Students will learn the fundamentals of journalism and desktop publishing, and the skills involved in the production of a quality yearbook, The Hilltopper. Areas to be studied include news and feature writing, headline and caption writing, photography, advertising, and layout and design. Students will be required to sell yearbook advertisements and will be required to work after school and on weekends to cover and photograph campus events. The course is open to juniors and seniors, and sophomores with an English teacher recommendation. A camera is required.
Introduction to Programming
This course is an introduction to computer programming and application science. Students will learn how computers create, preserve, manipulate, and communicate information, and the concepts and tools used to accomplish those tasks. Students will study Python, a simple, introductory coding language used in Spotify, Instagram, YouTube and Google. CodeHS’s curriculum Computer Science in Python, will be used to teach the foundations of computer science and basic programming, with an emphasis on developing logical thinking and problem solving skills. Topics will include Boolean expressions and looping commands, functions, exceptions, strings and data structures. Projects will include developing real-life applications for programs constructed in Python and possibly other coding languages. Other Programming Languages available by approved independent study.
The Video Production course is intended to help students study methods of production for electronic media. Instruction includes training in gathering and organizing information, writing, editing, and communicating visually in video and audio platforms. Students will be able to capture high quality video and audio with digital video cameras; use computer software to craft an audio or video package or program; evaluate the quality of professional audio and video messages; and manage the complexities of telling stories using audio and video technologies.
AP Computer Science A
Advanced Placement (AP) Computer Science A introduces students to computer science through programming. Fundamental topics in this course include the design of solutions to problems, the use of data structures to organize large sets of data, the development and implementation of algorithms to process data and discover new information, the analysis of potential solutions, and the ethical and social implications of computing systems. The course emphasizes object-oriented programming and design using the Java programming language.
Applied Learning Skills/Life Skills
This credited elective course focuses on improving academic and work performance based on learning styles. Teacher-directed lessons address time management, improving reading speed (skimming and scanning), test-taking/study strategies, note-taking/outlining skills, organization, and homework completion. Students will be able to identify their learning strengths and how to use them to improve their overall academic performance.
Applied Learning Skills Lab
The Learning Skills program is designed to assist students to learn, understand, and reinforce concepts and/or assignments presented in the general curriculum. Students have the opportunity to develop and strengthen good study habits and learning strategies through various instructional methods. Specific goals and objectives pertaining to individual students will be integrated into the class. The Learning Skills teacher will collaborate with each student’s general curriculum teachers on an ongoing basis to develop study strategies and design lessons to best meet the academic requirements of the regular classroom subjects. Learning Lab Skills is a support class for students taking regular education classes. Emphasis is placed on core classes.
Students in this elective course will gain a foundation in economics that will enable them to function effectively as consumers, workers, savers, investors, entrepreneurs, and active citizens. Participants will study how the world’s economies and markets operate, how they are interconnected, and how developments in the financial sector impact their lives. Topics will include financial basics such as banking, loans and interest, obtaining credit, weighing costs and benefits, insurance, savings and investments. Students will explore what to consider when making decisions about careers, housing, automobiles and health care.
Speech and Communication
This course is designed to assist students in furthering their understanding of media literacy, and to learn the elements of speech communications through the study and performance of speeches. Media studies will emphasize news, advertising, film, the internet, and television, to see how various types of media create meaning. Examples in each category will be studied through assignments involving research and analysis. The study of speeches will focus on the content and performance of speeches, including, but not limited to, persuasive, informative, and demonstrative speeches. Students will be expected to deliver speeches in class.
Unlike other forms of writing (creative, academic, informal), technical writing focuses on clear, concise writing that is informative or instructive in nature. While technical writing is not about the minutiae of grammar, its focus on being straightforward relies on the rules of language to communicate clearly.
Technical writing can include STEM fields (such as computer science and engineering) but also areas such as business, health systems, and marketing. This type of writing includes both end-use instruction, such as manuals for consumers, and internal documents, such as process reports. This course provides students instruction and practice in “real world” writing—progress reports, expenditure accounts, manuals, instructions, directions, summaries—the sort of day-to-day writing that people do in almost every career field.
This introductory course emphasizes basic management principles as they relate to sports-related enterprises. A variety of marketing techniques and approaches are analyzed to broaden students’ background and better allow them to develop effective and comprehensive sports marketing plans. Areas of focused will include: creating, developing, and marketing a brand; the importance of keeping a budget for an organization, facility, or team; the importance of fundraising; and the different styles and methods used to gain revenue for the sport-related enterprise.
College Credit courses are available in many subject areas online.
English 8 (No high school credit)
Eighth-grade students will learn and apply various components of the English language and literature. The course will focus on aspects of grammar with the purpose of enabling students to demonstrate correct use of language, spelling, and mechanics. Students will be introduced to core facets of literature, specifically focusing on rhetorical devices and critical thinking/analysis. Students will continually develop vocabulary throughout the year and will be expected to incorporate the vocabulary in daily activities/assignments. The course will introduce students to basic writing mechanics and essay organization.
Ninth-grade students will learn and apply various components of the English language and literature. The course will focus on aspects of grammar with the purpose of enabling students to demonstrate correct use of language, spelling, and mechanics. Students will be introduced to, and will be expected to become proficient in, various aspects of literature, specifically focusing on rhetorical devices and critical thinking/analysis. Students will be exposed to a variety of literature including, but not limited to, American and other English literature and current academic articles. Students will continually develop vocabulary throughout the year and will be expected to incorporate the vocabulary in daily activities/assignments. The course will refresh students on basic writing mechanics and essay organization. Students will be expected to demonstrate organization and critical thinking skills in quiz and test responses, as well as in writing assignments throughout the year.
Tenth-grade students will learn and apply various components of the English language and literature. The course will focus on all aspects of grammar with the purpose of enabling students to demonstrate correct use of language, spelling, and mechanics. Students will review and demonstrate proficiency in various aspects of literature, specifically focusing on rhetorical devices and critical thinking/analysis. Students will be exposed to a variety of literature including, but not limited to, American and other English literature and current academic articles. The student will continually develop vocabulary throughout the year and will be expected to incorporate the vocabulary in daily activities/assignments. The course will refresh students on basic writing mechanics and essay organization. Students will be expected to demonstrate organization and critical thinking skills in quiz and test responses as well as in writing assignments throughout the year.
English 11 offers a survey of American literature, sampling from the best and most influential plays, novels, short stores, poems, and nonfiction. Readings will be approached through a historical context, looking at how large ideas and writing styles are impacted by national and social movements, as well as the conventions of genre. Students will develop skills in persuasive writing/speaking to convey information and form opinions. Research skills such as integrating sources and intellectual property will be covered. Grammar and vocabulary–with the goal of achieving higher level skill-sets in written and oral communication–will be integrated into reading and writing assignments daily.
English 12 offers a classic and contemporary British-based approach to literature via a variety of genres and literary styles including fables, myths, short stories, drama, and poetry. At the 12th-grade level, students will analyze the literature of The Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the literature of its colonies, excluding The United States of America, from the pre-Anglo-Saxon period through the multinational literature of the 21st century. Students will use organizational skills, audience awareness, and verbal and nonverbal presentation skills to plan, deliver, and critique effective oral presentations. Students will develop skills in analyzing, evaluating, and applying the format and content of a variety of informational texts. They will learn to use critical analysis to judge the merit of a dramatic selection. Skills will be developed and utilized in creating expository and technical writings which are organized logically and contain clear and accurate ideas. In addition, students will be expected to produce a well-documented research paper using MLA (Modern Language Association) style. Vocabulary building will be ongoing, with an emphasis on college entrance testing. Students also will demonstrate advanced knowledge of grammatical conventions through writing, editing, and speaking.
College Credit College Composition ENG111/ENG112
May be substituted for English 12.
College Composition I (ENG 111) is a 3-credit hour course that introduces students to critical thinking and the fundamentals of academic writing. Through the writing process, students refine topics; develop and support ideas; investigate, evaluate, and incorporate appropriate resources; edit for effective style and usage; and determine appropriate approaches for a variety of contexts, audiences, and purposes. Writing activities will include exposition and argumentation with at least one researched essay.
College Composition II (ENG 112) is a 3-credit hour course that continues to develop college writing with increased emphasis on critical essays, argumentation, and research, developing these competencies through the examination of a range of texts about the human experience. Students will be required to locate, evaluate, integrate, and document sources and effectively edit for style and usage.
English as a Second Language (ESL)
Oak Hill Academy welcomes new and returning international students to the Language Enrichment Center where English language learning is provided on a daily basis through the English as a Second Language (ESL) Courses. The purpose of ESL 1/2 is to provide English instruction for nonnative speakers of English. Students will develop English proficiency through the areas of speaking, writing, reading, and listening skills. Emphasis will be on developing proficiency in three major areas: social language, academic language, and socio-cultural knowledge. Students will participate in activities to develop competence in English through social interaction and academic achievement. Levels of English proficiency will range from basic to intermediate.
The purpose of ESL 3 is to provide English instruction for students who have achieved intermediate to high intermediate levels of English proficiency. Students will focus on speaking, writing, reading, and listening skills. Emphasis will be on speaking and reading proficiency in the major areas of social language, academic language, and socio-cultural knowledge. Students participate in activities to develop competence in English through social interaction and academic achievement using and understanding English as it is spoken, written, and heard in college and university settings.
Art 1 is an introductory course among the suite of visual arts courses in our fine arts program. Student artists of all interest and skill levels are encouraged to enroll in the class. Art 1 offers introductory instruction in drawing, painting, sculpture, media, and design theory, This course also introduces the history of art and the biographies of noteworthy artists in hopes of preparing students for further study in the visual arts.
Art 2 is an intermediate visual arts course open to students who successfully complete Art 1. This course offers further instruction in drawing, painting, sculpture, media, technology, and design theory. Students will continue to study the history of art and artists.
Studio Drawing is an introductory course among the suite of visual arts courses in our fine arts program. It provides participants a technical foundation for further study in studio art. Students will build skills in rendering and drawing in two dimensions using various media, techniques, and design principles. Artists of all skill levels are encouraged to enroll in this class, regardless of previous competency or training.
Studio Painting is an introductory course among the suite of visual arts courses in our fine arts program. It provides participants a technical foundation for further study in studio art. Students will build skills in painting in two dimensions using various media, techniques, and design principles. Artists of all skill levels are encouraged to enroll in this class, regardless of previous competency or training. Prior study in Studio Drawing is encouraged.
Studio Art 3D
Studio Art 3D is an intermediate course among the suite of visual arts courses in our fine arts program. It provides participants a technical foundation for further study in studio art. Students will build skills in 3-dimensional design and sculpture. The class incorporates elements of drawing and/or painting into work with various media, techniques, and design principles. Artists of all skill levels are encouraged to enroll in this class, regardless of previous competency or training. Prior study in Studio Drawing is encouraged.
AP Art & Design
AP (Advanced Placement) Art is the most advanced course offering among the suite of visual arts courses in our fine arts program. This course offers students a capstone experience in high school visual arts, and provides an advanced foundation for further study. Participants can create portfolios in any combination of drawing, 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional design. With the goal of attaining college credit through the College Board, students have the option to submit a portfolio in lieu of a written exam at the conclusion of the course.
Beginning guitar is open to students who are curious about music and the guitar, but who may have little to no prior musical experience. Students will receive instruction in the history, fundamentals and mechanics of the guitar, and how the instrument works. This course provides instruction in playing the guitar. Topics include posture, note reading, aural skills, singing, rhythmic pattern, chord study, flat picking and finger picking. This course also includes the study of musical styles and forms.
Music Lab (Advanced)
The Music Lab course offers students who have interest or experience in music the opportunity to explore composition and performance across various musical genres. Student will use multiple instruments, and those with their own instruments are invited to bring them to campus and incorporate them into the class. Keyboards, guitar, drums of various types, and bass will be mainstays of the course. Students also will gain experience utilizing a mixing board to arrange tracks. Music Lab students will participate in live performances.
The Theater course offers students an introduction to a wide variety of theatrical elements including plot development, acting, costume design, lighting, makeup, setting, audience, direction, and staging. The class utilizes an array of techniques to encourage performance skills. Students who may not want to perform have the opportunity to contribute to the support work essential to a successful production, including set construction, lighting, and sound. This class also provides study of film, improvisation, and live theater.
Spanish 1, 2 and Honors Spanish 3, 4/5
The aim of Spanish 1 is to enable students to start communicating in Spanish, and to learn about the culture and history of the Spanish-speaking world. Students will be introduced to the fundamentals of the language, and will develop listening, speaking, reading and writing skills. Students will also explore how to better learn a new language, drawing upon a wide variety of sources (including poems, stories, songs, art, and non-fiction readings) over the course of the year. Class participation will be expected, and assignments will include dialogues, readings, presentations and projects. In subsequent levels of Spanish study, students will work toward being able to communicate more effectively in Spanish, and will continue to learn about the Spanish-speaking world. Each course will build upon what was learned in the previous course, strengthening skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing. Students will continue to draw upon a wide variety of sources for Spanish language learning and will demonstrate their proficiency in a variety of written and oral ways.
Spanish Independent Study
Pre-Algebra (No high school credit)
Pre-Algebra contains both content that reviews or extends concepts and skills learned in previous grades and new content that prepares students for more abstract concepts in algebra and geometry. Students will gain proficiency in computation with rational numbers (positive and negative fractions, positive and negative decimals, whole numbers, and integers) and use proportions to solve a variety of problems. New concepts include solving two-step equations and inequalities, graphing linear equations, visualizing three-dimensional shapes represented in two-dimensional drawings, applying transformations to geometric shapes in the coordinate plane, and using matrices to organize and interpret data. Students will verify and apply the Pythagorean Theorem and represent relations and functions using tables, graphs, and rules. Students will be encouraged to use correctly the concepts, skills, symbols, and vocabulary. Students will develop a wide range of skills and strategies for solving a variety of problem types. Calculators will be used as tools to assist in problem solving and to provide a powerful tool for solving and verifying solutions to equations and inequalities. However, the use of calculators shall not be regarded as a substitute for a student’s understanding of quantitative concepts and relationships or for proficiency in basic computations.
The student’s knowledge and confidence of equation work will expand as the course adds in topics such as: rational expressions, factoring, polynomials, radical expressions, and quadratic. All students are expected to achieve the Algebra I objectives. The emphasis during Algebra 1 will be equations, problem solving, and graphing. When planning for instruction, consideration will be given to the sequential development of concepts and skills by using concrete materials to assist students in making the transition from the arithmetic to the symbolic. Student will also make connections to other subject areas through practical applications. This approach to teaching algebra should help students attach meaning to the abstract concepts of algebra. Algebra 1 standards require students to use algebra as a tool for representing and solving a variety of practical problems. Tables and graphs will be used to interpret algebraic expressions, equations, and inequalities and to analyze functions. Graphing calculators, computers, and other appropriate technology tools will be used to assist in teaching and learning. Graphing utilities enhance the understanding of functions; they provide a powerful tool for solving and verifying solutions to equations and inequalities. Throughout the course, students should be encouraged to talk about mathematics, use the language and symbols of mathematics in representations and communication, discuss problems and problem solving, and develop their confidence in mathematics.
This course is designed for students who have successfully completed the standards for Algebra 1. All students are expected to achieve the Geometry standards. The course includes, among other things, properties of geometric figures, trigonometric relationships, and reasoning to justify conclusions. Methods of justification will include paragraph proofs, two-column proofs, indirect proofs, coordinate proofs, algebraic methods, and verbal arguments. A gradual development of formal proof will be encouraged. Inductive and intuitive approaches to proof as well as deductive axiomatic methods should be used. The set of Geometry standards includes emphasis on two- and three-dimensional reasoning skills, coordinate and transformational geometry, and the use of geometric models to solve problems. A variety of applications and some general problem-solving techniques, including algebraic skills, should be used to implement these standards. Calculators, computers, graphing utilities (graphing calculators or computer graphing simulators), dynamic geometry software, and other appropriate technology tools will be used to assist in teaching and learning. Any technology that will enhance student learning should be used.
Students will receive a thorough treatment of advanced algebraic concepts through the study of functions, “families of functions,” equations, inequalities, systems of equations and inequalities, polynomials, rational and radical equations, complex numbers, and sequences and series. Emphasis will be placed on practical applications and modeling throughout the course of study. Oral and written communication concerning the language of algebra, logic of procedures, and interpretation of results will be infused throughout the course. The standards taught in Algebra 2 build a strong connection between algebraic and graphic representations of functions. Students will vary the coefficients and constants of an equation, observe the changes in the graph of the equation, and make generalizations that can be applied to graphs. A graphing calculator is required for this course. The calculator will enhance the student’s understanding, aid in investigation and study of functions and their inverses, and provide an effective tool for solving and verifying equations and inequalities.
Honors Algebra 2
This course is designed to build on algebraic and geometric concepts. Honors Algebra 2 develops advanced algebra skills such as systems of equations, advanced polynomials, radical functions, quadratics, exponential, logarithmic, and rational functions. The content of this course is important for students’ success on both the ACT and college mathematics entrance exams. Students who complete Honors Algebra 2 should take Pre-Calculus next.
Pre-Calculus (Honors Pre-Calculus is also offered)
This course is designed for students who have a strong math foundation through Geometry and Algebra 2, and who desire to prepare for college-level calculus. The course includes the study of algebraic, exponential, logarithmic, trigonometric and polar functions. A TI-84+ graphing calculator is required.
College Credit Pre-Calculus MTH 161/162 (online course)
This online course offered through Wytheville Community College is intended for students who have a thorough knowledge of Algebra 2 and Geometry. This course presents the concepts and methods necessary for the study of calculus including the study of power, polynomial, rational, exponential, and logarithmic functions; systems of equations; trigonometry, trigonometric applications including Law of Sines and Cosines, and an introduction to conics. Graphing calculators, computers, and other appropriate technology tools will be used to assist in teaching and learning. Graphic utilities enhance the understanding of realistic applications through modeling, and aid in the investigation of functions and their inverses. They also provide a powerful tool for solving and verifying solutions to equations and inequalities. A TI-84+ graphing calculator is required for this course.
AP Calculus AB
This Advanced Placement (AP) course is designed to be equivalent to a first-semester college calculus course devoted to topics in differential and integral calculus. The AP course covers the concepts and skills of limits, derivatives, definite integrals, and the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus. Students will be taught how to approach calculus concepts and problems when they are represented graphically, numerically, analytically, and verbally, and to make connections among these representations. Students will learn how to use technology to help solve problems, experiment, interpret results, and support conclusions. A TI-84+ graphing calculator is required for this course.
AP Calculus BC
This Advanced Placement (AP) course is designed to be the equivalent to both first and second semester college calculus courses. AP Calculus BC applies the content and skills learned in AP Calculus AB to parametrically defined curves, polar curves, and vector-valued functions; develops additional integration techniques and applications; and introduces the topics of sequences and series. Students will build an understanding of how calculus applies limits to develop important ideas, definitions, formulas, and theorems. This course provides a sustained emphasis on clear communication of methods, reasoning, justifications, and conclusions. Students will regularly use technology to reinforce relationships among functions, to confirm written work, to implement experimentation, and to assist in interpreting results. A TI-84+ graphing calculator is required for this course.
College Credit Statistics (online course)
In this online course offered through Wytheville Community College, students will look at the properties behind the intermediate concepts of probability and statistics and focus on applications of statistical knowledge. This course will begin with descriptive statistics and the foundation of statistics and then move to probability and random distributions. Finally, students will examine a number of ways to investigate the relationships between various characteristics of data.
Health/Physical Education 1 & 2
The Health component of these courses is an information-based class. Throughout the year the material presented is both timely and pertinent. Health topics include body structure and function, proper nutrition, peer relationships, and active lifestyles, tobacco and nicotine, and sexual health. The focus of these classes deals with both basic physical structure and physical health, including nutrition, consumer health, managing stress and making positive choices that affect both physical and mental well-being. The Physical Education component is aimed at creating and maintaining a healthy level of personal fitness. This is accomplished through a basic introduction to sports and individual fitness. Students will participate in both team and individual sports, and will receive instruction on rules, history, and technique of various sporting activities. An active lifestyle is encouraged, with a focus on developing physical fitness and an appreciation for sport and wellness.
Introduction to Sports Medicine and Athletic Training
This introductory course is designed for students who are interested in the fields of athletic training, physical therapy, medicine, nursing, fitness, physiology of exercise, nutrition, EMT, and other fields related to sports medicine. It is a classroom and lab course that provides students with an avenue through which to explore these fields of study. This course will focus on the basic information and skills important in the care, prevention, and preliminary rehabilitation of athletic injuries. Instruction will include class work and hands-on applications.
Boys’ Advanced Fitness
This course is an elective Health/Physical Education class for boys that emphasizes individual health, fitness, and weight/strength conditioning with the goal of improving overall physical condition.
Girls’ Advanced Fitness
This course fulfills the physical education requirement. It is geared toward the serious fitness trainer, and is not intended for students with poor physical fitness habits. The focus is to improve balance, flexibility, strength, speed and endurance, with an emphasis on developing mental discipline and learning the value of cardiovascular training. Gym shorts, t-shirt, socks and athletic shoes are required.
The goal of this course is to provide students with an understanding and knowledge of basketball history, rules, skills and strategies at all levels of the sport, with an emphasis on team organization, skill and cooperation. Students will learn, practice and demonstrate skills, techniques, and proper weight training and conditioning for participation on basketball teams. Areas of instruction will include warm-up drills/exercise and their importance, shooting, pivoting, passing, rebounding and dribbling, and team defense/offense.
This course is designed for students new to riding/horsemanship, and those who have not had any formal lessons. Student will move safely through the introductory principles of horse handling and riding, including approaching and haltering the horse, tying, leading, lunging, grooming, nutrition and stable care. Students will be familiarized with parts of the horse and tack (equipment and accessories), and will learn how to tack up a horse, and tack care. In the arena, students will receive instruction on how to safely mount and dismount, basic positions, cues, and control of the horse at the walk and trot. Hands-on experiences and in-class lectures will emphasis safety and developing the rider’s balance, confidence, and control.
This course is designed to meet the individual student’s equestrian needs, which will include more advanced riding, basic training techniques, stable management and showing horses.
Bible as Literature
Bible as Literature is a course designed to introduce students to the Jewish and Christian Scriptures. The course of study will acquaint students with the major stories and key beliefs of the Bible. Students will be prepared each day to discuss and interpret selected readings that sample the various genres of biblical literature, identifying key terms and demonstrating an ability to express their thoughts in a variety of forms. Class discussion of passages will include cultural setting, historical background, issues of translation, and influences on popular culture and arts.
Christian Ethics is an introductory course to ethical decision-making informed by the Christian tradition and scripture. This course presents a biblical model for ethics in a postmodern world. The lessons survey various ethical systems and theories and evaluate those theories for legitimacy, relevance, and cogency. The goal of the course is to provide learners with a Christian framework of values and ethics, leading them to make honorable decisions in a truth-relative world.
Honors Survey of World Religions
Survey of World Religions is an Honors-level course designed to introduce students to religious thought and practice embodied around the world. Coursework will include, for example, the study of Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Shinto, Judaism, Christianity, indigenous religious traditions and modern religious movements. Each student will be required to assemble a notebook that collects assignments for each religion and displays the work in a prescribed fashion.
To enhance the enjoyment of the course students are asked to come each day with the curiosity necessary to appreciate how people have searched for the divine (“God”) through the millennia of human existence. The more clearly we can understand religious thought that is different from our own, the better we understand our own.
The Physical Science course is designed to educate students about the physical world from scientific perspectives and observations, and will prepare students for further studies in specific areas of science. Students will learn about the methods scientists use to make observations and record data, and how to that data is applied to various subjects. Students will participate in lab activities designed to create and reinforce learning. As students progress through the course, they will use a skillset of organization, research, analysis and reporting to adequately and effectively complete assignments.
Biology is a lecture/laboratory course designed to provide students with a detailed understanding of living systems. Student will learn the skills necessary to examine alternative scientific explanations, actively conduct controlled experiments, analyze and communicate information, and gather and use information in scientific literature. The history of biological thought and the evidence that supports it are explored, providing the foundation for investigating biochemical life processes, cellular organization, mechanisms of inheritance, dynamic relationships among organisms, and the change in organisms through time. Students will study the following topics: cell structure and function, survey of kingdoms, the methods and tools of biology, an introduction to chemistry, vascular and nonvascular plants, cell reproduction, heredity, and the basic structure of human systems.
Why do stars twinkle? Is it possible to fall into a black hole? Will the sun ever stop shining? Since the first glimpse of the night sky, humans have been fascinated with the stars, planets, and universe. This course introduces students to the study of astronomy, including its history and development, basic scientific laws of motion and gravity, the concepts of modern astronomy, and the methods used by astronomers to learn more about the universe. Additional topics include the solar system, the Milky Way and other galaxies, and the sun and stars. Using the Academy’s observatory and online tools, students examine the life cycle of stars, the properties of planets, and the exploration of space.
Environmental Science is a lecture/experiential seminar course that will present an interdisciplinary study of how we interact with the earth, and how science and society play roles when we seek solutions to environmental challenges. The central theme of this course is inter-relatedness. Students will learn the historical perspective needed to appreciate the economic and political realities related to the environment. They will learn to integrate social experiences and ethical issues with the science that describes the natural world and the human impact upon it. General topics will include pollution of waterways, lakes, and oceans; loss of forests; climate change; the effects of fishing on oceans; loss of biodiversity; and how the actions of locals can affect other parts of the world. Instruction will take place through a variety of media, both in and outside the classroom.
Chemistry is a college preparatory laboratory science course that investigates and provides an understanding of the molecular structure of our physical world and the laws governing it. Chemistry must be taken concurrently with Algebra 2 or a higher math. This course examines the interactions of matter and energy through laboratory techniques and manipulation of chemicals. Scientific methodology is employed in experimental and analytical investigations, and concepts are clarified with practical applications to real-world situations and problems. Class involvement and laboratory exploration will enable students to develop and strengthen their critical thinking skills, problem solving skills, and reasoning abilities through scientific investigation.
Physics is an algebra-based, introductory physics course. Students must have completed Algebra 2. In this course, students will cultivate their understanding of physics through inquiry-based investigations as they explore these topics: kinematics, dynamics, circular motion and gravitation, energy, momentum, simple harmonic motion, torque and rotational motion, electric charge and electric force, direct current (DC) circuits, and mechanical waves and sound.
AP Physics 1
Advanced Placement (AP) Physics 1 is an algebra-based, introductory college-level physics course. Student must have completed Algebra 2. In this course, students will cultivate their understanding of physics through inquiry-based investigations as they explore these topics: kinematics, dynamics, circular motion and gravitation, energy, momentum, simple harmonic motion, torque and rotational motion, electric charge and electric force, direct current (DC) circuits, and mechanical waves and sound.
Students will be instructed in the Five Themes of Geography as applied to the real world. Location–where on earth is it? Place–what’s it like there? Human/Environment Interaction–what is the relationship between humans and their environment? Movement–how and why are places connected with one another? Regions–how and why is one area similar to another?
Ancient World History
This course is an historical survey of the human race from its origins in the prehistoric period through the 1400s. Students will study the peoples, cultures and events of the early human period. The class focuses on social, economic, cultural, and historical development of man. Topics include the beginning of known history, the advancement of civilization, the growth of government and economic systems, the development of cultures, and the interactions of different peoples. Students will develop and practice showing comprehension, analyzing and evaluating historical events, and forming opinions.
Modern World History
This course is an historical survey of the human race from the renaissance through the modern era. Students will study the peoples, cultures and events of this period. Students will seek to gain a better understanding of how the events of the past have shaped our modern world. A wide variety of methods will be used, including writing, research, simulation, and discussion.
This course is designed to develop an understanding of the causes, character, and consequences of the African American experience and its influence on the world, the United States, and the African American community. Beginning with a historical, geographical, social, political, economic, and cultural understanding of the African continent, the course will provide an overview that will introduce the student to the study of African and African American experiences.
Social Justice in History
This course focuses on social justice around the world and is designed to introduce students to human rights both past and present. The primary goal is for students to discover more about the world they live in, both locally and globally, and to further develop empathy for others. Students will be asked to critically examine the historic causes of injustice and and will read a wide range of texts about the impact that identity, race, ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic class, religion, and political affiliation have on experiences with justice. While examining human rights abuses and examples of injustice, students will learn about historic movements seeking to create positive change, while considering their own agency as activists.
Honors World Cultures
World Cultures is an Honors-level class that acknowledges the cultural diversity of the United States and the world, and sees this diversity as a positive fact of life. Students will recognize the intrinsic worth of all individuals, regardless of race, ethnic background, gender, religion, socioeconomic status, or physical/mental condition. Study is divided into regional units, focusing on geography, religion, history, economics, traditions, and culture. There is a strong current events aspect to the class, with every Friday dedicated to studying the world today. Because this is an Honors class, students are expected to manage their time wisely and turn in above-average work on all assignments.
U. S. History
United States History is an historical survey of the people, places and events of America’s past. The goal of the course is to increase students’ understanding of events that have shaped the United States and the American people. Students also will learn to use the analytical process and reasoning skills to study the role of cause and effect in history. A wide variety of aspects of United States history will be examined.
College Credit U. S. History HIS 121/122
This course provides a survey of American History from its early feudal voyages to the modern era. Students will assess and interpret a variety of documents, writings and other information to develop an in-depth understanding of both the historical data and the process for studying that data. Public policy, domestic agendas, and foreign relations will be covered. Students will come to understand the relevance of history by learning how people and events of the past connect to the present. This course may be substituted for U.S. History.
U. S. Government
This survey course of U.S. Government is a senior requirement for graduation. The goal of this course is to increase understanding of the American political system, its traditions, values, and framework for governing the United States. Students will gain an appreciation of the electoral process and the importance of good citizenship in a democracy. There will be special emphasis on the content and importance of the U.S. Constitution and other founding documents that have served as our government’s guide to creating the society in which we live today. All three branches of National Government will be examined in their relation to each other. Students should come away with an appreciation for the benefits and opportunities that democracy provides as well as the duties it requires from its citizens. Students will understand the intentions, goals and structure of the United States government today as well as throughout its development.