Basic 9 · Science · Term Project
Term Project: Presenting and Revising
In this topic you will present your science project, and revise the term's topics in preparation for assessment.
By the end of these notes you should be able to:
- Present your findings clearly
- Evaluate projects
- Revise the term's topics
What you already know
- Investigating in science
Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.
Lesson 1
- Strand
- Diversity Of Matter
- Sub-strand
- Term Project
Introduction
Science is a shared activity. Your findings only help others when they are communicated.
1. Preparing a Presentation
- State your question.
- Explain your method.
- Show your results as a graph.
- Explain what they mean.
- State your conclusion.
- Suggest improvements.
- Answer questions.
2. Poster Presentation
| Section | Content |
|---|---|
| title | the question |
| introduction | why it matters |
| method | steps or diagram |
| results | graph or table |
| conclusion | the answer |
| acknowledgements | thanks to helpers |
Keep your text short and your graphs large. Use headings. Stand beside your poster and be ready to explain it. A good poster can be understood in a few minutes.
3. Evaluation
| Criterion | Question |
|---|---|
| question | Was it clear and testable? |
| method | Was it fair and safe? |
| results | Were they recorded accurately? |
| analysis | Was science used to explain? |
| communication | Was it clear? |
| teamwork | Did all contribute? |
4. Responding to Questions
Scientists question each other's work to test it. Be ready to explain why you did something. If someone finds a weakness, accept it, and think about how to fix it. Do not claim more than your results show. A single small test does not prove everything. Honest uncertainty is a sign of good science.
5. Using Results
Share what you found with those who can use it. Tell a farmer which crops improve the soil, or tell your family how to cut electricity use. Your teacher may recommend a good project for a science fair, such as those held by the Ghana Education Service. Some young Ghanaian scientists have won national awards. Your work could lead to something bigger.
New words
- poster
- A display of work.
- acknowledgement
- Thanks to those who helped.
- evaluate
- To judge quality.
- uncertainty
- Doubt about a result.
Summary
- Present your question, results and conclusion.
- Evaluate honestly.
- Share useful results.
Class activity: Science Fair
- Display your project.
- Explain it to visitors.
- Evaluate two others.
You need: Beaker, Hand lens, Safety goggles
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. Which comes first in a presentation?
- A. your question
- B. your conclusion
- C. your thanks
- D. your questions from others
Show answer
Answer: your questionOrder.2. A good poster has…
- A. short text and large graphs
- B. long essays
- C. tiny writing
- D. no title
Show answer
Answer: short text and large graphsDesign.3. One small test does not prove everything.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueCaution.4. Thanks to those who helped are ______.
Show answer
Answer: acknowledgementsTerm.5. Name three parts of a science poster.
Show answer
Answer: Title, method and results.Any three.6. Why is honest uncertainty good science?
Show answer
Answer: It shows the limits of what the evidence supports.Honesty.
Lesson 2
- Strand
- Diversity Of Matter
- Sub-strand
- Term Project
Introduction
Let us now look back at what you learned in the first part of the term.
1. Key Ideas: Matter
| Topic | Key ideas |
|---|---|
| binary compounds | two elements; -ide ending |
| formation | atoms react to fill outer shells |
| acids and bases | pH below and above 7 |
| neutralisation | acid + base → salt + water |
| bonds | ionic, covalent, metallic |
2. Key Ideas: Cells
| Topic | Key ideas |
|---|---|
| specialisation | cells adapted to jobs |
| formation | mitosis and differentiation |
| plant cells | guard cells, root hairs, xylem, phloem |
| animal cells | nerve, blood, muscle, sperm |
| health | diet, exercise, disease |
3. Practice Questions
Question 1
Name the compound formed from potassium and bromine, and state the type of bond.
- Metal + non-metal.
- Ending -ide.
Answer: Potassium bromide, with an ionic bond
Question 2
How is a red blood cell adapted to its function?
- No nucleus gives more room for haemoglobin.
- The disc shape gives a large surface area.
- It is flexible.
Answer: It carries more oxygen and squeezes through capillaries
Question 3
State the colour of litmus in acid, and the pH of a neutral solution.
- Acid turns blue litmus red.
- Neutral is pH 7.
Answer: Red and 7
4. Revision Tips
Make small flash cards of definitions. Draw and label diagrams from memory. Use tables to compare things, such as acids and bases, or xylem and phloem. Past questions help you to understand what examiners want. In answers, use the correct terms, and give clear reasons. Study with friends, and test each other.
New words
- flash card
- A small card for revision.
- definition
- The exact meaning of a term.
- adaptation
- A feature that helps survival.
- revise
- To study again.
Summary
- Matter topics include compounds, acids and bonds.
- Cell topics include specialisation and function.
- Use flash cards and past questions.
Class activity: Flash Card Quiz
- Make ten flash cards.
- Test your partner.
- Swap.
You need: Beaker, Hand lens, Safety goggles
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. A neutral solution has a pH of…
- A. 7
- B. 1
- C. 14
- D. 0
Show answer
Answer: 7Scale.2. Potassium bromide has which type of bond?
- A. ionic
- B. covalent
- C. metallic
- D. none
Show answer
Answer: ionicMetal and non-metal.3. Xylem carries water.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueTransport.4. Cell division for growth is ______.
Show answer
Answer: mitosisTerm.5. Name two kinds of specialised animal cells.
Show answer
Answer: Nerve cell and red blood cell.Any two.6. Compare ionic and covalent bonds.
Show answer
Answer: Ionic bonds transfer electrons, and covalent bonds share them.Comparison.
Lesson 3
- Strand
- Diversity Of Matter
- Sub-strand
- Term Project
Introduction
The second part of the term linked nature, your body and your electricity bill.
1. Key Ideas
| Topic | Key ideas |
|---|---|
| nitrogen cycle | fixation, nitrification, denitrification |
| grasshopper | egg, nymph, adult; incomplete metamorphosis |
| circulation | heart, vessels, blood |
| respiration | glucose + oxygen → CO₂ + water + energy |
| energy use | E = P × t |
2. Practice Questions
Question 1
Explain why legumes improve soil.
- Their root nodules contain Rhizobium bacteria.
- The bacteria fix nitrogen.
Answer: They add nitrogen compounds to the soil
Question 2
Find the energy used by a 2,000 W heater for 90 minutes.
- 90 minutes = 1.5 hours.
- 2 kW × 1.5 h.
Answer: 3 kWh
Question 3
Trace blood from the right atrium to the aorta.
- Right atrium → right ventricle → lungs.
- Lungs → left atrium → left ventricle → aorta.
Answer: Through the lungs and back to the left side of the heart
3. Linking Topics
Science topics are connected. Nitrogen forms proteins, and these build muscle cells. Muscle cells need oxygen from the lungs and heart. Energy from food is released through respiration, and energy use in our homes affects the climate, which affects farming and the nitrogen cycle too. Seeing these links makes science easier to remember, and it shows how everything in nature is connected.
4. Preparing for Vacation
Keep observing the world around you. Watch your electricity meter, look for root nodules, and count your pulse. Eat well and exercise. Revise a little every day, and practise past questions. When you return, you will be ready for the next stage of your preparation for the B.E.C.E. Well done on the progress you have made this term.
New words
- link
- A connection between ideas.
- nodule
- A swelling on a legume root.
- aorta
- The main artery of the body.
- kilowatt-hour
- A unit of electrical energy.
Summary
- Review cycles, body systems and energy.
- Practise calculations and diagrams.
- See the links between topics.
Class activity: End-of-Term Quiz
- Answer ten questions.
- Mark your work.
- Plan your revision.
You need: Beaker, Hand lens, Safety goggles
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. A grasshopper's young is a…
- A. nymph
- B. pupa
- C. tadpole
- D. chick
Show answer
Answer: nymphStage.2. 500 W for 4 hours uses…
- A. 2 kWh
- B. 20 kWh
- C. 0.2 kWh
- D. 200 kWh
Show answer
Answer: 2 kWh0.5 × 4.3. Respiration releases energy.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueProcess.4. Energy = power × ______.
Show answer
Answer: timeFormula.5. Name the bacteria in legume nodules.
Show answer
Answer: RhizobiumTerm.6. Explain one link between the nitrogen cycle and the human body.
Show answer
Answer: Nitrogen from food is used to make proteins that build muscle.Links.
Homework
- Write a summary sheet of the term's science formulas and definitions.