Grade 9 Physical Science Course Outline (1.0 Credit)
Physical science is a first-year science class at this school. Physical science is the study of the physical world around you. Physical science can be broken up into two branches, chemistry and physics.
- Chemistry: the study of the structure and properties of matter.
- Physics: the study of the relationships between matter and energy.
The class provides an introduction to basic chemistry and basic physics. Within each chapter are several pages that cover topics such as matter, chemical reactions, solutions, motion, forces, and electromagnetism.
Virtual labs and/or simple at home labs are conducted for most chapters. Lab reports must be submitted, organizing data and answering questions for the experiment.
Course Outline
Introduction
- Introduction
- Course Description
- Handout: Periodic Table
- Handout: Polyatomic Ions
- Set the Pace
- Handout: Pacing Guide
- Supply List
- Handout: Supply List
- Pretest
- Assignment: Pretest
- Understanding Plagiarism
- Course Links
- MLA Formatting MSWord
- MLA Documentation updates
- MLA Citation
- MLA Incorporating Sources
What is Science?
- What is Science?
- Scientific Theories and Laws
- Handout: Scientific Terms
- Assignment: Scientific Terms
- Using Models to Predict
- Science and Society
- Worksheet: What is Science Test
Investigating Science
- Scientific Method
- State the Problem, Research, and Form a Hypothesis
- Design an Experiment
- Analyze Data
- Report Results
- Assignment: The Scientific Method
Measurements in Science n
- Measurement
- SI Units
- Handout: Units and Symbols
- Temperature Scales
- Assignment: Temperature Conversions
- Worksheet: Measurements in Science Test
Matter and Its Changes
- Classifying Matter
- Assignment: Classifying Matter
- Physical and Chemical Properties
- Density
- Physical and Chemical Changes
- Assignment: Properties and Changes of Matter
- States of Matter
- Phase Changes
- Handout: Properties of Matter Lab
- Assignment: Properties of Matter Lab
- Kinetic Molecular Theory of Gases
- Quiz: Matter and Its Changes Test
The Atom
- Atomic Structure
- Counting Protons, Electrons, and Neutrons
- Handout: Practice Counting PEN
- Assignment: Practice Counting PEN
- Atomic Models
- Assignment: Bohr Models
- Quiz: The Atom Test
The Periodic Table on
- Introduction to the Periodic Table
- Metals, Nonmetals, and Metalloids
- Special Groups on the Periodic Table
- Handout: Periodic Properties WebQuest
- Assignment: Periodic Properties WebQuest
- Assignment: Periodic Table Groups Project
- Quiz: Periodic Table Test
Chemical Bonds and Naming
- Reading Chemical Formulas
- Assignment: Counting Atoms
- Types of Bonds
- Assignment: Ionic, Covalent, or Both?
- Naming Covalent Compounds
- Naming Ionic Compounds
- Assignment: Naming Review
- Handout: Polyatomic Ions
- Quiz: Chemical Bonds and Naming Test
Solutions
- Solutions
- Assignment: Virtual Lab – Solution Properties
- Acids and Bases
- The pH Scale
- Handout: Acid & Base Project
- Assignment: Acid & Base Project
- Why is Water so Important?
- Quiz: Solutions Test
Chemical Reactions
- Chemical Reactions
- Essay: Energy in Chemical Reactions
- Types of Chemical Reactions
- Assignment: Classifying Chemical Reactions
- Balancing Chemical Equations
- Assignment: Virtual Lab – Chemical Equations
- Reaction Rates
- Quiz: Chemical Reactions Test
Nuclear Chemistry
- Radioactivity
- Nuclear Reactions
- Essay: Fission Vs. Fusion
- Types of Nuclear Decay
- Quiz: Nuclear Chemistry Test
Mid-Term
- Midtest
- Assignment: Midtest
- Quiz: Mid-Term
Energy & Heat
- Law of Conservation of Energy
- Worksheet: Energy Transformations
- Temperature Vs. Heat
- Transferring Heat
- Quiz: Energy and Heat Test
Motion & Forces
- Speed and Velocity
- Momentum
- Acceleration
- Handout: Frisbee Toss Lab
- Assignment: Frisbee Toss Lab
- Forces
- Essay: Physics in Motion
- Newton’s 1st Law of Motion
- Newton’s 2nd Law of Motion
- Free Fall and Weight
- Assignment: Practice Problems
- Newton’s 3rd Law of Motion
- Assignment: Picturing Newton’s Laws
- Handout: Symbols and Units
- Quiz: Motion and Forces Test
Work, Power, & Simple Machines
- Work
- Power
- Handout: Stair Climbing Lab
- Assignment: Stair Climbing Lab
- Assignment: Work and Power Calculations
- Simple Machines
- Handout: Simple Machines WebQuest
- Assignment: Simple Machines WebQuest
- Quiz: Work, Power, and Simple Machines Test
Electricity on
- The Nature of Electricity
- Static Electricity
- Assignment: Static Electricity
- Current Electricity
- Measuring Electric Current
- Assignment: Ohm’s Law & Electric Power Problems
- Handout: Symbols and Units
- Quiz: Electricity Test
Magnetism
- Magnets
- Electromagnetism
- Assignment: Making a Motor Lab
- Electromagnetic Induction
- Assignment: Electromagnetic Devices Project
- Quiz: Magnetism Test
Waves
- Types of Waves
- Properties of Waves
- Assignment: Wave Properties
- Wave Interactions
- Worksheet: Investigating Waves Activity
- Quiz: Waves Test
Sound and Light
- Sound
- Assignment: Doppler Effect
- Light
- Reflection and Mirrors
- Refraction and Lenses
- Worksheet: Sound and Light Review
- Quiz: Sound and Light Test
Humans & Our Environment
- Accidents and the Environment
- Impact of the Human Lifestyle
- Renewable and Nonerasable Resources
- Essay: Resources
- Quiz: Humans and Our Environment Test
Big Ideas in Science
- The Four Fundamental Forces
- The Theory of Evolution
- Essay: Molecular Clocks
- Theory of Special Relativity
- Biomedical Ethics
- Quiz: Big Ideas in Science Test
Final Exam
- Post-test
- Assignment: Post-test
- Quiz: Final Exam
Course Evaluation n
- Handout: Course Evaluation
- Assignment: Course Evaluation
