Principles of ChemistryCourse Description, ExpectationSyllabus

Instructor: Maggi O’

Teaching Hours: B, C, E,G, H Planning Hours: A, D, F

Description

Chemistry investigates the physical and chemical study of matter with a special focus on properties of atoms & elements, interactions between atoms, & chemical reactions. As part of this study, the student will learn to:

  • Use scientific data and investigations to draw conclusions and develop models
  • Use conceptual models to explain chemical principles
  • Make predictions based on patterns
  • Differentiate between & analyze the cause & effect in a chemical system,
  • Investigate the role of chemistry in daily life

The student will participate in:

- laboratory activities using chemistry equipment,

- co-operative group learning,

- projects on areas of interest,

- technical reading & writing.

Chemistry prepares the student to understand that the role of chemical reactions is important to every day life, make informed decisions about the environment, and take APES & Bio2.

Expectations

* Proper, mature, and respectful behavior is expected at all times, but especially when working in the laboratory.

* All required safety procedures are to be followed.

* Arrive on time, ready and prepared to learn.

* Meaningful contribution and co-operation is expected in class and group discussion, as well as during group activities.

* Assignments are to be handed in at the start of class on the day they are due.

* Assume responsibility for seeking additional help outside of class when necessary.

* Adhere to the Sayre School Honor Code.

* Appropriate usage of laptop during class.

Laptop Guidelines

Your laptop should be used for the purpose of advancing your understanding of chemistry. During class I expect that you will use your laptop only to work on chemistry unless permitted to do so otherwise.

Misuse of the laptop for any off task behavior can result in removal of laptop privileges in my room, temporarily or permanently.

Materials

Text: Chemistry: Matter and Change

binder or folder

paper (not much)

graph paper (not much)

scientific calculator

pen or pencil (preferably pencil)

Assessments

Open note quizzes will be used to assess students’ knowledge. Students may only use their unit packets and individual notes to answer questions and no other source. Quiz questionsask students to apply and use content knowledge. All tests will typically contain multiple choice & open response or short answer questions. In addition students may be assessed in the form of a laboratory activity or projects, which would be classified in the test category. Projects allow students to undergo a deeper investigation of the content and show their understanding of the relationship between the content and an area of interest. Scoring guides will be given as well as an outline of due dates for the various components. Exams are cumulative and incorporate knowledge from all of the units of study, and may include a laboratory &/or project component.

Graded Homework

Throughout each unit some assignments will be completed for a grade, which may include previously learned material. These are announced, have a specific due date, and assigned several days before the due date. You are expected to adhere to the Honor Code when completing these graded assignments and to turn them in on time.

Daily Assignments

Most daily lessons will include an assignment. The expectation is that you complete the assignment as best you can, seek help from others and be prepared to identify the ideas that challenge you when class meets. Your grade reflects your effort and progress through the material.

Honor Code

The Sayre Honor Code will be strictly enforced. All graded work will include the Sayre Honor Pledge, written and signed by the student. “I hereby pledge my honor that I have neither given nor received any unauthorized aid on this work.”

Due to the nature of the way assessments (quizzes, projects & tests) are administered, students need to pay particularly close attention to the Honor Code during the assessment window (set of days over which the assessment is given). This means that no discussion of any items or topics on the assessment should be discussed during this time and you need to be mindful when chatting with other classmates that some will not have taken the assessment yet.

Graded homework is also subject to the Honor Code. Allowable resources include your book, our course website, materials distributed in class, your work, and me.

Daily assignments may be discussed and worked on with other classmates, BUT the work should be equal, meaning copying work is prohibited. Written answers should sound like they are written in your voice.

Grading

A weighted grading scale is used and the approximate percentage distribution is seen below:

Tests 50%

Quizzes and graded homework 35%

Daily assignments15%

Course work (assignments, tests, quizzes, graded homework) will be announced in class & posted on the course website. Students are expected to keep track of assignments on their own. Often course work will be posted on PCR. If for some reason it is not posted on PCR you need to make a serious attempt to recall or find out what the work is. You can consult classmates, Ms O, or the course website.

Grades will typically be updated in PCR/online grade after assessments (quizzes & tests) are returned. Quizzes are typically returned within a few days, whereas tests can take up to a week to return. Assessments are not returned to students until each student has taken the assessment. All tests remain in the classroom with the teacher, but students can visit/see them when they wish as long as the test remains in the chemistry room.

Late work

Because daily assignments are reviewed each day, aside from excused absence, late assignments will not be accepted. However, you will be given one waiver for a missed homework assignment. The waiver does not exempt the missed material from future assessments, and it does not apply to graded homework or projects. Graded homework and projects (assigned as tests) will be accepted past due date and time, but will be penalized according to the policy outlined in the Sayre School Upper School student handbook. That is, for each day up to 3 days, the assignment will lose a letter grade per day, no more than 50% credit will be given past the third day, and none will be accepted late past the end of the marking period. If you are absent on the day of an assessment you will be expected to take the assessment during your first study hall upon your return.

Units of Study

I. Safety

II. Intro to Chemistry

Properties

Solubility

pH

Hydrophilic & phobic

Oxidation

III. Atoms

Atomic structure

Atomic mass & number

Isotopes

Ions

IV. Nuclear reactions

Fission

Radioactivity

Fusion

V. Electrons

Waves & light

Electron configuration

VI. Elements & Periodic Table

Metals, non-metals, metalloids

Trends & patterns

VII. Element bonding

Ionic bonds

Covalent bonds

Like dissolves like

VIII. Chemical Reactions

Reaction Rates

Conservation of mass

Gas Laws