Understanding Life Systems: Interactions in the Environment

Issues: ecosystems and ecology; human and technology impact on environment; biotic and abiotic elements; transfer of energy; primary and secondary succession

Links:

• Parks Canada - True to Our Nature, Teacher's Section
• Parks Canada: Teacher Resource Centre
• Environment Canada Pollution Model
• Building a Closed Ecosystem
• Map of Terrestial Ecozones
• Biotic Quiz
• Energy Transfer
• Biology 4 Kids
• Wetland Ecosystems
• Boreal Ecosystems
• Arctic Ecosystems
• Biology Worksheets
• Ozone Factsheet
• Encyclopedia of Life

Understanding Structures and Mechanisms

Issues: designing and building structures; frame, shell, and solid structures; centre of gravity; ergonomic design; supporting loads; structural safety; external and internal forces

Researchers: Stavros Tavoularis

Links:

• Great Structures of Canada
• Structures Around the World
• Gravity Discovery Centre
• Gravity Game
• Bad Designs
• Animated Mechanisms
• Simple Machines

Understanding Matter and Energy: Pure Substances and Mixtures

Issues - particle theory; pure substances and mixtures; solvent; processes to separate mixtures; concentration of a solution; saturated and unsaturated

Researchers: Natalie Cann, Tom Woo

Links:

• Energy Backgrounder
• Mixtures
• Alloys
• Solutions Quiz
• Chemistry Worksheets
• Junior Chemists and Engineers

Understanding Earth and Space Systems: Heat in the Environment

Issues: heat; motion of particles; climate change; heat production and transmission; radiation; greenhouse gases

Researchers: Steve Harrison

Links:

• Bearly Any Ice
• Solar Heat
• Free poster - Climate Change in Ontario
• Climate Change
• David Suzuki Climate Change
• Heat is On
• Heat Transmission
• Radiation
• Greenhouse Gases
• Weather
• Cooler in the Shadows Activity
• Heat & Temperature
• Thermal Pollution
• Heat: An Agent of Change