Pre-IB C H E M I S T R Y
Welcome to chemistry. I'm glad to have you as a student and look forward to working with you this year. Chemistry is a subject that can be interesting, relevant, fun and challenging. Regardless of what your future holds, the knowledge you build for yourself in this class can help make life better for you and for all of us.
We will follow the organization of the course outline. Class notes will be used as the primary tool for leading you along our journey through chemistry. The textbook will be an important support tool. You will be given an activity / assignment schedule on the board at the beginning of each week to help organize your study. Some chemistry homework can be expected daily and may include one or more of the following: studying notes, doing assigned questions / problems, preparing for lab, writing lab reports, or completing an assigned text reading. Record all assignments in your agenda book.
Each student should have the following in class every day: chemistry book, paper, pen, pencil, a folder or notebook for chemistry papers only, and the agenda book. A calculator is frequently used in class as well. Depending upon the topic, bring a calculator to every class. Be sure to have it during tests and quizzes.
The lab is an important component in your chemistry experience. Since our science department budget provides less $1.00 per student for lab activities, each student in Pre-IB Chemistry is asked to contribute a lab fee of $10 to help cover the cost of consumable supplies such as chemicals, test tubes, filter paper, etc., and equipment maintenance.
Evaluation
to determine the 9-week grade will include the following components:
Study Packets:
Notes, class/homework problems, etc. are kept by the student for study purposes
after being checked and discussed. These are organized and turned in as
a "study packet" on the day of the test covering them.
Lab Reports:
A lab report is submitted for most labs. 4 - 6 reports per 9 weeks.
Quizzes: Periodic
announced/unannounced quizzes.
Applied Chemistry
Readings: Occasional articles emphasizing the application of chemistry with
an accompanying assignment.
Tests: 3 tests
per nine weeks. Either a test or a quiz will be given at least weekly.
Grading
and Evaluation
9-week letter
grades are calculated as the percentage of points earned out of points possible.
Letter grades are assigned using the following criteria:
90% - 100% =
A 80 - 89% = B 70% - 79% = C 60% - 69% = D
You are expected
to keep a record of all grades so that you can calculate your grade at any
time.
Help: 3:00-4:00 on Monday afternoons. Some lunchtimes. Help is also available in the Homework/Help room from student tutors earning CAS hours.
Report
& Test Guidelines
Late reports
will be penalized 20% for each day after the prescribed due date. No credit
will be awarded for those more than 3 days late. If a weekend is included
in the late period, the assignment is due on the Monday following the weekend.
Missed tests
must be made up the first day the student is in class after the absence.
Make up tests will be significantly harder.
Missed quizzes:
Missed quizzes must be made up immediately upon return to the classroom.
It is the student's responsibility to ask to take the make-up quiz when
entering class the first day after the absence. If you neglect to take the
quiz, I suggest you take every opportunity for extra credit that is offered
to class.
Pre-excused
absences: Work, quizzes, tests, must be completed in advance.
Guidelines for the operation of our classroom.
1. Be seated as soon as the tardy bell rings.
2. Quietly get ready for class to begin while roll is taken and check the overhead, whiteboard, or screen for information/assignments.
3. Cooperate with the instructor and with class members.
4. Devote all of the time in class to assigned learning activities.
5. Keep the room clean. No food, drinks, or gum.
6. Use the hall pass only for restroom emergencies.
7. Comply with all school rules as outlined in the student handbook.
Tardy Policy
1st - warning
2nd - contact parent and 15 minute detention
3rd - contact parent and 30 minute detention
4th - and each thereafter is considered as an unexcused absence and can result in an "F" for the 9 weeks (Science Department Policy). Referral written.
Citizenship grades are assigned as follows:
4 = no tardies; no violations of class guidelines
3 = no more than 3 tardies and no more than 3 violations of classroom guidelines
2 = more than 3 tardies or more than 3 violations of class guidelines
1 = more than 5 tardies or 5 or more violations of class guidelines
Honor Code: Honorable conduct is assumed for this class. Violations of the honor code will result in a Citizenship grade of a 1 and reduction of class grade as appropriate. In regard to lab reports: Students may collaborate in discussion of labs, but all lab reports, other than data taken by partners, must be each student's own thoughts, calculations, and words. All students submit individual reports; no group reports are allowed unless specifically explained in advance by the teacher.
Textbooks: The textbook for Pre-IB Chemistry is Chemistry, 5th Ed, by Wilbrahm, Staley, Matta and Waterman, Prentice-Hall 2000
Lab fee: The lab will be an important component in your chemistry experience. A student in Pre-IB Chemistry is asked to pay a lab fee of $10.00 to help cover the cost of consumable supplies such as chemicals, test tubes, filter paper, lab notebook, etc.
Course Outline: 1st Semester Nomenclature
|
Course Outline: 2nd Semester Periodicity
|
Sept. 21
Oct. 17/18
Nov. 5
Nov. 19/20
Dec. 14
Jan. 21/22
Feb. 11
Mar. 1
Apr. 19
May 16
Important
Dates:
Nov. 20/21 Topic
and Research Question for Chemistry Project due
Feb. 12/13 Portfolio
for Chemistry Project due
Mar. 3 /4 Science
Fair Paper for Chemistry Project due
Apr.? Science
Fair backboard due for certain students.