Montana State Standards for Science: Grade 9

MT.1. Students, through the inquiry process, demonstrate the ability to design, conduct, evaluate, and communicate the results and form reasonable conclusions of scientific investigations.

9.1.1. Students will generate a question, identify dependent and independent variables, formulate testable, multiple hypotheses, plan an investigation, predict its outcome, safely conduct the scientific investigations, and collect and analyze data.

9.1.2. Students will select and use appropriate tools including technology to make measurements (in metric units), gather, process and analyze data from scientific investigations using appropriate mathematical analysis, error analysis, and graphical representation.

9.1.3. Students will review evidence, communicate and defend results, and recognize that the results of a scientific investigation are always open to revision by further investigations (e.g. through graphical representation or charts)

9.1.4. Students will analyze observations and explain with scientific understanding to develop a plausible model (e.g., atom, expanding universe)

9.1.5. Students will identify strengths, weaknesses, and assess the validity of the experimental design of an investigation through analysis and evaluation.

9.1.6. Students will explain how observations of nature form an essential base of knowledge among the Montana American Indians.

MT.2. Students, through the inquiry process, demonstrate knowledge of properties, forms, changes and interactions of physical and chemical systems.

9.2.1. Students will describe the structure of atoms, including knowledge of (a) subatomic particles and their relative masses, charges, and locations within the atom, (b) the electrical and nuclear forces that hold the atom together, (c) fission and fusion, and (d) radioactive decay.

9.2.2. Students will explain how the particulate level structure and properties of matter affect its macroscopic properties, including the effect of (a) valence electrons on the chemical properties of elements and the resulting periodic trends in these properties, (b) chemical bonding, (c) molecular geometry and intermolecular forces, (d) kinetic molecular theory on phases of matter, and (e) carbon-carbon atom bonding on biomolecules.

9.2.3. Students will describe the major features associated with chemical reactions, including (a) giving examples of reactions important to industry and living organisms, (b) energy changes associated with chemical changes, (c) classes of chemical reactions, (d) rates of reactions, and (e) the role of catalysts.

9.2.4. Students will identify, measure, calculate, and analyze relationships associated with matter and energy transfer or transformations, and the associated conservation of mass.

9.2.5. Students will explain the interactions between motions and forces, including (a) the laws of motion and (b) an understanding of the gravitational and electromagnetic forces.

9.2.6. Students will explain how energy is stored, transferred, and transformed, including (a) the conservation of energy, (b) kinetic and potential energy and energy contained by a field, (c) heat energy and atomic and molecular motion, and (d) energy tends to change from concentrated to diffuse.

9.2.7. Students will describe how energy and matter interact, including (a) waves, (b) the electromagnetic spectrum, (c) quantization of energy, and (d) insulators and conductors.

MT.3. Students, through the inquiry process, demonstrate knowledge of characteristics, structures and function of living things, the process and diversity of life, and how living organisms interact with each other and their environment.

9.3.1. Students will investigate and use appropriate technology to demonstrate that cells have common features including differences that determine function and that they are composed of common building blocks (e.g., proteins, carbohydrates, nucleic acids, lipids)

9.3.2. Students will describe and explain the complex processes involved in energy use in cell maintenance, growth, repair and development.

9.3.3. Students will model the structure of DNA and protein synthesis, discuss the molecular basis of heredity, and explain how it contributes to the diversity of life.

9.3.4. Students will predict and model the interaction of biotic and abiotic factors that affect populations through natural selection, and explain how this contributes to the evolution of species over time.

9.3.5. Students will generate and apply biological classification schemes to infer and discuss the degree of divergence between using ecosystems.

MT.4. Students, through the inquiry process, demonstrate knowledge of the composition, structures, processes and interactions of Earth's systems and other objects in space.

9.4.1. Students will understand the theory of plate tectonics and how it explains the interrelationship between earthquakes, volcanoes, and sea floor spreading.

9.4.2. Students will identify and classify rocks and minerals based on physical and chemical properties and the utilization by humans (e.g., natural resources, building materials)

9.4.3. Students will explain scientific theories about how fossils are used as evidence of changes over time.

9.4.4. Students will collect and analyze local and regional weather data to make inferences and predictions about weather patterns; explain factors influencing global weather and climate; and describe the impact on earth of fluctuations in weather and climate (e.g., drought, surface and ground water, glacial instability)

9.4.5. Students will explain the impact of terrestrial, solar, oceanic, and atmosphere conditions on global climatic patterns.

9.4.6. Students will describe the origin, location, and evolution of stars and their planetary systems in respect to the solar system, the Milky Way, the local galactic group, and the universe.

9.4.7. Students will relate how evidence from advanced technology applied to scientific investigations (e.g., large telescopes and space borne observatories), has dramatically impacted our understanding of the origin, size, and evolution of the universe.

MT.5. Students, through the inquiry process, understand how scientific knowledge and technological developments impact communities, cultures and societies.

9.5.1. Students will predict how key factors (e.g., technology, competitiveness, and world events) affect the development and acceptance of scientific thought.

9.5.2. Students will give examples of scientific innovation challenging commonly held perceptions.

9.5.3. Students will evaluate the ongoing, collaborative scientific process by gathering and critiquing information.

9.5.4. Students will analyze benefits, limitations, costs, consequences, and ethics involved in using scientific and technological innovations (e.g., biotechnology, environmental issues)

9.5.5. Students will explain how the knowledge of science and technology applies to contemporary Montana American Indian communities (e.g., natural resources development, management and conservation)

MT.6. Students understand historical developments in science and technology.

9.6.1. Students will analyze and illustrate the historical impact of scientific and technological advances, including Montana American Indian examples.

9.6.2. Students will trace developments that demonstrate scientific knowledge is subject to change as new evidence becomes available.

9.6.3. Students will describe, explain, and analyze science as a human endeavor and an ongoing process.

MT.9.GLE. Science - Grade Level Expectations

9.GLE.1. Generates testable questions, safely designs and conducts controlled investigations, uses SI (metric system), makes logical inferences based on observations, interprets data by analyzing the strengths and weaknesses in an investigation design, modifies investigation design based upon experimentation, and communicates results. Identifies that observation is the key inquiry process used by Montana American Indians.

9.GLE.2. Uses physical, mental, conceptual, and simple mathematical models to investigate classroom and group- generated problems and/or questions about;

9-10.GLE.2.a. Basic chemical phenomena including atomic theory and interactions of matter.

9-10.GLE.2.b. Basic physical phenomena including kinematics and energy transformations.

9.GLE.3. Organizes, classifies, and describes interactions of the biotic and abiotic parts of the biosphere as well as the natural history of interactions of life on Earth and uses these skills to recognize and help solve problems ranging from the sub-cellular level through the ecosystem level.

9.GLE.4. Describes, explains and begins to develop basic models of the processes that occur in the lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere and describes the components of the universe.

9.GLE.5. Using methods of scientific inquiry, identifies and communicates, through a variety of means, connections and interactions among technology, science, and society including how these have impacted the Montana American Indian.

9.GLE.6. Makes decisions about scientific and social issues based on observations, data, analysis, and knowledge of the natural world, and communicates those decisions to others

9-10.GLE.6.a. Identifies the positive and negative impacts of past, present, and future technological and scientific advances and with direction, gives possible solutions to problems that affect local, regional, and global communities.

9-10.GLE.6.b. Explains attributes of Montana American Indian contributions to scientific and technological knowledge.