Course Syllabus
Ms. Barney's Office Hours
Every Monday from 2:30-3:05 in Room 247 (unless otherwise specified).
You do not need to make an appointment to come to office hours. All are welcome!
If you would like to meet 1:1 outside of office hours, send me an email and we can schedule a time before, during, or after school.
Mr. Shulman's Syllabus
Video
What will we be learning this year?
We will be learning about chemistry! Chemistry is all about matter and energy – basically everything. It’s about making connections between what we see every day and the tiny, tiny, tiny things that make it all possible. Chemistry tells us why the sun shines and why ice floats. Chemistry is about balloons and bombs, sugar and Splenda, greenhouse gases, matter in all its forms. We will be talking about things that are impossible to see individually, but we see groups of them all the time. Chemistry is also about ways that we can understand the invisible by doing experiments to find similarities, trends, and patterns.
We will build on our understanding of physics and some of the big ideas like Conservation of Energy, forces, heat, and electrostatics. Chemistry will also be essential for understanding biology, the study of how chemistry literally comes alive.
We will improve our understanding of chemistry through hands on activities, demonstrations, labs, notes, and readings. We will also develop our critical thinking, our experimental skills, and our science literacy skills.
The main chemistry concepts we will explore are:
- Quantities and Properties
- Atomic Anatomy
- The Periodic Table
- Atomic Bonds
- Chemical Reactions
- Moles
- Counting with Conservation
- Intermolecular Forces
- Gases
- Mixtures and Solutions
- Reaction Rates
- Equilibrium
- Acids and Bases
Why do we care?
Some of you may become scientists. Some of you may become teachers. Some of you may do something else entirely. (For example, Margaret Thatcher, Angela Merkel, and Pope Francis were all professional chemists before they became the leaders of Britain, Germany, and the Catholic Church.) But whatever you do after high school, chemistry is important. Chemistry helps us learn about how the world works, and it lets us understand how and why we can change it. Plus, chemistry is awesome!
Chemistry’s core focuses a lot on recognizing and using patterns. Chemistry also relies on using evidence to describe and predict the behaviors of things that are too small to be seen directly. Like history, philosophy, math, and writing, chemistry teaches us how to make thoughtful predictions and how to support claims with evidence, even when a root cause is not directly observable. When scientific and historical claims are being questioned and sources are derided as untrustworthy and fake, it is critically important to build truth using argument and evidence. Studying chemistry develops those skills.
Scientists and engineers are researching big questions like how to slow climate change, how to make chemicals and pharmaceutical drugs more safely with less waste, and how to manage energy responsibly. It is important to understand these questions and the discussions about them because it will be up to you and your community to make decisions about how we live in the world and about how to use our knowledge in the best way possible. As citizens and future leaders, understanding chemistry will help you make informed and educated choices that affect the entire global community.
What should you bring to class?
I expect you to bring the following materials to class every day:
- Pen or pencil
- Scientific Calculator
- Your charged laptop
- A binder (to take notes and organize handouts)
- Your chemistry workbook
Some of you may prefer working with your laptop, others may prefer pen and paper. You should always bring both options so that no matter what we are doing in class, you will have the right tool for the job.
You will be provided with a hard copy and a pdf of the textbook Honors Chemistry by Dr. Van Geel, WHS chemistry teacher. You do not need to bring the textbook to class daily.
Cell phones and other electronics are not permitted in class. I will let you know if it is ok to use your phone for a specific class-related purpose during class.
Food and drink are not permitted in class. Bottled water is the only exception. No food or drink may be consumed in lab.
Grades
Grades will be calculated using points rather than categories. There will be about two tests per quarter, worth more than half of the grade for the quarter. Labs, quizzes, and other activities may be graded as well. There are no retake opportunities for tests.
Office Hours and Extra Help
I will be available for extra help after school on Mondays in room 247. Additionally, you may always email me with a question, and I will respond as soon as I can. The more specific the question, the more helpful my response can be.
Absences
If you miss a lab for any reason, you have one week to schedule a make up. After that you will receive sample data so that you may still turn in the lab, but at a 15% deduction to your grade.
If you are out the day of a test, you will be expected to make up the test the next class day. If you miss only the day before a test, you will still be expected to take the test on the regular day.
Exceptions to the above rules may be made in special circumstances, but only if you talk to me about it in advance (ie. through email, before school, or before an extended absence).
Extra help
Extra credit is generally not available. The class is structured to provide you with the supports needed to be successful, if you take advantage of them. It is not possible to make up weeks of work with one extra credit assignment at the end of the quarter. Be proactive and seek help when you need it – do not wait until the last minute.
I strongly encourage you to ask questions in class about anything you do not understand. There are also many resources on Canvas to help you out, including notes, videos, and the textbook. If you feel that you need additional help beyond what I can provide in class, please schedule a time for extra help. Do not be afraid to ask for help; I love questions! Just remember that it is usually better to take care of problems as they come up and not the day before a major test.
Course Summary:
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