Hello Parents and Students:



Welcome to Physical Science. Progress Reports will be sent electronically every two weeks on Monday, I will need a valid e-mail addresses on file for you. If your e-mail has changed from the one on file in the office, please email me your new address so that I can update it in the computer (mmccrory@mcsdga.net). If you do not have access or use e-mail. A paper progress report will be given to your child every two Mondays. I will have the students sign for these documents to help ensure that they go home.

If your child's average is below 70 at the time of the progress report(every two weeks), then he/she will receive a deficiency report. Please review this report with your child and sign and return. I will indicate on the report why your child is failing and I will make suggestion on how to improve the grade. If you would like to schedule an appointment with me, please feel free to call Early College and set up an appointment.


Professionally,



Martina R. McCrory, Ph.D
Science Teacher

 

Early College Academy of Columbus

Physcial Science

Course Syllabus

2009 – 20010 School Year

Course Description: This course will afford students the opportunity to investigate the composition of matter and its interactions. This includes basic properties of matter, the atomic theory, bonding, nomenclature, chemical reactions, solutions, basic acid /base theory, and the study of the periodic tendencies of the elements.  Students will also investigate, discover and learn the properties of forces, motion, work & power, energy, heat and temperature, electricity, magnetism, sound and light.  Chapters 1 –14 will be covered in the text.

INSTRUCTOR:    Dr. Martina R. McCrory

Room: P2

I am available before school for student assistance with advanced notice.  Students who need help should contact me as soon as possible to address their needs.

E-Mail: mmccrory@mcsdga.net

Topics will utilize other methods of instruction (i.e. lecture/demonstration, question/answer, group work, student reports/projects and guest speakers).

GPS Standards: See http://www.georgiastandards.org/science.aspx

Course Outline:

• The teacher reserves the right to modify this schedule as she sees fit.

GRADING: The student’s final grade will be determined by the following criteria:

Exams, Quizzes, Projects                                                   40%

Homework, Class-work, Laboratory work                     45%

End-of-course test  (EOCT)                                               15%

CLASS PARTICIPATION AND WORK ETHIC:  Work Ethics grade consists of classroom participation and adherence to the rules and polices of the ECAC.  All students start with 100% for the Work Ethics grade.  Insubordination, skipping class, poor attitude, and non-participation in class/lab activities cause a drop in Work Ethics grade.  Students unable to follow rules and polices of the program and school will lose points due to not being able to participate in class and/or labs.  It is up to you, as the student, to do what is right to keep your grade at the level you would like.

Notebook: You will be required to maintain a notebook for class handouts, notes and other class work.  Do Now’s will be collected and graded periodically. Notebooks consist of five components: 1) class notes 2) class work (handouts), 3) homework assignments, 4) returned tests/quizzes, and 5) laboratory. Assignment logs should also be updated daily. Notebooks will be checked and evaluated at the discretion of the instructor.  Notebooks include both binders and laboratory composition notebooks.

ASSIGNMENTS: Homework /Assignments and due dates are posted on the board and are considered late if not turned in at the beginning of the class (in the case of excused absences, all assignments will be due upon return to the class unless other arrangements have been agreed to in advance).  No late work will be accepted.  Truancy on the due date or before turning work in will result in a “NHI” grade. I expect you to give at least 100% to your assignments – in and out of class.

MAKEUP WORK: If you have an excused absence, it is your responsibility to make contact with the instructor regarding missed assignments.  Contact must be made within (1) school day of returning (either before school or after school, you may not miss other instructional time to make up work).  You will be given the same amount of time to makeup the work as students who were present.  Failure to turn in work at the assigned time will be treated as a missed assignment (a zero (0) will be averaged) Missed exams may or may not be the same as the exam taken by the rest of the class.  This is entirely up to the instructor’s discretion.

HONOR CODE: Cheating in any form will result in a grade of a zero (0) and an honor violation form being submitted to the principal.  All students are expected to do their own work on ALL assignments, in class and out of class.  All written assignments will be checked for plagiarism because the ‘borrowing’ of ideas without proper documentation is unacceptable.   Students caught ‘borrowing’ ideas as such will be required to re-do the assignment for half credit and will be reported to guidance and the assistant principal so that documentation of this offense is on record.  

ELECTRONIC DEVICES:  May not be displayed or used during school hours.  Any student using an electronic device during school hours will have the device confiscated and turned over to administration.

GROOMING: Personal grooming of any type (hair brushing, putting on make-up, lotion, etc.) is not acceptable.  Any student doing so will have the item confiscated and not returned until the end of the semester.

TARDIES: Students are expected to be in their classroom seat by the tardy bell.  If not in your seat you will required to write the tardy essay before joining class.  Be here on time!

LAB & EQUIPMENT:  Students shall not alter or attempt to alter school or private property including technology hardware and software.  In many instances, equipment, supplies, and additional materials will be provided to complete assignments.  Any mistreatment, theft, destruction, or modification of this equipment, supplies, or materials will result in disciplinary action.  Take care of equipment and supplies; if mistreated, there will be less lab assignments and additional textbook assignments, including loss of all lab privileges.

CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS:

1. Come to class on time materials with required: homework, books, paper and pencils.
2. Enter classroom in a quiet manner and begin "Do Now" activity.
3. Raise you hand and wait for permission to speak.
4. Stay seated unless you have permission to leave your seat.
5. Respect your teacher(s), classmates, and any guests that are in the classroom at all times. We will be respectful of you and your belongings and you need to be respectful of mine and others’ belongings. We encourage class discussion and participation, but not at the expense of others’ feelings.
6. Follow instructions the first time they are given
7. Follow all policies of ECAC and MCSD.

Consequences and/or Rewards for the Course

1.       If you choose to break any classroom/procedure rule, ECAC policy, or MCSD policy, you will be punished accordingly. If the teacher deems your behavior offensive or inappropriate, you will be punished accordingly.

2.       If caught breaking a classroom rule you will either receive detention or have points taken away from your Work Ethic Grade (see above list). If given detention, it will begin at 2:50 and ends at 3:20.

3.       You will be given a twenty-four hour notice so that you can make transportation arrangements.  You are to be in your seat at that time or you will receive 2 days for failing to attend detention.

4.       When two detentions have been given in a nine week period, your parents will be notified by the teacher about the behavior.

5.       Anything above two detentions will result in involvement by the administration of ECAC.

6.       When a student exemplifies excellent behavior by going above and beyond what is expected, that student may receive bonus points on a future assignment, a homework pass, points towards their Work Ethic grade, etc.

Classroom Procedures:  to be discussed in class.

Supply List

3 Composition Notebooks

Pencils (lead and colored)   

Blue or Black pens

1 roll of towel paper

*Jump Drive or CD-RW

Scientific calculator (mandatory)

             Book covers (mandatory)

 

Day	GPS Standard	Essential Question(s)	DO NOW	Tasks/ Activities
MON 10/12/09	SCSh9c:  Enhance reading in all curriculum areas by  building vocabulary.	What are the properties of radioactive particles?	Chapter Review----18 Radioactivity	Review for Quiz on Radioactivity   Chapter  18 Reinforcement   Formal Quiz on Ch. 23 Acids/ Base   HW: pg. 720 #1-28 DUE: Friday 10/9/09
TUES 10/13/09	SPS8:                         Determine the relationships among force, mass and motion	How can we simulate radioactive decay and determine a substance half-life?	Video: “Topics in Physical Science: Radioactivity”	Exam on Radioactivity   Lab: Radioactive Decay of Pennies
WED 10/14/09	SPS8a Calculate velocity and acceleration	What is the difference between distance and displacement?  Speed and Velocity? How can we interpret a motion graph?	Activity-----Foldable: speed, velocity, and acceleration	MAP TESTING   Lecture on Ch.2 Time permitting
THURS 10/15/09	SPS8a Calculate velocity and acceleration	Explain how positive and negative acceleration affect motion. Describe how to calculate the acceleration of an object.	Transparency Focus:  How about a rematch?	Lecture: Describing Motion 2.1 and Acceleration 2.2   Lab: pg.57 “Force and Accleration”
FRI 10/16/09	SPS8:  Apply Newton Laws to everyday situations.	Describe what inertia is and how it is related to Newton’s first law.  Identify equal and opposite forces in nature.	Transparency Focus: Yanked Around”	Lecture on acceleration and forces   Lab: pg.58 “Comparing Motion from different sources”