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Manitoba Education

Kindergarten to Grade 4 Science

Manitoba Curriculum Framework of Outcomes

Foundation D:
Essential Science Knowledge

The subject matter of science includes theories, models, concepts, and principles that are essential to an understanding of each of life science, physical science, and Earth and space science. While this Science Framework is not strictly aligned with these disciplines, the learning outcomes are intended to help develop important concepts from each of these areas.

Life science deals with the growth and interactions of life forms within their environment in ways that reflect their uniqueness, diversity, genetic continuity, and changing nature. Life science includes fields of study such as the study of organisms (including humans), ecosystems, biodiversity, and the study of the cell, biochemistry, and biotechnology.

Physical science, which encompasses chemistry and physics, deals with matter, energy, and forces. Matter has structure and interactions exist among its components. Energy links matter to gravitational, electromagnetic, and nuclear forces of the universe. The laws of conservation of mass and energy, momentum, and charge are addressed by physical science.

Earth and space science brings local, global, and universal perspectives to students' knowledge. Earth, our home planet, exhibits form, structure, and patterns of change, as does our surrounding solar system and the physical universe beyond it. Earth and space science includes fields of study such as geology, hydrology, meteorology, and astronomy.

The following General Learning Outcomes (GLOs) have been developed to further define expectations related to this foundation area. (For a complete listing of Manitoba's GLOs, see Appendix.)

Essential Science Knowledge General Learning Outcomes

As a result of their Early, Middle, and Senior Years science education, students will...

D1. understand essential life structures and processes pertaining to a wide variety of organisms, including humans
D2. understand various biotic and abiotic components of ecosystems, as well as their interaction and interdependence within ecosystems and within the biosphere as a whole
D3. understand the properties and structures of matter as well as various common manifestations and applications of the actions and interactions of matter
D4. understand how stability, motion, forces, and energy transfers and transformations play a role in a wide range of natural and constructed contexts
D5. understand the composition of the Earth's atmosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere, as well as the processes involved within and between them
D6. understand the composition of the universe, the interactions within it, and the impacts of humankind's continued attempts to understand and explore it

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