Scientist in Training

Focusing Concept

Standard and Essential Learnings

Structure of Matter

3. Elements have distinct properties and atomic structure. All matter is comprised of one or more of over 100 elements. As a basis for understanding this concept, students know:

·         a. the structure of the atom and how it is composed of protons, neutrons and electrons.

·         b. compounds are formed by combining two or more different elements. Compounds have properties that are different from the constituent elements.

·         c. atoms and molecules form solids by building up repeating patterns such as the crystal structure of NaCl or long chain polymers.

·         d. the states (solid, liquid, gas, plasma) of matter depend on molecular motion

·         e. in solids the atoms are closely locked in position an can only vibrate, in liquids the atoms and molecules are more loosely connected an can collide with and move past one another, while in gases the atoms or molecules are free to move independently, colliding frequently.

·         f. how to use the Periodic Table to identify elements in simple compounds.

Reactions

5. Chemical reactions are processes in which atoms are rearranged into different combinations of molecules. As a basis for understanding this concept, students know:

·         a. reactant atoms and molecules interact to form products with different chemical properties.

·         b. the idea of atoms explains the conservation of matter: in chemical reactions the number of atoms stays the same no matter how they are arranged, so their total mass stays the same.

·         c. chemical reactions usually liberate heat or absorb heat

·         d. physical processes include freezing, boiling, melting, subliming, in which a material changes form with no chemical reaction.

·         e. how to determine whether a solution is acidic, basic or neutral.

Chemistry of Living Systems

6. Principles of chemistry underlie the functioning of biological systems. As a basis for understanding this concept, students know:

·         a. carbon, because of its ability to combine in many ways with itself and other elements, has a central role in the chemistry of living organisms.

·         b. living organisms are mode of molecules largely consisting of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus and sulfur.

·         c. living organisms have many different kinds of molecules including small ones such as water and salt, and very large one such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins and DNA.

Periodic Table

7. The organization of the Periodic Table is based on the properties of the elements and reflects the structure of atoms. As a basis for understanding this concept, students know:

·         a. how to identify regions corresponding to metals, nonmetals and inert gases.

·         b. elements are defined by the number of protons in the nucleus, which is called the atomic number. Different isotopes of an element have a different number of neutrons in the nucleus.

·         c. substances can be classified by their properties, including melting temperature, density, hardness, heat and electrical conductivity.

Density and Buoyancy

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 volume.

·         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.

Investigation and Experimentation

9. Scientific progress is made by asking meaningful questions and conducting careful investigations. As a basis for understand this concept, and to address the content, students would develop their own questions and perform investigations. Students will:

·         a. plan and conduct a scientific investigation to test a hypothesis.

·         b. evaluate the accuracy and reproducibility of data.

·         c. distinguish between variable and controlled parameters in a test.

·         d. recognize the slope of the linear graph as the constant in the relationship y=kx and apply this to interpret graphs constructed from data.

·         e. construct appropriate graphs from data and develop quantitative statements about the relationships between variables.

·         f. apply simple mathematical relationships to determine on quantity given the other two (including: density = mass/volume, volume = area x height)

·         g. distinguish between linear and non-linear relationships on a graph of data.