á               COURSE DESCRIPTION

Honors Chemistry is a two semester course designed to fulfill the physical science requirement towards graduating from Palma High School. The course is designed for the high school student and provides interaction and application of the theoretical laws of Physics to inorganic, organic, biochemistry, physical chemistry and environmental chemistry foundations that affect the future of our society. This course is also a prerequisite for admission to AP Chemistry and students are strongly encouraged to sign up for this course.

Students completing AP Chemistry and receiving a score of 5 or a 4 on the AP Chemistry exam may have the opportunity of being considered for a Summer internship.

 

á               MATERIALS The following list of items are required as a minimum:

1.     Textbook – required in class every day

2.     English/metric ruler- required in class every day

3.     Blue or black pens- required in class every day

4.     Marble Composition Book – to take lecture/lab notes- required in class every day

5.     Number two pencils – only for test taking

6.     Colored pencils – for graphing

7.     Periodic Table handout - required in class every day

8.     Internet Access

9.     Scientific Calculator – recommended TI 83 PLUS or TI-84 PLUS Silver Edition. required in class every day

10.  100 carbonless Student lab notebook, required in class every day

 

á               EVALUATION

This course adheres to PalmaÕs official grading criteria. First and second semester grades will be determined based upon the following criteria:

     

1st and 2nd Quarter                   60%

      worksheet, lab reports,

      element assignment,

       writing assignments,

        special projects,

       Laboratory Practicum,

        behavior/ participation

        - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Quizzes/chapter tests/                    40%

Semester examination

A                                                       93 – 100 %

A-                                                      90 -    92 %

B+                                                     87 -    89 %

B                                                       83 -    86 %

B-                                                      80 -    82 %

C+                                                     77 -    79 %

C                                                       73 -    76 %

C-                                                      70 -    72 %

D+                                                     67 -    69 %

D                                                       63 -    66 %

D-                                                      60 -    62 %

F                                                       below 60 %

3rd and 4th Quarter                    60%

      worksheet, lab reports,

      element assignment,

       writing assignments,

        special projects,

         Laboratory Practicum

        behavior/ participation

        - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Quizzes/chapter tests/             40%

Semester examination

A                                                       93 – 100 %

A-                                                      90 –   92 %

B+                                                     87 –   89 %

B                                                       83 –   86 %

B-                                                      80 –   82 %

C+                                                     77 -    79 %

C                                                       73 -    76 %

C-                                                      70 -    72 %

D+                                                     67 -    69 %

D                                                       63 -    66 %

D-                                                      60 -     62 %

F                                                        below 60 %

 

 

á               WEIGHTING OF GRADES

1. Quarter grades. First, second, third and fourth quarter grades are based upon the following criteria:

Homework: worksheets, laboratory assignments,                                                              60%

                    writing assignments, special projects, Laboratory Practicum,

                         behavior/participation

Classroom: lecture quizzes, laboratory quizzes, team quizzes and chapter exams                     40 %

 

 

 

2. Semester grades.  First and second semester grades are based upon the following criteria:

40% of 1st quarterÕs points earned by the student + 40% of 2nd quarterÕs points earned by the student + 20% of the points earned by the student on the 1st semester examination = 1st semester grade.

40% of 3rd  quarterÕs points earned by the student  + 40% of 4th  quarterÕs points earned by the student + 20% of the points earned by the student on the 2nd semester examination = 2nd semester grade.

 

á               PALMA MISISON STATEMENT

Palma is dedicated to providing young men an excellent college preparatory education in a Roman Catholic environment that embraces the Essential Elements of an Edmund Rice Christian Brothers Education and challenges each individual to develop spiritually, intellectually, morally, physically and socially.

 

á               THE SEVEN ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS

1.    Evangelize youth within the mission of the Church – bringing the Good News of Jesus Christ to every aspect of the studentÕs life

2.    Proclaims and witnesses to its Catholic identify – foster an awareness that the

      fulfillment of human existence lies beyond this world.

3.    Stands in solidarity with those marginalized by poverty and injustice – concern is to

        be expressed towards the weakest members of our class. We must learn to raise-

        up the weak as well as wake-up the strong.

4.    Fosters and invigorates a community of faith - provide a disciplined, safe atmosphere in which students are free to grow and take responsibility for their own learning in class.

5.     Nurture the development for the Whole Person – the central focus of our Christian BrothersÕ school is the wholesome religious, moral, intellectual, cultural, physical, and social education of each student.

6.     Collaboration and shared responsibility in its mission– encouraging parents to empower their student to share responsibility in the shaping of its mission.

7.     Pursue excellence in all endeavors – use of an educational curriculum that promotes the harmonious growth of the whole person, fosters development of higher-order thinking and prepares each student for life-long learning.

 

á               ESLRÕS

1.   Spiritual/Moral:

- Christian values and beliefs

2.   Intellectual:

- Learning, critical thinking analysis, creativity

3.   Physical:

- Sportsmanship, lifelong health choices, physical skills

4.   Social:

- Respect, compassion, service

 

 

 

á               STUDENT EXPECTATIONS

Mr. Chipley has the following expectations for all students:

1.     To be prepared for class by completing all reading assignments including note taking on reading assignments, attempting recommended chapter problems, and working on assigned worksheets prior to daily class attendance.

2.     To complete and submit all required assignments when they are due.

3.     To pay attention in class and take complete and accurate lecture notes.

4.     To study and fully prepare for all quizzes, tests and examinations.

5.     To make an honest effort in the preparation of all required assignments, quizzes, tests and examinations.

 

á               EVALUATIONS

Evaluations fall into three categories; worksheets, quizzes, team quizzes and chapter tests. Category one –-worksheets containing assigned problems from chapter, special assignments, lecture and

                              laboratory assignments.

Category two- –unannounced chapter quizzes (canÕt be made up), laboratory quizzes and team quizzes. Team

                         quizzes - students working in teams of two that are given questions that prepare

                            students for the chapter test.

Category three- chapter examinations –given at the end of each chapter and are based upon the reading

                             assignments, class lectures, laboratory assignments, worksheets and class discussions.

 

á                HOMEWORK

Homework generally consists of readings, worksheets, recommended chapter problems and laboratory reports.  Students and parents will expect homework on a daily basis. Homework assignments include three categories.

Category one – reading assignments and recommended chapter problems.

Category two – worksheets- completed with blue or black ink – no pencil.

Category three – prepared laboratory reports.

 

á               PARTICIPATION

The classroom is a great medium for learning and thought provoking discussion.

Active participation and courteous attention by all students must take place. Points may be deducted for lack of preparation, tardiness, talking, not raising hands, other disruptions and/or late or missing assignments.

 

á               FINAL EXAMS

The fall and spring examination finals will be cumulative and cover all material during that semester. Both examinations will include comprehensive questions that may require multiple choice, essay or work type solutions.

 

á               TIMELINESS OF ASSIGNMENTS

Personal responsibility is important for success in life and must be practiced on a daily basis.  Assignments, not received when class is dismissed will be considered late and a ten percent penalty will assigned up to 3:00pm ( the end of the school day) prior to grading the document. Students are given an opportunity to make up their assignments until the end of the class on the following day. These assignments will be assigned a fifty % penalty prior to grading the document. Students missing class will be expected to turn in assignments no later than the day following their return to class. Assignments are not forgotten.

 

á               MATERIALS

Students will be required to bring these classroom tools:  textbook, calculator, pencils/pens, ruler, chemistry student laboratory notebook and composition notebook to class on a daily basis. The laboratory handout will be brought to class on the day before the assigned laboratory assignment.

 

 

á               DAILY CLASS ACTIVITIES

Daily class activities will be posted on the web site, by the door as well as shown on the overhead. Required assignments will be discussed in class and students will be expected to enter the due date information into their tracker and or log journal.

 

 

á               NOTEBOOK

Students are required to have a black and white Mead Composition Notebook for lecture note taking, Cornell note taking on  chapter reading assignments,  and laboratory assignments. Students will show clarity and neatness when entering documentation into the log journal with blue or black ink-no pencil. There will be no pasting or taping of cut outs on any pages. The notebook is the classroom companion for the course and is an excellent medium for learning organization and preparation. It is the only document allowed for your studentÕs use in a quiz or test.

 

á               100 PAGE CHEMISTRY STUDENT LABORATORY NOTEBOOK FOR HOMEWORK AND QUIZZES

The 100 page carbonless Chemistry Student Laboratory Notebook is used to submit specific assignments as discussed in class. This includes mini quizzes, specific homework problems, essays, questions, etc. It is also an excellent reference when studying for examinations/quizzes.

 

á               EXTRA CREDIT

There is no extra credit in view of the addition of one point to your letter grade for this class. Students in Honors Chemistry are expected to demonstrate excellence in all assigned tasks.

 

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