Global Environmental and Outdoor Education Council (GEOEC) - Teach Your Grade 9 Curriculum Using Environmental Themes

Teach Your Curriculum Using Environmental Themes

Grade 9

The GEOEC is pleased to provide the following integrated themes that you can use to teach your curriculum in an environmental context. The documents are provided “as is” in Microsoft Word format to facilitate their use by teachers. These unit plans are living documents – please send your feedback to info@geoec.org.

Theme 1 - Maintaining Biological Diversity

Opportunities and challenges

Curriculum links for this unit:
Science
Unit A: Biological Diversity (Social and Environmental Emphasis)
1. Investigate and interpret diversity among species and within species, and describe how diversity contributes to species survival.
4. Identify impacts of human action on species survival and variation within species, and analyze related issues for personal and public decision making
Social Studies
Topic C Canada: Responding to Change
Related - How is technological change affecting our quality of life? To what extent should governments influence economic growth? What are some advantages and disadvantages of continued economic growth?
New Social Studies Curriculum
9.1.3 appreciate how emerging issues impact quality of life, citizenship and identity in Canada (C, I, PADM)
9.2 Issues for Canadians: Economic Systems in Canada and the United States
See also:
www.education.gov.ab.ca/k_12/curriculum/bySubject/
for more information.
Activities

“Bio-What?”
Debrief Biodiversity
Concluding Activity: The Value of Biodiversity

Download this unit plan:
grade9-theme1.doc
(3 pages, ~245K)

Theme 2 - Quality of Life in Canada

Is air and water quality a right?

Curriculum links for this unit:
Science Unit C: Environmental Chemistry (Social and Environmental Emphasis)
2. Identify processes for measuring the quantity of different substances in the environment and for monitoring air and water quality.
3. Analyze and evaluate mechanisms affecting the distribution of potentially harmful substances within an environment
Social Studies Topic C - Canada: Responding to Change
Major: How should we respond to technological change?
New Social Studies Curriculum
9.1.3 appreciate how emerging issues impact quality of life, citizenship and identity in Canada (C, I, PADM)
9.2 Issues for Canadians: Economic Systems in Canada and the United States
See also:
www.education.gov.ab.ca/k_12/curriculum/bySubject/
for more information.
Activities

Water Quality Testing
(Note: This activity is also included in the Grade 8 Global Views on Water unit.)
Field Trip to your Local Wastewater Treatment Plant
(Note: This activity is also the Grade 8 Global views on Water unit.)
Quality of Life

Download this unit plan:
grade9-theme2.doc
(5 pages, ~255K)

Theme 3 - Caring for the Land

Curriculum links for this unit:

Unit B: Matter and Chemical Change (Nature of Science Emphasis)
4. Identify impacts of human action on species survival and variation within species, and analyze related issues for personal and public decision making Stewardship
Demonstrate sensitivity and responsibility in pursuing a balance between the needs of humans and a sustainable environment (e.g., recognize that the materials people develop may have environmental consequences when people dispose of them; participate in school projects that address a chemical pollution issue)

Science Unit C: Environmental Chemistry (Social and Environmental Emphasis)
3. Analyze and evaluate mechanisms affecting the distribution of potentially harmful substances within an environment

Social Studies Topic C - Canada: Responding to Change
Major: How should we respond to technological change?

New Social Studies Curriculum
9.1.3 appreciate how emerging issues impact quality of life, citizenship and identity in Canada (C, I, PADM)

See also:
www.education.gov.ab.ca/k_12/curriculum/bySubject/
for more information.

Activities

What used to be here?
Humans and Nature
Disperse or Decease
Defending Nature
Take a Stand

Download this unit plan:
grade9-theme3.doc
(3 pages, ~245K)

Return to the Lesson Plan index.