Chemistry

2018-2019 school year 1st Semester

David Hacker
[email protected]
Classroom ###
Office hours during lunch

Students or parents may contact me via email with class and period first in the subject line followed by the
subject of the email (e.g. Chemistry P2 – late assignment) so that I know how to address the concern best and
for which class It is regarding.

Course Description
In this course, the students will learn chemistry topics in alignment with the state science standards for high
school science. This includes but is not limited to: COMPLETE and FULL regard for SAFE practices within a lab
setting, experiments with flame, explosives, acids, bases, and more within this SAFE environment, as well as
getting to know the chemicals on the periodic table and how they interact with each other!

Course Goals
At the end of the course students will be able to:
 Utilize the scientific method to conduct experiments within a lab
 Use safe lab practices and point out when there are hazards within the lab
 Recognize chemicals based on smell, feel, and the interaction between chemicals
 Use the known properties of chemicals to predict the outcome of a chemical reaction both
mathematically and intuitively

Things to bring to class:

 Textbook will be provided
 Journal notebook used as a Lab Notebook
 Pen and Pencil (eraser if not on pencil)
 Innovative attitude: attitude oriented towards creating new and improved methods of getting things
done
 Last and most important, bring yourself and your personality to class, I would love to have you there
and, even if you think chemistry is not your thing, I hope that you will at least enjoy some of our work
and the fun we’ll have along the way! Every class is different, and personalities are what make them
different and fun!

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Daily Work/Homework
Wake-up
Every day, the class will start with a wake-up problem that reminds us of where we left off the week before. This
will occur every day of the week and will be worked out on a designated worksheet. This sheet will be collected
every other week.

Homework

Homework will vary over the semester and will include reading, writing, and calculating. Each week is detailed in
the Course Calendar at the end of this document.
Major Assignments: Descriptions
There will be 4 major labs to conduct over the semester and 4 minor labs. The major labs will be accompanied
by a guided worksheet as well as a lab report. The minor labs will be accompanied by solely a guided worksheet.
There will be two tests per semester, the mid semester test approximately 7 weeks in and a Final Test at the end
of the semester.
Class Participation
I love to laugh. Jokes and comedy are a large part of my life and hold a special place in my teaching. However,
there is a time and a place for these jokes and a level of professionality and respect that I hold you to and that
you should hold yourself to as well.
“Keeping an active mind has been vital to my survival, as has been maintaining a sense of humor”

 Stephen Hawking
Participation within this class can help you or hurt you. Credit will be awarded for those who participate in class
with full intent on helping the class and themselves gather more knowledge. Those who participate by fooling
around, speaking out of turn, putting others down, and disrupting learning overall will be delegated
consequences based on their action and a potential to lose points.
Course Grading
Statement of Grading Approach or Philosophy
Exams and assignments will be graded with the students’ wellbeing in mind. I am human and make mistakes and
my not give work and tests that accurately show the students’ development over the semester. Therefore, when
it is deemed by both myself and the department chair, there may be changes to assessments to better reflect
student learning.
Explanation of Grading System
 Major Lab Reports: 30% of total grade or maximum points
 Minor Lab Reports: 20% of total grade or maximum points
 Homework: 10% of total grade or maximum points
 Wake-ups: 10% of total grade or maximum points
 Participation: 5% of total grade or maximum points

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  Mid-semester Test: 10% of total grade or maximum points
 Final exam: 15% of total grade or maximum points

Grade Cutoffs
90% A
80% B
70% C
Course-Specific Support or Supplementary Instruction
Tutoring will be available after school on (Days of the week) or by appointment during lunch (Office hours are
for general questions regarding the course, I would like an appointment to be made in order to be prepared to
help you the best I can)
When in doubt, we are given a great resource for education and cat videos alike: The Internet! I am not
suggesting you go looking up randomly for resources that may or may not actually be of help to you. Here are
some potential sites that may help answer your questions:
Kahn Academy
Etc. (to be determined at a later date)
I do not advocate for Wikipedia and other wiki sites. I know, surprise, surprise I’m a teacher, I have to say that
right? Not necessarily, Wikipedia has gotten better over the years and has great information! The biggest issues
are, obviously that the information provided could be wrong, or even if the information is correct, the language
and methods that are used on the chemistry Wikipedia pages is college level or even at the level of a doctorate
in chemistry. The language on some Wikipedia pages I have trouble with. I would just stick with the sites above.
Course Policies and Information for Students

1. Attendance

Like I listed in the what to bring to class section, please bring yourself and your personality to our
classroom. If you happen to be absent on one day, the next day that you come to class you will need to
make up at least one thing: The Wake-Up for the day that you missed. There will be a binder at my desk
that includes the written out Wake-Up. You will need to ask me to borrow the binder either during office
hours, after school at tutoring. If there are reasons that are preventing you from making one of these
times, whether it be other classes, club meetings, etc. please just email me about it and we can figure out
when you can make it up before the next Wake-Up turn-in. Other items that you may have missed may
include Homework, Labs, or exams covered in number 3.

Homework – will be located in a filing folder box at the front of the room labeled: Absent Work. The due
date will be extended 1 day per excused absence recorded by the office in order to afford time to learn the
content in tutoring sessions or appointments made during my office hours

Labs – Labs are extensive and on par with Exams as far as the need to be present. If you miss a Lab, you will
need to make an appointment for my office hours or after school within two days after you are back at
school to make up the lab work. A reminder will be sent after the first day to the student and the parents

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 and again with more urgency the second day. If a time is not scheduled within the two days after your
return, the grade for the lab will be reduced by 10% per day. Another instance where it is better to just
communicate with me and I will try my best to help you.

2. PENALTIES FOR LATE WORK and REQUESTS FOR EXTENSIONS

The bottom line is: Please talk to me. Life happens, and things do not get turned in or finished completely.
Late work will be accepted with a 10% reduction from the total points each day it is late. This may not
always be the case if you meet with me about the assignment.

3. POLICIES ON MISSED EXAMS AND MAKE-UP EXAMS

Missed exams take on the same policy as the Labs except an email will be sent the day that you miss an
exam directly to you and your parents asking for a time to be scheduled in which you can retake the exam.
Privacy is very important when it comes to exams, so time is important. Exams must be schedules within a
day of returning unless you communicated with me otherwise.

4. REGRADING POLICY
As I stated before, I am human and I make mistakes. If you believe that a grade was given in error or you
are not sure why you were given a specific grade, please come talk to me. I will not take away points from
your grade after it has been given (Unless you were found to be cheating see Academic Integrity). The only
direction your grade on the assignment can go is up or stay where it is at. Honestly, it is better for you to
come in because you may leave with more points!

5. TECHNOLOGY POLICIES:

Phones are strictly prohibited outside of the backpack unless explicitly told otherwise by me. Any use of
tablets or computers are allowed only when the days activities calls for them.

6. ETHICS/VIOLATIONS OF ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:

Cheating will not be tolerated, but what is cheating? There are always the obvious forms of cheating such
as using notes on a test that does not permit them or copying your classmates test or homework answers
but there is one other major instance.

 Not citing where you got some information.

o If you are citing your own words in your lab notebook or any information that you took from your
lab notebook, you can simply put LN followed by the page number [e.g. (LN p34)]

o You do not have to cite the worksheet for the lab

o You must cite any outside sources that you use in your report

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Preliminary Schedule of Topics, Readings, and Assignments TBD

Date Topics/Assigned Readings/Homework Major Assignments

and Deadlines
TBD et all