Alberta Grade 9, Science
•Focusing Questions:
What is biological diversity?
What impact does human activity have on biological diversity?
•Investigate and interpret diversity among species and within species, and describe how diversity contributes to species survival.
•Investigate and interpret dependencies among species that link the survival of one species to the survival of others.
•Identify impacts of human action on species survival and variation within species, and analyze related issues for personal and public decision making.
•Describe ongoing changes in biological diversity through extinction and extirpation of native species, and investigate the role of environmental factors in causing these changes.
•Evaluate the success and limitations of various local and global strategies for minimizing loss of species diversity.

Alberta Grade 9, Science: Unit A, Biological Diversity
•Students will be encouraged to demonstrate sensitivity and responsibility in pursuing a balance between the needs of humans and a sustainable environment.
•Investigate and interpret diversity among species and within species, and describe how diversity contributes to species survival.
•Identify impacts of human action on species survival and variation within species, and analyze related issues for personal and public decision making.
•Describe ongoing changes in biological diversity through extinction and extirpation of native species, and investigate the role of environmental factors in causing these changes.
•Investigate effects of changing land use.
•Investigate various local and global strategies for minimizing loss of species diversity.

Alberta Grade 9, Science: Unit C, Environmental Chemistry
•Illustrate the use of biological monitoring.
•Appreciate that scientific understanding evolves from the interaction of ideas involving people with different views and backgrounds.
•Demonstrate sensitivity and responsibility in pursuing a balance between the needs of humans and a sustainable environment.

Alberta Grade 10, Science: Unit D
•Students will be encouraged to demonstrate sensitivity and responsibility in pursuing a balance between the needs of humans and a sustainable environment.

Alberta Grade 10, Science: Unit D, Investigating Matter and Energy in the Environment
•How is human activity influencing the natural flow of matter and energy in the biosphere? Should humans as a species be concerned about the effects of their activities on other species and the environment?
•Biotic and abiotic factors and ecosystems.
•Human impact on ecosystems.
•Identify and assess the needs and interests of society that have led to technologies with unforeseen environmental consequences.
•Analyze a local ecosystem in terms of its biotic and abiotic components, and describe factors of the equilibrium.
•Describe, in general terms, the characteristics of two Alberta biomes.
•Define ecosystems in terms of biotic and abiotic factors.
•Describe how various abiotic factors influence biodiversity in an ecosystem.
•Explain how biotic relationships can be explained in terms of the movement of matter and energy, using food chains, food webs and energy pyramids.
•Explain how various factors influence the size of populations; i.e., immigration and emigration, birth and death rates, food supply, predation, disease, reproductive rate, number of offspring produced, and climate change.
•Describe how interactions among organisms limit populations (e.g., predation, parasitism, competition).
•Assess the impact of the introduction of exotic species on a specific ecosystem or biome.
•Describe the relationship between land use practices and altering ecosystems.
•Trace the development of a technological application that has altered an ecosystem.

Alberta Grade 11, Biology: Unit 1, The Biosphere
•Research the ability and responsibility of society, through science and technology, to protect the environment and use natural resources judiciously to ensure quality of life for future generations.
•Appreciate the complexity of our planet.
•Develop an awareness of one’s personal role in the preservation of the environment.
•Develop a sense of responsibility toward use of our environment.
•Develop optimism about humankind’s ability to learn to function within the limits of sustainable development.
•Develop an open-mindedness concerning the views and values of others.
•Develop an attitude of participation in planning and shaping the future.

Alberta Grade 11, Biology: Unit 3, Energy and Matter Exchange in Ecosystems
•The ability and responsibility of society, through science and technology, to protect the environment and use natural resources judiciously to ensure quality of life for future generations.
•Appreciate the diversity of ecosystems.
•Value the knowledge that all organisms have an important role in maintaining the life of the planet.
•Develop an awareness of one’s personal role in the preservation of the environment.
•Develop a sense of responsibility toward use of the environment.
•Appreciate the multidimensional nature of scientific, technological and society issues.
•Appreciate the contributions and limitations of scientific and technological knowledge to societal decision making.
•Respect and tolerate the personal and religious beliefs of others.

Alberta Grade 11, Science: Unit B, Changes in Living Systems
•What are the characteristics of an ecosystem? How do ecosystems and organisms change over time, and respond to natural and human interventions? How does matter cycle and energy flow through the biosphere and the ecosystem, and what are the implications of this knowledge for protecting the environment for future generations?
•Analyze ecosystems and ecological succession in the local area, and describe the relationships and interactions among subsystems and components.
•Analyze and investigate an aquatic or terrestrial local ecosystem, distinguish between biotic and abiotic factors, and describe how they affect population size.
•Infer the abiotic effects on life (e.g., light, nutrients, water, temperature).
•Infer biotic interactions in communities (e.g., predator-prey relationships, inter-specific competition, types of symbiosis).
•Describe the potential impact of habitat destruction on an ecosystem.
•Describe the effects of introducing a new species into an environment.
•Describe the adaptation of species over time due to variation in a population, population size and environmental change.

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