Upward Bound Chemistry

Summer 2011

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Course Documents
Summer Assignments and Labs
Lab Safety Rules (RTF file)
Three-ring Binder Information
Lab Notebook Information
Lab Report Writing Information
Lab Grading Outline (html) How labs are graded

Course Overview

Instructor: Aaron Keller

In this course you will learn about some of the basic, important topics in chemistry. This should prepare you to approach a school-year chemistry course with some real confidence in conceptual knowledge, mathematical skills, and laboratory technique. I intend to cover Scientific Notation, Dimensional Analysis, and Density. Several interesting labs will allow the topics we touch on to be a bit broader.

As with all the Upward Bound courses, you are not given a final grade. Instead, I will write a narrative evaluation which assesses:

This evaluation will be based, in part, on the grades you earn on the work you do. I will give grades for each assignment and test so that we can both keep track of your progress in the course.


Grade Weighting

The grading policy is designed to reflect how much work you put into learning. If you put in the effort to learn the material you will do well. Your grade will be based on the following categories.

Make-up Work

If you miss class, and it is an excused absence, then you may make up the work you missed. You must see me and ask for the work as soon as you return to class. This must be on your own initiative: advocate for yourself! We will determine due dates for make-up work as needed.


Late Work

Late work is subject to a penalty of 25 points on a 100 point assignment. Late work will be accepted only within two days of the original due date. After that it will not be accepted.


Lab Safety

Safety is of paramount importance in the lab. Warnings of particular hazards will be given in the introduction to each lab activity. Students will be reminded once of safety rules. Students who do not heed such reminders will have to sit out the lab and take a zero.


Group Work

Working in small groups to solve problems is a great way to learn science. Part of your class time each week will consist of group work.

Here are a few documents to give group work some shape and definition so that it can be a self-regulating learning tool:
Group Work Information
Group Work Evaluation Form
Group Work Presenter Grading Form


A few useful links

Chemistry Links
Periodic Table (PDF) from http://www.webelements.com/
Periodic Table Image suitable for printing
Periodic Table colored by groups from http://www.chemicool.com/
A Reference Sheet of Common Atomic and Polyatomic Ions
Examples of Chemistry Problems
Vapor Pressure of Water Data
A fully-functional scientific calculator for chemistry including a table of useful constants.
A Partial Bibliography of works consulted
And here’s a useful download: a program that will quickly and easily convert units for you. Download and unzip to use.

Teachers and other Professionals:


This material is copyrighted but I grant permission for in-classroom use. Please give the URL and not copies to other teachers. Only pages directly downloaded may be used, do not distribute paper copies. Requirement for use: send me an email and give me feedback on your success with these materials.
a a r o n . a . k e l l e r [at] g m a i l . c o m
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Last Updated: Jun 10, 2011 Home