Thursday, June 7, 2012

Physics 2011-2012 Course Syllabus

Hi folks,

I've included two .pdf's for you.  One is the Curriculum Support for the North Carolina Standard Course of Study of Physics.  These are the guidelines for the concepts that should be covered in a typical high school level physics course in 180 days.  The other is the Syllabus for the 2011-2012 Physics Class.  These are the concepts that we covered this year.  I've cut and pasted the goals and objectives from the Curriculum Support document into the Syllabus that we covered in class this year.  If you take a look at the two documents, you'll notice that we covered at least 95% of the material even though we only had 33 days of class.  The students worked quite hard and we were able to move smoothly through the material

It's been an honor teaching your children this year.  Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to do so.

Never Stop Wondering
"Science Jim"  Mueller

(919) 929-9791

A Fun Approach to Serious Physics!

Join my Facebook page!


Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Science Jim's High School and Middle School Classes

Hi folks,

Just wanted to let you all know what classes I'm planning on offering next year.  Please feel free to post these as far and wide as you wish!  : )

I apologize ahead of time if you get this email a couple of times.  I think some of you may be on a couple of my email lists but I wanted to make sure you all got this at least once.

May you all have a wonder-filled summer!


High School Level Physics
Mondays 1:30 - 3:00 or 3:30 (See Below)

Ages 13 and up

Location -  3105 Whitfield Dr. Chapel Hill (Very close to where Rt 86 and 40 meet)

Cost for 1.5 hour class: 3 payments at 10 week intervals of $186 or one payment of $540 (save $20)

Cost for 2 hour class (with homework and grade reports): 3 payments at 10 week intervals of $250 or 1 payment of $720 (save $30) $50.00 or less for
Conceptual Physics Textbook

Dates - Sept. 17 to May 20, (30+ classes skipping several Mondays for holidays and winter/spring breaks)

A fun, hands-on and thorough approach to physics.  The class content will follow the North Carolina Standard Course of Study for Physics.  We will be covering mechanics, linear motion, energy, sound, and more during this year long course.   The class will be a combination of hands-on lab work as well as lecture. Students are recommended to be fairly comfortable with math at a level of algebra 1 or above. Class will be held for 1.5 hours for all students.  Students interested in receiving progress and grade reports have the option of staying an extra half hour for extra instruction, homework review and quizzes.  Extra instruction folks will also be responsible for homework, lab reports and take-home tests.  

Email Science Jim to register or with any questions.


High School Level Chemistry

Fridays 1:30 - 3:00 or 3:30 (See Below)

Ages 13 and up

Location -  3105 Whitfield Dr. Chapel Hill (Very close to where Rt 86 and 40 meet)

Cost for 1.5 hour class: 3 payments at 10 week intervals of $186 or one payment of $540 (save $20)

Cost for 2 hour class (with homework and grade reports): 3 payments at 10 week intervals of $250 or 1 payment of $720 (save $30) $50.00 or less for Conceptual Chemistry Textbook.

Dates - Sept. 21 to May. 24, (30 + classes skipping several Fridays for holidays and winter/spring breaks)


A fun, hands-on and thorough approach to basic chemistry. The class content will follow the North Carolina Standard Course of Study for Chemistry. We will be covering the periodic table, chemical equations, stoichiometry, atomic structure and much more.  The class will be a combination of hands-on lab work as well as lecture.  Class will be held for 1.5 hours for all students.  Students interested in receiving progress and grade reports have the option of staying an extra half hour for extra instruction, homework review and quizzes.  Extra instruction folks will also be responsible for homework, lab reports and take-home tests.  

Please email jim@sciencejim.com to register or with any questions.


High School Level Biology
Wednesdays 1:30 - 3:00 or 3:30 (See Below)

Ages 13 and up

Location -  3105 Whitfield Dr. Chapel Hill (Very close to where Rt 86 and 40 meet)

Cost for 1.5 hour class: 3 payments at 10 week intervals of $186 or one payment of $540 (save $20)

Cost for 2 hour class (with homework and grade reports): 3 payments at 10 week intervals of $250 or 1 payment of $720 (save $30) $50.00 or less for Biology Textbook.

Dates - Sept. 19 to May. 22, (30+ classes skipping several Wednesdays for holidays and winter/spring breaks)

A fun, hands-on and thorough approach to biology. The class content will follow the North Carolina Standard Course of Study for Biology.  We will be covering, genetics, biological molecules, DNA, ecosystems, cell biology, evolution and more.  The class will be a combination of hands-on lab work as well as lecture.  Class will be held for 1.5 hours for all students.  Students interested in receiving progress and grade reports have the option of staying an extra half hour for extra instruction, homework review and quizzes.  Extra instruction folks will also be responsible for homework, lab reports and take-home tests.  

Email Science Jim to register or with any questions.

Middle School Level Earth Science

Thursdays 1:30 - 2:30

Ages 11 and up

Location KatieBeth's 2 8800 Seawell School Rd.  Chapel Hill

Cost - 3 payments at 10 week intervals of $120.00.

Dates - Sept. 20 - May 23

A fun, hands-on and thorough approach to Earth science.  Earth Science focuses on planet Earth and the energy transfers taking place within and without the earth system.  We will be covering earthquakes, our place in space, weather, volcanoes, rocks, minerals and more during this 30+ week course.  

Never Stop Wondering
"Science Jim"  Mueller

(919) 929-9791

A Fun Approach to Serious Physics!

Join my Facebook page!



Monday, June 4, 2012

Science Jim's Class Evaluation

Hi folks,

I hope you don't mind, but if you have a chance would you mind filling out this small evaluation.  It's only 4 quick questions and I'd really appreciate hearing your thoughts on this past year. 


Again, thank you so much for choosing me as your science teacher this year.  

May you all have wonder-filled summers!

Never Stop Wondering
"Science Jim"  Mueller

(919) 929-9791

A Fun Approach to Serious Physics!

Join my Facebook page!



Friday, May 25, 2012

5/25 Physics update

Hi folks,

Well this was it!  The last day of physics.  I have to be honest…I'm really going to miss this class.  It was very well behaved, inquisitive and cooperative but, at the same time, had a great sense of humor and fun.  I had a great year this year and I hope everyone else did too.

My plan is to grade the finals as soon as possible and email the test results and grades by next Friday if not sooner.  I also plan on getting everyone a full detailed syllabus that includes everything we covered this year (which was quite a lot).   I'll "snail" mail the finals to anyone who would like it back.  Please, just send me your address so that I can get that out in the mail once they are all set.

I also hope to get a schedule of high school and middle school classes ready by next week as well, for anyone who might be interested.

Thanks again for a great year.  There are many choices out there for classes and I truly appreciate the fact that you chose me for your physics class.  Thank you very much.

Never Stop Wondering
"Science Jim"  Mueller

(919) 929-9791

A Fun Approach to Serious Physics!

Join my Facebook page!



Friday, May 18, 2012

Physics update 5/18

Hi folks,

Today we wrapped up our physics lectures/labs with electricity.  We took a look at voltage, resistance and amperage.  I challenged everyone to create 3 different circuits.   One with just one light bulb and then two different ones that lit 2 bulbs.  To light the two bulbs they needed to create a series and a parallel circuit.   We took a look at the differences between the series circuit and the parallel circuit as far as resistance, amperage and voltage goes.  We also talked a bit about Ohm's law, voltage = amperage/resistance.  

No homework this week since next week is the final exam.  Depending on the student, the final may or may not take 2 hours, so rides may want to be on call or the students may want to bring something to do if they finish early.

All content that has been covered, including last week, will be fair game for the final.  Today's content, electricity, will not be on the final.  I will provide all formulas and constants.

Don't hesitate to contact me if you need any help this week.  We can set up virtual "office" meetings with my online classroom if you need any help.

Never Stop Wondering
"Science Jim"  Mueller

(919) 929-9791

A Fun Approach to Serious Physics!

Join my Facebook page!



Friday, May 11, 2012

5/11 Physics update and Homework due 5/18

Hi folks,

Today, I showed everyone the light!  Well, specifically, we talked about light and how it works.  We covered reflection, refraction and a little bit of color.  The students had the opportunity to play with lasers and many different lenses and prisms.  We also explored the difference between the angle of refraction between oil and water.

Homework for this week is:

Read pp. 442 - 457
Do Think and Explain questions pg. 461 #'s 1 - 10

Review your old quizzes!!!  Bring in any questions you may have next week so we can go over them in class.

Never Stop Wondering
"Science Jim"  Mueller

(919) 929-9791

A Fun Approach to Serious Physics!

Join my Facebook page!



Friday, May 4, 2012

5/5 Physics Update and Homework due 5/12

Hi folks,

Today we covered static electricity.  We looked at what charges are, which charges attract and which repel, and how to move charges from one object to another.  We also saw how some objects are easy to charge while others are more difficult.

Homework due 5/12 is

Read Conceptual Physics pp. 500 - 514

Do review questions #'s 1- 25

Never Stop Wondering
"Science Jim"  Mueller

(919) 929-9791

A Fun Approach to Serious Physics!

Join my Facebook page!