RBC AquaLab 

Program Details

Learning Outcomes

These programs support the Prescribed Learning Outcomes of the B.C. Ministry of Education's Integrated Resource Packages (IRPs) and the Aquarium's conservation mission.

Grade 4

• Make predictions supported by reasons and relevant to the content (Processes of Science)
• Use date from investigations to recognize patterns and relationships and reach conclusions (Processes of Science)
• Compare the structures and behaviours of local animals and plants in different habitats and communities (Life Science: Habitats and Communities)
• Determine how personal choices and actions have environmental consequences (Life Science: Habitats and Communities)
• Apply critical thinking skills-including comparing, imagining, inferring, identifying patterns, and summarizing-to selected problems and issues (Skills and Processes of Social Studies)

Grade 5

• Identify variables that can be changed in an experiment (Processes of Science)
• Evaluate the fairness of a given experiment (Processes of Science)
• Describe the steps in designing an experiment (Processes of Science)
• Describe potential environmental impacts of using BC’s living and non-living resources (Earth and Space Science: Renewable and Non-Renewable Resources)
• Apply critical thinking skills-including hypothesizing, comparing, imagining, inferring, identifying patterns, and summarizing-to a range of problems and issues (Skills and Processes of Social Studies)
• Explain why sustainability is important (Human and Physical Environment)

Grade 6

• Manipulate and control a number of variables in an experiment (Processes of Science)
• Analyse how different organisms adapt to their environments (Life Science: Diversity of Life)
• Apply critical thinking skills-including comparing, classifying, inferring, imagining, verifying, identifying relationships, summarizing, and drawing conclusions-to a range of problems and issues (Skills and Processes of Social Studies)

Grade 7

• Test a hypothesis by planning and conducting an experiment that controls for two or more varaiables (Processes of Science)
• Analyse the roles of organisms as part of interconnected food webs, populations, communities, and ecosystems (Life Science: Ecosystems)
• Assess survival needs and interactions between organisms and the environment (Life Science: Ecosystems)
• Assess the requirements for sustaining healthy local ecosystems (Life Science: Ecosystems)
• Evaluate human impacts on local ecosystems (Life Science: Ecosystems)
• Apply critical thinking skills- including comparing, classifying, inferring, imagining, verifying, using analogies, identifying relationships, summarizing, and drawing conclusions-to a range of problems and issues (Skills and Processes of Social Studies)

• Grade 8
• Perform experiments using the scientific method (Processes of Science)
• Demonstrate scientific literacy (Processes of Science)
• Demonstrate ethical, responsible, cooperative behaviour (Processes of Science)
• Demonstrate knowledge of the characteristics of living things (Life Science: Cells and Systems)
• Describe factors that affect productivity and species distribution in aquatic environments(Earth and Space Science: Water Systems on Earth)
• Identify and clarify a problem, an issue, or an inquiry(Applications of Social Studies)
• Cooperatively plan and implement a course of action that addresses the problem, issue, or inquiry initially identified (Applications of Social Studies)

Grade 9

• Perform experiments using the scientific method (Processes of Science)
• Demonstrate scientific literacy (Processes of Science)
• Demonstrate ethical, responsible, cooperative behaviour (Processes of Science)
• Compare sexual and asexual reproduction in terms of advantages and disadvantages (Life Science: Reproduction)
• Identify and clarify a problem, an issue, or an inquiry (Applications of Social Studies)
• Cooperatively plan and implement a course of action that addresses the problem, issue, or inquiry initially identified (Applications of Social Studies)

Grade 10

• Perform experiments using the scientific method (Processes of Science)
• Demonstrate ethical, responsible, cooperative behaviour (Processes of Science)
• Explain the interaction of abiotic and biotic factors within an ecosystem (Life Science:  Sustainability of Ecosystems)
• Assess the potential impacts of bioaccumulation (Life Science:  Sustainability of Ecosystems)
• Explain various ways in which natural populations are altered or kept in equilibrium (Life Science:  Sustainability of Ecosystems)
• Evaluate possible causes of climate change and its impact on natural systems (Earth and Space Science: Energy Transfer in Natural Systems)
• Identify and clarify a problem, an issue, or an inquiry (Applications of Social Studies)
• Assess and defend a variety of positions on controversial issues (Applications of Social Studies)
• Demonstrate leadership by planning, implementing, and assessing a variety of strategies to address the problem, issue, or inquiry initially identified (Applications of Social Studies)

Grade 11

• Design an experiment using the scientific method (Processes of Science)
• Apply the Kingdom system of classification to study the diversity of organisms (Taxonomy)
• Analyse the functional inter-relationships of organisms within an ecosystem (Ecology)
• Analyse how the increasing complexity of animal phyla represents an evolutionary continuum (Animal Biology)
• Analyse the increasing complexity of the Phyla Arthropoda, Cnidaria, Echinodermata, and Mollusca Animal Biology)
• Discuss the impact of society on natural resource management and the environment (Natural Resources and the Environment)
• Apply critical thinking-including questioning, comparing, summarizing, drawing conclusions, and defending a position-to make reasoned judgements about a range of issues, situations, and topics (Skills and Processes of Social Studies)
• Demonstrate skills and attitudes of active citizenship, including ethical behaviour, open-mindedness, respect for diversity, and collaboration (Skills and Processes of Social Studies)
• Analyse the environmental, social, and economic significance of fisheries at local, provincial, and global levels (Sustainable Resouces: Fisheries)
• Outline the dynamics of ecosystems related to fisheries (Sustainable Resouces: Fisheries)
• Assess current practices related to the management of sustainable fishery resources in BC(Sustainable Resouces: Fisheries)
• Analyse challenges and opportunities faced by fishery industries in BC (Sustainable Resouces: Fisheries)

Grade 12

• Design an experiment using the scientific method(Processes of Science)
• Analyse the impact of fishing and ocean resources on global development and international relations (Sustainable Resources: Fishery Resources and Society)
• Examine the biotic and abiotic components of a variety of aquatic ecosystems (Sustainable Resources: Structure and Function of Aquatic Ecosystems)
• Investigate interactions found within aquatic ecosystems (Sustainable Resources: Structure and Function of Aquatic Ecosystems)
• Issues and Challenges Facing Sustainable Fisheries (Sustainable Resources: Structure and Function of Aquatic Ecosystems)
• Determine environmental issues and challenges related to fisheries (Sustainable Resources: Structure and Function of Aquatic Ecosystems)
• Outline economic and political issues and challenges related to fisheries (Sustainable Resources: Structure and Function of Aquatic Ecosystems)
• Analyse sustainability issues and challenges related to fisheries (Sustainable Resources: Structure and Function of Aquatic Ecosystems)
• Assess issues and challenges related to aquaculture (Sustainable Resources: Structure and Function of Aquatic Ecosystems)