Conceptual Physics (2015-2016) Syllabus
Instructor: Mrs. Karen Wolfson
Classroom: 610
Email: Karen.Wolfson@lcps.org
Office Hours: Before school every day 8:00-8:45 am and after school 4:00-4:30 pm.
Additional times by appointment.
Course Description:
Prerequisites: Algebra I or Algebra I, Parts 1 & 2
Conceptual Physics will introduce students to fundamental physical laws that govern our
universe. These laws will be connected to many everyday applications. The approach
encourages students to reason, predict, and draw conclusions based on experimental
observations. Skills in laboratory procedures, quantitative manipulations, and graph
interpretations are developed, including the use of appropriate technology applications.
Units covered include forces and motion, electricity and magnetism, waves, optics, and modern
physics.
Students are expected to keep all lab work and discussion notes in an orderly notebook.
Homework is given on a nightly basis in order for the student to be prepared for the following
class. Since all concepts are developed through activities and laboratory work, class
attendance is vitally important.
Students would be prepared to take the Physics SOL (Virginia does not currently offer this
SOL). This course is not intended for students who are planning to pursue the sciences in
college. Students who are awarded a credit for Conceptual Physics cannot receive an
additional credit if they enroll in Physics.
Textbooks & Materials:
Textbook:
Conceptual Physics: The High School Physics Program. (Pearson Prentice Hall, 2006)
Replacement Cost: $23.33
You may keep your book at home or in your locker to use on homework. A separate set of
books will be available for use in class.
Necessary Classroom Materials:
Students should have:
 Pencil or pen (blue or black ink only)
 Loose-leaf paper for class work and quizzes
 Bound composition notebook for labs (graph paper is preferred)
 3-ring notebook for keeping and organizing class handouts, notes, and homework
 Calculator (a scientific calculator is not necessary)
Conceptual Physics Syllabus 2015-2016
Page 2
Grading Policy:
Quarterly Grade Calculation:
Semester Grade Calculations:
Homework
Class Participation
Laboratory Work
Quizzes
Projects
Tests
Quarter Grade
Quarter 1 Grade: 50%
Quarter 2 Grade: 50%
1st Semester Grade
up to +3%
10%
20%
20%
20%
30%
100%
Quarter 3 Grade: 50%
Quarter 4 Grade: 50%
2nd Semester Grade
Graded Assignments
Homework Homework will be assigned every day and started in class.
Homework will be checked from the student’s notebook or collected at the beginning of
each class. Generally, homework will be checked for completion. At the end of each
quarter, the average level of homework completion will be used to increase the quarter
grade as shown below:
+
-
Complete
Mostly complete
Partially complete
+3% to Quarter grade
+2% to Quarter grade
+1% to Quarter grade
Completing all homework will vastly help the student’s understanding (and grade).
Bell-Ringers & Class Participation (10%) Each day there will be a bell-ringer exercise
as students enter the classroom. The bell-ringer will be based on information from
previous classes, assigned readings, and homework. Bell-ringers will be checked as
part of class participation.
Students will be assessed for participation in class discussion and laboratory work
including lab safety. Occasionally, a portion of this grade may be influenced by group
evaluations. Students must check for material missed due to absences.
Lab Work (20%). Lab work will be turned in at the conclusion of each laboratory
exercise. Lab work is checked for EFFORT, not for agreement with the textbook. A full
lab report includes a purpose, hypothesis, materials list, procedure, data and analysis,
and a conclusion. In general, students will be asked to complete only a portion of this for
each activity. See the handout on Lab Report Format.
Quizzes (20%) There will be several quizzes during each quarter. Quizzes may be
announced or unannounced, may be written or practical (lab skills) and will include
material from all material covered up to that point.
Conceptual Physics Syllabus 2015-2016
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Projects (20%). There will be several projects during the year. Projects are extended
lab work based on real world problems. Projects will include written lab work and
presentations to the class and other audiences. Projects may be assigned to be
completed individually or as part of a group. Occasionally, a portion of this grade may
be influenced by group evaluations.
Tests (30%) There will be several hour-long tests during each semester. Tests will be
announced in advance. Each test will cover representative material from all material
covered up to that point, and will include multiple choice, short answer, and essay items.
.
Academic Honesty:
Academic Integrity is outlined in the student handbook (pages 12-13). Students are expected to
submit their own, individual work for a grade. Students are not permitted to complete
assignments as part of a group unless specifically noted by the teacher. If you aren’t sure, ASK.
Lab Behavior:
Prior to working in the laboratory, students and parents will sign a detailed Laboratory
Contract explaining the safety procedures. All students are expected to comply with safety
rules and regulations during all classroom and laboratory exercises. Violation of the safety
contract that results in unsafe behavior may result in being removed from the laboratory for the
lab, receiving a failing grade for the lab, removal from the laboratory portion of the course and/or
dismissal from the course.
Make Up Policy:
Work that is missed due to an absence must be turned in as described in the student handbook
(page 10). Students should make arrangements to make up missed bell-ringers and class work
as soon as possible. Titan Time and office hours are good times to make up missed work.
Homework, lab work, and projects must be turned in on (or before) the next class day that the
student is present. Late homework will not be counted towards the quarter bonus. Late lab
work and projects will be assessed a 15% per day penalty.
A test or quiz must be made up on (or before) the next class day that the student is
present or it will be recorded as a zero.
Conceptual Physics Syllabus 2015-2016
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Physics Classroom Procedures:
We have procedures in society for common activities so that groups of people who live, work
and play together can function in society in an efficient and generally acceptable manner. There
are also procedures in our classroom. We will use the procedures below to establish a
classroom culture. Please keep these procedures in your class notebook for reference.
Entering the Classroom – You should enter the classroom quietly upon arrival
and immediately sit in your assigned seat. Take out your homework and
prepare for the bell-ringer. There should be no loitering outside the door or
around the classroom.
Classroom Materials – You should enter the classroom prepared each day
with your class notebook, writing utensil and calculator. Part of your grade
assessment will be class preparedness. Failure to bring the necessary
materials to class will affect this grade.
When You Are Tardy – If you arrive to the class after the late bell rings, enter
the classroom quietly, sign the tardy list and get to work. Do not disrupt the
class to discuss your reason for being late. If you have a late pass, show it to
me when I check in with you during class.
YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MATERIAL MISSED WHILE YOU ARE GONE.
Bell-ringers - A bell-ringer will be on the board each day at the beginning of
class. Bell-ringers will be based on information from the previous day’s class,
assigned readings, or homework. Upon being seated, you should prepare your
materials and begin the bell-ringer. Bell-ringers will be checked as part of class
participation.
Student Questions – If you have a question during class about anything that is
being covered, please raise your hand and wait to be recognized. Please do
not yell out in class or get up from your seat as this is disruptive. This also
applies to questions that may arise during tests and quizzes.
Answering Questions – Routinely, I will ask questions of individuals in the
class related to the topic that we are covering. If I do not call on an individual
by name, please raise your hand and wait to be recognized. If your name is not
called, please do not say the answer out loud. You will get your turn to answer
many questions.
Announcements – If announcements are made over the intercom during the
class period, everyone is expected to remain quiet and listen. Even if the
announcements do not pertain to you, they may be important to others in the
class.
Homework – Homework will be started in class. I will tell you which parts you
should complete before leaving class.
Classroom Books – You do not need to bring your book to class. If we need
a book during class, borrow one from the class set. Return it neatly when you
are finished.
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End of Class Dismissal – The class will be dismissed by the instructor - not
the bell. When the bell rings, we will quickly finish any activity or discussion
that is going on and I will dismiss the class. If we are finishing a topic, remain
seated until I have indicated that the class is dismissed. If class ends before
the bell rings, please do not stand by the door. Wait at your seat until you are
dismissed.
Laboratory Activities - During laboratory activities, work in your assigned
group and obey the safety requirements that will be discussed in the pre-lab
discussion (e.g., wearing safety goggles, no horseplay). There are no
exceptions concerning laboratory safety.
Language – You all have important contributions to make to the class.
However, if your contribution is prefaced with inappropriate language, your idea
may not be taken seriously. Profanity is not acceptable in the classroom.
Please use language in class that is suitable and appropriate for everyone in
the class.
Throwing Away Trash – If you need to throw a piece of trash away please wait
until there is an appropriate moment to do so. Do not get up in the middle of a
presentation or discussion to throw trash away. The tossing of trash toward the
trashcan (basketball style) is not acceptable.
Returning Papers/Questioning Grades – I will return assignments to you in
your folder. If you have a question about your grade on an assignment, please
write a note on a separate piece of paper and staple it to your graded paper. If
you believe I have made a mistake, please explain it politely and suggest how
you would like it to be corrected. Place it in the turn-in bin and allow me two
class days to look it over. If you don’t hear back from me within two class days,
please send an email to remind me to make time to go over the note with you
and make changes if required.
Turn-In Bins – Some assignments will be passed to the right-hand side of the
classroom and turned in to the numbered bin for the class. Once work has
been turned in, it is not to be retrieved by students. Retrieving, altering, or
looking through collected papers will be considered a violation of academic
integrity.
Nurse/Restroom Visits - If you need to visit the nurse or restroom during
class, please try to wait until there is an appropriate break in the discussion or
activity so that class disruption can be kept to a minimum. Fill out a pass in
your planner (pages 22-23) but do not fill in the date or time. Signal me by
raising two crossed fingers—I will make every effort to get to you quickly,
without disrupting the class. Once I sign your pass you may sign out of the
classroom, and sign back in when you return.
YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MATERIAL MISSED WHILE YOU ARE GONE.
Fire Alarms – If the fire alarm sounds during class, please follow me out of the
building in a silent, single-file line. The emergency route is posted by the door
and will be discussed the first day of class. Stay with the class. I will take
attendance outside. The alarm is not over until we are seated back in the
classroom.
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Lock Down – If a lock down is announced, please move quickly and silently to
the corner of the classroom away from the door. If you are near the door, you
can help by closing the door and covering the door window. Remain silent and
listen for instructions.
Food, Drinks, Gum & Candy – May not be consumed in
science labs for safety reasons. Only covered drinks are
permitted, and only in the desk-area of the classroom. Food
or drink brought into the classroom will be sent to the main
office for you to collect later.
Lab Dress Code – Students are expected to wear clothing consistent with the
school dress code as described in the student handbook (pages 14-15). During
experiments, students will wear closed-toe shoes. Flip flops, sandals, and high
heels are not permitted. There are no exceptions concerning laboratory safety.
Cell Phones & Electronic Devices – Will be used during class for instructional
purposes only. Keep them silent and put away until you are instructed to use
them appropriately. Devices used inappropriately will be sent to the office for
you to collect later.
Office/Phone Call or Visitor – If the office calls over the intercom or on the
phone, or a visitor knocks, it is not a reason to begin talking in class. Please
continue working quietly and I will address the visitor or call as quickly as
possible. If there is a call during a laboratory activity, please keep the talking in
your groups to a minimum until the call is completed.
These procedures are intended to promote
Courtesy
Safety
Efficiency
Students should keep this syllabus for reference.
Please return the following page, signed and dated, to Mrs. Wolfson.
Support Our Classroom
There are several items that our classroom needs to be productive and comfortable. If
you would like to help, please donate any of the following:
box of tissues
hand soap
It is not required that you donate an item.
No academic credit will be given for donations.
Conceptual Physics Syllabus 2015-2016
Page 7
Tear off this page. Sign and return to Mrs. Wolfson.
Mrs. Wolfson
2015-2016
Conceptual Physics
Syllabus Review
I have read the syllabus for Conceptual Physics and the course requirements. I agree
to be involved in the partnership that is described in the Student Handbook and in this
syllabus.
Date:_______________________
Student Name:__________________________________________________________
Student Signature:_______________________________________________________
Student email: __________________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature:________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian phone:__________________________________________________
When is the best time to contact you by phone? ________________________________
What times do you prefer not to be called? ____________________________________
Parent/Guardian email:___________________________________________________