Essential Question: Why do we have to take a variety of classes in high school?

Assessment: Students will analyze and explain the purpose behind the Utah Scholars initiative to junior high or elementary students during field work.

Instructional Procedures:

  1. Opening discussion with students about why they are taking the classes they are currently taking.
  2. Ask students if they have heard about the Utah Scholars initiative and the recommended course of study to get the basic Utah scholars scholarship. Try and get a feel for what students already know about the Utah Scholars initiative. (One of the problems that might come up is that some students may have already disqualified themselves for the scholarship by getting grades below a “C.” If this is the case, help students understand that there are scholarships from other sources that reward students who got off to a bad start and improve their grades. Also, their knowledge about the program can help younger students not have similar challenges).
  3. Depending on how much students already know about the Utah Scholars initiative, go to: to review the classes that are mandatory for the basic scholarship. Two things that should come up is that there is a broad spectrum of classes that are required and more importantly, the classes required for the scholarship are just 4 more classes than the minimum required for graduation.
  4. Discuss with the students why the state of Utah encourages those types of classes for students? Why the increased math and upper science requirement? Why the world language requirement? (answer is that those classes better prepare students for what is expected in college and for the ACT test).
  5. To reinforce the idea that high school classes are important for college track preparation view some of the interviews with Pacific Islander professionals and have students identify what those individuals say helped them prepare for college. (youtube: UVU Pacific Islanders)
  6. Use both sources to create a list of why they have to take a variety of classes in high school and have students prepare a presentation for younger students to help them prepare to hear or review the 8th grade Utah Scholars presentation.

Students are exposed to the Utah Scholars curriculum in 8th grade and have hopefully signed up for reminders. If they have not, they can still sign up to get reminders from: