NHS Course Syllabus: 

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Honors Physics

COURSE OUTLINES

The mission statement of Norwell High School is to provide an engaging, supportive environment where students strive for excellence, practice respect and contribute to society.

Integrity ¨ Learning¨Respect¨Responsibility

Course:  Physics 430 – Honors Physics

Student work will focus on the following NHS student expectations for learning:

§      Data Gathering

§      Reflective Problem Solving

Course expectations:

·        In the classroom on time, every day (unless a valid excuse is given)

·        Prepared to learn every day, which means having all necessary materials

·        Attentive and respectful, both to fellow classmates and me

·        Honest and responsible for his or her own work.

Course skills/ concepts:

This is an advanced introductory Physics course in which students will investigate the world around them and develop a deep and sophisticated understanding of many of the fundamental physical concepts (such as Newton’s laws of motion, Electromagnetism and others).  Students will use a number of approaches and techniques to acquire and internalize these concepts, including but not limited to lecture, hands-on lab experiments, text reading, homework problems, and individual work.  By using the language of mathematics, students will describe, explain and predict many of the phenomena observed in our universe.

Major units:

Text and requirements/ materials:

Each student should have a scientific calculator; a graphing calculator is not required, but they can be used if students already have them.  Students should keep a class notebook and a separate lab folder.  Please use pencil on assignments, quizzes and tests; ink is messy when you make mistakes (and everyone makes them). 

Our textbook is Physics, 6^th Edition, by Giancoli.

Homework policy/ major projects:

Since the greatest amount of learning and highest degree of understanding comes about through performance, I place more emphasis on these assignments than other aspects of the class.  I do not accept late homework assignments.  Lab Reports are penalized for each day they are late.  If for some reason as student misses a quiz, test or lab experiment, they are required to come in after school to make up the work.

Ideally, I’d like to have a project for the students each quarter.  Each student will receive a guideline sheet for the project at some point during the quarter. 

These projects are subject to change, depending on the availability of equipment and the capability of the project.

Grading system:

The general grade breakdown is as follows:

Please note that this policy is not set in stone, and may be altered somewhat as the course goes along.

College Prep Physics

COURSE OUTLINES

The mission statement of Norwell High School is to provide an engaging, supportive environment where students strive for excellence, practice respect and contribute to society.

Integrity ¨ Learning¨Respect¨Responsibility

Course:  Physics 432 – College Prep Physics

Student work will focus on the following NHS student expectations for learning:

§      Data Gathering

§      Reflective Problem Solving

Course expectations:

·        In the classroom on time, every day (unless a valid excuse is given)

·        Prepared to learn every day, which means having all necessary materials

·        Attentive and respectful, both to fellow classmates and me

·        Honest and responsible for his or her own work.

Course skills/ concepts:

This is an advanced introductory Physics course in which students will investigate the world around them and develop a deep and sophisticated understanding of many of the fundamental physical concepts (such as Newton’s laws of motion, Electromagnetism and others).  Students will use a number of approaches and techniques to acquire and internalize these concepts, including but not limited to lecture, hands-on lab experiments, text reading, homework problems, and individual work.  By using the language of mathematics, students will describe, explain and predict many of the phenomena observed in our universe.

Major units:

Text and requirements/ materials:

Each student should have a scientific calculator; a graphing calculator is not required, but they can be used if students already have them.  Students should keep a class notebook and a separate lab folder.  Please use pencil on assignments, quizzes and tests; ink is messy when you make mistakes (and everyone makes them). 

Our textbook is Physics, 6^th Edition, by Giancoli.

Homework policy/ major projects:

Homework is due at the beginning of a class period.  I do not accept late homework assignments.  Lab Reports are penalized for each day they are late.  If for some reason as student misses a quiz, test or lab experiment, they are required to come in after school to make up the work.

Ideally, I’d like to have one or two large, group projects for the students each quarter.  Each student will receive a guideline sheet for the project at some point during the quarter. 

Grading system:

The general grade breakdown is as follows:

Please note that this policy is not set in stone, and may be altered somewhat as the course goes along.

ACTIVE PHYSICS

COURSE OUTLINES

The mission statement of Norwell High School is to provide an engaging, supportive environment where students strive for excellence, practice respect and contribute to society.

Integrity ¨ Learning¨Respect¨Responsibility

Course: Active Physics 434

Active Physics focuses mainly on hands-on activities consisting of laboratories and special projects.  Although some mathematics is utilized, learning by doing is the key.  This course studies the laws and theories of matter and energy.  The areas of study will be:

·        Mechanics – The study of motion

·        Forces

·        Wave Motion and Sound

·        Light

·        Energy and Work

·        Electricity and Magnetism

·        Heat

Student work will focus on the following NHS student expectations for learning:

Norwell High School Graduates will be:

·        Effective Writers

·        Reflective Problem Solvers

Course expectations:

            Students should be:

·        In the classroom on time, every day (unless a valid excuse is given)

·        Prepared to learn every day, which means having all necessary materials

·        Attentive and respectful, both to fellow classmates and me

·        Honest and responsible for his or her own work.

Course skills/ concepts:

This course is a concept-oriented hands-on learning experience where students will see the rules and laws that govern our universe in action.  As such, students will develop strong skills in observation, in measurement, and in accurately reporting experimental results.  Furthermore, students will learn why they are observing what they see in an experiment or activity.

Major units:

·        Mechanics – The study of motion

·        Forces

·        Wave Motion and Sound

·        Light

·        Energy and Work

·        Electricity and Magnetism

·        Heat

Text and requirements/ materials:

·        A pen or pencil.

·        A notebook:  3 ring binders with loose leaf paper please.  This book will be used for class notes, homework, and for recording lab results.  Each should be a separate section, so that homework is kept separate from class notes or lab results and can be easily turned in.

·        A calculator:  Although there is little math in Active Physics, a calculator with simple functions is required.  A TI-83 or 84 calculator is not necessary, but may be used.

·        The text(s) used will be from the Active Physics series.  Additional materials and texts may be used when needed.

Homework policy/ major projects:

Homework is due at the beginning of the period on the day which it is due.  Students will pass in their paper(s) in the appropriate bin.  If a student is absent on the date an assignment is due, they are expected to turn it in during the next meeting of class. 

Lab reports should be written by each individual student, although much of the data, observations, measurements and conclusions drawn should be similar amongst members of a group.  It is preferable if lab reports are typed when at all possible.  Unless a student is absent, late lab reports will be penalized by 5 points for each day they are late.  After 20 days, the report will not be accepted.

Major group projects will be assessed according to an appropriate rubric which the students will have a copy of prior to the project’s completion.

Grading system:

There are four components to a student’s grade in this course: homework, labwork/classwork, tests/quizzes, and other group projects.   

Grading will be done on a point system, where each individual assignment will have an assigned point value.  A student’s grade for the course will simply be the points earned divided by the total points available. 

Adam Bradshaw/bradshaw@norwellschools.org/ Science Dept.