AP Chemistry

Course Design:
This course is designed to provide an enormous amount of chemistry information through the use of first-hand chemistry experiences in the classroom. AP Chemistry will require each student to take a personal responsibility that will include conceptual concepts and ideas practiced in a laboratory setting. The labs will supplement all information learned in each unit from lecture and demonstrations by the instructor. Problem solving skills will be utilized each day so that each student has plenty of practice to understand each concept. Students will be provided with due dates at the beginning of each 9 weeks. Each unit will have numerous reading assignments that students are required to accomplish. Students will take the AP Chemistry exam toward the end of the course.

Students will be taking chemistry for the first time here at Pickens High. Most of them are honors students and have been recommended by their AP Biology teacher to take the course. They should have a basic understanding of what it takes in this demanding course. Most of the students are proficient in math, which should help them in problem solving.

Advanced placement chemistry will include the following main areas: structure of matter, states of matter, chemical reactions, periodicity, analytical chemistry, and descriptive chemistry. Our hope is that each student will have the skills to be able to solve complex chemical problems and sufficient laboratory skills to make them successful on the AP Chemistry exam taken in the spring.

Text Used:      Chemistry by Zumdahl and Zundahl, 7th ed. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2007.

Description of AP Chemistry Classroom at Pickens High:

1. Pickens High School is on a 4x4 block schedule for 90 minutes each day. Our school year consists of 180 days but our course is set up for 154 days due to the AP exam in April. The exam is scheduled for approximately 10 days before our school year is terminated. We will spend around 6 days reviewing for the exam. The last 10 days of the semester will be used to review for the semester exam.
2. Students will be required to keep a laboratory notebook and a notebook for all lectures. The lab notebook will used to organize each student’s graded lab report. Will spend two days per week in the lab. It will be imperative that each student turn a lab report for each unit concept.
3. Several tools will be needed for each student to be successful. Each student will be required to have a scientific calculator. One will be provided for them in case of an emergency. A metric ruler will also be needed by each pupil. They will also have paper, pencil, black ink pen, and index cards. The index cards will be used to serve as a review at the end of the semester and for any unit test.
4. Due dates will be strictly enforced for all projects. Work will be penalized for being late unless an emergency warrants.
5. The class will constitute three days of lecture with two days of lab each week. There will be tutoring sessions offered on two days after school dependent on each student’s extra curricula activities. School activities may also require a change in schedule.
6. Quizzes will be necessary and will be determined by the instructor.
7. Chapter questions will also be assigned. Questions will be either answered individually or in a group dependent on the difficulty. These questions can be used as a great review for chapter tests. Students may be required to put answers to their questions on the board.
8. Assignment of homework will be regular. It is a must that students complete their assigned homework in a timely manner.
9. Tests will be given at the end of each chapter. Test questions will consist of multiple choices and a free response. Reference materials will use at every opportunity to allow students to recognize types of questions they may see on the AP exam.
10. Pickens High requires each class to have a semester exam. In December, the exam will cover chapters 1-10. In May, the exam will include chapters 11-16.

Student Projects and Reports:

1. Each student will be required to write a laboratory report. The report should include the following information:
1. Title/Date
2. Procedure
3. Any data collected whether it by quantitative or qualitative
4. Calculations and graphs if needed.
5. Equations.
6. Error Analysis
7. Answer to all pre and post laboratory questions.
2. The first nine weeks of school each student will be required to research an element. This element will be assigned by the teacher and will include a rubric. The pupil is design a 3-D model of the element and they must also present it to the class.
3. The first nine weeks will also require them to read and research a scientific article. They will be required to present this article to the class in a presentation.
4. During the second nine weeks period each student will be required to interview a scientist of their choice. They then will be asked to present this interview to the class.
5. During the third nine weeks period the students will be required to read a nonfiction book dealing with a science topic. The book can be from any science topic but must be of length and be appropriate. They will be required to write a short analysis of the book.
6. The last nine weeks the student will develop and write a scientific report. It must pertain to a chemistry topic and include a lab, visual, presentation to class, and reference paper of considerable length.

Grading:

Test and Labs                                       35%
Homework                                           35%
Research, Interviews, Articles   30%

Main Topics:
These will be the five main topics covered in this class:

Structure of Matter                               20%
States of Matter                                    20%
Reactions                                             35%
Descriptive Chemistry               15%
Laboratory                                           10%

Units Covered:
This description will include: unit, topic, chapter correlation, and pacing day based on Zumdahl’s Chemistry text.

Text and Resources:

• Zumdahl, Steven S. and Susan A. Zumdahl. Chemistry. 7th edition. Boston:  Houghton Mifflin Company, 2007.
• Vonderbrink Sally Ann. Laboratory Experiments for Advanced Placement Chemistry. 1st edition. Illinois: Flinn Scientific, Inc. 1995.
• Ohn-Sabatello, Morlan, and Knoespel. Fast Track to a 5: Preparing for the AP Chemistry Examination.  Boston:  Houghton Mifflin Company, 2007.
• Cesa, Irene. Chemotopic Labs: Experiments & Demonstrations in Chemistry. Illinois: Flinn Scientific, Inc., 2002.
• Fogiel, Dr. M. The Chemistry Problem Solver: A Complete Solution Guide to Any Textbook. 6th Edition. New Jersey: Research & Education Association, 2003.

 

 

 



Girl’s Weight Training    
Students will participate in a variety of activities designed to help improve their muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, cardiovascular endurance and body composition. They will lift weights in the weight rooms as well as participate in a variety of other activities.  Safety and technique will be stressed.  Each student will be expected to dress out and participate every day.  A basic understanding of Personal Fitness is required. 

Physical Education Department Requirements

It is required that a student change clothes for participation in physical education class.

The required dress is:
SHIRT:  T-shirt.  The shirt must meet the pants when the arms are raised.  No tank tops, muscle shirts or spaghetti straps.  If it is not appropriate by the county dress code it is not appropriate for the gym.
SHORTS:  Shorts must be an appropriate length.  You must be able to bend over without the gluteals being exposed.  Shorts must be worn at the waist with no undergarments exposed.
SNEAKERS:  Sneakers are required.  Shoes must be tied.  No flip flops.
   Warm-up pants or warm-up suits are permitted provided they meet the county dress code.
    Body art must be covered.
   No jewelry.
   No Valuables.

GRADING:

Dressing out and Participation
You must be dressed out and participating EVERY day.  Missing class for any reason (absence, field trip, etc.) will count as not dressed.

Each missed dressing out (absence or not dressed out) will be –5 points.  You will get 1 free no dress each 9 weeks. All other missed MUST BE MADE UP.   If you do not dress out, but participate (must have sneakers on), it will be -3 instead of -5 (you must participate in ALL activities for the day).  2 points will be deducted for inappropriate shoes (not wearing sneakers).  There will be 3 make-up days each 9 weeks.  A student must be dressed out to participate in a make up day.  The make up days will be held at the track.  Each lap that is walked or run will be a +1 point on the dress out and participation grade.  Make up days will be from 3:15-3:45 on the days announced.

A note from a doctor does not excuse a student from dressing out.  The activity will be modified as per the doctor’s recommendations.  A note from a parent or guardian will be handled in the same manner.

 Gym Rules:

1. No profanity or use of inappropriate language.
2. No touching the basketball backboard, rim or the supports.
3. When “balls up” is called, you MUST stop play immediately.  No last shot or continued play.
4. NO FOOD OR DRINKS (water only)

All of the above will be punishable by either

1. 25 push ups (if profanity it is 25 per word)
2. after school detention
3. office referral

You will not be allowed to re-enter the locker rooms during class.  Use the rest room BEFORE
you leave the locker room.  You will not be allowed to leave class unless an emergency.
After you dress back in you WILL NOT be allowed to go in the GYM or PARKING LOT.  You         must stay in the hallway behind the green line or the locker rooms.

The Basketball locker rooms will be locked during the school day.  You cannot dress in them for           physical education class.

You must dress out in the locker rooms or the bathroom, not in the gym or hallway.

NO PERSONAL LISTENING DEVICES (IPod, NANO, etc).

NO CELL PHONES IN CLASS.  If you are seen with a cell phone:  the first time, it will be taken up until the end of class; the second time and thereafter, it will be turned in to the office.

 

Use of the Lockers in the Locker Rooms
            You must bring your own COMBINATION lock.  You may use the locker during the period, but you MUST remove the lock as the end of the period.
            When posted, any clothes or locks left on a locker will be removed and discarded.