PRE-AP CHEMISTRY

This course is designed to help students develop a deep conceptual understanding of matter and energy at the molecular level by asking students to explain their macroscopic observations using particulate-level reasoning. Course instruction emphasizes the integration of content with science practices—powerful reasoning tools that support students in analyzing the natural world around them. Course content includes emphasis on attention to modeling as students develop and refine models to connect macroscopic observations to structure, motion, and interactions occurring at the atomic scale, the strategic use and integration of mathematics with conceptual understanding to model chemical phenomena, and emphasis on analytical reading and writing to gain, retain, and apply scientific knowledge and to carry out scientific argumentation. As a result of the increased rigor of this AP course, students are required to demonstrate advanced skills in thinking logically and intuitively while exhibiting evidence of divergent and creative thinking in science. Topics are covered more in depth in comparison to the regular course and instruction is delivered at the fastest pace.