Academy Park High School Course Syllabus Chemistry Course Information Credit Hour: 1 Marking Period: 1,2 Class Location: Room A113 Time: Block 1 Teacher Information Name: Mrs. Michele Giangiulio Phone: (610) 522-4330 ext. 6125 Office Location: Room A113 Office Hours: Mon – By appointment only E-Mail: mgiangiulio@sedelco.org School Attributes The manner in which we prepare students at Academy Park High School is informed by four attributes: (1) Dedicated faculty who will hold themselves to, at minimum, to the same standards as the students we teach; (2) Positive relationships developed and nurtured between and among adults and students; (3) A high level of rigor included in instructional practices via standards aligned and contextually driven instruction; and (4) Connecting positive relationships with effective instruction for positive academy RESULTS! Course Description: This course will focus on the major theories and concepts in Chemistry. The science of matter and how it interacts will be explored though lecture, demonstrations, readings, and laboratory work. By the end of this course, you will have an understanding of the composition of matter, how matter is categorized, how matter interacts, the Atomic Theory throughout history, the signs and causes of chemical reactions, and the properties and structure of matter. Furthermore, this course will allow you to improve upon your problem-solving skills and to begin to connect your schoolwork with the real world. Course Competencies/ Learning Objectives Students who successfully complete Chemistry will be competent in the following areas: Explain the structure of matter. Explain how changes in matter are accompanied by changes in energy. Describe the relationship between temperature, pressure, volume, and the amount of gas. Predict products of simple reactions and balance chemical equations. Identify signs that indicate a chemical reaction has taken place. Apply the mole concept in stoichiometric calculations including those involving limiting reactants and percent yield. Student Evaluation The grading system for the Chemistry Department at Academy Park High School is as follows: Tests, Projects, & Major Papers Quizzes, Classwork, & Minor Assignments Attendance & Class Participation Homework - 40% 30% 20% (school wide) 10% (school wide) The above areas will be used as the basis for 80% of your grade per semester. The midterm and/or final exam will constitute the remaining 20% of your grade per semester. Attendance Policy Regular and prompt class attendance is an essential part of the educational experience. Academy Park High School expects students to exercise good judgment regarding attendance and absences. Students will accept full responsibility for ensuring their work does not suffer because of absences. All students are expected to attend every scheduled class on time. Exceptions may be made for illness and valid emergencies. Classroom Expectations 1. Give every task your best effort! 2. RESPECT others’ work, ideas, belongings, and space. Anything that is not yours should either not be touched or, only with permission, handled with care. 3. Cooperate with others. 4. Keep your cell phones, iPods, and other electronics and distractions at home or in your locker. – They will be confiscated! 5. No food, drinks, or gum in this classroom. 6. Enter and leave the room in a respectful manner. If you come late with a pass, please hand me the pass and quietly take your seat. 7. Be safe! This is a science class… Class Requirements In order to be a member of this class, you and your parent/guardian will be asked to read and sign a safety contract. This is a science classroom and you will be surrounded by expensive and/or potentially dangerous materials on a daily basis. If these materials are not handled properly, you will be putting not only your safety, but your classmates’ safety at risk as well. Therefore, it is crucial that you understand and sign this document in order to participate in this class. Furthermore, it is required that you maintain a notebook OR binder specifically for Chemistry. Each day, “bell work” will be assigned and completed at the beginning of class. I will periodically be checking to see that you 1) have your notebook OR binder in your possession and 2) that you are regularly completing the “bell work” assignments. Plagiarism, Cheating, and Academic Integrity Plagiarism is the practice of copying words, sentences, images, or ideas for use in written or oral assessments without giving proper credit to the source. Cheating is defined as the giving or receiving of illegal help on anything that has been determined by the teacher to be an individual effort. Both are considered serious offenses and will significantly affect your course grade. Please refer to the Student Code of Conduct booklet for additional information. Methodology A combination of lecture, class discussion, presentations, videos, cooperative learning, and problembased learning will be used in this course. Grades will be determined by the satisfactory and timely completion of assignments. The grade of each assignment is based on the prerequisite given for each assignment. Below is an overview of topic/ units and major assessments/assignments for this course. Please note dates/timeframes are subject to change and are an estimate. Unit Course Activities Introduction to Chemistry/Properties of Matter Worksheets, guided reading, lecture, laboratory Worksheets, candy isotope, guided reading, History of the Atom research, lecture Atomic Theory 2 Assessments Month/ Timeframe Unit 1 Test Sept./1st MP Unit 2 Test Sept. & Oct./1st MP Behavior of the Atom Periodic Trends Chemical Reactions Electron map, worksheets, guided reading, lecture Trends webquest, lecture, worksheets, guided reading Laboratory, lecture, worksheets, guided reading Unit 3 Test Oct. & Nov./1st MP Unit 4 Test Nov. & Dec./2nd MP Unit 5 Test Dec. & Jan./2nd MP General Information Bathroom Pass Policy: The bathroom pass is weekly and will be divided up by class. Once your class’ spaces are filled each week, you will no longer be allowed to use the bathroom in Chemistry class. You are not allowed out the first 10 minutes or last 10 minutes of class. Textbook: The textbook used in this course is titled Modern Chemistry by Holt, Rinehart, and Winston. You will be given access to an online version of the textbook. Hard copies of the textbook will be stored in the classroom and used as needed. If you do not have access to the internet at home, please let me know and you will be allowed to sign out a hard copy of the textbook. If at any time you feel that having a hard copy of the textbook would better suit you, you may check with me and sign one out. Just remember that while the book is in your possession, it is your responsibility. Any damages to the book that occur while it is in your possession will need repaired and therefore will result in a monetary fine. The cost to replace a lost book is $75.00. Any fees that remain unpaid can result in the withholding of your report card at the end of a marking period. Good, better, best, will never do you rest; until your good is better, until your better is best. Let’s do our best this semester and also have some fun! 3