Hey there.....this is a good place for you to put questions and stuff you find challenging...that way everyone benefits!  I will also put news and fun facts here.  Here is the Course Guidelines for starters.....see you Wednesday!

Houlton High School Science Department

Course Summary for College Preparatory Chemistry

Dr. Jean M. Maunder

www.sad29.k12.me.us/maunderhome.htm

[email protected]

Academic Year 2010-2011

______________________________________________________________________

Overview

College Preparatory Chemistry is a course that covers all the fundamentals of Chemistry and approaches it through the rigorous use of Mathematics. It is geared for students who wish to pursue a career in one of the science, engineering or medical fields.

Course Goals

1. To prepare students for College Chemistry and to give the students an understanding of the fundamental concepts of Chemistry.

2. To help the students to appreciate the power of the Scientific method by learning and improving basic laboratory skills such as observation, analysis of facts and writing valid conclusions.

3. To improve the students' critical reading and writing skills through laboratory write ups and Science Fair research papers utilizing past, passive tense. Implementation of Science World magazine articles and online activities at www.phschool.com is designed specifically for this purpose.

4. To help the student to appreciate and enjoy the discovery aspect of science.

5. To improve the student's math skills and problem solving techniques.

Course Materials

Textbook: Chemistry, A. Wilbraham, D. Staley, M. Matta and E. Waterman; Pearson Prentice Hall Publishing, Boston, MA, 2008. Website for this book: www.phschool.com.

Grading

Q1, Q2: Q3: Q4

40% Tests 35% Tests 40% Tests

20 % Classwork/Homework 20 % CW/HW 30 % CW/HW

20% Labs 20% Labs 20% Labs

10% Quizzes 10% Quizzes 10% Quizzes

10% Science Fair 15% Science Fair

The following information provides more detail about the course:

The attendance for Science Fair is mandatory and comprises 3% of Q3 grade. A full length research paper is a requirement for Science Fair. Those students who have successfully completed 3 S.F. Projects are exempt from S.F. and would have 30% CW/HW for Q1,Q2 and 35% CW/HW for Q3.

The final counts as 2 test grades.

Cheating is prohibited. There is zero tolerance for this behavior and students caught

cheating will be disciplined immediately.

Writing utensils, scientific calculator, three ring binder and bound laboratory notebook

are required to be purchased by the student.

There is absolutely no eating or drinking in the laboratory at any time.

There is absolutely no horseplay allowed in the laboratory at any time.

Closed toe shoes and safety glasses are required for laboratory experiments. Students

who do not have required gear will not be allowed to perform the experiment and will

get a zero for that experiment. An extra pair of shoes left at the school is suggested.

Schoolnotes are utilized for daily lesson plans and it is the students' responsibility to

check them regularly for updates. The link to Schoolnotes is on Dr. Maunder's webpage

or on the district website. You can also go directly to www.schoolnotes.com and type in

zip code 04730 and find Jean Maunder and click on my Schoolnotes.

Cooperative learning groups are utilized for some in class activities and laboratory

experiments. The students must be able to interact with coworkers as expected by the

HHS Mission statement.

Grades can be seen on PowerSchool and are updated weekly. Any work that is one day

late is marked down 10%, work that is 2 days late is marked down 20% and work later

than 2 days late is not graded unless there are excused absences involved.

There are ample extra credit (e.c.) possibilities. These include Science World article critiques and activities, extra credit guided practice problems, student led demonstrations (demos) and in class activities designated as e.c. All e.c. points go on the test average which is the largest portion of the grade.

See me directly or the student handbook for any other information needed.