Uruguay Ciclo Básico - Physics (First Year/9th Grade/Tramo 6)

Curriculum Overview (2023)

The 2023 Physics curriculum for Tramo 6 (9th grade) of Ciclo Básico in Uruguay, as outlined by ANEP (Administración Nacional de Educación Pública) and DGES (Dirección General de Educación Secundaria), focuses on developing scientific competencies within the broader framework of the Marco Curricular Nacional (MCN). The curriculum emphasizes active learning methodologies, problem-solving, and the application of physics concepts to real-world situations.

Key Competencies:

• Interpreting Information: Students learn to interpret information from various sources, including graphs, tables, and diagrams, to understand core concepts in classical mechanics and mechanical energy.
• Analyzing Problems: Students analyze real-world problems and phenomena, identifying the relevant physical variables and relationships.
• Designing and Applying Strategies: Students design and apply different reasoning strategies, including experimentation, to solve problems related to energy and classical mechanics.
• Problem-Solving with Models: Students use physical models to solve problems, ensuring that their solutions are consistent with the given situation.
• Computational Thinking: Students compare different programs and devices to solve problems, particularly those involving computational solutions.
• Reasoning and Argumentation: Students develop their reasoning and argumentation skills to integrate new physics concepts, laws, and principles.

Content Areas:

• Models in Physics: Students learn about the importance of models in physics, including their limitations, and the role of experimentation.
• Conservation of Energy: This topic covers the principle of conservation of energy, mechanical energy, conservative and non-conservative forces, and applications to electric circuits.
• Laws of Classical Mechanics: Students explore historical conceptions of motion, inertial reference frames, Newton's Laws, the Law of Universal Gravitation, and the interpretation of derived motions and magnitudes.

Transversal Content:

The curriculum also includes transversal content related to the process of measurement, including using measurement instruments, understanding uncertainties, significant figures, and operational definitions of physical quantities.

Contextualization Opportunities:

The curriculum encourages teachers to contextualize the content by relating it to students' interests and real-world applications, such as physics in sports, space travel, renewable energy, and game development.

Evaluation:

The evaluation process focuses on assessing student performance and the development of competencies. It emphasizes continuous formative evaluation, including diagnostic and summative assessments, using various instruments aligned with the learning activities.

Previous Curriculum (2006 Reformulation):

The 2006 reformulation of the "Ciencias Físicas" program provided a foundation for the current curriculum. It emphasized the development of critical thinking, the connection between scientific knowledge and ethical decision-making, and the importance of active learning methodologies. The program included units on light, mass and its conservation, and density.