Joanna Pitman - Beginning the Year in a High School
Chemistry Class
First Day Activities
Activity
Before the Bell
Roll call (3 minutes)
Initial greeting/ Introduction (7
minutes)
Student Questionnaire (8
minutes)
Presentation of Classroom/ Lab
Expectations, Rules,
Procedures, and Consequences
(22 minutes)
Closing activity/ End of Period
(10-15 minutes)
Description
The teacher stands just outside of
the classroom door greeting every
student as they enter. Ask the
students to take a seat anywhere
since seating arrangements will be
decided later.
Confirm everyone is in the
appropriate class before proceeding
to roll call. Take attendance and
have students respond by raising
their hands. Once the student raises
their hand to respond ask them for
the name they would like to be
called. Mark any students not on the
attendance sheet.
Once the bell rings, the teacher
introduces herself to the class and
passes out a short information sheet
on the class. Sheet includes course
name and number, general overview
of course, contact information for
teacher including school email,
school telephone number, and office
hours.
Pass out index cards to each student
and have them fill out the cards as
described in getting acquainted
student questionnaire
The teacher will provide a copy of
Classroom Management
Philosophy handout and explain
each section to the students. Go
over all safety procedures and
requirements for the laboratory
portion of the class including proper
lab attire and evacuation procedures
in case of emergencies.
Switch gears to make the end of
class a little fun choose either the
fun facts game or choose to play
Two Truths and a Lie as detailed in
getting acquainted. Inform

Second-Day Activities
Activity
Before the Bell
Pre-Test (20 minutes)
Description of grading policies
(10 minutes)
First lesson/ worksheet (10
minutes)
End of Period (5-10 minutes)
Third-Day Activities
Activity
Review of Chapter/ Homework
grading (15-20 minutes)
students that more information on
assignments and grading criteria will
be described at tomorrows class.
Dismiss class after the bell rings.
Description
Assign seats to students prior to
entering the classroom. Have a pre-
test with the students name waiting
on the desk. Greet the students as
they enter and let them know to find
their assigned seat.
Give pre-test testing students prior
knowledge of chemistry concepts
and laboratory procedures/
equipment
After picking up pre-tests, pass out a
short hand-out on the grading
policies including tests, lab
notebooks, lab write-ups, and
homework
Introduce the first lesson to the
students that should be easy
(covers first half of chapter 1) and
allows students to utilize textbooks
to look up responses. State that this
is an independent assignment and
this assignment will be graded at
the beginning of the next class
period.
Lead a small discussion on assigned
text for preceding worksheet,
reinforce closing procedures for the
class, ask students that have not
completed their work to take it
home for homework.
Description
Review first half of chapter 1 (from
previous days lesson) and have
students switch homework with a
nearby student for grading. Discuss

Presentation/ discussion
Chapter 1 (20 minutes)
Introduction to first lab (10-12
minutes)
End of Period (3 minutes)
questions on previous assignment/
homework and answer any
questions
The teacher distributes an outline of
the second half of chapter 1. The
teacher presents information on the
chapter and students fill in any
missing information. The chapter 1
discussion is concluded
Discusses procedures and rules for
group work and use of lab. Partner
selections are also assigned and
more information is given on lab
reporting
This time is used for cleanup and
announcements prior to releasing
students.