Fast-Paced High School Chemistry
| Science Course | |
|---|---|
| Course Code | CHEM |
| Year Opened | 1982 |
| Sites Offered | BRI, LOS |
| Previously Offered | ASU, CLA, CLN, CAR, HKU, LAN, HKG, JHU, KNE, LOU, RED, SAR, SUN, SRF, STM, UNI |
Contents
Course Description
This course covers material normally included in a year-long introductory course in high school chemistry, which is usually a prerequisite for AP® or IB Chemistry. It explores physical and chemical properties, the periodic table, the atom and atomic theory, chemical bonding, chemical reactions and stoichiometry, solutions, thermodynamics, acids and bases, kinetics, equilibrium, and some organic chemistry. After learning these concepts, you and your classmates will work in the lab to determine the percent composition of a compound; compare theoretical and percent yield in a chemical reaction; measure the molar mass of a gaseous compound; explore factors that affect the rate of a reaction; and conduct acid-base titrations. Lab time constitutes at least 20 hours of the course. This course is intended for students who have completed grade 8 or above. If you’ve just completed grade 7, you should take CTY’s Introduction to the Biomedical Sciences before taking this course. If you haven’t yet completed Algebra 1, consider reviewing systems of equations, solving and graphing linear equations, functions, exponents, quadratic expressions and equations, and interval notations before the course begins.
Class History
Lancaster
Prior to '92 at Lancaster, the course was taught by Karl Brehmer, and was called Breher Chem. This class was so hard-core that students had to work through mealtimes and both activity periods just to keep up. In fact, it was traditional for the RA for the hall where most of the Brehmer Chem students lived to wait until after the HRA came around, then knock on the students doors to let them know they could turn their lights back on and get back to work.
Though students tended to walk around like zombies a lot (frequently having conversations like: "What are you taking?" "Nothing! I swear!" "No, what CLASS are you taking?" "Oh, Brehmer Chem." "Yeah, I figured.") they did learn. In those 3 weeks, they learned a full year of high school chem. Not select topics in, but each and every topic and lab. There were some complaints, and around '91 the workload was scaled way back. Brehmer stopped teaching shortly thereafter.
Frequently compared to the "Closet People" of Carlisle's Woogie (sp?), those who survived Brehmer Chem might not have had as much fun as their peers, but their sense of accomplishment and the bond that they shared made it all worthwhile. And would last a lifetime.
Students from CHEM.B.LAN.15.1 know that they need to TRUST IN CHONG, and that CHRISmas may only be three weeks but it will CARRIE on in their hearts forever.
Students from CHEM.B.LAN.16.1 know that they are all pyromaniacs and that the mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell (despite it being a chemistry class). They all deserve a paper plate award for being the best kindergartners on crack, and know that there is a higher probability of you getting left behind at break than there is of Ms Holt playing the Mii remix song during a lab.
Currently, at Lancaster, 'Dr. B' teaches Fast-Paced High School Chemistry (as of Lan 19.1). She is native to Fayetteville, North Carolina and has over 20 years of teaching experience.
Saratoga
Students from SAR.08.2 enjoyed shouting "CHEMISTRY!!!" with their TA Brian Danielak... and continued this the following year, despite the fact that they were no longer in the class.
Students from SAR.14.1 were devastated to see Fred the gummy bear being blown up in a test tube by their instructor. Fred shall forever rest in peace.
Students from SAR 19.1 got rainbow glasses for some lab in place of spectroscopes or spectrometers or whatever, and those glasses were honestly pretty cool and people wore them outside of class, even at dances. Some people had the big brain idea of putting on multiple at once and he had like 7 of them on, was pretty funny
Baltimore
Students from JHU.11.2 were once held captive in lab for 9 hours (not all at the same time of course) dying their own shirts with dye they made themselves. Although their legs were incredibly sore from lack of seating, and they were so cold that they were surprised they didn't suffer from frostbite/hypothermia, they were pleased with their (mostly) CTY appropriate shirt designs. Whether or not a certain shirt was an merely an accident that resulted from the dye running from an original design of a tie on the front of a shirt or not is still a mystery to the class.
Los Angeles
At LMU, Chemistry has been taught for several years by Mr. Dobrenen (Mr. D), sometimes with TA Sonya.
Students from CHEM.B.LOS.15.1 were known to shout "CHEM CHEM CHEM CHEM/CHEM B CHEM B CHEM B" whenever they won a competition (quite often). One of the students was also referred to as "that Korean supermodel" by a student in another class. Some very sexy people attempted to bring back old traditions from this class and succeeded to some extent. They also pulled mad chicks.
Carlisle
Students from Chemistry A 19.2 worshipped stoichiometry, chromium's correct pronunciation, and Peppa Pig.
Advice
- If you're taking this class, be sure you have a calculator.
- Bring pennies, especially if being taught by Mrs. Provenza.
- You will want to bring a camera with video capabilities.
- The first day might be a bit bad because they give you the pretest, which of course you're supposed to know nothing about, and you may feel dumb afterward.
- The class takes a lot of notes, mostly off of PowerPoint presentations.
- This course moves very, very quickly, so if you feel overwhelmed try your best to relax.
- The labs are fun, because stuff catches fire and blows up - a lot.
- There is a high probability your instructor will let you know before you blow stuff up. Probably.
- There is a high chance of Frisbees landing on rooftops and in roads during break.
