups to research a Canadian astronaut, developing a profile of their astronaut for presentation in a learning center. They will then visit the other groups' centers to learn about more astronauts before participating in a team quiz game on the subject matter.

Other objectives included: 111-5, 112-6, 112-11, 113-3

created and compiled by the CASCA education Webteam, (2006)