Name______Period _____

Chemistry
Chad Groncki

2400 Colony Rd.
Charlotte, NC 28209
980-343-5800
Ext. 648

Introduction:

Honors level Chemistry is a Semester long class, focused on the structure of matter, chemical reactions and the conservation of matter and energy in those reactions. Students enrolled in this class should have taken and passed or concurrently be enrolled in math classes through Geometry. Currently, there is no EOC for this class, though there will be a district-mandated Summative evaluation at the end of the Semester.

As an Honors level course there is an extra quality point associated with this class (in relation to the Standard level class). This class will follow an accelerated pacing schedule. Students in these classes will be required to master advanced chemistry objectives, and learn material from two additional content areas.

Course Goals and Objectives:

The Chemistry course encourages students to continue their investigations of the structure of matter along with chemical reactions and the conservation of matter and energy in those reactions. Inquiry is applied to the study of the composition, structure, properties and transformation of substances. The course focuses on basic chemical concepts and incorporates investigations to build understanding of these concepts.

Course Materials:

a. Composition Book (No loose leaf or spiral)

b. 3-ring Binders for handouts, worksheets, quizzes and tests.

1. Loose leaf paper (stored in your 3-ring binder)

2. Chemistry Reference Tables (provided by me, and stored in your 3-ring binder)

c. Pencils and/or black ink pens

d. Scientific Calculator (that has logarithmic (log x or ln x) and trigonometric (sin x, cos x, tan x) functions

e. Textbook Glencoe’s Chemistry: Matter and Change as our textbook

Curriculum Calendar:

The following topics will be explored in this course…

Unit 1: Matter and Measurement Unit 7: Chemical Reactions

Unit 2: Atoms Unit 8: Stoichiometry

Unit 3: Electrons in Atoms Unit 9: KMT Gas Laws

Unit 4: Bonding Unit 10: Thermochemistry

Unit 5: Moles Unit 11: Kinetics & Equilibrium

Unit 6: Nomenclature and Formula Writing Unit 12: Solutions

Midterm Unit 13: Acids & Bases

Summative/Final Exam

Instruction:

Methods of instructions will vary between oral, inquiry investigations, on-line homework assignments (through UTexas website(HONORS ONLY), student explorations, the textbook, and laboratory investigations, as topics allow.

Assessment:

The Myers Park Chemistry Department will use a method of Parallel Assessments to assess student mastery of content. This method will provide students with learning goals/objectives prior to instruction, giving students a clear representation of what the end of unit assessments will require. Additionally, students will be given the opportunity to retake up to half of a Unit’s objectives to obtain/achieve mastery of the learning goals/objectives as needed. NOTE: If you choose to re-take an Objective from a Test, the score you get on the re-take will be the score that is recorded for your grade (even if it’s lower, so study!).

A / B / C / D / F
100-93% / 92-85% / 84-77% / 76-70% / 69-0%

Grading Policy

CMS Grading Scale:

The MPHS Science Department has chosen to weight the following categories as follows:

Weight / Category / This Category Includes:
60% / Tests / Unit Tests, some Projects
10% / Quizzes / Quizzes
15% / Homework Classwork / Homework, In-Class Assignments
15% / Labs / Lab Assignments, Lab Reports, some Projects

Your final grade for the course will be calculated according to this scale:

37.5% / Quarter 1 Grade…including… 80% Classwork Grades
20% Midterm Exam Score
37.5% / Quarter 2 Grade
25% / Final Exam Grade

Additionallly…

Restroom use: No student may use the restroom in the first or last 10 minutes of the period, so please do not ask unless it is an extreme emergency. You should have your planner already filled out before I will initial it. Please wait to ask to use the restroom during an appropriate time, not during a lesson/direct instruction. Continued overuse/abuse of this privilege may result in your restroom privileges being revoked during class.

Conduct: Students are expected to behave respectfully toward their fellow classmates and the teacher at all times.

These class rules apply at all times:

·  Use appropriate language for a professional environment (no profanity, put-downs, or teasing).

·  Keep hands, feet, and objects to yourself.

·  Do not have food out in the room at any time. If you need water, you may ask for permission to use the fountain.

·  Follow the appropriate procedure for what we are doing. I will discuss and post procedures for the different types of class activities (e.g., lecture, labs, group work)

In addition, all rules in the CMS handbook will be enforced (e.g., attendance, cheating, dress codes, electronic devices, tardiness, etc.). Students who are late to class will be locked out. I will confiscate any electronic device as soon as I see it without warning.

Homework: I do not assign busy work. All assignments are designed to give you practice with the concepts we learn in class. Most of the HW is assigned online. If you do not submit an online assignment by the submission deadline, you will have to complete a paper version for a reduced grade. You will be given plenty of time to complete web-based assignments, so poor internet access the night before the assignment is due will not be accepted as a valid excuse. If you do not have dependable internet access at home, please speak with me privately.

Laboratory: Lab work is one of the most enjoyable aspects of learning chemistry, but it is also the most dangerous. We will discuss procedures that must be followed to keep you and your peers safe in the lab. It is also very important that you clean up after yourself in the lab. Always leave the equipment in the condition in which you would like to get it.

Absences and Make-up: If you do not make up an assignment, you will receive a zero (0) for that assignment. Do not depend on me to remind you to hand in missed work. If you missed…

a)  Notes: Copy them from a classmate’s notebook or from the class website.

b)  Classwork/Homework Assignments: When handing in make-up work, write “ABSENT” on the top; otherwise, it may be marked LATE.

c)  Lab: Must be made-up outside of regular class time within 1 week of assigned class day

d)  Quiz or Test: Take a make-up during my office hours.

Extra-help and contacting me: Different people learn different concepts at different rates. I want every student in class to be successful, and my commitment is to help every student master every objective. I will be available each day before school for extra-help and for re-tests and after school on Monday and Thursday from 2:20-3:20. My policy for testing and re-testing will be explained in detail.

For both students and parents, the best way to contact me is by e-mail at .

Supplies/Donations: These are always welcomed and accepted

·  copy paper

·  paper towels

·  tissues

·  hand soap

·  dish soap

Student Signature ______

Parent Signature ______