Chemistry
Syllabus
By: Peter Larrabee September 2022-June 2023
OFFICE:
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Room 211
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SAP Days:
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Tuesday and Thursday
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E-MAIL ADDRESS:
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plarrabee@longbranch.k12.nj.us
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CHEMISTRY:
Chemistry is the branch of science that deals with the identification of the substances of which matter is composed. This includes the investigation of properties and the ways in which compounds interact, combine, and change, as well as the methods for creating new substances.
COURSE DESCRIPTIVE:
This course has been designed for the instruction of a college-prep chemistry course for a full year of block scheduling (80 minutes). The content of this course has been specifically constructed and aligned with the philosophy of the biology-chemistry-physics sequence for teaching high school science.
The purpose of this course is to fulfill the following:
- Stimulate student interest by demonstrating a chemical perspective exists in the real world and nurture that interest by requiring students to complete lab investigations and lab activities at school and at home via the project-based learning paradigm.
- Initiate and preserve scientific inquiry in novel chemistry lessons for students.
- Promote learning and technological outcomes by providing resources to students for accomplishment of class and home learning objectives.
- Foster practical, mathematical, and chemical applications among students when given a real-world problem.
- Promote scientific and chemical literacy through the provision of scientific journal articles, newspapers, science excerpts, and texts.
- Through the use of oral and written communication, increase student proficiency in the use of the scientific method, debate strategy, the creation of scientific reports, and the creation of CER activities.
- Strengthen independent and collaborative work ethic among students in active learning environments.
The course is designed to direct students towards hands-on inquiry-based activities. Cooperative group work and the use of alternate assessments are an integral component of this course. Alternate assessments take the form of research-based projects, involving writing, poster making, web quests, Project Based Learning (PBL) activities and Computer Based Labs (CBLs).
ORGANIZATION:
This is a lecture-lab course in which topics are presented by the instructor. However, the dominant characteristic of the chemistry class is student-centered learning. Although class demonstrations and explanations will take place by the instructor, students will lead the class using explanations of chemical phenomena, PowerPoint presentations, pictorial representations of atomic structure, molecular bonding, and chemical reactions, and debating both during class periods, lab periods, and outside of class. Objective and drawing-type quizzes are given daily, and there is a comprehensive final exam. The course is a higher level course and functions as a prerequisite for future advanced, scientific courses as well. Therefore, it is imperative for students to employ the skills and techniques taught in chemistry for the year and to fully take advantage of the course, with possible opportunities for furthering science studies at Rutgers University or NJIT University. In addition, because chemistry relies heavily on hands-on activities, initial emphases is placed on lab safety, the use of MSDS, the use of equipment and basic lab procedures.
TEXT AND REQUIRED SUPPLIES:
- Required text: Chemistry
- Supplies: Calculator
- Pen/pencil
- Paper
- Notebooks- At least 2” thick
- Rulers
GRADING PLAN:
Coursework will be weighted as follows:
Level 1 Assignments 20%
Level 2 Assignments 30%
Level 3 Assignments: 50%
100%
Formative Quizzes:
There will be many quizzes (probably one almost every class period). Quizzes will relate to current and previous topics. A quiz may be given at any time during any class period -- immediately after a lecture, at the beginning or end of a class, etc. There will be no make-up. Quizzes will be given only to those students who are present when the quizzes are passed out.
GENERAL:
Your recorded grades will be available for your review at any convenient time. Do remember to keep all graded papers and quizzes returned to you so that any discrepancies can be easily and fairly straightened out. Except in cases of actual error, final grades are permanent.
MID-TERM /FINAL EXAM:TBD
MAKE UP WORK
All students are responsible for any work they miss when they are absent. You have as many days as you are absent to make up your work. For example, if you are sick for 2 days you have 2 days starting from the day you come back to school to make up any assignment you missed.
LATE WORK
All students are expected to hand in all work on time. Students will earn up to 80% for any assignment turned in after the due date and up until the cutoff dates stated below. Students will earn up to 65% for any assignment turned in beyond the cutoff date.
CLASSROOM RULES OF CONDUCT
- No music is allowed in class and no cellphones should be out or visible!!!
- Food and beverages are not permitted in the classroom other than times food is needed for lab investigations. This includes plate lunches, drinks, candy, etc. whether opened or not.
- Class lab time is expected to be spent in lab work. Lab time is not free time. Attendance and concerted work on assignments are required. Work at home will be required in addition to work during lab times (work at home should not substitute for work during lab periods).
- No students are allowed to sleep in class!
- A respectful environment is a must between students and teacher.
- When someone speaks everyone listens.
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To indicate that you have read and understand the expectations for this course, please sign below:
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