Erin Nolan
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Nature of Science
- Investigating in science
Develop and carry out investigations
that extend their scientific knowledge,
including developing their
understanding of the relationship
between investigations and scientific
theories and models
- Communicating in science
Use accepted science knowledge, vocabulary,
symbols, and conventions when evaluating
accounts of the nature world and consider wider
implications of the methods of
communication and/or representation
employed.
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Material World
- Properties and changes of matter
Investigate and measure the chemical and physical
properties of a range of groups of substances, for
example, acids and bases, oxidants and reductants,
and selected organic and inorganic compounds
- The structure of matter
Relate properties of matter to structure and bonding.
Develop an understanding of and use the fundamental
concepts of chemistry (for example equilibrium and
thermochemical principles) to interpret observations.
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Alkanes
Alkenes and Alkynes
Polymers
Alcohols
Carboxylic Acids
Esters
Subtopic
Activity
Naming Alkanes
Fill in the blanks table, which will help scaffold the
answers out of the students. Also, molymod kits to
help the students understand how the naming
system works. In addition, students will need to
name branched alkanes which could be done with a
fill-in table as well.
Structural Isomers
Molymod kits to make up isomers, so students can .
A table to fill in with just molecular formulae and
students can work out the structural isomers.
Haloalkanes
Not only is their naming with haloalkanes but also
classification which the students would not have
come across before. Another fill in the blanks table
will help scaffold them again as they will come
across this type of classification system again with
alcohols.
Physical Properties and Reactions
Experiment testing and observing how different
alkanes burn, their states at room temperature,
solubility in water, conduction of electricity.
Sub-topic
Activity
Naming alkenes and alkynes
Naming an alkene and alkyne is different to how you
name an alkane. However, parts of an alkane name
is used as basis for naming these two other
compounds. So a refresher of alkane names will
help and then some fill-in tables introducing
branched alkenes and alkynes to further expand on
what they have previously covered with branched
alkanes.
Geometrical isomers
Molymod kits. Students can fill in a table that has a
list of molecular formulae and also make up models
of these molecules so that they can get a 3D
appreciation of the isomers.
Reactions
Experiment. Students will do an experiment using
an alkane and an alkene and explain the differences
they observe such as why cyclohexene makes
bromine water become colourless without the
presence of a catalyst whereas cyclohexane needs
bright light.
Polymers
Molymod kits, microscope photos of polymers and
bringing in everyday items made out of polymers
such as polypropylene, nylon.
Sub-topic
Activity
Naming and classification
Review of alkene naming procedure as this
one is very similar and review of
classification of haloalkanes as it is the same
method for alcohols. A fill-in table could be
used as well.
Preparation
Chalk and Talk, informing students how
industrial methanol and ethanol are
produced.
Properties and Reactions
Students will get to examine different
alcohols and how differing molar masses
affect their physical properties. Also conduct
an experiment to see how they combust and
their solubility in water which can be related
to the bonding in different alcohols. Another
reaction of alcohols would be with acidified
potassium permanganate and acidified
potassium dichromate.
Sub-topic
Activity
Naming
Revision of alkane names as they
form for the basis for carboxylic
acid names. Also, revision of
branched chain alkanes as it is the
same naming method for
carboxylic acids.
Properties and Reactions
Experiment. Have a range of
carboxylic acids for students to
describe their physical properties
such as smell, states at room
temperature. Also react them with
water and universal indicator and
describe and name the end
product.
Sub-topic
Activity
Naming and formation
Experiment. React a carboxylic acid with an
alcohol and get students to describe the end
product and the smell. Then go over the
naming and provide a table for them to work
through.
Hydrolysis
Experiment. This time react the ester with
water or NaOH which will cause it to split.
The students will then get to write reactions
for the reverse of what they had done before.
Fats and Oils
Get students to bring some household
examples of fats (eg lard) and oils and get
them to describe the states at room
temperatures.
Soap
Experiment. Get students to make their own
soap. Students should be able to describe
how soap is formed.
Organic chemistry is a difficult subject to make relevant to students as most things that
you describe to them they can’t actually see and observe themselves, such as the addition
of bromine to an alkene. But we do know the reaction has occurred as bromine water
becomes colourless, however you cannot observe the alkene double bond breaking and a
bromine atom being added to the resulting alkane.
But what could be done in this subject is to bring in everyday household substances that
are made up of organic chemical molecules such as polymers and alkanes so that it may
make it more relevant to the students. For example for polymers Polypropylene and nylon
could be brought in and for alkanes candles. Hopefully the students will then gain an
appreciation of what some of their items of clothing that they wear or what is at home may
contain. Also, vinegar could be brought in an described in terms of what organic molecules
it is made of.
Students would be dealt with on a case by case basis. For
example if a student was hard of sight, then a student or a
teacher aide paired up with them to help them with
experimental work and also enlarged printed copies may
have to be provided.
ESOL is another situation that will be dealt with
case by case basis. A student maybe placed in a group of
New Zealand students to aide their understanding and get a
grip on the terminology used in chemistry. On the other
hand being placed students of the same nationality may also
aide their learning.