Syllabus

Melissa Rockers

mrockers@heliascathoic.com

Course Description: Physical science will explore the wonder of God’s creations through the basics of physics and chemistry, including topics such as forces and motion, electricity, matter and energy, the periodic table, chemical reactions, and metric system conversions. The class is centered around hands-on learning and discussions. Throughout the course, the impact of science and technology on daily living is stressed. Laboratory work is included.

Course Reference Materials: To keep this course current with the advancement of science and technology, course materials will be drawn from a variety of sources. The textbook (Glencoe Physical Science McGraw Hill 2017), is one material we will use and the books will stay in the classroom unless a student needs to check one out due to absence or remedial work. Please check with your educator if a text loan is needed. Notes and study materials for exams will be made available to the students in class and often online. Parents can submit an email to Mrs. Rockers to get a daily or weekly summary of postings in the Google Classroom. This will allow them to see upcoming tests and homework postings.

Course Materials needed:

  • Items needed daily:
  • 3-ring binder to organize papers given in class
  • You should always bring a writing utensil for notes. Homework should be completed in pencil, blue, or black ink.
  • Either a notebook or loose leaf paper in a binder or folder organization will be needed for notes.
  • Bring flashcards to study concepts and terms and a way to hold them securely.
  • Standard calculators will be needed for most units. Phones can not be used as a calculator on tests.
  • Highlighters and colored pencils are a great tool for organizing notes and concepts.

Class information and homework: Students will be asked to sign into Google classroom and other online sites using their Helias email. The digital classroom is an extension of our physical classroom. All expectations of respect and proper etiquette in the physical classroom are expected in the Google classroom and other online sites. Many notes, dates, study sites, and extra help for classwork will be posted. Any announcement in class always precedes any online as it is not always possible to update if there are unplanned changes in the schedule.

Topics of Study:

  • Motion
  • Forces and Newton’s Laws of Motion
  • Work and Energy
  • Properties of Matter
  • Chemical substances and reactions
  • Electricity and Wave properties if time allows

As much as possible testing and homework will be based on application of content learned. Students need to know definitions but then apply them to a situation, graph, or formula as well.

Course assessments/grading: The below percentages will be assessed to the total points in each assessment area.

Quarter Grade:

Tests/Quizzes→ 45% Semester Grade :

Labs → 25% 1st Quarter total = 40% 2nd Quarter total = 40% Final = 20%

Homework/Assignments/Projects → 30%

Notes:

All notes need to be kept together and organized in a notebook or binder. I may collect your notebooks and grade on completeness and neatness. Always bring your notebook to class, even on the day of a test.

Class Expectations:

1. Come prepared for class. Bring all needed materials and be ready to learn.

2. Be in your seat and prepared for the warm-up question when the bell rings.

3. It is your responsibility to make up missed work.

    • For each day you are absent you will have one day to turn in the missing work before it is considered late unless other arrangements have been made with the educator prior to work being due.
  • Please email or stop in and discuss what was missed with your educator before or after class.
  • During class takes away from the education time of the rest of the students in the class.

4. All lab areas need to be cleaned and organized before leaving class.

5. Stay in the room and in your assigned area until the educator dismisses you. (not the bell)

6. Respect yourself, your peers, your educators, and their belongings. (Follow the Helias Catholic Student Handbook)

7. Academic honesty (as defined in the honor code) is expected at all times.

Anyone caught cheating will be subject to honor violation procedures.

Late work:

Work turned in after collected by your teacher is considered late, unless prior arrangements are made with the educator. Work turned in late will be given half credit. Late work will not be accepted after the end of the quarter.

(See “class expectations” if late work is due to absence.)

Lab make ups:

If a student is absent on a lab day, he/she is responsible for making up the missed lab. The make up work will either be completing the lab after school (on a different day) or an alternative assignment will be given if a make up lab is deemed not possible by the educator.

Retakes:

You will be given the opportunity for one test retake per semester excluding the semester exam. The educator will make available possible retake days toward the end of each quarter before or after school. Please check with your educator for additional practice or insight to improve your next text score. Before school tutoring is often available.

Extra Credit:

One extra credit opportunity will be given to help with lab supplies.

You may bring any of the following marked with your name and hour. 5 points will be given for up to two items. Items should be a roll, box, container, or pack. Large packs could be counted as two items.

Items Needed: Paper towels, copy paper, dry erase markers, painters tape, fine line markers, sharpies, pack of pencils, distilled water, disinfectant wipes

  • Due by Friday, August 24th with your name and hour labeled on the items.

Extra credit assignments are not given at the end of the quarter to boost a grade. See the educator if you are concerned about your grade at mid-quarter to make a plan of improvement.

Technology: Devices for internet access are often used but only at the discretion of the educator. Laptops or Chromebooks are the preferred devices over cell phones for access of notes and sites used in class. All approved use of technology must follow the Helias Catholic technology agreement regardless if the device is personal property or school property. Students may be asked to leave their cell phones in the front of class at the discretion of the educator.

Please do not hesitate to email, question in the Google classroom, or talk with me if you have questions or concerns.

I can not solve a problem if I do not know there is one. The quicker we address your concerns the more productive our class time will be. We have established a great support team at Helias Catholic to give you every opportunity to accomplish your goals. It is up to you to set and achieve your goals. If you have been given accommodations to help you reach your goals from the student success team, please continue to work with me so I can best help you be successful in the this class.