Sustainable Interactions Between Living Things in the Environment across the Curriculum
The curriculum explores the interactions between microorganisms, plants, and their environments, emphasizing the importance of sustainability. It highlights the diverse characteristics of microorganisms and their dual role in the environment, both beneficial and harmful.
Sustainable Interactions Between Living Things in the Environment across the Curriculum
SBI4U
Population Dynamics:
The increased consumption of resources and production of waste associated with population growth result in specific stresses that affect Earth’s sustainability.
Technological developments can contribute to or help offset the ecological footprint associated with population growth and the consumption of natural resources.
f3. demonstrate an understanding of concepts related to population growth, and explain the factors that affect the growth of various populations of species in an ecoysystem.
f2. investigate the characteristics of population growth, and use models to calculate the growth of populations within an ecosystem;
f1. analyse the relationships between population growth, personal consumption, technological development, and our ecological footprint, and assess the effectiveness of some Canadian initiatives intended to assist expanding populations;
Homeostasis:
Environmental factors can affect homeostasis.
E1. evaluate the impact on the human body of selected chemical substances and of environmental factors related to human activity;
Molecular Genetics:
Genetic research and biotechnology have social, legal, environmental and ethical implications.
d1.analyse some of the social, ethical, environmental and legal issues associated with genetic research and biotechnology;
Metabolic Proceses:
An understanding of metabolic processes enables people to make informed choices with respect to a range of personal, societal, and environmental issues.
c1. analyse the role of metabolic processes in the functioning of biotic and abiotic systems, and evaluate the importance of an understanding of these processes and related technologies to personal choices made in everyday life;
SBI3U
Plants: Anatomy, Growth and Function
Plants have specialized structures with distinct functions that enable them to respond and adapt to their environment.
Plant variety is critical to the survival and sustainability of ecosystems.
F3. demonstrate an understanding of the diversity of vascular plants, including their structures, internal transport systems, and their role in maintaining biodiversity.
f1. evaluate the importance of sustainable use of plants to Canadian society and other cultures;
Genetic Processes
Genetic and genomic research can have social and environmental implications.
Variability and diversity of living organisms result from the distribution of genetic materials during the process of meiosis.
Evolution:
Evolution is the process of biological change over time based on the relationships between species and their environments.
Technology that enables humans to manipulate the development of species has economic and environmental implications.
c1. analyse the economic and environmental advantages and disadvantages of an artificial selection technology, and evaluate the impact of environmental changes on natural selection and endangered species;
Diversity of Living Things:
Human activities affect the diversity of living things in ecosystems.
B1. analyse the effects of various human activities on the diversity of living things;
SBI3C
Plants in the Natural Environment:
Plants have specialized structures with distinct functions that enable them to respond and adapt to their environment.
Plants are critical to the survival of ecosystems.
Humans affect the sustainability of ecosystems when they alter the balance of plants within those ecosystems.
f3. demonstrate an understanding of the structure and physiology of plants and their role in the natural environment.
F1. analyse the roles of plants in ecosystems, and assess the impact of human activities on the balance of plants within those ecosystems;
Genetics:
Variability and diversity of living organisms result from the distribution of genetic materials during the process of meiosis.
D1. evaluate some social, ethical, and environmental implications of genetic research and related technologies;
Microbiology:
Groups of microorganisms have common characteristics, and these characteristics enable them to interact with other organisms in the environment
Microorganisms can have both positive and negative effects on the environment.
C3. demonstrate an understanding of the diversity of microorganisms and the relationships that exist between them
C1. assess the effects of microorganisms in the environment, and analyse ethical issues related to their use in biotechnology;
SNC2D
Climate Change:
Climate change affects living things and natural systems in a variety of ways.
People have the responsibility to assess their impact on climate change and to identifyeffective courses of action to reduce this impact.
d3. demonstrate an understanding of natural and human factors, including the greenhouse effect, that influence Earth’s climate and contribute to climate change.
d2. investigate various natural and human factors that influence Earth’s climate and climate change;
d1. analyse some of the effects of climate change around the world, and assess the effectiveness of initiatives that attempt to address the issue of climate change;
SNC2P
Earth's Dynamic Climate:
Global climate change is affected by both natural and human factors.
Climate change affects living things and natural systems in a variety of ways.
d3. demonstrate an understanding of various natural and human factors that contribute to climate change and global warming.
d2. investigate various natural and human factors that have an impact on climate change and global warming;
d1. analyse effects of human activity on climate change, and effects of climate change on living things and natural systems;
Biology
Sustainable Ecosystems and Climate Change:
Human activities, including activities that contribute to climate change, impact environmental sustainability, and it is our collective responsibility to mitigate these impacts.
B1. assess impacts of climate change on ecosystem sustainability and on various communities, and describe ways to mitigate these impacts
Sustainable Ecosystems and Climate Change:
Environmental sustainability depends on the dynamic equilibrium of ecosystems. The cycling of matter and flow of energy within and between Earth’s four spheres are natural processes that help maintain balance in ecosystems.
B2. demonstrate an understanding of the dynamic and interconnected nature of ecosystems, including how matter cycles and energy flows through ecosystems