Objectives
This unit has been designed in such a way that the students should be able to: (1) explain the three different processes by which the elements are synthesized, (2) list the elements synthesized during Big Bang nucleosynthesis, (3) explain why elements with mass numbers greater than iron-56 do not undergo nuclear fusion in stars, (4) explain the differences between the s-process and r-process, and (5) explain how spectroscopy is used to identify elements. These behavioral objectives are in alignment with the Pennsylvania Academic Standards for Science and Technology as well as the School District of Philadelphia's core curriculum for chemistry.
The following is a list of the Pennsylvania Academic Standards for Science and Technology that this curriculum unit satisfies, and a brief explanation of each. A more detailed explanation is given in the appendix. The first academic standard 3.1.12 "Unifying Themes", involves providing the main ideas that integrate major concepts in science. Academic standard 3.2.12 "Inquiry and Design" allows students the opportunities to become independent learners through activities that improve their skills in manipulating variables, interpreting data, raising questions, and observing. Academic standard 3.4.12 "Physical Science, Chemistry, and Physics" involves chemistry students being able to study the relationship between matter, atomic structure and its activity. The last academic standard to be addressed is 3.7.12 "Technological Devices" allows the students to perform investigations using laboratory apparatus and the opportunity to observe and measure changes that take place over time (24).
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