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More Class Lessons for Chemistry Topics 2000
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Introductory Unit in Chemistry
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Summary:
This unit is an introduction to the subject of chemistry. Students will learn the concepts of laboratory safety. In addition, they gain exposure to the metric system, significant figures, scientific notation, and percents/percent errors. This information is utilized to instruct students in dimensional analysis. Density is the next topic covered, which allows a specific application of prior learning as well as introduces the concept of elements and their specific characteristics.
Students are then introduced to energy and matter. Students will learn energy measurement and temperature (all three scales and conversions between scales), as well as the laws of conservation of energy and matter. Finally, students will acquire knowledge of the states of matter, physical and chemical changes, and the differences between elements, compounds, and mixture, as well as their properties.
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Grade Level: 10,11,12
Curricular Area:
Chemistry
Class Time Required:
8-12 hours (Estimated)
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| Standards: |
| Since this unit is the initial one in a chemistry course, it primarily involves review and preparation for the "mainstream" portions of the course. My students have consistently had trouble with dimensional analysis and the scientific method. The standard that addresses this issue is an 8th Grade standard (the last time physical science is generally taught) which states:
8. All objects experience a buoyant force when immersed in a fluid. As a basis for understanding this concept, students know:
a) density is mass per unit volume
b) how to calculate the density of substances (regular and irregular solids, and liquids) from measurements of mass and volumes.
c) the buoyant force on an object in a fluid is an upward force equal to the weight of the fluid it has displaced.
d) how to predict whether an object will float or sink.
This prepares the student to address 9th-12th grade standards including:
3. The conservation of atoms in chemical reactions leads to the principle of conservation of matter and the ability to calculate the mass of products and reactants.
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| Learning and Teaching Activities: |
| Students are learning the information for two primary reasons: 1) to become more knowledgable about the world they live in from a scientific (specifically chemistry) perspective, and 2) to prepare them for more advanced chemical knowledge yet to come.
This new learning is the natural next step in the student's prior knowledge in physical science--from energy and matter to elements having distinct properties to the power of the periodic table to the ability to predict reactions between elements and molecules.
As expected, many students have trouble with the conceptual nature of chemistry. However, mathematics has also proven to be a trouble area. This initial unit reviews and often provides initial instruction in the metric system, conversions, and dimensional analysis.
Students will produce PowerPoint presentations, perform lab experiments, do homework and class work, create a safety poster, engage in role-play situations (Scientific Method), create a Metric System specific Microsoft Word table, perform a skit, create an outdoor quiz, and investigate caloric value of food products. Students will maintain a journal in which they will write their impressions of each chapter before they experience it and then after completing it.
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| Outcomes and Assessment: |
| Students will demonstrate the following specific knowledge and skills:
1) Lab Safety procedures and practices-this will be demonstrated via the completion of worksheets, class discussions, a pre- and post-writing assignment, a poster, a PowerPoint assignment, and an exam.
2) The Scientific Method steps. This will be demonstrated via class discussions, worksheets, and an in-class role play.
3) The Metric System and the ability to convert between various units within that system (length, mass, and volume) -- students will demonstrate this learning via the completion of worksheets, completion of a metric table in Microsoft Word, class discussions and problem solving, homework assignments, and a lab that requires measurement in metric units and conversions between units.
4) Dimensional Analysis and the ability to convert units across boundaries (gallons to liters; tons to grams; miles to centimeters; etc.). Students will demonstrate their learning via class discussions and problem solving, a quiz, a group "skit" or presentation, a web-based interactive tutorial, and homework.
5) Density and the ability to determine density for both regular and irregular objects, as well as knowledge of the role density can play in identifying an element. Students will showcase their learning via a density lab, class discussions and problems, homework, worksheets, and a quiz (outdoors using a balance and small objects)
6) Energy types (calories, Calories, Joules) and temperature scales (Fahrenheit, Celsius, and Kelvin). Students will be able to define and make calculations associated with each type of energy and each temperature scale, as well as conversions between types/scales. Students will also show their understanding of the the law of conservation of energy. This knowledge will be demonstrated via a temperature lab, worksheets, class discussions, and an evaluation of the energy available in a common food product.
7) Matter (states, physical and chemical changes, law of conversation of matter) and elements, compounds, and mixtures. Students will have knowledge of the four states of matter and their basic properties, the definitions of the change points between states, the characteristics of physical and chemical properties, and an understanding of the law of conservation of matter. Students will also have knowledge of the properties of elements, compounds and mixtures (including both homogeneous and heterogeneous mixtures). Students will demonstrate their knowledge via a combination of class discussions and problem solving, worksheets, a quiz, homework, and some web-based interactive tutorials.
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| Materials Needed: |
lab equipment (glassware, distilled water, yardstick, ruler, etc.), computer lab with Internet access, LCD projector (or larger color TV with connecting hardware and software), safety equipment (safety glasses, aprons/lab coats, gloves, first-aid kit, etc.), software, handouts, textbook, lab manual, and workbook
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| Resources: |
Resource 1
Resource 2
Resource 3
- Resource: Software
- URL/Publisher: Microsoft Office
- How Used: part of lesson--and used in preparation
Resource 4
Resource 5
Resource 6
- Resource: Text-Chemistry Connections for Our Changing World
- URL/Publisher: Prentice-Hall
- How Used: Background and lesson material
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| Ideas for extending the lesson: |
| The worksheets could be included as an "on-line" available resource; this would allow students to work on a worksheet and have their fellow students review and learn/correct.
On-line assessments (quizzes, tests, homework) could also be added. I will use disks for each student for these materials this year.
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