Chemistry
The Curriculum of Chemistry 9 - Part 1
The curriculum of chemistry 9 begins by covering the structure and behaviour of matter. Students will learn that everything is made of atoms. Each and every atom consists of protons, neutrons, and electrons. Understanding the parts of a atom will help students in understanding why different elements have unique properties.
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The periodic table of elements is also a big part of this course, which is a tool that is used by scientists to organize different elements. Students will learn to recognize patterns in the table such as metals, non metals, and metalloids. This also allows students to predict how chemicals will react with each other. Throughout this course, students will develop a deeper understanding about how atoms are relevant to everyday life.
The curriculum of Chemistry 9 - Part 2
In the latter half of chemistry in grade 9, students will apply what they have learned about atoms and elements to figure out how substances combine and change. Some things that they learn includes ionic and covalent compounds, and the transfer between atoms. Students will participate in labs that allows them to learn hands on about the difference between physical and chemical reactions.
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Lastly, the Law of Conservation of Mass states that matter cannot be created or destroyed. Students will learn that the total mass of the reactants used in a reaction will be equal to the total mass of the products created. By the end of this course, students will gain a deeper understanding about atomic structure, the periodic table, and chemical reactions.
Assessment of Chemistry 9
In Chemistry 9, assessment is designed to not only test what the students know, but also to make sure that they can apply the skills learned in the real world. Tests are only a part of the assessment. Lab reports, Projects, and class participation are also important factors when a student is being evaluated. Tests are only able assess the students on their knowledge of the key concepts learnt in the unit. Lab reports and projects are used to supplement examinations by making sure that the students have the ability to collect data, conform to lab safety standards, and write conclusions from evidence.​
In addition to those major types of assessments, the ability to communicate clearly, work responsibly, and reflect on past things learned are also some factors considered when assessing a student. This is important for the students to be able to handle situations in the real world. It also ensures that assessment is balanced, due to the variety of assessment methods that are used. To succeed, Students will need to be organized, participate, and connect learning material to everyday examples.
Chemistry 9 is a important course to learn because it helps students understand the how the world is made. Chemistry 9 explains how the science behind everyday phenomenons. By learning about atoms, elements, and reactions, students gain insight on how the natural world functions.
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Chemistry 9 is also a important course to learn because it is a stepping stone for students going into chemistry 10 and beyond. Chemistry 10 and above will require a basic understanding of the contents covered in chem 9, because it will build on some of the knowledge learned in grade 9 and introduce others. Without taking this course, students will be unable to take higher levels of chemistry and science, which limits their career when they want to pursue any profession related to chemistry/requiring chemistry.
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Even if chemistry is not what one is pursuing, it still builds scientific vocabulary, which can be useful in health and environment related professions. To conclude, learning chemistry helps students see the relation between the real world and the classroom.