TVO Learn is designed to meet each student where they are on their learning journey. Learning Activities are comprehensive and require guided instruction from an adult, while Resources for Learning, Apply the Learning prompts and Vocabulary lists work well to reinforce specific skills or to enable independent exploration of a subject. Use these helpful tips to get the most from TVO Learn.
How to Use These Resources
Curriculum Overview
Science is a way of knowing which seeks to describe and explain the natural and physical world. An important aspect is making connections between skills and concepts, and the practical applications of science and technology, and learning about life systems, matter and energy, structures and mechanisms, and Earth and space systems. Students develop important scientific literacy and technological skills that will enable them to thrive in today's rapidly changing world, their future professional and personal lives, and to become active problem solvers in their communities. As students engage in STEM education, the goals of the science and technology program is to apply scientific and engineering design processes to develop the sense of wonder about the world, to explore curiosity about what is observed, and to investigate problems relating to science, technology, society, and the environment.
The science and technology curriculum is divided into five strands:
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STEM Skills and Connections
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Life Systems: Needs and Characteristics of Living Things
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Matter and Energy: Energy in Our Lives
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Structures and Mechanisms: Everyday Materials, Objects, and Structures
- Earth and Space Systems: Daily and Seasonal Changes
Interested in learning more? View Curriculum
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Learning Activities
Learning Activities provide opportunity for deeper exploration of a subject. Learning Activities provide opportunity for deeper exploration of a subject. Organized by grade and topic (or strand), students should be guided through each Learning Activity by an adult. Before clicking on a topic to prepare for or begin this guided instruction, be sure to read these helpful tips about how to get the most out of TVO Learn.
Learning Activities 
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Resources for Learning
Chosen by TVO educators, these resources support the curriculum outlined above. Review the below list of options along with the activities. Then, read, watch, listen or play to build understanding and knowledge.
Please be aware by accessing the resources below you will be leaving TVO Learn and entering other TVO domains that are subject to different privacy policies and terms of use.
Complete the suggested activities using these resources and other TVO resources.
Earth and Space Systems
Finding Stuff Out with Zoey | Migration
Zoey explores why some animals migrate and some don’t. What are the animals that migrate? How do animals experience changes during the seasons?
Watch on TVOkids.com
Earth and Space Systems
Canada Crew | Weather
Bebe and Howie are stuck inside the lodge due to rain, where they learn about the seasons from Environment Canada’s senior climatologist David Phillips. While Gavin gets lost in the grand banks, one of the foggiest places in the world.
Watch on TVOkids.com
Earth and Space Systems
Gabby's Farm
Join Gabby as she gives us an up-close look at the animal, equipment and chores on her family farm.
Watch on TVOkids.com
Earth and Space Systems
Power Hour of Learning | What's your season?
Join teacher Andrea explore science and Canada’s four seasons: summer, fall, winter, and spring. Learn the impact of daily seasonal changes on our human outdoor activities: farming, gardening, swimming, skating, and soccer. We learn about innovations that some of these activities take place indoors out of season: such as greenhouses allow farming and gardening to happen in cold weather; arenas can make ice in all seasons for skating and hockey; and community centres can provide warm places for swimming. Explore some of Canada’s festivals that celebrate activities in different seasons.
Watch on TVOkids.com
Life Systems
The Space | New Canadian Food Guide
Learn about the changes to the new food guide. How are you meeting your needs by eating healthy food?
Watch on TVOkids.com
Matter and Energy
Space Kids | The Sun
The sun is the principal source of energy for the earth. Learn about the big beautiful, burning ball in our sky. What is it made out of? What would happen if we didn’t have a sun?
Watch on TVOkids.com
Matter and Energy
Power Hour of Learning | Shadows, Science & Symmetry!
Join teacher Joel explore scientific thinking about light and shadows! Scientists always start with what they know! Let’s make a KWL chart to record our findings. We model what do you already know? Fill that in. Next, scientists ask QUESTIONS! They use wonders to discover new things. Let’s make a list of questions or wonders you have about lights and shadows. Record your findings - observations - on your chart! Create a symmetry shadow art piece.
Watch on TVOkids.com
STEM Skills and Connection
TVO Learn mPower | STEM 1: Insect Inn
Demonstrate an and investigate needs and characteristics of plants and animals. Design and build a shelter that will help maintain a healthy environment and meet the basic needs of insects.
Play game on mPower.tvo.org (Registration or login required)
Structures and Mechanisms
Finding Stuff Out | Measured Destruction
Join Harrison as his lab assistant. Help him perform experiments and learn together about the properties of different materials.
Play game on TVOkids.com
Apply the Learning
Choose from the following to consolidate learning across all curriculum strands.
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Make a poster or short speech to explain how showing care and respect for all living things helps to maintain a healthy environment.
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Make a list and identify the location and function of the major parts of the human body including your sense organs. For example, the lungs are in your chest and they are used for breathing.
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Make a list or chart of different fasteners (tape, glue, button, zipper) and describe the use for each.
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Design, build, and test a structure for a specific purpose (for example, a tent, a model of a swing set, a bird feeder, a wigwam)
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Design and construct a device that uses energy to perform a task (for example, a kite that uses wind, an instrument that uses human energy to make sounds).
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How does your family use electricity at home? How can you reduce energy consumption?
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Investigate the amount of change in heat from the sun throughout the day. Draw a diagram or explain using pictures you find. How does this affect your daily routine?
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Investigate the amount of change in heat from the sun throughout the year. Draw a diagram or explain using pictures you find. How do you adapt to these changes?
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Create your own definitions for 20 of the words in the vocabulary list.
Vocabulary
Review this list of vocabulary associated with the curriculum. Practise spelling, research definitions, and find these vocabulary words when engaging with the TVO resources or completing learning activities.
Students should understand and be able to apply these words in context.
- Life Systems
Needs and Characteristics of Living Things - Matter and Energy
Energy in Our Lives
- Structures and Mechanisms
Everyday Materials, Objects, and Structures
- Earth and Space Systems
Daily and Seasonal Changes
colour
energy
environment
explore
food
grow
investigation
needs
reproduce
sense organs
size
shape
waste
air
design
construct
earth
energy
electricity
explore
food
grow
investigate
land
source
sun
survival
resource
water
cloth
colour
design
experiment
explore
fastener
flexible
foam
height
materials
object
plastic
paper
properties
purpose
rigid
shape
smooth
steel
structure
texture
wood
change
cycle
daily
day
dormant
energy
heat
hibernate
investigate
night
season
seasonal
sun
survival
temperature
