Course Syllabus

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My goals for this course are:

  • Students will continue their investigations of the structure of matter along with chemical reactions and the conservation of matter and energy in those reactions.
  • Students will develop skills as interdependent and self-directed learners.

Research informs us that students remember 5% of a lecture 24 hours after hearing it. They remember 90% of material they have taught 24 hours after teaching it. With that comparison in mind, the students will have the opportunity to teach each other and to direct their own work whenever possible. I will provide structure, support, guidance and a framework for this process to occur. We will use the power of technology to support and enhance our learning whenever possible.

 

Course Description:

Chemistry is the study of matter and the changes it undergoes.  In this class we will cover the basic concepts of chemistry including: Matter, the Structure of the Atom, the Periodic Table of Elements, Bonding, Stoichiometry, Chemical Reactions, Gases, Thermochemistry, Kinetics, Equilibrium, Acid-Base Chemistry, and Nuclear Chemistry.  Laboratory work accompanies the course content.  This class is meant to give the student a basis for further study in college for students’ planning on a career in medicine, engineering, or any other science related field.

 

North Carolina Essential Standards: http://www.ncpublicschools.org/docs/curriculum/science/scos/support-tools/unpacking/science/chemistry.pdf

Pacing:

 

Unit

Tentative Days

Introduction to Chemistry

8

Atomic Structure

9-11

Nuclear Chemistry

4

Periodic Table

3

Chemical Bonding

9-10

Moles

7

Chemical Reactions

7

Stoichiometry

6

Gas Laws

6

Solutions and Acid-Base Chemistry

9

Thermochemistry

4

Kinetics and Equilibrium

6

NCFE Review

5

Honors Differentiation Statement:

Chemistry is an honors level course.  Students earning credit for an Honors level course receive an elevated number of Quality Points for their Grade Point Average. Students choosing the Honors level course should be aware that this Honors level course will include:

  • Required extension opportunities that are directly related to the Standard Course of Study. This includes additional content beyond that covered in the College Preparatory level.
  • More challenging coursework and assessments. Students will be expected to demonstrate higher levels of understanding for grades.
  • Projects and presentations will be more in depth.
  • Students will have to focus and study regularly to master the content.
  • The expectation that students can move through the coursework at an accelerated pace and students experiencing difficulty should quickly seek guidance from their teacher on how they can be more successful.

Examples of Honors Differentiation in this Course:  Below is a sample of how the honors level objectives may differ from the College Preparatory Level.

 

Honors Level Objective

College Prep Level Objective

Students will be able to create and execute an appropriate procedure to accurately identify the density of a penny.

Students will be able to accurately follow a procedure to calculate the density of a penny.

Students will understand the relationship between wavelength and frequency of a wave and be able to calculate variables using the formula c=λν.

Students will understand the relationship between wavelength and frequency of a wave.

 

Grading Policy:

Tests, Quizzes, and Projects -70%

Classwork, Homework, and Labs-30%

 A comprehensive NC Final Exam will count as 25% of the final grade.

 

Late Work:

  • Late work will be accepted at any time up until the unit test unless the assigned due date is the day of the test then it will be accepted for 3 days after the unit test.
  • A 30-point penalty will be assessed on each late assignment.

 

Make-up Work:

  • Make-up work should be made up within a timely fashion and will usually still be due on the original due date unless other arrangements are made with the teacher.  Tests should be made up within 1 week.
  • Tests and Quizzes should be made up after school.
  • Students are responsible for obtaining make-up work from the folder or the Canvas course.
  • If a student misses a lab it needs to be made up within two days or an alternate assignment will be given as necessary.

 

Test Corrections:

  • Students will be able to correct missed questions on tests.  Students will need to use the "Test Corrections" form that can be obtained from the teacher.
  • I reserve the right to limit the amount of points awarded to tests per grading period.

 

Accessing Grades:

Students and Parents have the opportunity to access grades at any time via the PowerSchool Parent Portal.  Progress Reports or Report Cards will be sent home every 3 weeks.

 

Office Hours:

Office hours will be on Monday and Wednesday afternoons from 3:30pm-4:30pm.  Other days and times are available by appointment only.

 

Supplies Needed:

 

Resources:

  • Textbook: Chemistry Matter and Change (Available for checkout from Mr. Price)
  • Online Resources Page: video tutorials and extra practice problems can be accessed on Canvas by clicking the Online Resources (Help Button) on the home page.
  • EmpowerED Family Portal: https: //www.ucps.k12.nc.us/domain/2917

Assessments and Assignments:

  • Tests and Quizzes will contain multiple choice, mathematical calculations, and short essay questions. Students should expect to have at least one quiz part of the way through the unit and a unit test at the end of each unit.
  • In class assignments will include problem sets, online assignments through Canvas, and other labs and activities. Labs will be completed as an informal lab report based on the format and rubric given.

 Classroom Expectations:

  1. Respect the teacher, the classroom, and other students.
  2. Be on time, on task, and prepared to learn EVERYDAY!
  3. Be responsible for your own learning
  4. Clean up after yourselves and your peers
  5. Keep all of your personal electronics PUT AWAY.

 

Cheating:

  • All forms of cheating (texting test answers, copying test answers, copying homework, crib sheets, plagiarism) will not be tolerated
  • If students are caught cheating all students involved will earn a zero for the assignment, a parent contact, and possible administration referral.

 

Lab Safety:

You are expected to follow all lab safety protocol when in lab settings.  The lab safety contract must be signed and on file before participating in lab exercises.   Students in Honors will be required to complete a research project throughout the semester.  This might include lab work depending on the topic chosen.  I would recommend that all work with chemicals or other hazardous materials be done at school under my supervision.  If the student chooses to work at home, parents please supervise your child.  I will also be completing multiple demos throughout the semester.  These are meant to be done by a trained professional and should not be repeated at home.

 

Canvas:

The majority of assignments not completed on paper will be submitted on our learning platform, Canvas. Assignments can be submitted a variety of ways including, uploading files, typing into text boxes, and sharing Google documents/presentations. Students will be shown how to submit assignments on Canvas as needed. Individual assignments will indicate which method of submission on Canvas is expected. If students need a refresher or have questions, they can access the Canvas Student Guide (https://guides.instructure.com/m/4212) for specific instructions. It is the student's responsibility to ensure assignments are submitted on time and to contact the instructor if there is a problem. Please note that student activity is logged while in Canvas so instructors will be able to see if the student opened the assignment, if there was any activity including a log of student activities during on-line tests and quizzes. Students are not allowed to leave the testing window during assessments. Doing so is considered cheating and will be handled as set forth in the Porter Ridge HS handbook.

 

NOTICE: Although many assignments are submitted and graded in our learning platform, Canvas, the "final" grades shown may not be properly weighted and do not contain assignments that were not graded in Canvas. For the student's official grades, please continue to access the parent portal through Powerschool. Login information is usually sent home with the students at the beginning of the year, and should be the same as last year. If you need assistance accessing the parent portal, please contact the school.

 

Contact Information:

Email: richie.price@ucps.k12.nc.us (BEST way to reach me!),

Canvas message

Phone: 704-296-3025 (school). 

 

 

Course Summary:

Date Details Due