curriculum report
GRACE
edited by: FISHERMCGUFFIE
Northwestern High School Hyattsville, Maryland 20782
A "Practical Chemistry" Course George B. Powers Old Town High School, Old Town, ME 04468 Old '!'own High Schoul i i lucnted in asmall city in Eastern Maine. It isnithin five milesof the mnincumDusdthe i!niversity of Maine a t Orono. The school is-medium-sized (compared to other Maine high schools) and has a three-year program with a population of approximately 700 students. We have a mixed student hody in terms of ethnic background, ability level, and vocational orientation. Philosophy . . 'I'hc ichool's rhemistry program cunsisfed of iour separate claxses. The pmrrazn had twu separate ability levels: awelerated and genera. The accelerated class and one general class used a version of CHEM Study "Chemistry: An Investigative Approach" by Cotton, et al. The other general levels also used a CHEM Study "Chemistry: Experiments and Principles" by O'Connor, et al. These programs involved approximately 65 students per year. During the first auarter of these courses. however, manv studentsbropped out. A colleague, Kamille Morgan, and I had a "feeling" it was due to the amount of math involved. We checked kith many of the in-state post-secondary training facilities to see what levels and abilities of chemistry were required for admission. The majority required only the general concepts of chemistry and not the more traditional prohlem-solving and laboratory chemistry. Thus, we proposed the incorporation of a less mathematical course. The guidance department and administration were very receptive to our suggestion. The new level was called "Practical Chemistry" and was designed for those students going on to the vocational technical institutes, two-year colleges, or allied health areas, such as LPN or dental technology schools. Our chemistry program now consists oE Number of Classes
1 2
Title of Texls Chemistry: An Investigative Approach ( 1) Chemistry: A Modern Course
Number of Students
20
30
1'4 2
General Applied Chemistry
35-40
Vocations 6yr. college in Sci.. Eng.. or Nursing 4 y r . college in nonscience 2-yr. college or VTl's
(3)
With the addition of "Practical Chemistry," the total chemistry enrollment increased to 88, which gives us over 20 more students taking chemistry. Course Description and Outline The practical chemistry course has been designed for those students who need a general background in chemistry. The low math content allows even math-poor students to succeed. We have no scheduled laboratory, hut it could he easily fitted into the program. The teachers perform demonstrations showing techniques and several laboratory~- properties. The course also includes a short segment on the environment and energy.
The course is taught for a full vear on a dailv basis. The length of each teachkg period is 42 minutes. T i e scheduled areas comorise 27% weeks of the school vear's 38 weeks. The co&e outline is given below Topics Atoms: The Building Blocks of Matter Measurement in Chemistry Elements: The Alphabet of Chemistry The Periodic Table Compounds: Putting me Atoms Together Chemical Reactions and Equations me Arithmetic of Chemical Reactions Solutions: Dissolved Chemicals and. . . Acids. Bases. Salts, and Ions Water and Water Pollution Gases and the Atmosphere Air Poll~tion Nuclear Chemistry Chemistry and Energy
Chapter (3)
Time (Wks.)
1
1
1
'12
2 2
2%
3
3 2 1
4 5 6 7
8
'12
1%
3 3
9 9
2%
1 18
1'12 4
1%
At this point the students are given a choice as to which of the remaining ~ O D ~ Cthev S wish to studv. These t o ~ i c sand e chapters are 6rgakc chemistry 10, The Chemistry of ~ i f 11, Instruments Used in Chemical Analysis 12, Industrial Chemistry and Occupational Health 13, Agricultural and Soil Chemistrv 14. Chemistw of Food and Household Products 15, chemistry and ~ e d i c i n e16, and Chemistry and Crime 17. Mher Materials In addition to the textbook, several outside reading sources are used. Our school has a class-sized order for Science 81 maeazine. Another oeriodical in class room auantities is current Energy a n a ~ c o l o g yby CCI, Inc. selected articles from both of these iournals are read and discussed. These magazines help us to aszociare the bouk matw~alto actual prol)lem, in our w(,rld. .\s an exiunple, we have si~alied,"Gases
This feahrre investigates aspects blme semndarl school c h e m i m curriculum and related twics. New developments will be introduced and established techniqu& critiqued. ContribJtionk are welcome. Grace Fisher McOunie holds a B.A. d e g e e from Gwynedd-Mercy College and a MA degree from The Catholic University of America. She is currently pursuing a PhD a1 the University of Maryland. In addition to teaching at the secondary level for 12 years, she has taught courses to undergraduates end has been a supervisor and trainer in business. She nar a ro superv sed rtmenl leacners and planned seminars for them and cooperallng teach. ers n 1975 . she w i l ~ namea sln Oulrtano no Sec&Jary Educator of America;' and she has b&n the recipient at IFCA scholarships and of NSF institutes.
Volume 58
Number 12 December 1981
1015
and the Atmosphcrc" and have read thi, article in MarchIApril S c ~ e n c pHO entitled. "Indoor Air IJ~dlution."
For those students who are interested in studying in more detail on their own, we have the LAP's by Unigraph, Seattle, WA 98122. The packets cover the topics The Chemistry of: Food; Food Additives; Soap, Detergents, and Cosmetics; Over-the-counter Drues: - . Petroleum: Soil and Fertilizers: Textiles; Colors; Beverages; and water. These LAP's have orovided an excellent tool for learning- coverine both knowledge and experimentation. The students watch selected "Nova" . oroarams that apply .. . to the cource. \Ve have found that these programs are also an excellent teaching.t d "Plapue . on Our Children," for example, was shown when we were discussing water pollution.
Conclusion In this era of declinine science enrollment. we have increased our chemistry enkllment. Our program allows any student who has a need for a chemistry course, to be able to take a course and succeed. Thus, we are attempting to better the needs of our students. Upon request, a more complete course outline, including several suggested activities for each chapter, will be provided by the author. A list of alternative textbooks is also available.
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1378.
1016
Journal of Chemical Education
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(3) Manahan, S.,
