Jen Alton, Science

School Year 2023-2024

Physical Science

 

Welcome to Physical Science!

A little about me: This will be my 8th year at South and my 21th year with Minneapolis Public Schools. Before that I worked at the University of Minnesota and the University of Iowa in molecular biology. I have a BS in Biochemistry from Albright College in Reading, PA and an MS in Biology from the University of Iowa in Iowa City, IA. I’ve taught science to students from 5th grade to 12th in a wide variety of science disciplines and I’ve loved all of it! I am a proud parent of South HS graduates, 2015 and 2018. I’m looking forward to another great year in physical science.

What is Physical Science? Physical science covers approximately a semester of physics and approximately a semester of chemistry. Our Physical Science course also covers some Earth and space science standards that are not covered in other courses. Both physics and chemistry standards are incorporated into the Earth and space science content. 

This is expected to be the last year of this Physical Science course - what does that mean? Starting next year, MPS plans to move to the new state science standards, which include a year of Earth Science standards taught at the high school level. I will be part of a large cohort of science teachers working to develop a course to address those new Earth Science standards. We expect to have one or more units ready to incorporate into this year’s Physical Science curriculum and we are looking forward to exploring these new activities once they are ready. 

 

Physical Science Syllabus

 

Google Classroom Code for Hour 1: aeajzgc

Google Classroom Code for Hour 3: gnt3ehg

Google Classroom Code for Hour 4: othr3kk

Google Classroom Code for Hour 5: rqregor

Google Classroom Code for Hour 6: j5brvuw

 

Instructor: Jen Alton

email (preferred): Jennifer.Alton@mpls.k12.mn.us 

South High School 3131 19th Avenue South Minneapolis, MN 55407

Main Office: 612-668-4300 

Voicemail: 612-668-7008