HONORS CHEMISTRY

CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT PLAN

INTRODUCTION

Welcome to what is presumably your first chemistry class. This course has three primary functions. First, for you to learn about the process of science and hopefully to learn how to think in the manner of a scientist. Secondly, for you to learn about chemistry and absorb enough chemical information so as to prepare you for a college level chemistry course, to take the Chemistry SAT II, prepare you for the STAR Test in Chemistry in April, and/or to fulfill a prerequisite for other science courses you may wish to take. Thirdly, for you hopefully to begin to appreciate the beauty and complexity of nature from a chemical perspective.

This packet is important and it should become the first thing you place in your 3-ring binder as you will have to refer to it through out the year. It includes the basics of what you will need, what will be expected of you and how you will be assessed. Chemistry is not typically an easy course for many students and you should plan on a minimum of 2 to 4 hours of work outside of class per week or about 30 to 40 minutes per night. It should also be kept in mind that much of the information in chemistry is cumulative, i.e. what we learn in one chapter we will apply in the next (or sometimes in two or three). It is therefore important to keep up with your work. In this light you should make arrangements with one or two people in class (this class, since not all classes are at the same place at the same time) with whom you feel that you can share information, especially if you are absent or that you can talk with about problems. Try and avoid being absent or tardy as this will contribute significantly to your falling behind.

REQUIRED MATERIALS

The following constitutes a list of materials you must bring to class every day. Failure to bring these items will result in the loss of participation points.

1 Binder, 3 ring for homework, returned quizzes, tests, and lab reports, class notes and extra binder paper.

1 Bound notebook for lab notes (Note this cannot be a spiral bound notebook).

2 Pens (blue or black ink) and pencils (#2)

1 Textbook (you are required to bring this to class each day, even on lab days as it has tables and/or constants for calculations that you will need to perform.

The following items are recommended.

1 Pair of Goggles (can be obtained at Home Depot, Wal-Mart or any hardware store). If you do not obtain your own goggles you will be required to wear school goggles during lab exercises.

1 Eraser (Staedtler Mars Plastic #526 50) This eraser is the one recommended by ETS for making erasures on standardized tests.

1 A Scientific calculator that can perform log and exponent functions. A TI-30XA is suggested and can be obtained from for about $10-$14. You may use a graphing calculator (e.g. a TI 83+) on homework and in class problems but you will not be permitted to use programmable calculators during quizzes and tests—too many of these calculators are now sold with programs that would provide students having these programs an unfair advantage over those not having them.

1 Computer (equipped with MS Word, MS Excel and MS Internet Explorer). Lab reports must be word processed. If you do not have a computer at home you must use one here at school (the library has access) to prepare written assignments. Students will be taught to use various aspects of Word and Excel to facilitate the preparation of their lab reports and other written assignments. Also, much information (grades, daily assignments, lab handouts, example test questions, etc. will be provided via the internet)

GENERAL INFORMATION

The following tells you who I am and how you can reach me outside of class. The best time to discuss problems that you may be having with a particular problem or even the course in general is before or after school NOT five minutes before class is due to start or your lab report is due.

INSTRUCTOR: W. Dirk Sikkema

OFFICE HOURS: Before school from about 7:30 am or after school (to about 3:30 pm)

E-MAIL: dsikkema@blacksage.com

WEBSITE: www.blacksage.com

TEXT: CHEMISTRY, 7th ed. by Steven S. Zumdahl and Susan Zumdahl (2007) Honors

LAB MANUAL: Handouts/Overhead

ASSESSMENT

Generally assessment will be accomplished using tests, quizzes, written lab reports and homework.

A. TESTS & QUIZZES:

Tests will usually be given at the end of each chapter in the text. Tests may be multiple choice, true/false questions or matching. Quizzes are usually unannounced and cover a single topic, problem, vocabulary set and/or nomenclature. Tests will usually be worth 50 points. Quizzes are usually worth 10 points. The date of tests will be indicated on the weekly assignment sheet. It is your responsibility to arrange for make-up exams if you are absent. Make up exams will be given only during class or if time permits before school. If you are absent for a quiz, the quiz will be made up or it may be prorated based upon how you do on the exam.

B. LAB REPORTS / TASKS:

Written work as a result of lab activities will be either a lab report or tasks. Formal lab reports are usually group or individual and will be specified at the time the assignment is given. In the case of a group lab report each individual in the group receives the same grade as the group. The rubric on the web site is to be used to prepare formal lab reports. Informal lab reports will require that the student detail his/her observations and calculations (the RESULTS section of a formal lab report), a discussion/conclusion section and then answer the questions from the overhead, in the handout or the appropriate part of the lab manual. Tasks will usually have the student answer a series of questions. All lab reports or must be typed. If you do not have a typewriter or computer at home you must use a computer provided either in the classroom or the library. Lab reports are typically due one week from the date the experiment was performed in class and the due date will be indicated on the weekly assignment sheet. Tasks will be typically due at the next class period after the lab activity. Late lab reports will not be accepted unless there is a valid medical reason for the report to be late (only an excused absence is acceptable and you must attach your admit to the lab report). If your absence is excused you must turn your lab report in the first time you are in class after your absence. Lab reports are considered late after your class period has met on the day the report is due (i.e. they are late if they are turned in at the end of the day rather than during class). Students are also required to keep a lab notebook (see notebook section) which will be evaluated at the time that lab reports are turned in.

C. HOMEWORK:

Homework is an important part of studying and preparing for examinations. As noted above there will be about 30 to 40 minutes of homework per night and about the same amount over the weekend. Homework assignments will be adjusted to account for lab write-ups. Homework will not usually be assigned the night before tests. Homework will be assessed for completion and for quality of work. Homework will be collected at the beginning of the class period, checked and returned in the same class. It is unacceptable to turn in homework that has been written on paper that has been torn out of a spiral notebook. In class quizzes will often be the same as or very similar to assigned homework problems. Homework will be graded on the basis of three (3) points for each assignment. Repeated failure to turn in homework assignments will result in after school detention where you will work on your homework.

D. PARTICIPATION

An important part of learning is creating an environment in which the entire class can learn. This requires that students participate in a favorable, positive way. Thirty (30) points will be counted towards participation to encourage this positive learning environment. Points will be lost for tardiness (you cannot participate if you are not present and your late arrival is disruptive), failure to bring appropriate supplies to class (book, notebook, pen, pencil, paper and calculator) (it is difficult to participate if you are not appropriately prepared for class), eating in class (you cannot be concentrating on class if you are concentrating on food) and any other behavior deemed to be disruptive to the learning environment of the class.

E. PROBLEM OF THE DAY (POD)

Usually at the beginning of each class there will be a problem on the overhead projector or the front board. This problem may be used to introduce new material, review previous material. Students are expected to write down the problem and attempt to solve it . These problems will be kept in your notebook and periodically collected, checked and the points included in your homework points.

F. GRADE CRITERIA (per quarter):

LECTURE EXAMS (usually at end of each chapter)	50 pts ea	(2-4 each/qtr)
LAB REPORTS	50 pts ea	(3-6 each/qtr)
QUIZZES	50 pts ea	(4-8 each/qtr)
HOMEWORK & POD's	~50 pts
PARTICIPATION	30 pts
TOTAL	300-400/qtr

A 90-100%

B 80-89%

C 70-79%

D 60-69%

F 60% and below

COURSE CONTENT

The content of the course divided into three areas: skills, subject matter and attitudes.

A. Skills - upon completion of the course the student will be expected to show or demonstrate proficiency as follows:

1. Be able to formulate a hypothesis and design an appropriate experiment to test the hypothesis to include being able to research previous work in relevant reference materials.

2. Be able to evaluate the validity of a hypothesis through observation, analysis of data (to include the use of appropriate mathematical, statistical and graphical tools) and the construction of logical arguments (to include the use of deductive and inductive reasoning).

3. Use the metric system and various types of scientific equipment to include balances, volumetric flasks, burets, thermometers, pressure sensing devices, etc. to make scientific measurements.

4. Be able to prepare scientific communications to include a formal writing style in the common format of scientific reports, the use of chemical names and abbreviations and appropriate charts, graphs and diagrams.

5. Be able to use chemical methods to separate, purify and identify substances to include the effect of such materials and methods in the analysis of data.

6. Be able to use technology (calculators and computers) in the acquisition and analysis of data.

B. Subject Areas - upon completion of the course the student will be expected to articulate a familiarity with the following areas of chemistry:

1. Structure of Matter

a. Atomic theory (Evidence, determination of atomic mass, isotopes, atomic number, energy levels of electrons, periodic relationships)

b. Chemical bonding (Ionic, covalent, hydrogen, metallic & van der Waals; bonding and structure of molecules, polarity and electronegativity)

2. States of Matter

a. Gasses (Gas laws, partial pressures, kinetic-molecular theory, Avogadros hypothesis and the concept of a mole)

b. Liquids and solids ( changes in state; kinetic molecular theory)

c. Solutions (types; factors affecting solubility; concentration; colligative properties)

3. Reactions

a. Reaction types (Acid/base; precipitation; oxidation-reduction)

b. Stoichiometry (ionic and covalent species in chemical systems; balancing equations; mass and volume relationships)

c. Equilibrium (Le Chateliers principle; equilibrium constants, gaseous reactions, pH, pK, solubility constants, buffers)

d. Kinetics (reactions rates, differential rate laws, effect of temperature, activation energy, catalysts; mechanisms of reactions)

e. Thermodynamics (work, conservation of mass and energy, thermodynamic systems, enthalpy, Hess' law, calorimetry, second law and entropy, free energy and equilibrium)

C. Attitudes - upon completion of the course the student will be expected to exhibit or explain:

1. The relevance of the relationship between the study of chemistry and the application of chemical knowledge to real world problems.

2. An appreciation of the beauty and the complexity of the world from a chemical perspective.

3. The relationship of chemistry to other areas of human knowledge and study.

SAFETY:

An important part of any science course is safety. At all times it is important for you to think in terms of the consequences of your actions. Goggles will be required to be worn during all lab procedures. You may wear your personal goggles or ones provided by the instructor. Other safety topics will be discussed prior to various lab exercises. Students will be expected to sign and return the safety contract. You will be required to return the safety contract as a homework assignment and prior to participation in any laboratory exercise.

RULES AND PROCEDURES:

The primary rule in any classroom is to have respect for one another, respect for property and respect for the learning process. At all times it is appropriate to act towards others as you would wish others to act towards you.

Respect for the learning process is shown though arriving in class on time and being prepared to work (pen, pencil, paper, notebook, textbook and other materials that may be necessary for work). You should be in your seat ready to work when the bell rings. Failure to repeatedly have the requisite materials for class will be result in the loss of a participation points.

Respect for the learning process is also shown by remaining quiet while the instructor is talking (unless you are responding to a direct question posed by the instructor). This is particularly important since some instructions will involve safety issues. During direct instruction you should remain silent and take notes on the material being presented.

Electronic devices should not be visible or being played during class. Pick up trash and this includes not just your own. The sinks are not trash receptacles. No food or drink should be consumed in the classroom (an exception will be made for capped water bottles).

Clean your area prior to departing the classroom. Failure to clean up after a lab exercise will be the same as missing a homework assignment. Do not use chemicals or equipment in classroom without permission.

Class is over when the instructor dismisses the class. The class will NOT be dismissed until everyone has returned to their seat and the classroom has been returned to the state it was in when you arrived.

Should you need to use the restroom during class do not interrupt the class to ask. Obtain the restroom pass from the front of the room, sign out on the clip board and go. Sign back in when you return. Only one person may go to the restroom at a time.

The only acceptable excuse for turning an assignment in late is an excused absence. If your absence is excused, you must turn in your work with the admit slip stapled to the work. There is no exception to this policy. No admit, no credit for absent work. If you are involved in an activity, it is still your responsibility to get work turned in on time. No late work from people involved in activities will be accepted. If you are involved in an activity and anticipate being absent during class time you must turn in your assignment prior to class. If you are absent on the day of an exam and your absence is excused, it is your responsibility to arrange for a make-up exam. Make-up exams will generally be given in class on the day that you return from your absence.

Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. If you are caught copying homework from someone then both individuals will receive a zero on the assignment. If you copy a lab report then both individuals will receive a zero. If you cheat during an exam then you will receive a zero on the exam. If you are caught cheating a second time in the same quarter, no matter what the assessment, then you will receive an F minus for the quarter.

Students are expected to be in class on time. Your first two tardies you will be warned. The third tardy and any tardy thereafter will result in a referral to the vice principal's office.

All POD's, homework assignments, lecture notes returned tests, returned written assignments and vocabulary lists are to be kept in your three ring binder. This binder should be solely for chemistry work and should not contain the work from other classes. Be sure to include in your 3 ring binder extra binder paper. Three ring binder will be checked periodically. Homework problems are to be set up completely and solved using dimensional analysis. Equal signs for each step in the problem solution should align.

As a minimum your 3-ring binder should include sections on class notes, POD's, homework, lab reports and returned quizzes and tests.