H+Physical+Science+Course+Info+S14

=Welcome to Honors Physical Science!=

Course Description:
Physical Science is designed to serve as a foundation course for other high school science courses. It is a laboratory course that integrates principles of chemistry and physics. It emphasizes inquiry-based learning, process skills, and higher order thinking skills. Instruction is based on the SC Science Curriculum Standards. Chemistry units include: composition of matter, atomic structure and periodic table, and chemical bonds and reactions together with basic nuclear chemistry. Physics units include: forces and motions; conservation of energy, electricity and magnetism; and wave phenomena, characteristics, behavior, including electromagnetic and sound waves. Because experimentation is the basis of science, laboratory investigations are an integral part of this course. Investigative, hands-on laboratory activities that address the high school inquiry standards are central to effective instruction in this course.

Grade Weights:
Tests – 50% Quizzes – 25% Labs/Current Events – 15% Classwork/Homework – 10%

AT THE END OF THIS COURSE, YOU WILL TAKE A FINAL EXAM. THIS EXAM WILL COUNT 20% OF YOUR OVERALL CLASS GRADE! YOU ARE ELIGIBLE TO EXEMPT THE FINAL EXAM IF YOU HAVE A 93% OVERALL CLASS AVERAGE AND DO NOT HAVE ANY UNEXCUSED ABSENCES.

Materials
You are expected to come to class prepared with the following items:
 * Textbook
 * 3-Ring Binder, preferably 1-inch
 * Composition Notebook
 * Graph paper
 * Pens, pencils
 * 1 Glue stick
 * Coloring utensils (colored pencils, crayons, markers)
 * CALCULATOR

Class Participation
What you put into this class will be what you get out. Active participation is essential in Physical Science. This class is not meant to be observation. You will be given many opportunities to participate in class discussions, activities, and labs. Your grade will reflect poor participation. Remember, poor participation includes not paying attention to discussions, lectures, or instructions; sleeping; talking; and being generally disruptive.

Class Assignments
This course will be presented and sequenced within an inquiry-based learning approach. In many sections, we will complete laboratory investigations before discussing the concepts in class. Because of this approach, it is essential that you keep track of the homework assignments and readings. You are expected to be a responsible learner. This means you should study/review the material daily, ask questions for clarification in class, answer questions in class, seek an understanding of the concept-rather than just memorizing something you don’t understand, and prepare for a test in a timely manner.

Tests
Tests will be given at the end of a unit of study. There will usually be a mix of multiple choice, short answer, interpreting data, and discussion questions. You will be required to use the information we have discussed in class in a test situation. Tests will NOT be simple restatement of definitions or concepts. A small portion of the questions may come from the reading assignments, which may not be discussed in class, so it is important that you read the assigned pages of the text or supplementary material. I test for comprehension and understanding. It may take some time to get used to this method, as opposed to just memorization. Poor test grades reflect poor preparation. Your effort in the class will be reflected in your test grade. There are no test retakes.

Quizzes
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Quizzes will be given throughout the semester. Many will be announced a few days in advance, however some will be unannounced. If you don’t know the material well enough on a daily basis to be successful on your quiz, you need to be studying at home or coming into see me for help.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Bell Work
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Every day at the beginning of class, there will be 2 or 3 questions on the board. These are your bell work questions. You are expected you pick up your composition notebook when you enter the room and get working on the questions on the board. You will be given between 5 and 10 minutes to complete the questions before we go over them. You are expected to correct your answers when we go over them too. We will take quizzes on a regular basis to ensure you are doing and correcting your bell work.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Homework
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">You will be assigned homework regularly. This work is designed to help you practice the skills we have learned in class and build on your understanding of those skills. I check homework sporadically. You should be prepared to show it to me every day. I also sporadically collect homework. You should be prepared to turn it in to me on a daily basis. Late homework will not be accepted except in the case of absence. If it is not done when I collect it, it is considered late. When returning from an absence, you are responsible for turning in your missed assignments. Most assignments can be found on the objective sheets.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Make-Up and Missed Work
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It is your responsibility to make up any missed work within five days of your return. Check the class website. Come see me when you miss a day. I will point you towards anything you missed. If there were any additional notes that were not part of a handout, you are responsible for getting them from a partner. You will also need to get with someone in the class who can give you an overview of the class you missed. You are responsible for keeping up with these things during non-instruction time. IF YOU MISS A DAY, IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO GET CAUGHT UP!

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">BEHAVIORAL PROCEDURES

 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;">All Wando High School and Charleston County School District policies will be enforced.


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;">Everyone is expected to be in their seats preparing to start class before the tardy bell rings. There will be bellwork each day waiting for you to complete the first five minutes of every class.


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;">Tardies will follow the Wando High School Tardy Policy. If the tardy bell rings and the door shuts, make your way down to the Rotunda, scan your ID, and bring your FastPass back to my classroom for entry into class.


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;">Respect Yourself, Your Classmates, and This Classroom. Everyone’s opinions and contributions to class are welcomed.


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;">Everyone will be active listeners. When someone else is talking you must be attentive and courteous.


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;">Everyone is expected to have all materials necessary for class with them everyday. You will need your class notebook, textbook, paper, and a writing utensil everyday in class.


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;">All students will wait for specific instructions before entering the lab. You are not to use any materials or lab equipment without explicit instruction from Mr. Belcher. No student should use the sinks, safety shower, or emergency eye wash unless there is an absolute emergency.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">1st offense – warning / conference with the teacher <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">2nd offense – detention and parent contact <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">3rd offense – detention and parent contact <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">4th offense – referral to the administration

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Expectations for Mr. Belcher’s Physical Science Course
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">You can expect that I will…
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;">be proficient in the subject matter.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;">be available to answer your questions or discuss anything pertaining to this course.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;">be on time and prepared for class daily.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;">provide coherent notes and instruction.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;">manage and control the class to provide the best learning environment for everyone.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;">provide timely feedback pertaining to grades in the course.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;">clearly communicate test dates and due dates to everyone.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;">clearly communicate and apply course, classroom, Wando, and CCSD policies.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I can expect that you…
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;">accept personal responsibility for your learning. You bear the responsibility for your learning. Your instructor serves as a guide, mentor, and resource.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;">are here to learn and are intellectually engaged by and curious about ideas.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;">understand that a great deal of learning will take place outside of the classroom in the form of studying.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;">recognize that mastery (earning an A) is seen as the ability to apply what you've learned to new situations or to solve new kinds of problems.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;">understand grades are earned by consistent effort, hard work, perseverance, and learning. If learning does not occur, all of your hard work, perseverance, and consistent effort will not ensure a passing grade.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;">will ask questions as they arise.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;">are responsible for keeping up with the class schedule and course material. Absence is not an excuse, nor does it mitigate your responsibilities.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;">are responsible for assessing your progress and seeking help.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;"> come to class prepared to engage in and discuss content for each day’s lecture.