BURLINGTON HIGH SCHOOL COURSE EXPECTATIONS 2011-2012 Course Name: Chemistry Teacher: Ms. Molly Heath Contact Information: (802)864-8597 (phone) mheath@bsdvt.org (email) Call Back Room: E 206 Website: http://bsdweb.bsdvt.org/~mheath/index.html Course Description: The primary emphasis of this course is on the comprehension of the concepts of chemistry. Concepts are explained and related to the experiences in the student s everyday world. Using hands-on laboratory investigations, students will study scientific method, measurement, the properties and composition of matter, and the concepts of bonding and chemical reactions. Materials Required for Class: Pencil/pen, three ring binder with paper, calculator Text: Angelica M. Stacy, Living by Chemistry (Key Curriculum Press, 2010) ($75 replacement cost) online access to this textbook Instructions for accessing the online textbook: Go to http://www.keyscience.com/chemistry (there's also a link on Jupiter Grades and Ms. Heath's web page) and enter your class pas (bhschemistry). Don't forget to close out of the book when finished as there are a limited number of people that can access it at the same time. Course Outline: This chemistry class may be different from other science classes you ve taken. Rather than being given facts to learn, it will be your job to analyze data, draw conclusions, process new information, and build your own understanding of chemistry concepts. Only after you have investigated new ideas will you discuss them formally. The model is engage, explore, explain, evaluate. Every class you ll have a quick question to think about to start the class. You will then explore a related concept with some type of activity, usually done in a small group. This will be followed by the explain phase a whole class discussion where your teacher will help clarify and explain the main points. At the end of class, there will be a question or two you must answer to evaluate your understanding of that day s information. Finally, you will practice that content for homework. This approach is sometimes challenging because it requires you to do a lot of thinking and to be willing to work well and contribute to a group. Our study of chemistry will be thematic. You will learn about important concepts in chemistry in relation to key questions and themes. The themes you will study and a description of each unit is listed below. Every unit will have a strong science inquiry component. How many units we complete will be based on what the best pace is for our class. We will complete the first 4 units at a minimum. Unit 1: Alchemy What is the make-up of the world around us? Students explore atomic theory through a historical lens, learning about matter, elements and compounds, the periodic table, electron configuration, and bonding. Following in the footsteps of scientists, they re-create the modern periodic table and evaluate atomic models in light of experimental evidence. We will break this larger unit from the book into several smaller units with the following themes 1a: Alchemy Is it possible to make gold from other substances? 1b: The Might Atom What makes one element different from another? 1c: Going Nuclear What does it really mean to be radioactive? How do we safely harness the power of the atom? 1d: Let's Get Together Why do atoms form bonds? What can you learn from the chemical name of a substance? Unit 2: Smells How does the nose know? Students investigate the chemistry of smell, learning about molecular formulas, Lewis dot structures, bonding, and the shape and structure of molecules. Unit 3: Weather What s the forecast? Students ask questions related to weather. In the process, they gain an understanding of temperature scales and thermometers, kinetic molecular theory, and the relationships among pressure, temperature, and volume that lead to the gas laws. Unit 4: Toxins How much is too much? Students explore the concept of toxicity, learning about the qualitative and quantitative aspects of chemical reactions, including balancing equations, stoichiometry, acid-base chemistry, and precipitation reactions.
Unit 5: Fire What is the nature of fire? Students investigate the intimate connection between chemical and physical change and energy. This unit covers the laws of thermodynamics, combustion, bond energies, heats of reaction, oxidation-reduction, and electrochemistry. Unit 6: Showtime Demonstrate what you know! Students investigate reversible reactions and equilibrium concepts while researching and preparing a class demonstration for their final project. ATTENDANCE Daily attendance is particularly important in this class. The way you will learn new information is to discover it with the activities from class. If you miss these, you miss learning. Each class will build on information from the previous class, so missing class makes it hard to get caught up. What to do if you have to miss class (sick, appointment, etc.) 1. Look at your ChemCalendar and JupiterGrades. See what lesson or lessons you missed. 2. Read that lesson in your textbook. 3. Do any textbook questions assigned for homework. 4. If the homework is a pre-lab, go to JupiterGrades to get a copy and complete it before next class. ATTENDANCE-RELATED RULES: 1. You must be in the classroom when the bell rings. If the office or another teacher has detained you, you must have a pass before coming to class. Make sure to stop at the Student Affairs office before class if you are late to get a pass. Four tardies will result in an office referral. 2. The ringing of the bell is your signal to go to your seat and start work. You will be marked tardy if you need to be prompted to do so on a regular basis. 3. The beginning of class is not usually a good time to ask about work missed when you were absent. You should have already checked on your ChemCalendar and JupiterGrades. If not, you should first pick up materials from your folder and ask someone nearby about what you missed. You can then come to me with further questions at an appropriate point later in class or at the end of class. 4. All assignments, tests, etc. missed during an excused absence will be made up in a period of time equal to the length of the absence. Make ups must be done before or after school, or if possible, during an Academic Study. 5. I will dismiss you at the end of class AFTER the bell rings. You should remain in your seat until the bell rings. Please don't stand by the door. 6. Remember you must attend both physically and mentally. To be successful, you will need to engage in the material, ask questions, persist through problems, and actively listen. GENERAL BEHAVIOR 1. Our goal is to create an atmosphere where each student is comfortable and challenged. We will need to work together toward this goal. This class should be fun and engaging but also needs to focus on learning chemistry. To create this type of classroom environment, both teachers and students need to Be Sharp. Safe - especially in the lab, make healthy choices that are safe for you and others Here - come to class on time, be mentally present, leave the drama at the door, give 100% Accountable - take responsibility for your learning, be honest, make up missed work promptly Respectful be considerate of others in both words and actions, use appropriate language Prepared have the materials and positive attitude needed for success, manage your time well
2. Class will sometimes run in an open discussion in which it s ok to blurt out a question or answer. However, sometimes we will have more structured discussions when I will ask you to raise your hand before speaking. If I call on someone by name, please let them respond to the question. You may have a chance to add to their answer after. 3. Food or drink is not allowed in the classroom unless it is part of a classroom activity. (A water bottle is ok in lecture room only.) 4. Cheating of any kind (including plagiarism) will not be permitted and will result in a grade of zero. Offenses will result in an office referral and parental contact. See the academic honesty policy in the student handbook. Classroom Behavior Rubric Criteria Beginning Emerging Proficient Includes 1 of the following: Includes 2 of the following: Prepared Materials out and seated Materials out and seated when bell rings (e.g. pencil when bell rings (e.g. pencil -ness sharpened, notebooks out, lab sheets out) sharpened, notebooks out, lab sheets out) Classroom maintenance Classroom maintenance (e.g. clean desk, chairs up) (e.g. clean desk, chairs up) clean desk, chairs up) Focus Conduct Includes 1 of the following: Limited breaks (e.g. limited bathroom, drinking fountain, nurse breaks) Includes 1 of the following: Following school policy (e.g. no ipod/cell phones) Allowing others to speak (e.g. not speaking while others are talking) Includes 2 of the following: Limited breaks (e.g. limited bathroom, drinking fountain, nurse breaks) Includes 2 of the following: Following school policy (e.g. no ipods/cell phones) Allowing others to speak (e.g. not speaking while others are talking) Materials out and seated when bell rings (e.g. pencil sharpened, notebooks out, lab sheets out) Classroom maintenance (e.g. Limited breaks (e.g. limited bathroom, drinking fountain, nurse breaks) Following school policy (e.g. no ipods/cell phones) Allowing others to speak (e.g. not speaking while others are talking) DISCIPLINE PROCEDURE 1 st offense: Verbal warning. 2 nd offense: Call-Back 3 nd offense: Sent to Student Affairs Office. Required Student/ Teacher meeting to be readmitted. CALL-BACK You may be required to attend call back from 3:00 to 3:30 for reasons other than disciplinary issues. These include: a chance for me to check in with you individually, extra help, not completing homework, poor performance on assessments, and not participating in group work. Skipping call back will result in an office referral.
GRADES Grades will be calculated based on a points system. Different assignments will be worth a different amount of points. The total number of points you earn divided by the total number of possible points will give you your quarter grade. Typical point values are Homework: 10 points Quizzes: 50 points Lab: 25-100 points Tests/Projects: 100 points Homework can be made up at any time during the current unit for 20% off. Other late work (major assignments such as lab reports, projects, etc.) will be penalized 5% per day up to 20%. Students with missing work will be required to attend call-back and/or homework center until work is up to date. If promptness is a continual problem, you will need to meet with Ms. Heath and develop a plan for submitting work in a timely fashion. You should keep track of your grades on a regular basis by checking on JupiterGrades. I would suggest looking once a week to make sure you know how you are doing and are aware of any missing work. Please see Ms. Heath with questions or problems accessing JupiterGrades. EXTRA HELP Though most students don t believe me when I say it, most of my best and most successful students in years past are ones that come for extra help on a regular basis. Even the most brilliant people in the world don t always get it right the first time, so why do you expect yourself to? It is a far better life skill to recognize when you don t understand something and seek help than to continue to be lost and confused on your own. Make some time to come and see me as soon as you have a question. Much of what we will do in chemistry will build on your understanding of previous topics, so it s important to address problems as soon as they arise. Also, if you are absent, even just for one class, you can end up behind very quickly if you don t make up your work in a timely fashion. I am usually at school early and leave late. You can also see my schedule posted on my website to see when I m available during the day. (Please realize that if I am teaching a class, I will not be available to help you at that time.) You are welcome to just drop in, but if you want to be sure to see me, take a minute to schedule a time to meet. That way you can be sure I ll be available. RETAKING ASSESSMENTS Chemistry is challenging, and sometimes it might take you longer to understand a concept. It is important you learn all the key concepts, but the exact date you learn them is less important. Because of this, I do allow students to retake tests or quizzes if they have been giving their best effort, but just haven't mastered the material yet. Ways to show that you are giving you best effort include: completing all homework (on time), asking questions, coming in for extra help, and working with strong focus and effort during class. To do a retake, you must first schedule a conference with Ms. Heath to discuss why you were unsuccessful the first time, and form a plan to improve your success. Then, you will schedule a retake date. The grade on the retake will replace the grade on the original assessment.
Dear Parent or Guardian, I hope that everybody had a great summer and is ready for the school year. I look forward to meeting you at the BHS open house on Oct. 6 th and during parent/teacher conferences on Oct. 19-20. It s my goal to provide you and your student with as much information as possible about what is expected of them and their progress meeting those expectations. Chemistry is a course that challenges students in ways most are unfamiliar with. The content is new and often abstract and requires the use of math and problem solving skills. Though this is part of the fun of chemistry, it is also a piece some students struggle with, especially in the beginning of the course. Students will be assigned regular homework to practice and explore new concepts. All homework assignments will be posted on JupiterGrades. JupiterGrades (which is just the new name for SnapGrades) is a site where you and your student can check grades any time. This will show you if there are any missing assignments, grades on submitted work, and the overall average for the class. As soon as I have completed grading assignments, grades will be entered for you to view. (Please realize that the grading process, particularly for longer assignments, does take time.) When possible, there will also be links to assignment handouts so even if the copy I gave the student has disappeared, students can still complete their work. I encourage students to check their grades frequently so they are aware of where they stand, can take care of any missing work, and gain a clear picture of where their grade comes from. The school will be sending you a letter with your password and login, and usually runs workshops during Open House and parent conferences to help you learn how to use this great tool. Finally, don t hesitate to contact me with questions, concerns, or just to check in any time. The easiest way to reach me is by e-mail (mheath@bsdvt.org). You can also contact me by phone in the science department at (802)864-8597. I hope that this letter gives you some ideas about how you can support your student in their study of chemistry. Please also review the course expectations and lab safety contract as well so you are aware of course content and policies. Thanks, Molly Heath - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - -- - - -- - - - - - - - -- - - - -- - - - - -- - - - - (Cut at the dotted line, keep everything except the signatures below.) I have read the above with my student and understand the guidelines/expectations of the course. Parent/Guardian(Printed): Signature: Student(Printed): Signature: