Beginning with 7th grade chemistry our school is applying the science „chemistry“ to real life situations. This includes understanding carbon dioxide, how it is produced, and environmental impacts including how to avoid the rising level of CO2 in our atmosphere. Water is also a major 7th grade topic covered. The topic includes learning about the importance of water and water conservation.
Later, in 9th grade, when acids and bases are examined, we also aim to apply chemistry to real life. For example, how can it be that red cabbage changes its color to blue, or why do athletes use magnesium tablets after running?
10th grade is the year of organic chemistry: carbohydroxides, proteins, fats. Students will learn that it need not be mysterious what our food contains and why. And, that sometimes food containing chemicals is not a bad thing.
In 7th grade students have one half year of a two-periods per week class (in the second half year physics is taught). In 8th to 10th grade they have two periods per week.
At least one of the two hours takes place in a lab room, which makes it possible to have a lot of student labs whenever possible.
Besides doing student labs other forms of instructions are included: acting as a researcher, self-organized learning, and problem-orientated learning (for example, to prepare for the MSA-presentation in 10th grade).
In the “Oberstufe” chemistry is offered as “Grundkurs” as well as “Leistungskurs”. In the high school diploma program the “AP Chemistry course takes place in 11th or 12th grade.
Additionally there are different options to have more chemistry classes: For instance, elective courses in grade 8th, Science lab, Bio-Chemie-Wahlpflichkurs, and prep classes to prepare for all our AP-courses-chemistry, biology and environmental sciences.
For students who are new in Germany and who are not part of the French-program which leads to the German Abitur we offer a special program. In addition to their normal German-program the opportunity to learn more German during their chemistry class is possible because the class is taught by German speaking teachers. These classes are called “project-classes” and they exist also in physics and biology.
“Der einfachste Versuch, den man selbst gemacht hat, ist besser als der schönste, den man nur sieht.” (Michael Faraday 1791-1867)