Physical Science

Introduction to Physical Science

�� Extra credit points will be given to students who have this introduction in their notebooks on the first day of each semester.

Welcome to CHS Science!

Physical Science meets the science requirement for 9^th grade students and prepares them for the Washington Assessment of Student Learning. Students will use the scientific method to explore questions related to physical science. First semester you will be studying concepts related to physics such as velocity, Newton�s Laws, gravity, energy, light, work, and machines. The second semester begins with a short astronomy unit followed by an introduction to chemistry (density, heat, mixtures, atomic structure, and chemical bonding) with earth science concepts integrated throughout.

OBJECTIVES:

Physical science students will:

Understand and apply the following:

scientific facts, theories, and concepts
scientific methods and techniques
scientific terminology
appropriate methods of presenting scientific information

Construct, analyze, and evaluate the following:

hypothesis, research questions, and predictions
scientific explanations

Demonstrate the following:

cooperation, perseverance, and responsibility appropriate for effective scientific investigations and problem solving
manipulative skills needed to carry out scientific investigations with precision and safety

MATERIALS:

You are required to have:

calculator (no cell phone or PDA)
3-ring notebook
metric ruler
pencil (graphs, charts, drawings)

GRADES:
Grades are based on participation, tests and quizzes, daily work, and projects. Grade scale is as follows: A=93%; A-=90%; B+=87%; B=83%; B-=80%; C+=77%; C=73+; C-=70%; D+=67%; D=60%; F=less than 60%. The grade is based on an accumulation of points. Students who successfully complete all experiments, assignments, and projects, but are unsuccessful in testing, can still achieve a passing grade.

EXPECTATIONS, RULES, ATTENDANCE

Physical science students are expected to:

Turn in a contract, signed by the student and parent, before being allowed to participate in labs and outside activities. The contract is due the first Friday after school starts.
Organize all work in a 3-ring binder, with this sheet as the introduction. Notebooks are graded at midterm and the end of the trimester.
Be dressed to participate at all times. Appropriate dress means no open-toed or platform shoes. Aprons will be available. Students who are not appropriately dressed will not participate or receive credit.
Be in their seats at the bell with materials (pencil, paper, textbook, completed or in-progress assignments). Students will not be allowed out of class after the tardy bell rings. Tardy means not in your seat when the bell rings. Truant means you are more than 10 minutes late without an excuse, or not where you are supposed to be. After four tardies, students will be assigned to do campus service. Students who are truant receive no credit for the day, and will be assigned campus service equal to time missed.
Demonstrate respect and support for one another, including listening when others are speaking, such as the teacher.
Follow safety rules at all times. Students who do not abide by the safety rules will be removed from class and lose credit.
Participate in all activities and remain on-task until the bell rings. Clean up all work areas at the end of activities.
Return all tools and equipment to their proper place after use (clean if necessary).
Refrain from inappropriate behavior and offensive language.
Make up written work, including labs, within two days of an absence. No make up work is accepted for unexcused absences. Some missed outside days cannot be made up.
Turn in assignments on time. Assignments are usually due at the beginning of the period. Late assignments will not be accepted.
There is a fine line between working together and cheating. Cheating, plagiarism, or the �cutting and pasting� of work will result in a zero for that assignment and the notification of parents/guardians.
No other work is permitted until all assigned science work is done unless given permission by
the instructor.
Students should keep all electronic equipment packed away during class. Failure to do so will result in confiscation until the end of the day. See student handbook.

� LAB SAFETY:

You are expected to honor the lab safety rules listed on the Flinn Safety Contract. Infractions result in immediate discipline, which could include being sent to the office, a parent conference, loss of points, or campus service. Especially important are:

Follow all directions. If you don�t understand them, ask your lab partner or the teacher.
Know where all safety equipment is located.
Wear goggles for eye protection whenever instructed to do so.
Personal safety is critical. NO DANGEROUS ACTS OR MISUSE OF MATERIALS OR EQUIPMENT WILL BE TOLERATED. This includes the greenhouse, nursery compound, and field sites as well as the classroom.
Federal regulations prohibit eating or drinking in any science lab/classroom/field site. This includes water bottles and gum chewing. Also, cosmetics cannot be used in the classroom. Because contamination is possible, lunch sacks and water bottles should be brought to class only if in a backpack.
Appropriate clothing must be worn � no open-toed shoes or sandals in the classroom or outside. Aprons are available to protect clothing.
No student is allowed in ANY science classroom until the teacher is present. Wait at the door until permitted to enter.
If you break equipment, you pay for it.

Contact me at 596-8267 or by e-mail at kwatts@osd.wednet.edu. I hope to have a website with assignments posted soon.

Kathy Watts, instructor.