2016 – 2017Honors Physical Science Syllabus and Academic Expectations
Mr. Barrett – Gamble Rogers Middle School
COURSE TITLE Honors Physical Science ROOM 510 OFFICE HOURS 2:15 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
CLASS WEB PAGE Teacher/class web pages can be accessed directly from the GRMS Website.
EMAIL PHONE 547 – 8700 VOICEMAIL EXT. # 27904
(best way to contact me )
______
Dear Students and Parents,
Welcome to Honors Physical Science. This course focuses on developing a solid foundation in basic physics and chemistry concepts. See the back of this form for a general outline of topics. Physical Science is our main focus, while we discover that learning new things, learning to think and problem solving is a way of life.
Honors Physical Science is an honors level high school credit course; it is the expectation that students enrolled in this class will put forth the necessary effort to be successful.
TEXTBOOK: Pearson – Conceptual Physical Science Explorations.
EVALUATION
Grades will be from the following categories:
Class work 25% Assessments 70% [Tests 30%; Quizzes 20%; Labs/Projects 20%] Homework5%
Class work: Participation and 100% effort is the class room expectation. Class work grades will include general assignments and class/lab participation.
Homework: Homework will be assigned most days of the week. Homework assignments are designed to prepare for the next lesson or to practice concepts learned in class.
Every Day Homework Expectation: students will complete Cornell Note reviews and work on the unit vocabulary. Vocabulary words will be an ongoing assignment within each unit. Students may log onto Quizlet.com to study vocabulary and get definitions. Access codes for Quizlet will be given in class.
Assessments
Labs: Lab Analysis – this grade reflects each student’s knowledge and understanding of the concepts being investigated with the lab experience.
Projects: students will complete a variety of projects each semester. Projects will vary from 1 – 2 day in-class assignments, formal Lab Reports or longer research based projects that require students to work outside of class time. Project assignments offer students choices and differentiation in how to complete the work and show what they know.
Tests/Quizzes: Students should expect 1 quiz per week and 2 -3 tests per quarter. Students will also complete end of semester district exams.
MAKE UP WORK: If students are absent, it is their responsibility to check the make-up work folder, the website and the weekly agenda to get the missed assignments. Make-up work is due within 3 days of an excused absence.
LATE WORK: as this is a high school credit course no late work will be accepted
CLASSROOM PROCEDURES AND EXPECTATIONS: classroom expectations and rules are aligned with the school-wide Positive Behavior Support Expectations. RAYS are responsible, always kind and courteous, have a ‘yes, I can learn’ attitude and show self-control.
Responsible: students will arrive on time, with all of their necessary materials and assignments.
Always Kind and Courteous: students will treat themselves and others with respect.
Yes, I Can Learn: students will give their best effort and fully participate in class.
Show Self – Control: students will respect the space and belongings of others.
The GRMS Discipline Plan will be in accordance with the St. Johns County Student Code of Conduct.
TEACHER ACCESSIBILITY: My contact information is at the top of the page. Email is the best form of contact.
The class website will also have valuable information about class assignments and learning, as well as school wide information.
Please sign and return the safety contract. Keep this syllabus copy for reference.
Overview of Honors Physical Science Topics 2016 - 2017
The following outline is aligned with the county pacing guide and our textbook. I will follow the general outline, but reserve the right to make modifications as needed to accommodate the needs of the students and to address current events (local and global) as they relate to science.
1st Nine Weeks:
Nature of Science/Introduction to 8th grade Science
Topics addressed:
Classroom procedures, reading strategies, writing strategies, introductory labs and demonstrations, measurement and scientific processes.
Sunshine State Standards:
1.The Practice of Science: benchmarks – SC.912.N.1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7
2.Characteristics of Scientific Knowledge: benchmarks – SC.912.N.2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5
3.The Role of Theories, Laws, Hypotheses and Models: benchmarks – SC.912.N.3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5
4.Science and Society: benchmarks – SC.8.N.4.1,4.2
Nature of Science and Scientific Processes are incorporated in each topic and unit throughout the entire year.
Motion
Topics addressed:
Motion, position, velocity, acceleration, vector quantities(displacement, velocity, acceleration, force, linear momentum), scalar quantities (distance, speed, energy, mass, work), Newton’s Laws of Motion, law of conservation of linear momentum, gravity,
Sunshine State Standards:
12) Motion: benchmarks – SC.912.P.12.1, 12.2, 12.3, 12.4, 12.5
Energy
Topics addressed:
Forms of energy, energy transformations, law of conservation of energy, work and power.
10) Energy: benchmarks – SC.912.P.10.1, 10.2, 10.3
2nd Nine Weeks
Energy
Topics addressed:
Heat transfer (conduction, convection, radiation), temperature, states of matter, average molecular kinetic energy, conductors, semiconductors, insulators, electromagnetism, electromagnetic spectrum, sound, speed of light, electricity (current, voltage, resistance, power)
Sunshine State Standards:
10) Energy: benchmarks – SC.912.P.10.4, 10.5, 10.14, 10.15,10.18, 10.21
12) Motion: benchmark – SC.912.P.12.7
3rd Nine Weeks
Matter and Matter/Energy Interactions
Topics addressed:
States of matter, physical/chemical properties, physical/chemical changes, ideal gases/kinetic molecular theory, phase transitions, endothermic and exothermic chemical processes, potential energy diagrams for chemical reactions, temperature/average molecular kinetic theory, atomic theory, atomic structure, periodic table
Sunshine State Standards:
8) Matter: benchmarks – SC.912.P.8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.4, 8.5
10) Energy: benchmarks – SC.912.P.10.5, 10.6, 10.7
12) Motion: benchmarks – SC.912.P.12.10, 12.11
4th Nine Weeks
Matter and Matter/Energy Interactions
Topics addressed:
Chemical formulas, molecular composition and structure, properties of water, chemical reactions (redox, acid/base, synthesis, single/double replacement), reaction rate, acids and bases, hydronium and hydroxyl ions, fundamental forces, nuclear reactions.
Sunshine State Standards:
8) Matter: benchmarks – SC.912.P.8.7, 8.8, 8.11
10) Energy: benchmarks – SC.912.P.10.10, 10.11, 10.12
12) Motion: benchmarks – SC.912.P.12.12
17) Interdependence: benchmarks – SC.912.L.17.16, 17.19, 17.20
18) Matter and Energy Transformations: benchmarks – SC.912.L.18.12
FCAT Review Research and Writing in Science