High School Chemistry Syllabus

Teacher Shannon Sipes E-mail [email protected]

Office Available: School (623) 123-4567

Hours/Location 6:00am-7:am and 2:30pm-3:30pm Phone
M-F and by appointment
Room Number: C-123

Course Description​:
Chemistry is a laboratory science class that investigates the structure and properties of
matter and the changes it can undergo. Concepts covered include: quantitative inquiry
of matter, particulate nature of matter, and energetic nature of matter.

Textbook Used:
Chemistry by Openstax, 1st edition,
ISBN-10: 1938168399
ISBN-13: 978-1-938168-39-0

Course Goals and Objectives​:

1.​ ​Design and conduct an independent scientific investigation involving the collection
and analysis of quantitative data.
2.​ ​Analyze and communicate the findings of scientific investigations related to
chemistry.
3.​ ​Apply knowledge of chemical principles to analyze problems and make decisions
which impact
themselves and society.
4. Utilize technology and inquiry to increase understanding of chemical concepts
and issues.
Course Calendar:

Units: Concepts:

1.​Week One and Two:

​ Lab Safety, Lab Equipment, Lab
Foundations of Chemistry: write-ups, Units of Measurement,
Scientific Notation, Uncertainty
(Precision/Accuracy and % error),
Significant Figures, Conversion Factors,
Metric system, Mass and Volume
Relationships, Density, Physical and
chemical properties and changes,
classifying matter

2.​Week Three:
​ Heating/Cooling curves, phase changes,
Energy and States of Matter: heat vs. temperature, phases of matter,
calorimetry, law of conservation of
energy, Kinetic Molecular Theory, Gas
Law Relationships

3. ​Week Four: Atomic models, History of the Atom,

Atomic theory: Basic Atomic Structure, Ions, Electron
Configuration,
Nuclear/Isotopes, Periodicity

4.​ W
​ eek Five and Six: Bonding, Nomenclature, Chemical
Chemical formulas, Naming, and formulas
Bonding:

5. ​Week Seven and Eight: Introduction to the mole, counting by

Mole Concepts:
​ weighing, Molar mass, molar
conversions, empirical and molecular
formulas, percent composition

6.​Week Nine and Ten: Balancing Equations, Types of

Chemical Reactions: Reactions, Evidence of reactions,
Prediction of Products, Endothermic and
Exothermic, Stoichiometry, Percent
yield, limiting and excess reactants
 7. ​Week 11:
Review and Preparation for Final Exam

COURSE GRADING: COURSE BREAKDOWN:

A = 90% - 100% 30​% Aligned Checks – B​ellwork, homework,
worksheets, lab activities, etc.
B = 80% - 89% ​40​% Major Assessments / Projects – Quizzes, u​nit
tests, formal labs, etc.
C = 70% - 79% 10​% Culminating Lab (Lab Final)

D = 60% - 69% 20​% FINAL EXAM

F = 0% - 59%
*​You must receive ​60​% or better for this course to get your lab science credit.

Grading Rules​:
Aligned Checks​: A majority of the tasks for this course are graded under the category
called aligned checks in the grade book. This category comprises ​30​% of the students
overall grade. In this category, you will find quizzes, lab activities, and
homework/classwork.
-​ ​Homework and Class work: Homework and class work are worth between 5 – 30
points depending on the complexity of the assignment. Keep completed homework as a
section in your class notebook.

Tests, Major Projects, Formal Labs​: This category is worth ​40​% of the overall course
grade.
-​ ​Quizzes: Quizzes are worth between 10 – 30 points depending on the complexity of
the quiz. Quizzes will be given periodically to make sure you are keeping up with the
material.
-​ ​Exams are worth 100 points and will be given at the end of each unit, as a mid-term
in the middle of the semester, and at the end of the semester. Exams will be given at
the beginning of the class period and you will have as much time as needed to complete
the exam.
-​ ​Unit Labs: Unit labs are worth between 20 – 50 points depending on the complexity
of the lab. We will be doing one to two labs per unit. If a report is incomplete then it may
be returned for correction before it is graded. During lab, ​safety is paramount​. I will go
into detail on lab safety and provide a safety agreement.
-​ ​Each unit may have an assigned unit project worth up to 50 points depending on the
complexity of the project.

Culminating Lab Activity/Major Project​: By the end of the course, you will have a
culminating lab activity that is worth ​10​% of the total grade.

Course Assessment​: At the end of the course, you will have a comprehensive final
that is worth ​20​% of the total course grade. As with just about every other class on this
campus, there will be a course assessment for this class. The course assessment will
test that you have grasped the key concepts of this class.

Extra Credit​: Students will be given multiple opportunities to earn extra credit
throughout the semester. Earning this extra credit will be at the discretion of the teacher
and specific details for earning extra credit will be given at the time the opportunities
arise. Students will be able to earn a maximum of 8% extra credit towards their final
grade.

Make – Up Work​:
Work missed due to absences or tardies may be made up as follows:
§​ ​You have one day for every day absent to make-up your work
§​ ​See teacher for dates and times to make-up tests or quizzes
§​ ​Upon returning to class it is your responsibility to find out what you have
missed.

Late Work​:
The grading, make-up work, and late work policies listed follow the district guidelines.
Late work can be made up for at most 50% of the original grade and depends on quality
of work. If you are struggling in any way, please see me immediately. Do not lag
behind because you are confused. I am here to facilitate learning and want you to let
me know if you have a question or concern.

Class Policies: ​All actions and work must be school appropriate. In order to achieve
our goals we need to work together, students are expected to…
1. Come to class ON TIME, sit in assigned seat and be prepared to with a pencil
and paper. Late students (not in their seat when the final bell rings) will be sent to
SWEEP.
2. Keep hands, feet, and objects to yourself. Physical contact can escalate into
more serious behavior.
3. Respect room, self, supplies and others. Positive references to peers, teachers
and work.
4. Follow directions, use time wisely, and be prepared to share.
5. Use only supplies for which you have permission and return them to their proper
place.
6. Clean up all work and work spaces at the end of each class.
7. Follow ​ALL school rules (attendance, tardiness, dress code, electronic devices).
The School Handbook is the guide for ​ALL​ school policies, practices and procedures.
8. No food or drink (except water) in the classroom.
9. All hats must be removed when entering the classroom.
10.​ ​Safety rules will be introduced throughout the course.
If a student ​CHOOSES​ to behave inappropriately, consequences ​may​ be administered
in the following order, depending on the severity of the behavior.
1.​ ​Verbal warning
2.​ ​Moving student to another area to work quietly
3.​ ​Lunch detention
4. Student sent to the office with Administrative referral and phone call home to
parents

Academic Honesty and Integrity​:

In academics, cheating of any kind is strongly forbidden. You are responsible for doing
all of your own work unless I specifically say that an assignment can be done with a
partner or a group. Cheating will be dealt with on a case-to-case basis, but you can be
assured that if you are caught cheating there will be a penalty.
Along the same lines, plagiarism is strongly forbidden. If you use information from an
outside source, such as a magazine, the Internet, a book, etc., you will be required to
cite the source. Again, cheating and plagiarism of any type will not be tolerated in this
classroom and will be dealt with in a very serious manner, such as taking a zero on an
assignment or being removed from lab activities/be on book work instead.

Cell Phones:
Cell phones, upon entering the classroom, will be turned off and put in a specified
location. There they will remain until instruction is done for the day. During class time,
students cannot take their cellphones to the restroom or any other location on campus
unless directed to by another teacher or administrator. Students found using their
cellphones for any reason during class will immediately have their phones confiscated
for the remainder of the class period. If there is a second offense in the semester, their
cellphone will be confiscated and turned over to the front office where students can pick
it up at the end of the day.