Course Description

This course is an introduction and overview of chemistry and physics. Students will cover the diversity, patterns, and interactions of matter, and motion, forces, and energy and how they interact. “Hands-on” projects and labs will supplement daily work. This class is not open to students who have previously taken Chemistry.

Course Objectives

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

describe and compare objects in terms of mass, volume and density.
explain how families of elements are related by common properties.
describe and explain the structural parts and electrical charges of atoms.
describe how energy is conserved.
construct and explain simple circuits using wires, light bulbs, fuses, switches and power sources.
explain how mass is conserved in physical and chemical changes.
describe, compare and contrast changes in atoms and/or molecules during physical, chemical and nuclear changes.
perform measurements and calculations to describe the speed and direction of an object.
describe Newton’s three laws.
analyze the operation of simple machines in terms of force and motion.
describe different types of waves in terms of their properties.
relate color to wavelength and explain how we see color.

Course Materials

Book: Conceptual Physical Science Exploration
Because the books are soft cover, they will stay in the classroom as opposed to being issued to the students, however, there are enough books that any student may take one home at any time by checking it out with the teacher.
Notebook
Calculator for simple calculations

(Occasionally, we will work on projects that will require the students to bring in additional materials.)

Grades

75% of grade is based on homework and projects
Completion of homework on time is crucial.
Homework turned in late will result in loss of ½ of the points earned
25% of grade is based on tests and quizzes