Highland High School
AP/Dual Enrollment Chemistry
Summer Assignment
2015-2016
Welcome! You are enrolled in AP Chemistry and are in for a fun and
rewarding yet challenging year. There is a new curriculum already in full
force with lots of inquiry labs, POGIL-style and interactive notes, thoughtprovoking demonstrations, and a brand new, colorful, dynamic textbook. This
year’s classes have tested new POGIL’s and inquiry labs and have given their
feedback as to their usefulness/effectiveness. And…the course is dual
enrollment this year so some of you can choose that option and won’t need to
stress about the end-of-year exam. My pledge to you is to make the course
more interactive, engaging, and fun (yet still get through a two-semester college
chemistry course in two semesters of high school).
Summer Assignment
In the past, AP Chem students had a killer summer assignment which
consisted of reviewing the first three (3) chapters of the AP Chem textbook by
doing a ton of book problems on basic chemistry such as atomic structure,
naming/formula writing, dimensional analysis, and stoichiometry. They had to
work carefully selected problems and take a test on it by the 3rd day of school.
That was the past. This year, as an AP Chem student, you will still need to
review the first three (3) chapters of the textbook, but you will taking some
practice and graded quizzes online after completing sections in a particular
chapter AND you won’t have to turn in the assignment AND there won’t be a
test on the 3rd day of school. Doesn’t that sound great? Sounds great to me!
The only problem is…I don’t have the system set up yet. Our textbook has an
interactive, online component to it which is pretty cool. Edmodo offers a
Facebook-style system in which you can take online quizzes/assessments. I
am not even close to being an expert on either, but plan on learning how to
work them within a few weeks of school being out. In the meantime…
So, what am I supposed to do at this point?
Here’s your summer assignment at this point:
 Sign up for Remind so I get you information about what to do next.
To receive messages by text, text @mrskonf to 81010.
To receive messages by email, send an email to
mrskonf@mail.remind.com. Note: leave subject line blank.
Please do this by Monday, May 25th. I will be able to communicate with
you as to when and where the summer assignment will be posted. In
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addition, I need to let you know when and where to find instructions on
accessing information through the publisher’s website and Edmodo.
 Make arrangements to pick up your textbook on selected days.
Textbook: Chemistry: The Molecular Nature of Matter and Change.
7th edition (AP edition). Silberberg and Amateis. McGraw Hill
Education.
Textbooks will be available for
following days/times:
Monday, June 1st
Tuesday, June 2nd
Wednesday, June 10th
pick up from the bookstore on the
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
If you cannot make arrangements to get a textbook on these days, you
may pick up a textbook Monday through Thursday from 7:00 AM – 4:00
PM beginning July 13th.
 Start memorizing ion charges and polyatomic ions
formulas/charges
The attached periodic table has a bunch of important information on it.
You need to know the names/formulas/charges for the common
monoatomic and polyatomic ions. Start now by making flashcards,
taking the quizzes online (coming soon!) or doing whatever it takes to
know them.
So…..
Now that I have scared you (hopefully not!), I will say that there is fun to
be had in this course, as well as the satisfaction of challenging yourself to the
limits of your academic ability. Stay tuned for more info on the summer
assignment. I hope you have a great summer and I'll see you on August 5th!
Here is my summer contact information should you need help or have
questions: Email: karen.konfederak@gilbertschools.net.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Karen Konfederak
Rev. 5/15 KMK
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