High School Curriculum Guide
2014 – 2015
High School Curriculum Guide 1
2014 – 2015 1
Academic Departments 4
Business/Technology 4
Introduction to Business 4
Personal Finance 5
AP Computer Science 6
Web Programming and Design 7
English 8
English I 8
English II 8
English II Honors 8
English III 10
AP English 10
English IV 11
AP English Literature 12
ELL English 13
Broadcast Journalism 14
Literary Women in 20th and 21st Century Literature 14
Yearbook/Journalism 15
Fine Arts 16
Art I History 16
Art I 16
Art II History 16
Art II 17
Art III 17
Art IV 17
Art 5 Honors 18
AP Art Studio: Drawing 18
AP Art Studio: 2D Design 18
Music History I and II 19
Band 19
Chorus 19
Music III Honors 20
Introduction to Theatre 20
Drama 21
World Language 22
French I 22
Latin I 22
Spanish I 23
French II 23
Latin II 23
Spanish II 24
French III 24
Spanish III 25
Latin III 25
AP French 25
AP Latin 27
AP Spanish IV & V 27
Greek I 29
French 5 Conversation, Composition, Culture 29
Health & Fitness 31
PE/Health 31
Math 32
Algebra I 32
Algebra II 32
Geometry 32
Pre-Calculus Honors 33
AP Calculus I 33
AP Calculus II 35
Advanced Math Topics 36
Science 37
Chemistry 37
Biology 38
Physics 38
AP Chemistry 39
AP Biology 39
AP Physics I 40
Anatomy and Physiology 40
Social Studies 42
World Cultures and Geography 42
AP World Cultures and Geography 42
Economics 42
Global Politics 43
American History 43
AP American History/Dual Credit 43
AP Psychology 45
American Government 45
Sociology 46
Modern Asian History – The Elephant and the Dragon 47
Theology 48
Faith and Revelation and Who is Christ? 48
Understanding the Scriptures 48
The History of the Church 49
Morality 49
Academic Departments
Business/Technology
Introduction to Business
One Semester Program
Grade Level: 11, 12
Course Overview:
The Introduction to Business course is designed to introduce students to business organization, ownership, management, marketing, accounting, entrepreneurship, and business careers. Students will demonstrate the knowledge learned by incorporating the above disciplines into a business plan. Students participate in making business decisions while playing in several interactive business game simulation programs.
Course Objectives:
· Distinguish four basic kinds of businesses;
· Recognize seven kinds of activities performed by businesses’
· Understand how ownership differs among sole proprietorships, partnerships, and corporation;
· Recognize three specialized forms of business organizations;
· Define a small business;
· Description several sources of help for small-business owners;
· List characteristics of successful small-business owners;
· Understand how to write a business plan;
· List common marketing activities and define the marketing concept;
· Explain why human resources are important to the success of small business;
· Outline the primary financial records needed to manage a small business;
· Understand the accounting equation and how to create core financial statements;
· Explore business / accounting scandals;
· Research the curriculum used at several local university’s Business departments.
Course Prerequisites:
None, this is an elective course.
Personal Finance
One Semester Course
Grade Level: 11, 12
Course Overview:
Personal Finance is a course designed to introduce personal financial planning, financial services, budgeting, investments, and insurance protection. Students will develop strategies for managing resources, explore skills for the wise use of credit, and gain insight into the different ways of investing money. Students participate in a national 10-week stock market simulation game.
Course Objectives:
1) Understand pay, payroll deductions, benefits, and working conditions
2) Explain the purpose of taxes, define tax terminology, prepare tax forms 1040EZ
3) Describe banking services and understand how to manage a checking account
4) Explain how money grows through compounding and understand different savings options
5) Describe investment strategies and options
6) Describe the process of buying and selling stocks and explain how to read the stock listings and stock indexes, and discuss mutual funds as an investment strategy
7) List and describe types of credit and understand the responsibilities of consumer credit
8) Discuss good credit management rules and how to avoid credit scams
9) Explain vehicle financing choices and identify the costs of owning a car
10) Explain the cost of insurance and how risks are spread
11) Discuss common types of automobile insurance coverage
12) Explain purpose of financial planning and prepare a personal budget
Course Prerequisites:
None, this is an elective course.
AP Computer Science
Full Year Program
Grade Level: 12
Course Overview:
This course covers the fundamentals of the Java programming language and all topics needed to prepare students for the AP-A examination.Topics covered include fundamentals of Java, classes, arrays, inheritance, polymorphism, and recursion.
This class requires extra time commitments beyond the scheduled classroom time.Students will be required to work on program assignments at home. Software will be provided to students to enable them to work on assignments on a home personal computer.
Course Objectives:
1) To help students to understand major hardware and software components and systems
2) To help students to understand the ethical and legal issues that accompany computer usage
3) To learn to declare variables, do mathematical calculations, and begin to use applets
4) To learn to work with both decision and looping structures
5) To learn to write classes and how to break code into usable pieces
6) To learn polymorphism and inheritance
7) To learn arrays, arrays of objects, and the use of the Java Collection Class ArrayList
8) To learn to work with inherited classes and interfaces
9) To learn to write recursive code
10) To learn to work with the case studies in preparation for the AP-A exam
Course Prerequisites:
AP Computer Science students must meet or exceed the AP potential score from standardized tests or have a recommendation by the Technology teacher. Students will need a recommendation from the Technology teacher. Additionally, students should have completed the Web Programming course, achieving a “A” grade in the ASP (Active Server Pages) section of the course, or successfully completed Northern Kentucky University’s Java Programming course (offered in the summer for free) or get permission from the Technology Teacher to waive these prerequisites.
Class Size Limit:
Due to the interactive instructional process of this course, the class size is limited to 8 students.
Web Programming and Design
Full Year Program
Grade Level: 11, 12
Course Overview:
This course is an introduction to the design, creation and maintenance of web pages and websites. Students will learn how to create web pages using HTML (HyperText Markup Language) and CSS (cascading style sheets). Students will also learn Adobe Photoshop to create and edit graphics for insertion to the web page. The JavaScript scripting language is introduced to add interactivity to the web pages. Students also learn how to build interactive, dynamically-generated web sites. Microsoft's Active Server Pages (ASP) technology is used for server-side scripting. Students will also be introduced to PHP for server-side scripting.
Course Objectives: Students will be able to:
§ understand the architecture of the Internet and networking protocols
§ be able to recognize, understand, and use basic HTML tags to structure, code, and analyze web pages
§ grasp Adobe PhotoShop CS3 image editing techniques to prepare and incorporate images in a website
§ understand Adobe Flash CS3 animation techniques to prepare and incorporate interactive visually appealing animation in a website
§ understand how to plan and construct a website’s navigation structure and visual form
§ recognize, understand, and use basic CSS language elements to create internal and external style sheets for a website’s appearance
§ understand a high-level CMS to design and implement a complex, multi-page website
§ understand the skills needed to build an interactive, dynamically-generated web site using Microsoft's Active Server Pages (ASP) technology
Course Prerequisites:
All students should have basic computing skills.
Class Size Limit:
Due to the interactive instructional process of this course, the class size is limited to 12 students.
English
English I
Full Year Program
Grade Level: 9
Course Overview:
This course will use a combination of an anthology, novels, and other literature to broaden one’s understanding and appreciation for a variety of literature and universal themes. The writing process will be emphasized including essay writing according to the MLA format. Research skills will be developed, combining technology and library skills. In addition, vocabulary enrichment is stressed as an integral part of the course. Finally, effective communication skills will be developed.
Course Prerequisites:
All students will have successfully completed eighth grade language arts.
English II
Full Year Program
Grade Level: 10
Course Overview:
This course will use a combination of an anthology, novels, dramas, and other literature to broaden one’s understanding and appreciation of world literature and universal themes. The writing process will be emphasized including essay writing according to the MLA format as well as writing in response to literature. Research skills will be advanced, combining technology and library skills. In addition, vocabulary enrichment is stressed as an integral part of the course. Finally, effective communication skills will be developed.
Course Prerequisites:
All students will have successfully completed English I.
English II Honors
Full Year Program
Grade Level: 10
Course Overview:
This course will use a combination of an anthology, novels, dramas, and other literature to broaden one’s understanding and appreciation of world literature and universal themes. A concentration of AP literature will be emphasized. The writing process will include essay writing according to the MLA format and writing in response to literature. These writings will be prepared and in-class in response to literature. Research skills will be enhanced, combining technology and library skills. In addition, vocabulary enrichment is stressed as an integral part of the course. Finally, effective communication skills will be developed.
Course Prerequisites:
o PSAT score of 45 or higher in Critical Reading and Writing
o Maintain an average of a B+ or higher in English I
o Consistent active class participation including coming to class prepared and turning work in on time
o Interest in doing literary criticism and serious study of many works of literature
o Commitment to developing and improving one’s writing style
o Strong connection to literature
o Good grasp of grammar and strong writing skills
o Completion of Honors application and submission to one of the teachers in the English department by the due date.
Placement in Honors English is not necessarily a prerequisite to going on to another Honors English class or AP English. However, it helps better prepare students for the AP exam by exposing them to more literature, literary criticism, and the types of questions found on the AP exams.
Course Objectives:
1. Students use reference tools such as dictionaries, almanacs, encyclopedias, and computer reference programs and research tools such as interviews and surveys to find the information they need to meet specific demands, explore interests, or solve specific problems.
2. Students make sense of the variety of materials they read.
3. Students make sense of the various messages to which they listen.
4. Students write using appropriate forms, conventions, and styles to communicate ideas and information to different audiences for different purposes.
5. Students speak using appropriate forms, conventions, and styles to communicate ideas and information to different audiences for different purposes.
6. Students use computers and other kinds of technology to collect, organize, and communicate information and ideas.
7. Students observe, analyze, and interpret human behaviors to acquire a better understanding of self, others, and human relationships.
8. Students shall develop their abilities to become self-sufficient individuals.
9. Students demonstrate self-control and self discipline.
10. Students demonstrate the ability to learn on one's own.
11. Students effectively use interpersonal skills.
12. Students use productive team membership skills.
13. Students individually demonstrate consistent, responsive, and caring behavior.
14. Students demonstrate the ability to accept the rights and responsibilities for self and others.
15. Students demonstrate an understanding of, appreciation for, and sensitivity to a multicultural and world view.
16. Students shall develop their abilities to think and solve problems in school situations and in a variety of situations they will encounter in life.
17. Students use creative thinking skills to develop or invent novel, constructive ideas or products.
18. Students connect knowledge and experiences from different subject areas.
19. Students use what they already know to acquire new knowledge, develop new skills, or interpret new experiences.
20. Students expand their understanding of existing knowledge by making connections with new knowledge, skills, and experiences
English III
Full Year Program
Grade Level: 11
Course Overview:
This course will use a combination of an anthology, novels, dramas, and other literature to broaden one’s understanding and appreciation of American literature and universal themes. The writing process will be emphasized including creative writing and essay writing according to the MLA format. These writings will be prepared and in-class in response to literature. Research skills will be refined, combining technology and library skills. In addition, vocabulary enrichment, both programmed and contextual, is stressed as an integral part of the course. Finally, effective communication skills will be developed.
Course Prerequisites:
Students will have successfully completed English II or English II Honors.
AP English
Full Year Program
Grade Level: 11
Course Overview:
This course will use a combination of an anthology, novels, dramas, and other literature to broaden one’s understanding and appreciation of American literature and universal themes. A combination of AP literature will be emphasized as well as writing prompts that could prepare students for the AP language exam. The writing process will be stressed including creative writing and essay writing according to the MLA format. These writings will be prepared and in-class in response to literature. Research skills will be refined, combining technology and library skills. In addition, vocabulary enrichment, both programmed and contextual, is highlighted as an integral part of the course. Finally, effective communication skills will be developed.