Grade 8 Science Curriculum (Alberta Education)
Unit A: Mix and Flow of Matter
Unit B: Cells and Systems
 WHMIS symbols and nomenclature
 pure substances, mixtures and solutions
 solute and solvent
 concentration
 solubility and saturation points
 particle model of matter
 properties of fluids
 viscosity and flow rate
 mass, volume, density
 pressure
 buoyancy
Unit C: Light and Optical Systems
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microscopes and telescopes
contribution of technologies to scientific
development
transmission and absorption of light
sources of light
reflection and refraction
images
vision and lenses
imaging technologies
organisms
cells
organs
tissues
structure and function
systems
response to stimuli
health and environmental factors
Unit D: Mechanical Systems
design and function
systems and subsystems
transmission of force and motion
simple machines
mechanical advantage, speed ratios and force ratios
hydraulics and pneumatics
measurement of work in joules
Science 9 Curriculum Key Concepts (Alberta Education)
Unit A: Biological Diversity
Unit B: Matter and Chemical Change
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biological diversity
species
diversity within species
habitat diversity
niches
populations
asexual and sexual reproduction inheritance
natural and artificial selection of genetic
Characteristics
cell division—includes binary fission and formation
of sex cells
 chromosomes, genes and DNA
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Unit C: Environmental Chemistry
Unit D: Electrical Principles and Technologies
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chemicals essential to life
substrates and nutrients
air and water quality
organic and inorganic material
acids and bases
ingestion and absorption of materials
concentration and dispersal
evidence of toxicity
stability and biodegradability
hazards, probabilities and risk assessment
uncertainties in environmental monitoring and in
assessing toxicity and risk
Unit E: Space Exploration
 technologies for space exploration and observation
 reference frames for describing position and motion
in space
 satellites and orbits
 distribution of matter through space
 composition and characteristics of bodies in space
 life-support technologies
 communication technologies
WHMIS and safety-chemical
nomenclature (introductory treatment)
endothermic and exothermic reactions
reactants and products
conservation of mass
factors affecting reaction rates
periodic table
elements, compounds and atomic theory
substances and properties
forms of energy
energy transformation
generation of electrical energy
electric charge and current
circuits
electrical energy storage
renewable and nonrenewable energy
measures and units of electrical energy
electrical resistance and Ohm’s law
energy transmission
Science 10 Curriculum Key Concepts (Alberta Education)
Unit A: Energy and Matter in Chemical Change
Unit B: Energy Flow in Technological Systems
 International Union of Pure and Applied
 Chemistry (IUPAC) nomenclature, ionic
and molecular compounds, acids and bases
 how chemical substances meet human needs
 role and need for classification of chemical change
 writing and balancing equations
 WHMIS and safety practices
 evidence of chemical change
 law of conservation of mass and the mole concept
 forms and interconversions of energy
 one-dimensional motion design and function of
technological systems and devices involving
potential and kinetic
 energy and thermal energy conversions
 technological innovations of engines that led to the
development of the concept of energy
 mechanical energy conversions and work
 efficient use of energy, and the environmental
impact of inefficient use of
 energy
Unit C: Cycling of Matter in Living Systems
Unit D: Energy Flow in Global Systems
 microscopy and the emergence of cell theory
 cell specialization in multicellular organisms; i.e.,
plants
 use of explanatory and visual models in science
 mechanisms of transport, gas exchange, and
environmental response in multicellular organisms;
i.e., plants
 cellular structures and functions, and technological
applications
 relationship between cell size and shape, and
surface area to volume ratio
 active and passive transport of matter
 social and environmental contexts for investigating
climate change
 solar radiation budget
 relationship between biomes, solar energy and
climate
 climate zones, transfer of thermal energy by the
hydrosphere and the atmosphere
 hydrologic cycle and phase change
 human activity and climate change
Science 14 Curriculum Key Concepts (Alberta Education)
Unit A: Investigating Properties of Matter
Unit B: Understanding Energy Transfer
Technologies
 safe handling, storage and disposal of household
chemicals
 solutions and solubility of household substances
 dilution and concentration
 preparing solutions
 elements and compounds
 (WHMIS) and consumer product symbols
 the periodic table: metals, nonmetals and metalloids
 separating mixtures
 acids and bases
 corrosion and rusting
 cooling and heating systems based on radiation,
convection, conduction
 methods to reduce the loss of heat from buildings,
our bodies and constructed devices
 specific heat capacity
 energy transfer (work), force and distance
 particle model of matter, temperature, thermal
energy and heat
 simple machines as force or distance multipliers that
transfer energy
 protection against thermal energy transfer
 reducing reliance on nonrenewable energy sources
Unit C: Investigating Matter and Energy in Living
Systems
Unit D: Investigating Matter and Energy in the
Environment
 structures and functions of, and the relationship
between, the digestive and circulatory systems
 diets and human nutritional needs
 microscopy, structure and function of plant and
animal cell parts, and the cell theory
 capture, storage and use of energy by living
organisms
 photosynthesis and respiration
 social influences on human dietary-induced
disorders and circulatory diseases
 life functions common to living systems
 functions of cells in organs and organ systems
 role of technology to monitor life functions
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role of living organisms in cycling matter
food chains, food webs and energy pyramids
recycling of human-generated wastes
impact of modern agricultural technologies
field study of ecosystems
factors affecting population growth
flow of energy through the biosphere
maintaining equilibrium in the biosphere
biodegradable materials
biotic and abiotic factors and ecosystems
human impact on ecosystems
Science 20 Curriculum Key Concepts (Alberta Education)
Unit B: Changes in Motion
Unit A: Chemical Changes
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electrolytes
nonelectrolytes
concentration
oxidation/anode
reduction/cathode
spontaneity
applications of oxidation-reduction reactions
voltaic cell
electrolytic cell
naming and drawing structural formulas for
saturated/unsaturated hydrocarbons
(containing up to eight carbon atoms in the parent
chain)
 hydrocarbon reactions important to industry in
Alberta
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displacement, time, velocity, acceleration
conservation of momentum in one dimension
impulse and force
Newton’s laws of motion
application of laws of motion and principles of
momentum in the design of sports equipment and
transportation safety device
Unit C: The Changing Earth
Unit D: Changes in Living Systems
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Earth’s internal structure
theory of plate tectonics
energy transmission in earthquakes
fossilization, radiometric dating and half-life
evidence of variations in Earth’s climate
major characteristics and life forms of past eras
gradualism compared to punctuated equilibrium
mass extinctions
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biotic and abiotic factors
population size
primary and secondary succession
habitat destruction, reclamation
species diversity
human interventions in biogeochemical (nitrogen,
carbon, water) cycles
autotrophs, heterotrophs, food chains, food webs
trophic levels, biomass, energy and pyramids
human population growth, biodiversity and carrying
capacity
adaptation of organisms, natural selection
evidence for the theory of evolution
Science 24 Curriculum Key Concepts (Alberta Education)
Unit A: Applications of Matter and Chemical
Unit B: Understanding Common Energy
Change
Conversion Systems
 commonly used materials, and chemical change in
everyday life
 evidence of chemical change
 writing and interpreting word and chemical
equations
 describing and classifying combustion and rusting
reactions, acid–base reactions, and simple
composition and decomposition reactions
 environmental effects of chemical change
Technologies
 conservation of mass in chemical change
 chemical reactions at home and in the workplace
 energy transformation and conservation
 electrical household devices as converters of energy,
and energy consumption
 rate of energy transfer and efficiency
 formation, extraction and combustion of fossil fuels
 generation and distribution of electricity
 chemical and energy changes in chemical and
biological systems
 living organisms as energy converters
 fossil fuel based technologies and quality of life for
future generations
Unit C: Disease Defense and Human Health
Unit D: Motion, Change and Transportation
Safety
 social impact on human health
 role of environmental factors (toxins, pathogens)
and genetic factors on human health
 human actions to reduce contamination by
pathogens
 natural and artificial immunization
 role of the human body’s defense systems
 communicable and non-communicable diseases
 impact of recent genetic research on societal
decision making
 principles of simple inheritance
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reaction time, speed and safe following distance
collisions and conservation of momentum
transportation safety regulations
graphical and mathematical analysis of the
relationships among speed, distance and time
 effects of lengthening and shortening duration of
collision
 safety systems designed to reduce impact of
collisions
Science 30 Curriculum Key Concepts (Alberta Education)
Unit A: Living Systems Respond to Their
Unit B: Chemistry and the Environment
Environment
 structure and function of the circulatory system
 immune response and defense mechanisms to
pathogens
 cardiovascular health
 principles of Mendelian genetics
 composition of human blood tissue and the role of
blood
 deoxyribonucleic acid DNA and protein synthesis
 chromosomal behavior
 mutations and gene therapy
 acids and bases
 stoichiometry and titration of strong monoprotic
acids and strong monoprotic bases
 buffers and buffering capacity
 sources, uses and environmental effects of organic
compounds
 pH and hydronium ion concentration
 sources and environmental impact of SOx, NOx, acid
deposition and photochemical smog
 biomagnification and persistence of pollutants
Unit C: Electromagnetic Energy
Unit D: Energy and the Environment
 devices based on electric and magnetic fields
(electric motors, generators and transformers)
 the electromagnetic spectrum, its properties and its
effects on living tissue
 technologies used to study the structure and history
of the universe
 basic properties of field theory for the comparison of
gravitational, electric and magnetic fields
 principles of field theory and applications in
technology
 circuitry
 global energy consumption and its impact on the
biosphere
 sources of renewable energy
 conversion of solar energy, fossil fuels and wind and
water power into thermal and electrical energy
 heats of formation and Hess’s law
 balancing energy use with sustainable development
 fission and fusion, nuclear change
 nuclear, wind, hydro, biomass, tidal, solar, fuel cell
and geothermal alternative energy technologies
Biology 20 Curriculum Key Concepts (Alberta Education)
Unit A: Energy and Matter Exchange in the
Unit B: Ecosystems and Population Change
Biosphere
 biosphere
 trophic levels
 food chains, food webs and ecological pyramids
(energy, biomass and numbers)
 equilibrium
 water properties
 carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and phosphorus cycles
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Unit C: Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration
Unit D: Human Systems
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 structure and function of major systems: respiratory,
digestive, excretory, circulatory and motor
 digestive enzymes
 gas exchange
 chemical nature of carbohydrates, proteins, lipids
 chemical and physical digestion
 renal function
 composition of blood
 immune response
 muscle contraction
absorption of light by pigments
light-dependent and independent reactions
Krebs cycle
Glycolysis
electron transport systems
aerobic and anaerobic respiration
ecosystem
niche
biotic/abiotic characteristics
evidence for evolution
limiting factors
binomial nomenclature
adaptation and variation
population
natural selection
species
Biology 30 Curriculum Key Concepts (Alberta Education)
Unit A: Nervous and Endocrine Systems
Unit B: Reproduction and Development
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neuron
reflex arcs
sensory receptors
nerve impulse transmission
central and peripheral nervous systems
endocrine and nervous system interactions
endocrine system and hormones
homeostasis and feedback systems
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male and female reproductive systems
reproductive hormones
embryonic and fetal development
parturition
lactation
reproductive technologies
Unit C: Cell Division, Genetics and Molecular
Biology
Unit D: Population and Community Dynamics
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cell cycle
karyotype
probability
polygenic and multiple allelic traits
replication
mutation
mitosis and meiosis
alternation of generations
Mendel’s laws of heredity
monohybrid, dihybrid and sex-linked inheritance
transcription
genetic engineering
chromosome number
gene linkage
model of DNA
incomplete dominance and co-dominance
translation
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Hardy-Weinberg principle
gene pool
succession
determiners of population size: natality, mortality,
immigration, emigration
symbiotic relationships and other interactions
natural selection
r- and K-selected reproductive strategies
population growth rate and population growth
curves
Chemistry 20 Curriculum Key Concepts (Alberta Education)
Unit A: The Diversity of Matter and Chemical
Unit B: Gases
Bonding
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chemical bond
ionic bond
covalent bond
polarity
electronegativity
intramolecular and intermolecular forces
hydrogen bond
Lewis structures
valence electron
valence-shell electron-pair repulsion (VSEPR)
theory
 electron dot diagrams
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Unit C: Matter as Solutions, Acids and Bases
Unit D: Quantitative Relationships in Chemical
Changes
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homogeneous mixtures
electrolyte/nonelectrolyte
monoprotic/polyprotic acid
dilution
indicators Arrhenius (modified) theory of acids
and bases
hydroxide ion/pOH
solubility
concentration
monoprotic/polyprotic base
strong acids and bases
weak acids and bases
hydronium ion/pH
neutralization
Celsius and Kelvin temperature scales
standard temperature and pressure (STP)
law of combining volumes
standard ambient temperature and pressure (SATP)
ideal gas law
absolute zero
real and ideal gases
Charles’s law
Boyle’s law
chemical reaction equations
net ionic equations
limiting and excess reagents
actual, theoretical and percent yield
spectator ions
precipitation
reaction stoichiometry
titration curves for strong acids and bases
titration
end point
equivalence point
Chemistry 30 Curriculum Key Concepts (Alberta Education)
Unit A: Thermochemical Changes
Unit B: Electrochemical Changes
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enthalpy of formation
enthalpy of reaction
fuels and energy efficiency
activation energy
ΔH notation
molar enthalpy
energy diagrams
Hess’ law
Catalysts
calorimetry
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oxidation-reduction (redox) reaction
oxidation number
disproportionation
standard reduction potential
standard cell potential
Faraday’s law
oxidizing agent
reducing agent
half-reaction
spontaneity
electrolytic cell
oxidation
reduction
voltaic cell
electrolysis
corrosion
Unit C: Chemical Changes of Organic Compounds
Unit D: Chemical Equilibrium Focusing on AcidBase Systems
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aliphatic and aromatic compounds
saturated/unsaturated hydrocarbons
combustion reactions
polymerization
functional groups identifying alcohols, carboxylic
acids, esters and halogenated hydrocarbons
organic compounds
naming organic compounds
addition, substitution
esterification
elimination
structural formulas
structural isomers
monomers
polymers
chemical equilibrium systems
Brønsted–Lowry acids and bases
conjugate pairs of acids and bases
equilibrium law expression
reversibility of reactions
Le Chatelier’s principle
amphiprotic substances
acid-base equilibrium
titration curves
buffers
equilibrium constants Kc , Kw , Ka , Kb
indicators
Physics 20 Curriculum Key Concepts (Alberta Education)
Unit A: Kinematics
Unit B: Dynamics
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scalar quantities
vector quantities
uniform motion
uniformly accelerated motion
two-dimensional motion
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Newton’s laws of motion
static and kinetic friction
gravitational field
Newton’s law of universal gravitation
Inertia
vector addition
gravitational force
Unit C: Circular Motion, Work and Energy
Unit D: Oscillatory Motion and Mechanical Waves
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uniform circular motion
conservation of mechanical energy
mechanical energy
work-energy theorem
planetary and satellite motion
power
Kepler’s laws
isolated systems
oscillatory motion
simple harmonic motion
oscillating spring, pendulum
mechanical waves—longitudinal and transverse
restoring force
mechanical resonance
acoustic resonance
universal wave equation
reflection
interference
Doppler effect
Physics 30 Curriculum Key Concepts (Alberta Education)
Unit A: Momentum and Impulse
Unit B: Forces and Fields
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impulse
momentum
Newton’s laws of motion
elastic collisions
inelastic collisions
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electric charge
interaction of charges with electric and magnetic fields
vector fields
electric field
electric potential difference
conservation of charge
charge quantization—Millikan’s experiment
magnetic field
Coulomb’s law
electromagnetic induction
Unit C: Electromagnetic Radiation
Unit D: Atomic Physics
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speed of EMR
propagation of EMR
total internal reflection
photoelectric effect
reflection
refraction
Compton effect
Diffraction
Interference
Snell’s law
charge-to-mass ratio (Thomson’s experiment)
classical model of the atom (Rutherford, Bohr)
energy levels (states)
de Broglie hypothesis
Standard Model of matter
spectra: continuous, line emission and line absorption
quantum mechanical model
half-life
nuclear decay
nuclear reactions