Slovenia Osnovna šola 8. razred Curriculum - Physics

This curriculum outlines the physics content for 8th and 9th grade in Slovenian primary schools (Osnovna šola). It emphasizes the development of critical thinking, problem-solving, and an understanding of the natural world through observation, experimentation, and analysis. The curriculum encourages the use of various resources, including IT, to enhance learning and exploration.

8th Grade (70 hours total, 43 hours core curriculum)

1. Introduction to Physics (5 hours)

• 1.1 Areas of Physics and its Importance: Students will describe phenomena studied in physics and its applications in daily life, science, technology, and medicine.
• 1.2 Forms and Methods of Work in Physics: Students will learn and apply methods like observation, planning, measurement, experimentation, conclusion drawing, and interpretation of measurements and experimental outcomes. They will conduct experiments emphasizing these methods.
• 1.3 Measurement and Measurement System: Students will define physical quantity, physical unit, and measuring device. They will identify selected physical quantities, perform measurements of length or time, calculate average values, estimate measurement errors, use appropriate units, understand prefixes for unit conversion, and recognize the inaccuracy of measured values and the need for a unified measurement system.
• 1.4 Scales in Nature: Students will explain the unit light-year, use scientific notation for ratios, and research the dimensions of atoms and other microscopic particles as well as cosmic scales.

2. Light (7 hours)

• 2.1 Laws of Reflection and Refraction: Students will investigate how light reflects and refracts through experiments, analyze the path of light rays, and explain diffuse and specular reflection.
• 2.2 Properties of Lenses: Students will define focal point and focal length of converging lenses.
• 2.3 Imaging with Converging Lenses: Students will investigate the laws of imaging with converging lenses through experiments and analyze the path of rays.
• 2.4 Camera Obscura and Physical Model of the Eye: Students will explain image formation in a camera obscura and the eye.
• 2.5 Projection Apparatus, Magnifying Glass, Camera: Students will explain the function of optical devices like magnifying glasses, projectors, and cameras.

3. The Universe (4 hours)

• 3.1 Solar System: Students will define star, planet, satellite, comet, meteor, galaxy, etc., compare planet properties, and describe the shape of planetary orbits.
• 3.2 Stars: Students will understand the varying distances and colors of stars, identify constellations, explain the changing positions of constellations, learn celestial orientation and the use of star charts, and observe the night sky for orientation.
• 3.3 The Universe: Students will describe the historical development of astronomy, including the work of prominent astronomers, and understand basic concepts about the origin and evolution of the universe.

4. Uniform Motion (6 hours)

• 4.1 Description of Motion: Students will differentiate between motion and rest, describe linear and curved motion, and experimentally determine speed as the ratio of distance and time. They will use the equation for calculating speed and convert between m/s and km/h.
• 4.2 Linear Uniform Motion: Students will describe uniform and non-uniform motion, draw and interpret graphs of distance vs. time and speed vs. time, and use the equation for calculating distance.

5. Forces (10 hours)

• 5.1 Description of Forces: Students will define observed body and surroundings, experimentally determine that forces cause changes in motion or shape, name forces according to the bodies causing them, and differentiate between contact and distance forces.
• 5.2 Measuring Forces: Students will differentiate between elastic and inelastic bodies, understand the unit newton (N) as the weight of a 100-gram object, determine the weight of bodies with known mass, and understand that equal forces cause equal effects on a given body.
• 5.3 Spring Scale: Students will draw and interpret force-extension graphs, experimentally determine the linear relationship between spring extension and force, and use a spring scale for measuring forces.
• 5.4 Drawing Forces: Students will represent force with a vector, understand point, surface, and volume force distributions, and understand the concept of weight.
• 5.5 Weight: Students will describe the procedure for determining the center of gravity of geometric and non-geometric shapes.
• 5.6 Equilibrium of Forces: Students will identify examples of equal and opposite forces, determine if forces acting on a body are in equilibrium, and understand that a body is at rest or in uniform linear motion when forces are balanced. They will mathematically represent the condition for force equilibrium.
• 5.7 Friction and Drag: Students will understand that friction and drag oppose motion and describe these forces. They will experimentally investigate factors influencing friction and drag.
• 5.8 Law of Action and Reaction: Students will understand that bodies interact mutually and that action-reaction forces are equal and opposite. They will analyze examples and differentiate this law from the law of equilibrium.
• 5.9 Composition of Parallel Forces: Students will experimentally determine that the resultant force replaces the effect of multiple forces, calculate the resultant of parallel forces in the same and opposite directions.
• 5.10 Composition of Non-Parallel Forces: Students will draw the resultant of non-parallel forces and understand how its magnitude and direction depend on the component forces and the angle between them.
• 5.11 Decomposition of Forces: Students will decompose forces into components and analyze the dependence of component magnitudes on their directions.

6. Density, Pressure, and Buoyancy (11 hours)

• 6.1 Measuring Area: Students will determine the area of geometric and non-geometric shapes.
• 6.2 Pressure in Solids: Students will calculate pressure as the ratio of force and area, and understand units of pressure.
• 6.3 Measuring Mass and Volume: Students will measure the mass and volume of bodies, including non-geometric shapes, and understand that volumes are not always additive.
• 6.4 Density and Specific Weight: Students will define density as the ratio of mass and volume, and specific weight as the ratio of weight and volume. They will use equations for calculating density and specific weight, understand the concept of homogeneous bodies, and differentiate between homogeneous and non-homogeneous bodies. They will understand the concept of average density.
• 6.5 Pressure in Liquids: Students will investigate pressure transmission in enclosed liquids and determine the direction of pressure forces on submerged bodies and container walls.
• 6.6 Pressure due to the Weight of Stationary Liquid: Students will determine the factors influencing pressure in stationary liquids, use the equation for calculating pressure changes in liquids, explain that air pressure is caused by its weight, and know the value of normal atmospheric pressure. They will use the equation for calculating pressure in liquids considering atmospheric pressure and use pressure gauges.
• 6.7 Atmospheric Phenomena and Weather: Students will understand the physical properties of air and their influence on weather, investigate sources of air pollution, and discuss mitigation measures.
• 6.8 Buoyancy: Students will investigate buoyancy experimentally, understand it as the resultant force of the surrounding liquid on a submerged body, and use the equation for calculating buoyancy in simple cases.
• 6.9 Flotation: Students will explain flotation, sinking, and suspension based on density comparisons, and describe the function of a hydrometer.

9th Grade (64 hours total, 43 hours core curriculum)

The 9th-grade curriculum builds upon the foundation laid in 8th grade, covering more complex topics such as accelerated motion, work and energy, heat and internal energy, electric current, and magnetic force. It also includes a section on physics and the environment, allowing students to connect physics principles to real-world issues. The specific breakdown of topics and hours is similar to the 8th grade, with flexibility for teachers to adjust based on student needs and interests. The curriculum emphasizes the importance of experimentation, critical thinking, and problem-solving throughout.

The remaining hours in both 8th and 9th grade are allocated to review, reinforcement, assessment, elective topics chosen by the teacher, project work, seminars, and other activities. This flexible structure allows for a more dynamic and engaging learning experience, catering to diverse learning styles and interests. The curriculum also encourages interdisciplinary connections with other subjects, fostering a holistic understanding of the natural world and its applications in various fields.