Year 7 Chemistry Week 1 - What is Chemistry?

Welcome to your first week of Year 7 Chemistry! This week, you will spend three hours exploring the exciting world of chemistry, learning about its importance in everyday life, discovering the inspiring story of Marie Curie, and conducting your first experiment at home. Let’s dive in!

Hour 1: What is Chemistry?

Learning Objectives

By the end of this hour, you will:

• Understand what chemistry is and why it is important.

• Identify examples of chemistry in your daily life.

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Read and Watch

1. Read: Introduction pages 4-6 from "What's Chemistry all About?".

2. Read Chapter 1: "It's Elementary?" from "How to Make a Universe with 92 Ingredients". Pay attention to the everyday examples of chemistry and how it affects the world around us.

3. Watch: What is Chemistry? (CrashCourse) for an engaging introduction to the subject.

   
   

Task: Chemistry Scavenger Hunt

• Look around your home and find three examples of chemistry in action (e.g., baking, cleaning products, rusting metal).

• Write a short description of each example in your journal and explain why it’s related to chemistry.

Hour 2: Hands-On Experiment

Learning Objectives

By the end of this hour, you will:

• Conduct a simple chemical reaction.

• Observe and record changes during the reaction.

  
  

Your First Experiment: Baking Soda and Vinegar Reaction

What You Need:

• Vinegar

• Baking soda

• A bowl or cup

• A spoon

  
  

Steps:

1. Pour a small amount of vinegar into the bowl (about half a cup).

2. Add one teaspoon of baking soda to the vinegar.

3. Observe what happens! Take notes about the bubbling and fizzing reaction.

4. Write these questions and your thoughts in your journal:

   • What do you think caused the bubbles?

   • What did you notice about the amount of fizzing?

     
     

Safety Tips:

• Wear goggles if available and work in a well-ventilated area.

• Clean up the materials after the experiment and wash your hands.

  
  

What’s Happening?

The reaction you observed is a chemical change. Vinegar (an acid) reacts with baking soda (a base) to produce carbon dioxide gas. This reaction is similar to what creates bubbles in fizzy drinks!

Hour 3: Marie Curie - A Trailblazer in Science

Learning Objectives

By the end of this hour, you will:

• Learn about the life and achievements of Marie Curie.

• Reflect on her contributions to science and society.

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Read and Watch

1. Read: A short biography of Marie Curie in "Women in Science: 50 Fearless Pioneers Who Changed the World" by Rachel Ignotofsky, or "Scientists and their Discoveries."

Watch: Marie Curie and Spooky Rays (Crash Course) for a quick overview of her achievements.

Task: Mini Research Project

• Write a short paragraph about one of Marie Curie’s discoveries (e.g., radium, polonium).

• Reflect: Why do you think her work was so important? How does her story inspire you?

  
  

Quick Activity: Marie Curie Quote Reflection

Marie Curie once said, "One never notices what has been done; one can only see what remains to be done."

• Reflect on this quote and write a few sentences about how it relates to your own learning journey in science.

  
  

Summary and Reflection

• Reflect on the Week in Your Journal:

  1. What surprised you most about the chemical reaction experiment?

  2. What did you learn about Marie Curie that inspired you?

  3. Can you think of other ways chemistry impacts your daily life?

Weekly Reflection Journal (1)

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Download PDF • 219KB

• Looking Ahead: Next week, we will explore the building blocks of matter: atoms and molecules. You’ll even get to build your own models! Make sure to review your notes from this week to be ready for the next adventure.

  
  

Well done completing your first week of chemistry!