Chemistry (National 5)

The National Parent Forum of Scotland is grateful for the support of the Scottish Government, the Scottish Quali2cations Authority and Education Scotland in the preparation of this series. www.parentforumscotland.org enquiries@parentforumscotland.org

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parentforumscot DEC 2017 For more detailed course information: SQA: Chemistry National 5: www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/45722.html Education Scotland: www.education.gov.scot/nationalqualifications Curriculum for Excellence Key Terms and Features Factfile: www.education.gov.scot/parentzone/Documents/CfEFactfileOverview.pdf NATIONALS IN A NUTSHELL The National Parent Forum of Scotland National 5 Summary Chemistry SCIENCES National 5 progresses onto Higher Chemistry WHAT WILL MY CHILD EXPERIENCE DURING THE COURSE? • Active, collaborative and independent learning • A blend of classroom approaches: practical tasks (experiments and open-ended investigations); whole class, small group or one to one discussions; direct interactive teaching • Space for personalisation and choice • Collaborative learning: partnerships with learners in other curriculum areas; links with businesses, employers, organisations • Applying learning to new situations • Embedding literacy skills: selecting and assessing information, presenting findings; evaluating; debating; listening; reading; writing • Embedding numeracy skills: recording and displaying data in graphs/ tables; accuracy; interpreting and assessing data; using technologies. ASSESSMENT • The course will be assessed through a question paper and an assignment, which are marked by SQA and graded A to D. • The question paper is worth 100 marks and makes up 83% of the total assessment mark. Learners answer questions that demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of chemistry, as well as their scientific inquiry and analytical thinking skills. • The assignment is worth 20 marks and makes up 17% of the total assessment mark. Learners choose a topic, with guidance from the teacher, which they must then research and write a report on. They must carry out an experiment as part of their research. What skills will my child develop? • Application of knowledge to new situations and a more advanced understanding of chemistry and its impact • Scientific inquiry and investigation skills • Scientific analytical thinking skills • The ability to use technology, equipment and materials • Questioning and independent thinking • Problem-solving in a chemistry context • Using and understanding scientific literacy in everyday contexts • Planning experiments to test hypotheses or illustrate effects • Recording observations • Collecting, processing and analysing data • Making predictions and generalisations based on evidence • Drawing valid conclusions with explanations and evidence NATIONAL 5 DISCUSSION IN THE CLASSROOM Chemistry in Society: We are studying radioisotopes, our reliance of radioactivity, its risks and benefits. We are considering the following questions: Will global security depend on a nuclear future? and How does the work of Becquerel and Curie impact on health care in the 21st century? Does media coverage about nuclear chemistry accurately reflect scientific evidence and facts or does it use persuasive techniques?