Physics Honors Course.pages - Kemp Independent School District

Physics Honors
Kemp High School
Honors Program Introduction
Kemp High School offers open enrollment in honors courses. Counselors and teachers provide
guidelines for appropriate selection of courses, but students and parents make the decision of
which courses to take.
The function of the honors program is to act as an introductory college-preparatory course.
Because of this honors course work is more demanding than regular classes. The curriculum is
designed to build academic discipline in the skills of reading, writing, and critical thinking
through exposure to the science of physics. Students taking an honors level course will be
challenged and will gain a deeper understanding of course content. Honors courses require
students to work at a faster pace, to become independent learners, grasp concepts quickly, and
manage time effectively.
Honors Program Learning Initiatives
Develop effective study skills for continued success at high school and preparation for
college
Think critically by applying, analyzing, evaluating, and creating knowledge and skills
Participate in more substantive classroom discussions
Develop independent learning and analytical reasoning skills
Engage in electronically assisted research to provide opportunities for independent learning,
to develop multi-media presentations, and hone oral presentation skills
Physics Honors
Physics Honors is a laboratory oriented course which prepares students for concepts that will be
covered in college physics. It provides the student with opportunities for acquiring basic
techniques, knowledge, and understanding necessary for advanced science study. The course
sequence ranges from the study of laws of motion; changes within physical systems and
conservation of energy and momentum; force; thermodynamics; characteristics and behavior of
waves; magnetism; electricity; and quantum physics.
Summer Physics Research Project
The Summer Physics Research Project is mandatory for Physics Honors students and is
considered a classroom assignment. By reading, outlining, and solving problems required by this
project during the summer break, students will be better prepared for the in-depth discussions
and analysis critical to the success of the course. Teachers use this first assignment as a preassessment to help determine a student’s skill level and if they should stay in an honors class or
be transferred to a regular class.
The Summer Physics Research Project is due no later than July 29, 2015, for all Physics Honors
students and it must be sent to Mr. Howson at mark.howson@kempisd.org by that deadline of
Kemp High School Science Dept
Physics Honors
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July 29, 2015. Late work will not be accepted. Missing or late work will result in a student being
immediately removed from the Physics Honors class and reassigned to a regular Physics class.
Incomplete or inadequate work will schedule an automatic student and parent mandatory
Academic Progress Meeting with the teacher, principal and guidance counselor to determine
reassignment to a regular Physics class.
The Summer Physics Research Project will be graded, and the grades will be included in the first
nine week grading period. The Summer Physics Research Project will also be tested over the first
week of school.
Summer Physics Research Project Requirements
For this summer research project you are going to read and outline Chapter 1 The Science of
Physics from Texas Physics by Serway and Faughn published by Houghton Mifflin and
Harcourt. Read and outline Sections 1, 2, and 3. Solve Practice Problems 1 to 5 on page 15.
Answer Section 2 Formative Assessment 2 to 4 on page 22. Answer Section 3 Formative
Assessment 4 and 5 on page 27. Do Chapter 1 Review Problems 2, 11, 15, 16, 18, 20, and 45a
found on pages 30 to 34. Do End-of-Course Exam Practice 1 to 7 on page 35. Email the
assignment to Mr. Howson at mark.howson@kempisd.org by that deadline of July 29, 2015. If
you do not have a computer Kemp High School office and The Cedar Creek Library at 410 E
Cedar Creek Pkwy, Seven Points, TX 75143 at (903) 432-4185 have computers available for
your use.
Details of the Summer Physics Research Project Requirements
1. Check out a copy of the physics textbook Texas Physics by Serway and Faughn, published by
Houghton Mifflin and Harcourt from the Kemp High School office.
2. Read and outline Sections 1, 2, and 3, of Chapter 1 - The Science of Physics
3. Solve Practice Problems 1 through 5 on page 15.
4. Answer Section 2 Formative Assessment questions 2 through 4 on page 22.
5. Answer Section 3 Formative Assessment questions 4 and 5 on page 27.
6. Do Chapter 1 Review Problems 2, 11, 15, 16, 18, 20, and 45a found on pages 30 to 34.
7. Do End-of-Course Exam Practice 1 through 7 found on page 35.
8. Email the assignment to Mr. Howson at mark.howson@kempisd.org by that deadline of
July 29, 2015. If you do not have a computer Kemp High School office and The Cedar Creek
Library at 410 E Cedar Creek Pkwy, Seven Points, TX 75143 at (903) 432-4185 have
computers available for your use.
9. Remember, you will be tested on this Chapter 1 material the first week of school.
Kemp High School Science Dept
Physics Honors
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