Chemistry: A Family-Style Science Program (Layers of Learning Science)

Chemistry is a science course that teaches about the interactions that happen on an atomic level. We begin with atoms, orbitals, the periodic table, and bonding and then progress on to solutions, gases, acids & bases, oxidation & reduction, and finally carbon chemistry. As students learn about scientific knowledge they are also learning to design and perform their own experiments, keep a notebook like a real scientist, and think scientifically, which is to say creatively and skeptically. This course is not a textbook; it is for a mentor to use with students from ages 6 to 18 and is designed so multiple ages can learn together at once. A Pick-and-Choose Curriculum A mentor uses Chemistry to custom tailor learning to the students. The mentor chooses from among the library book recommendations, video recommendations, and activity ideas presented in the book. Mentors and students learn together as they read, watch, experiment, play, and craft. To complete the activities you will need science measuring tools like beakers, thermometers, and an electronic balance; craft supplies; and some household items. This course was designed for multiple ages or abilities of students to learn together in a homeschool or classroom. What's In This Book? Chemistry includes nine individual month-long units including: Matter - lab safety, states of matter, atoms Elements - periodic table, properties of elements, radioactivity Bonding - chemicals bonds, ionic bonds, covalent bonds, moles, naming chemicals Reactions - chemical changes, rates of reactions, writing chemical equations, types of reactions Solutions - mixtures, water, precipitates, properties of solutions Gases - synthesizing gases, gas laws, stoichiometry Acids & Bases - what are acids and bases, the pH scale, reactions, buffers Oxidation & Reduction - moving electrons, types of redox reactions, more redox reactions Carbon - chains and rings, molecule of life, polymers Lab Equipment The first unit, Matter, has a list and explanation of lab equipment used in this course. There are some household substitutions you can sometimes make for traditional glassware, such as canning jars or disposable plastic cups. When it is appropriate individual experiments indicate possible substitutions. At a bare minimum you must have proper measuring equipment to do these labs. That includes an electronic balance accurate to two decimal places, a 100 ml graduated cylinder for liquids, and an alcohol or digital thermometer. You also must have proper safety gear for every person who is in the lab area. This includes safety goggles or glasses and gloves. You should also have a fire extinguisher on hand. Additional equipment includes these items: 6 250 ml glass beakers 2 600 ml glass beakers 1 250 ml Erlenmeyer flask with stopper 1 burner and stand 1 funnel 1 pack of filter paper 1 glass stirring rod 6 test tubes with stoppers 1 test tube stand 1 ring stand and clamp 1 dropper 1 package wooden splints Chemicals Many of the experiments in Chemistry use household chemicals like baking soda and Epsom salts, but every unit also has specialized chemicals that you will need to buy from a science supplier. We recommend Home Science Tools as a source if you live in the United States. In the first unit, Matter, there is a list of all the chemicals used in these labs with an indication of which units they are used in.