Course Title: General Science

Grade level: 9th

Credit/Semester: 1 Credit/One year

Prerequisites: None

Teacher: Mrs. Baccus   

INTRODUCTION:

Brief Description:  General Science is an introductory course focusing on selected topics in the areas of physics and chemistry.  The purpose of this course is to increase student interest in science, prepare students for future science course at St. John’s and to develop and enhance science skills, such as use of the scientific method, science knowledge, and familiarity with science laboratory processes.  General Science is a yearlong lab science course.  Students will be expected to participate in labs, complete reading and homework assignments, and participate in individual and group projects.

Class format: Taking reading notes from the book and lecture notes from class discussion.  Laboratory work will proceed with almost every chapter.

Homework or reading: Chapter reading, study guides, test review or lab write-ups not completed in class will become homework.

Projects or papers: Periodic oral reports on library research assignments and/or reading assignments.  There will also be in class creative projects.

Grading: Student's grades will be based on homework, lab notebook, quizzes and group/individual projects as well as written and performance tests.

COURSE GOALS:

Students will demonstrate a desire to take the initiative in all aspects of the course, including responsibility for their own learning, completing assignments on time, and taking an active role in laboratory investigations, activities, projects, and class discussions.

Students will develop the ability to solve complex problems presented in laboratory and classroom situations.

Students will acquire a working knowledge of major Science concepts as they are described in the state goals for the course. See Below

Students will demonstrate good interaction skills by working with other students and with the instructor in a productive manner.

STATE GOALS:

General Goals

TLW have the abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry

TLW understand science as a human endeavor

TLW be able to designing investigations

TLW have an understanding about scientific inquiry      

TLW know the major contributions to science throughout history

9th Grade – Science

TLW know the properties of matter

TLW understand the changes in properties of matter

TLW know and be able to apply motions and forces

TLW understand the transfer of energy

TOPICS:

1st nine weeks

            Matter the Building block of the universe

•           Exploring physical Science

•           General properties of matter

•           Physical and chemical changes

•           Mixtures, elements and compounds

•           Atoms the building block of matter

•           Classification of elements and the periodic table

2nd nine weeks

            Chemistry of matter

•           Atoms and bonding

•           Chemical reactions

•           Families of chemical compounds

3rd nine weeks

            Motion, Forces, and Energy

•           What is motion?

•           The nature of forces

•           Forces in fluids

•           Work, power and simple machines

•           Energy: forms and changes

•           Heat energy

•           What is heat?

•           Uses of Heat

4th nine weeks

            Electricity and Magnetism

•           Electric charges and currents

•           Magnetism

•           Electromagnetism

Sound and light

•           Characteristics of waves

•           Sounds and its uses

•           Light and the electromagnetic spectrum

•           Light and its uses