Science 
Science
Class Information, Expectations, And Procedures
Overview
In science this year, we will be exploring the physical sciences of chemistry and physics. These are new subjects to students, so they do not have a lot of background in these areas. Topics covered this year include: metrics and scientific method, matter and its properties, atomic and molecular structure, solutions, acids and bases, motion, mechanics, energy, electricity, sound and light. We will also be using the metric system and students will be learning and using formulas to do scientific calculations frequently. More information about these units of study can be found on my webpage, along with many other things that are designed to help students.
Like all subjects, science has a language of its own, and each different branch of science that students will explore will have some language in common and some that will be new to them. It can be difficult to understand the concepts of science if the language is not understood. Therefore, we will be spending time learning the vocabulary necessary for understanding the topics covered. Students will be making flash cards to go with each unit and in addition, they will be up on my webpage all year. The expectation is that students will know these definitions specifically as they are written the way we will use them this year.
We do a lot of hands on work and experiments this year, as I believe that science should be experienced, not just read about. Write-ups will be completed for each experiment and carry a weight proportional to quizzes. It will be important that students take good notes on the instructions for completion of the write-ups, which will be completed at home and turned in the next day.
Resources
Physics, A First Course is the textbook we use. Student will receive a copy of the text that is to remain at home as it is heavy and damage to the books is costly. A classroom set will be used at school. This text is also available online at http://webs.rps205.com/curriculum/science/pfbook.html This allows students access to the text wherever they have Internet access and students may print out chapters if they wish to highlight information.
º Other texts will be used in the classroom as is necessary. These are classroom sets and work in them must be completed at school.
º The Internet will be used frequently.
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There is additional help, notes and resources available on my web page. http://students.ed.uiuc.edu/ljgriffi/project/mrs-g.htmº Students may make appointments with me for help in understanding concepts after school, but are responsible for their own ride home immediately after.
º Students are welcome to email me at any time with questions, but are not guaranteed an immediate answer.
Homework
Students should plan on spending 20 - 30 minutes a day on average for homework and studying combined. However, the amount of time spent on studying and homework varies widely depending on the student, their ability to focus on their work, and their effective use of time, both in and outside of class.
º All homework should be completely prepared and ready to hand in or go over before students enter the classroom as we don’t have time to wait.
º Late homework is not accepted, as we go over it in class and build on it in class each day.
º All work should be quality work. Expectations given to the student the first week of class and will be adhered to
all year.
º All work must be individual student’s work for credit to be given, and not a collaboration between students.
º Students must turn in background assignments as necessary in order to take an active part in experiments.
º Most homework will be graded. Homework quizzes may be given at any time.
º Student's are responsible for knowing all information presented in class and from all experiments for tests.
º Extra credit questions may appear on the tests and quizzes. This will be the ONLY extra credit offered to students.
Makeup Work
º Missing class is difficult and unfortunately is disruptive to the learning process. It can be detrimental to student success, so when a class is missed, students will need to be active learners and get notes on information presented during their absence from other students.
º It is important that they go over the notes and ask any questions needed to clarify information.
º Students are responsible for getting their make-up work the day they return and for turning it in by the dates they are given.
º Students will usually be expected to make up tests that were announced prior to their absence on the day they return.
º When students are absent on the day we do an experiment. They may receive an excused grade if they get the data and notes from their lab partner or another student and turn in a completed well written write-up within three days. It is important they know this information for tests.
Tests and Quizzes
º Tests and quizzes will usually be announced well in advance to give students sufficient time to study, however, there will be an occasional unannounced pop quiz or open notes quiz. Tests must be completed within the time allotted.
º Tests and quizzes will be discussed in class, and frequently will be kept in the classroom.
º Students will usually be expected to make up tests that were announced prior to their absence on the day they return and are expected to take announced tests prior to planned absences..
º Cheating of any kind will result in a zero.
Grading
º Homework will account for 20% of the final grade and quizzes, tests, and experiment write-ups will account for 80%
º Generally, the two lowest homework grades will be dropped at the end of the quarter
º Grades are posted frequently in the classroom using anonymous numbers so students can monitor their progress.
º Progress reports can usually be requested by the student at the beginning of any hour, with Mondays usually being most up-to-date.
º Detailed progress reports will be given to all students mid-quarter.
Contacts
linda.griffin@rps205.com Washington Academy Phone number 966-3370
The quickest and most efficient way to contact me is through email. The best time to call would be between 8:30 – 9:00AM. If you do not connect with me, please leave a number where you can be reached during the school day, as that is when I return calls. Occasionally, for whatever reason, a message does not reach me, so if I do not respond to your call or email, please know it is not intentional and call or email again.
Lab Safety
To ensure safety at all times, students are expected to:
be on time in order to participate so they do not miss any directions
follow all written/verbal instructions carefully. If unsure of directions, students should ASK.
wear safety glasses at all times during an experiment
treat all chemicals as dangerous, whether they believe them to be so or not and to NEVER taste ANYTHING unless instructed to do so by the teacher
be responsible for lab and computer equipment handled carelessly.
understand that there are CONSEQUENCES for horseplay, no matter the intent.
never touch any supplies or equipment set up for any activity until told to do so.
only perform those experiments they have been instructed to do and to not start experiments over without permission from the teacher. Time and/or supplies may be limited.
monitor their time, leave their work area clean, and set up the way they found it
Classroom Rules
Student's actions will support learning for all.
Students will be à prompt, polite, prepared and productive.
Students will à Be respectful, Be responsible, Be honest, Be kind.
Classroom Procedures
We have procedures so students know what to do and what is expected so we can spend our time on learning. We have so much to learn this year!
*Students are solely responsible for their own actions, their own work, and their own supplies. *Students should arrive promptly and be in their seat ready to learn when the bell rings each day.*Upon entering the classroom, students will not want to leave until dismissed at the end of the hour. Going to lockers, using the bathroom, and getting drinks will be done on the way to class. Passes out of the classroom will be given for emergencies.
* Students will bring their homework, spirals, red pens, pencils, loose leaf paper, staplers, pencil sharpeners, calculators, and vocab cards to class everyday. Students will want to take time at their locker to be sure they have what they need for class. Upon entering the classroom, they will not want to leave until dismissed as we will be learning the whole hour.
*Materials and ALL other things on the teacher’s desk belong to the teacher.*
Talking to and borrowing from other students is not supportive to learning. * Students are welcome to use the classroom pencil sharpener prior to the bell or during work time. Students may use their handheld sharpener during lessons and tests so as not to be disruptive. *Eating, gum chewing, or drinking are not beneficial to the classroom environment.*
Students will remain in their seats during lessons so they do not miss anything or cause anyone else to miss any part of the lesson. Kleenix should be carried so it is easily accessible at all times, especially if the student has a cold or allergies.*In the event of an absence, the process is to consult another student for notes, check the folder for homework assignments, and then come to the teacher after class or during work time for other information and due dates for their work. The students are responsible for getting and turning in their makeup work in this manner.
* If students wish to miss class do something else within the school day, they must ask for permission, which is dependent on what we are doing that day. Homework due that day will still be due and homework assigned for that night will still be due the next day since they were not sick. * Students will want to clean up of the area immediately around their table and chair. * DO NOT WRITE ON TABLES OR BOOKS WITH ANYTHING, INCLUDING ERASERS! Students are responsible for any repairs necessary due to damage they cause. * The teacher will dismiss the class, not the bell. As class is dismissed, students will push in their chairs and leave in an orderly and quiet fashion. Students will not pack up early, as it disrupts their learning.
