THE MATTER OF EVERYTHING STSE CURRICULUM LINKS

The Matter of Everything gives students the opportunity to enhance their scientific literacy by creating a sense of wonder through images of nature, descriptive scientific animations, intriguing dialogue, and inspiring music. Students will be exposed to some of the most current thinking, theories, and experiments on the international science scene presented by respected physicists and astronomers. The film integrates fundamental concepts in quantum physics and astronomy through chapters that continually unravel deeper and deeper connections. All the while, students are being challenged to think critically as they explore the connections between quantum and cosmos, and the relationship of science to technology, society, and the environment (STSE). Both science and non-science students would benefit from the ideas presented.

The following fundamental concepts in science are explored in The Matter of Everything as per the The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 11 and 12: Science, 2008 (revised):
Matter Matter is anything that has mass and occupies space. Matter has
particular structural and behavioural characteristics.

Energy Energy comes in many forms, and can change forms. It is required
to make things happen (to do work). Work is done when a force causes movement.

Systems and Interactions
A system is a collection of living and/or non-living things and
processes that interact to perform some function. A system includes
inputs, outputs, and relationships among system components. Natural
and human systems develop in response to, and are limited by, a
variety of environmental factors.

Structure and Function
This concept focuses on the interrelationship between the function or
use of a natural or human-made object and the form that the object takes.

Sustainability and Stewardship
Sustainability is the concept of meeting the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
Stewardship involves understanding that we need to use and care for
the natural environment in a responsible way and making the effort to
pass on to future generations no less than what we have access to
ourselves. Values that are central to responsible stewardship are: using
non-renewable resources with care; reusing and recycling what we
can; switching to renewable resources where possible.

Change and Continuity
Change is the process of becoming different over time, and can be
quantified. Continuity represents consistency and connectedness within and among systems over time. Interactions within and among systems
result in change and variations in consistency

More specifically, the film satisfies the following ‘Big Ideas’ as per The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 11 and 12: Science, 2008 (revised):
Earth and Space Science, Grade 12 SES4U
Big Ideas

Astronomy (Science of the Universe)
The development of more sophisticated technologies has enabled us to achieve a deeper,more thorough understanding of the origin and evolution of the universe. Scientific theories about the universe are refined and altered as new evidence is discovered.

Planetary Science (Science of the Solar System)
Space exploration and the technologies that have been developed to facilitate it have had positive and negative effects on society, the economy, and the environment. Space exploration presents many hazards.
Interactions among bodies within the solar system have an impact on the existence of life.

Physics, Grade 12 SPH4U
Big Ideas

Dynamics
Forces affect motion in predictable and quantifiable ways.Forces acting on an object will determine the motion of that object. Many technologies that utilize the principles of dynamics have societal and environmental implications.

Energy and Momentum
Energy and momentum are conserved in all interactions. Interactions involving the laws of conservation of energy and conservation of momentum can be analysed mathematically. Technological applications that involve energy and momentum can affect society and the environment in positive and negative ways.

Gravitational, Electric, and Magnetic Fields
Gravitational, electric, and magnetic forces act on matter from a distance.
Gravitational, electric, and magnetic fields share many similar properties.
The behaviour of matter in gravitational, electric, and magnetic fields can be described mathematically. Technological systems that involve gravitational, electric, and magnetic fields can have an effect on society and the environment.

The Wave Nature of Light
Light has properties that are similar to the properties of mechanical waves.
The behaviour of light as a wave can be described mathematically.
Technologies that use the principles of the wave nature of light can have societal and environmental implications.

Revolutions in Modern Physics: Quantum Mechanics and Special Relativity
Light can show particle-like and wave-like behaviour, and particles can show wavelike behaviour. The behaviour of light as a particle and the behaviour of particles as waves can be described mathematically.
Time is relative to a person’s frame of reference. The effects of relativistic motion can be described mathematically. New theories can change scientific thought and lead to the development of new technologies.