Curriculum Structure

The Chemical Thinking curriculum is organized in eight core units, each of them addressing an essential question that chemical thinking allows us to answer. Any given unit is subdivided into modules where core concepts and ideas are explored, built, and applied. Units 1 through 3 focus on the development and analysis of submicroscopic models of matter and structure-property relationships to explain, predict, and control physical properties of substances. Units 4 through 6 focus on the application of such models and relationships to explain, predict, and control chemical behavior. In Units 7 and 8 core ideas and ways of thinking are integrated and applied to the production of energy and materials. Units 1 through 4 are designed to span a first one-semester course, while Units 5 through 8 are addressed in a second semester.

UNIT 1: How do we distinguish substances?

UNIT 2: How do we determine structure?

UNIT 3: How do we predict properties?

UNIT 4: How do we characterize chemical processes?

UNIT 5: How do we predict chemical change?

UNIT 6: How do we control chemical processes?

UNIT 7: How do we harness chemical energy?

UNIT 8: How do we synthesize substances?

Click on the Unit titles to read an introduction to the Unit, a brief description of the associated learning modules, and the central ideas analyzed and discussed in each of the modules. Additionally, we list associated performance expectations and include examples of the types of questions that are used in the course to evaluate the degree to which students have met such expectations. For each unit, we also include two examples of integrative assessments tasks (Are You Ready? activities) that illustrate the type of knowledge and reasoning that students are expected to integrate by the end of the unit to analyze relevant systems and phenomena.Click on this link to access a presentation that summarizes main points in the implementation and evaluation of the curriculum.