
Trees and Forests
Students learn about trees as individual plants and as part of a forest ecosystem. By examining local species, they learn to recognize the characteristics of different trees and develop skill in describing and interpreting the structural features of trees. As part of their studies, students learn about a broad range of living things found on, under and around trees and study the complex interaction between trees and the larger environment. In examining human use of forests, they become aware of a broad range of environmental issues and develop an awareness of the need for responsible use.
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Lesson 1
The Forest Ecosystem
In this lesson we talk about the forest ecosystem and introduce the terms biotic, abiotic, organisms, producers, consumers, and decomposers.
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Lesson 2
Levels of the Forests
Students explore the four levels of the forest (canopy, understory, underbrush and forests floor) found in Alberta Canada.
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Lesson 3
The Energy Cycle
Students learn about the energy cycle in a ecosystem and how producers, consumers and decomposers interact.
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Lesson 4
Photosynthesis
Students explore what photosynthesis is and how it helps producers create energy.
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Project 1
Ecomon Battle Cards
Students use their knowledge of ecosystems to develop a card game.
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Topic 5
Parts of a Tree
Students explore the different parts of a tree, focusing on the tree trunk.
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Topic 6
Cross-Sections
Students learn how to interpret tree cookie or cross-sections of a tree trunk in order to
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Topic 7
Types of Trees
Students learn about the different types of trees in the Albertan ecosystem.
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Topic 8
Types of Leaves
Students learn about the types of leaves that each different tree can produce, their benefits and decrements.
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Topic 9
Shapes of Trees
Students explore the different shapes of trees and why they grow a specific way.
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Topic 10
How We Use the Forest
Students learn how we use the forest and why it is important to preserve it for future generations.
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Student-Lead Review
Trees & Forests Review Projects
Student lead videos and activities to help you study or brush up on the Trees and Forest unit.

Sky Science
Students learn about objects in the day and night sky. Through direct observation and research, students learn about the motions and characteristics of stars, moons and planets. Using simple materials, such as balls and beads, students create models and diagrams which they use to explore the relative position and motion of objects in space. As a result of these studies, students move from a simple view of land and sky, to one that recognizes Earth as a sphere in motion within a larger universe. With new understanding, students revisit the topics of seasonal cycles, phases of the Moon and the apparent motion of stars.
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Lesson 1
Scale of the Universe
Students explore a short video explaining the scale of the Universe and how we, as humans, fit into it.
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Lesson 2
The Sun Emits Light
Students look at the difference between emitting and reflecting light. Then explore which objects in the sky are emitting or reflecting light.
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Lesson 3
Our Solar System
Students explore the different planets in our Solar System. Researching a planet of choice for a later project.
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Lesson 4
Rotation and Revolution
Students explore how the Earth translates through space, as well as why constellation move throughout the year.
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Project
Sundials
Students learn how the why the sun moves across the sky and make a sundial to explore the concept.
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Lesson 5
Why Seasons Change
Students investigate why seasons change on Earth, looking at the axis of the Earth in relation to the Sun.
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Lesson 6
The Moon
Students look into the Moon, its phases and orbit, and the relationship it has with the Earth.

Evidence and Investigation
Students sharpen their skills in observing and interpreting what they see by investigating evidence of human and animal activity. They explore and analyze indoor and outdoor environments as they look for footprints, markings, evidence of disturbance and things that are left behind. Through these studies, students learn to pose questions, devise investigations, recognize patterns and discrepancies, and think logically about what they have observed.
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Lesson 1
Fabric Forensics
Students learn how to compare and contrast different types of fabrics for forensic usage.
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Lesson 2
Fingerprints
Students explore how to capture and classify fingerprints.
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Lesson 3
Footprints
Students explore how to analysis and understand footprints for use in the Evidence and Investigation unit.
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Lesson 4
Chromatography
Students learn how to use chromatography to analysis different pens and felts to determine their composition.

Air and Aerodynamics
Students explore the characteristics of air and the interaction between moving air and solids. They learn that air is a compressible fluid, that it is composed of many gases, and that moving air can support solid materials in sustained flight. By studying birds and airplanes, they learn a variety of adaptations and designs that make flight possible and that provide for propulsion and control.
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Lesson 1
Air Takes Up Space
Students learn about the composition of air on Earth, exploring the concept that it takes up space.
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Lesson 2
Air is a Fluid
Students learn that air is a fluid, explore the dynamics of fluids and how they change as temperature changes and how fill up space.
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Challenge
The Eggtastic Challenge
Students apply their knowledge of air and fluids to force an egg into a flask without any direct contact in this fluid dynamic experiment.
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Lesson 3
Bernoulli's Principle
Students learn about Bernoulli's Principle, as velocity increases density decreases. Exploring how to apply it to everyday observations.
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Lesson 4
Forces of Flight
Students explore the four forces of flight and how they impact flight of different aircraft.
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Lesson 5
Adaptations for Flight
Students explore how birds and insects achieve flight with some unique adaptations.
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Challenge
Potential Energy Vehicle
Students apply their knowledge of drag and thrust to design an efficient potential gravity vehicle.

Flight
Students apply their knowledge of aerodynamics to design, build and test a variety of flying devices. In constructing models, students develop a basic design, then build it, test it, and solve the problems that inevitably arise. Through teamwork they learn that planning, communication, cooperation and flexibility are important to the overall result, even though parts of a task can be worked on individually. In the process, students learn about the parts of an aircraft, their role in controlled flight and the differences between aircraft and spacecraft.