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Physical Science 2008-2009
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General Information

Class Time: Mondays, 9:30 to 11:00 a.m.

Location: Bethany Collegiate Church, Route 1 and Concord Avenue, Havertown

Teacher: Lisa Swieson (610.355.9174, LSwieson@science-resources.org)

Text: Physical Science © 2005 (Holt Science & Technology)

Class Particulars: Each week, the first 30 minutes of class will be spent reviewing assignments and preparing for lab. The remainder of the time will be in lab. The last class session of each term will be devoted to a practical lab exam.

Dress Code: Since each class will include lab work, students should wear comfortable (not baggy) clothing that is easily washable or that you don't mind getting dirty. Long hair should be tied back. No open-toed shoes, bracelets, rings, or loose jewelry. Protective gloves, aprons, and safety glasses will be provided when needed.

Students are expected to bring the following to class each week: textbook, notebook, pen/pencil, folder/binder for handouts, and all written assignments (see below).

Assignments: Students will be sent home each week with assignments that must be completed on their own before the next class. These will include:
  • Readings. Students will be expected to read 2 or 3 sections (around 20 pages) each week from the assigned textbook.
  • Notebook. Students should keep a spiral-bound notebook where they write all vocabulary words with definitions, along with other important concepts from the assigned chapter. (More on this during our first class.) This notebook should be brought to class each week.
  • Lab Report. A short write-up of each lab will be due the week following the lab. I recommend writing up the lab report Monday afternoon or evening, while everything is still fresh in the student's mind.
  • Lab Prep. Each week, students will receive instructions to prepare for the next lab. These may involve readings or written work.
  • Other Written Assignments. Written assignments may include review questions based on the reading assignments or problem-solving worksheets. If any student encounters difficulty with these written assignments, s/he should contact the instructor by phone or email for extra help.
  • Tests. After every 3 chapters or so, students will be given a take-home test. These will consist of questions and problems very similar to the ones the students have been doing for homework. Tests should be taken on the date indicated and mailed to me the following day so that I can score them before the next class. These are not open book, so I ask each parent (please!) to supervise these quizzes and sign them before mailing them back to me.
Grades: I realize that most of us, as homeschoolers, are not accustomed to getting (or giving) grades, but in a classroom situation it is a helpful way for students (and their parents) to keep track of their progress. Here is how I will calculate grades:
  • Homework: 25%
  • Notebook: 10%
  • Labs: 25% (Each term, I will drop each student's lowest lab score.)
  • Tests: 25% (I will drop each student's lowest test score.)
  • Lab Practicals: 15%
  • A: 90-100%
  • B: 80-89%
  • C: 70-79%
  • D: 60-69%
Mid-Week Help: In addition to being available by phone or email during the week, as questions arise I will also send emails (check email regularly!) and maintain a class web site containing assignments, answers to questions, extra information & clarification, etc.

Absence: I realize that students may need to miss class once or twice for illness or family obligations. If your child must miss class, please let me know ahead of time, if possible. Even so, students are responsible for the material they missed - homework assignments must still be completed and handed in, and, though the lab itself cannot be made up, students must understand the processes or reactions that should have occurred during lab. Note that, since the student's lowest lab score will be dropped each term, absence need not affect that portion of the student's grade, unless the student misses more than one lab each term.

Lab Safety: Physical science lab has many opportunities for injury (broken glass, projectiles, chemicals, open flames, etc.), so it is essential that lab safety rules be followed carefully. Remember, students who repeatedly ignore these rules are putting their classmates at risk and will be suspended from class with no refund. In addition, students will be expected to pay for glassware or other equipment that they break.

About Your Textbook: At the end of every chapter, there is a two-page feature called "Science in Action." I encourage you to read these features when you get to them, but you do not have to do the activities.

In the back of your textbook is a review section called "Math Refresher." If your math is a little rusty, please go over pages 773-776 before our first class to familiarize yourself with some of the math topics you will need for physical science.

Science Resources will buy back your textbook at the end of the year for one-half the price you paid for it (i.e., for $31.00) if it is in good condition - no writing (other than your name in the front), no dog-eared or torn pages, no spills, etc. To help keep it in good condition, I recommend putting a book cover on it. I plan to teach this class again in a few years, so if you have a younger sibling, you may want to keep it.

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Questions? Contact the teacher!		 by Lisa Swieson
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Last modified: 20 October 2008