Welcome to Physical Science

 

Mr. Keeney

 

Contact Information:

 

School phone – (814) 274 – 8500

 

Email –

 

Course homepage:  https://coudersportschools.com/curriculumcorner/keeney2.html

 

Course Overview:

Learning Materials:

 

 

What is taught:         

Physical Science is the early study of chemistry and physics and how both apply to space beyond our solar system.  As we study chemistry, students will be introduce to the basic building blocks of matter, and how they can be described and patterns found.  Physics is the study of how and why things move, and includes topics such as sound, light, electricity and nuclear power.  Finally, once these topics are understood, we take a brief survey of what lies beyond the solar system and galaxy.  The scientific method and proper laboratory procedures, safety and communication will BE STRESSED throughout the course.

 

 

How it will be assessed:          

          Students will be formatively assessed through the use of pre tests that may be performance based or more traditional, graded practice, quizzes, and summative tests at the end of units.  Students will be exposed to many application-oriented activities throughout the course meant to improve mastery and retention and to show the relevance of material learned during the course.  As with all courses, the overall course grade may be calculated by using the following formula:

        

               (1st Quarter Grade + 2nd Quarter Grade + 3rd Quarter Grade + 4th Quarter Grade + (Mid Term + Final)/2) / 5  = Final Grade

 

Course Graded Activities:

Students are expected to:

 

As a measure of students being active in their learning, some exploratory exercises will be graded, and scored based on completeness and/or quality. It is understood that when topics are introduced, the student and teacher will be working together to acquire knowledge and skills.

 

Practice may be guided or independent, and may take on either classwork or homework assignments. A minimum expectation is that all assigned exercises are attempted in good faith, and at least 70% be correct. Exercises that are not correct provide a rich source of material for learning to move to mastery of a topic.  EVEN THOURGH STUDENTS MAY/SHOULD COLLABORATE AT TIMES< IT IS EXPECTED THAT ALL GRADED WORK BE THEIR OWN!

 

Labs will be an important part of our course, and will require a variety of products to be prepared, usually demonstrating mastery of one or many parts of the Scientific Method.  Labs will vary in value from 10 – 50 points and average 1 per week.  Demonstrations and other types of hands-on practice may be included as well.

 

Mastery will be shown via quizzes and tests. One type of quiz will come directly from student homework problems and notes and be open notebook. (usually 15 pts – every other week).  Other quizzes may be given during the course and will mostly be pre announced.  (10 – 20 pts). 

 

Tests (50 – 100 pts, 1 or 2 per quarter) are major, full period assessments, and will be modeled after the types of questions faced on the AP Exam.  Students wishing to repeat a test may do so by performing further practice that will be ungraded or writing detailed explanations as to how to do the problems that they did incorrectly and then taking another form of the test again.   Make ups must be taken within 2 weeks of getting back the test.  Test scores will be averaged to provide a single test grade.

 

 

 

 

Administrative Notes:

 

Excused absences allow for some extra time to hand in work, in accordance with the school’s policies. Late homework, and class work will not be accepted, unless because of excused absences. Quizzes and tests must be taken when the student returns to school, though if there was an excused absence, the test or quiz may be postponed the number of days equal to the absence by arrangement. The test or quiz may be different than that given originally. Extenuating circumstances will be taken into account.

 

You are expected to be on time, ready to learn. Unexcused absences or tardinesses will cause you to miss entire grades for assignments, which could hurt your grade one or several letter grades!

 

I am available for extra help by arrangement. I am extremely willing to help you be successful in any way possible, but you must ask for help outside the classroom. Avoid falling behind and feeling overwhelmed – I am here to help but can only help if I know you need it. I can make myself available before or after school as needed.

 

 

 

 

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