SHS3 General Science · Semester 1 Week 6: Science and Materials in Nature

Lesson notes

Learning Objectives

Indicator: 3.1.1.LI.1 - Discuss the composition and uses of oil and natural gas.

By the end of the lesson, learners can:

State the chemical composition of natural gas, identifying methane as its principal component.
Describe the origin of crude oil and natural gas from the decomposition of ancient marine organisms under heat and pressure.
List at least four major uses of crude oil and natural gas in everyday life and in Ghana’s economy.
Analyse the benefits and dangers of oil and gas exploration in Ghana, giving reasoned arguments on both sides.
Work collaboratively in groups to research and present findings on oil and gas extraction, using appropriate scientific language.

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Curriculum details

Strand: Exploring Materials (Strand 1)
Sub-strand: Science and Materials in Nature (1.1)
Content standard: 3.1.1.CS.2 - Know, understand and identify the origin and composition of natural gas. 3.1.1.LO.2 Describe and analyse * the origin and composition of natural gas.
Indicator: 3.1.1.LI.1 - Discuss the composition and uses of oil and natural gas.
Suggested placement: Semester 1, Week 6 (Week 6 of the year)
Our suggestion, laid out in curriculum order across three terms of twelve weeks. NaCCA does not fix the week, so follow your school's scheme of learning.
Source document note: The official curriculum document has a fault in this entry, so the curriculum text above is transcribed exactly as printed:

content standard text - p.93: the content standard code is printed 3.1.1CS2 without the required .CS. punctuation; normalised to 3.1.1.CS.2 for import, unambiguous because it is the second content standard of sub-strand 3.1.1
Curriculum reference: NaCCA curriculum document, p. 93

Exemplars (from the NaCCA curriculum)

Collaborative and inquiry-based teaching approach:
- Use think-pair-share to initiate a discussion on the composition, usefulness and need for oil and gas discoveries in Ghana's economy. Give learners a take-home assignment to collate the benefits and dangers associated with oil and gas exploration in Ghana for discussion in the next lesson.
- Put learners in mixed-ability/differentiated learning groups and provide them with books, pictures, charts, internet sources, and videos on the process of oil and gas extraction for learners to critically explore and discuss in their groups. Guide learners to use the language of the content and respect all ideas.
- Provide the groups with a checklist to guide them to focus on fracturing or fracking of fluids in their discussion to build learners' self-confidence.
Teaching and Learning Resources:
- Books, videos, charts and pictures of oil and gas exploration.
Assessment (3.1.1.AS.1). The document marks these depth-of-knowledge levels for this indicator: Level 4 Extended critical thinking and reasoning.