Abstract:
This creative project will be to construct a one quarter conceptual Physics curriculum for ninth grade students. The curriculum will be written so that it may be incorporated with a Freshman level science curriculum that rotates students through one quarter of Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Earth sciences. The order in which students will take each science subject will vary but the content of each quarter course will remain the same through out the year. My conceptual Physics curriculum will be based on national and state science standards. Lesson plans will include "hands on - minds on " plus "inquiry' based activities and labs as often as possible. The conceptual physics curriculum will be applicable for any quarter in the Freshman science curriculum and will require no prior science background. A text book will not be necessary but conceptual physics or a high school level physical science book would be an appropriate accompaniment for the curriculum. Students must have completed or be concurrently taking a course in algebra.There are three units in the curriculum. The first is mechanics and motion. It includes speed , velocity, acceleration, Mass vs. weight, then Newtons three laws of motion, momentum and energy.The second unit of the curriculum is Electricity and Magnetism. Electrostatic charge, conductors, insulators, charge by contact, charge by induction and the Van de Graaff generator will be topics included under electricity. Magnetism topics will be magnetic force, magnetic poles, magnetic fields and electromagnets.The third unit is Light. Properties of light will be covered including reflection, refraction, electromagnetic waves and the electromagnetic spectrum. Color, mixing color and selective reflection will also be topics.