Scientific Practices I

Unit Overview

This Unit aims to develop in students understanding of basic concepts of scientific experiments and measurement, while also strengthening their safety awareness and scientific attitude. Students will conduct experiments such as heating solids and liquids or mixing solutions, using common laboratory apparatus such as stopwatches, measuring cylinders, thermometers, and electronic balances. Through these activities, students will learn the importance of measurement errors and the concepts of "accuracy" and "precision". Safety in the laboratory is another learning focus of this unit. Students will learn to identify common hazards (factors that can potentially cause harm) and risks (possibility of causing harm), and recognise the meaning of hazard warning symbols. While learning about the concept of the "Fire Triangle", students will understand the necessary conditions for combustion and learn ways to reduce or control accidents. These learning contents will help students become familiar with the proper use of laboratory apparatus and chemicals, learn to deal with common laboratory accidents, and establish positive values on responsibility and safety during experiments. Students can record and analyse experimental data, and present their data using tables or simple charts. Through this process, students will learn about control variables, analyse cause-and-effect relationships, and come up with ways to improve experimental design. These activities can help students develop collaborative skills in problem-solving. Students can develop and master operating simple experimental apparatus, making qualitative observations and quantitative measurements, commenting accuracy and precision in a scientific measurement and reporting data honestly.