Life and Chemical Processes is a two-semester course. To complete it, you must accumulate 60 hours worth of work for each semester and demonstrate a mastery of the standards listed in the course contract. You may choose to learn these standards with the class or on your own. If you learn with the class, you will be able to earn the 60 hours in exactly one semester. If, however, you wish to earn your course credit sooner, you may choose to work on your contract independently. Please refer to the Guide for Independent Contract Work for more information on completing your contract at an accelerated pace. 

No homework will be assigned for this course. However, we will have plenty of class work. If you are absent, it is your responsibility to make up any missed material. Since we will have class work everyday, you will need to complete your make-up work at home. Therefore, if you don’t want any homework, and you wish to pass the course, don’t miss class!

Course Overview

Life & Chemical Processes 1

1. Scientific Investigation & Experimentation

2. The Periodic Table

3. Chemical Bonds

4. Chemical Reactions

5. Solutions

6. Cell Biology

Life & Chemical Processes 2

1. Cell Processes

2. Genetics

3. Evolution

4. Physiology

5. Ecology

Earning Hours Toward Your Contract

Hours can be earned in two ways: 1) Actual Hours, and 2) Participation Points. All class and independent work translates into actual hours. On average, you will have the opportunity to earn 3.5 hours per week, provided you show up to class everyday and complete all the work I assign. If you choose to work independently, you will be able to earn even more hours per week.

You may also earn hours through participation points, at the rate of 1 hour for every 20 points. I reserve the right to award points as I see fit, but I will generally give them out for participating in lessons, as well as for doing exceptional work. Because hours earned through participation points are strictly bonus hours, you may also lose points if you come to class unprepared.

Remember, just being present physically is not enough to earn any hours in my classroom. You must come prepared, participate in the lessons, and complete all of your work if you wish to succeed in my class.

 

Required Materials

Please bring these items with you to class everyday:

1. Pencil

2. Notebook paper

Failure to come to class prepared will result in a loss of participation points.

Course Syllabus

Rules & Consequences

I prefer to keep my rules simple:

1. Respect each other

2. Respect personal and school property

3. Follow class and school rules

You will notice that I’m being sneaky, though, because Rule 3 gives me leeway to come up with more specific rules if necessary. Here’s how it works: the more you abuse my rules, the more rules we’ll end up having.

As your teacher, I am here to help you learn and enjoy this class. The rules are in place not so that I can be mean to you, but so that I can ensure your success. Please keep this in mind.

If you choose to follow my rules, we will all have an enjoyable time here. If you choose not to follow them, you will find it difficult to pass the course. And that should be the only consequence that matters.

Code of Conduct

My code of conduct can be summed up as follows:

Work hard, be honest, and you will succeed.

My assignments are designed to help you learn, but they also rely on your putting in an honest effort. If you choose to take advantage of my trust, if you try to cut corners or outright cheat, I will have no choice but to start giving you work that you will not be able to slack off or cheat on. Trust me, you will end up having to work much harder if you try to pull a fast one on me. Just don’t do it.