High School Courses
Using the 5Cs as a foundation, all courses are integrated and we embed technology to embrace possibilities and opportunities of the future.
English
Literature and Composition
Full Year 1 Credit
In Literature and Composition (9th Grade), students use higher-order thinking skills to develop as writers. Critical reading, essay composition, language usage and style, and a wide use of vocabulary, help learners to develop specific communication skills including inference, the ability to order facts, and present opinions effectively. Explanatory, argumentative, analytical and narrative composition is taught with the focus of developing a personal style and an awareness of the audience being addressed.
Writing For Your World
Full Year 1 Credit
Building upon the skills developed in 9th Grade, Writing for Your World encourages each learner to develop and effectively use their personal style and imagination to become engaged, informed, confident, responsible, reflective, and innovative writers. In addition to the acquisition and application of a wide vocabulary, alongside a knowledge and understanding of grammatical terminology and linguistic conventions, learners read critically and compose explanatory, persuasive, analytical and narrative writing. Individual learners are encouraged to deepen their understanding and viewpoints through the analysis and development of a variety of visual, auditory, emotional, and sensory forms of communication. Group project-based activities involving effective organization and time management, negotiation and persuasion, active listening, and leadership, allow learners to bring their worlds into existence using writing, speech, technology, and presentation skills.
Full Year 1 Credit English; 1 Credit Art
Children’s Picture Book Writing
Children’s Picture Book Writing is an interdisciplinary STEAM course integrating art, technology, literature, and writing. Working collaboratively and individually, learner’s read, analyze, and evaluate beloved children’s books to understand narrative structure and form, particularly plot and character development, pacing, POV (point of view), and cadence. Through creative writing assignments and learned storyboarding techniques, students develop strategies to create, revise, critique, and edit both their own work and that of others in order to produce a final project: a self-published children’s picture book. Note: A variety of art techniques and digital technologies are similarly analyzed, explored, and learned through mini-projects in the concurrent Children’s Picture Book Illustration and Technology course.
Communication: College Essay Writing
Full Year 1 Credit English: 1 Credit History
Running jointly with Honors World History, students create thoughtful, artful, research-based, and revised essays that display clarity of purpose and a keen awareness of audience. Using lecture notes, research, data, and diagrams, students create and revise complex, analytic, well-supported theses pertaining to the concurrent development of world civilizations dating from the Neolithic through to present day. To further hone the mechanics of college level essay writing, students also employ strategies for revision, editing, and proofreading, and develop strategies for self-assessment and goal-setting.
Creative Writing: Screenplay
Full Year 1 Credit
Screenplays are the perfect medium to learn and demonstrate effective storytelling and communication skills. Using Socratic Dialogue and film samples, students evaluate story ideas, explore how characters' inner wants and immediate goals shape and drive a screenplay's action scene by scene, learn what constitutes compelling plots and subplots, and how to construct a scene. Throughout the course, students complete a series of exercises regarding specific crafting elements, such as plot, scene development, character, motivation, theme, genre, and dialogue. With the goal of writing their own original screenplay by the end of the year, students write, share, and constructively critique their own and their peer’s scenes on a weekly basis.
Full Year 1 Credit
World Literature
World Literature is an interdisciplinary humanities course in which students explore how human beings have shaped their individual experiences in ways that have had a significant impact on society throughout time. An examination and socratic discussion of selected works of and from philosophy, literature, history, and influential figures, encourages students to examine common threads which link the development of human civilization.
Robotics
Prototyping and Fabrication
Full Year 1 Credit
Immersed in the Engineering Design Process (EPD), students work in teams to create innovative solutions to a variety of presented design problems. An introduction to computer-aided design (CAD) software using Tynkercad, as well as, internet resources such as Thingiverse, allows students to explore and visually present their many ideas. To execute chosen ideas, students learn about the many digital fabrication technologies available and then design and build their own projects using laser cutters, vinyl cutters, 3D printers, CNC mills/routers, and sewing machines. The class culminates with a final project of their choice that integrates these processes and the EDP.
Technology: Tynkercad, fabrication technologies (laser cutters, vinyl cutters, 3D printers, and CNC mills/routers, and sewing machines)
Intro to Robotics
Full Year 1 Credit
This lab-oriented, hands-on course introduces students to the field of robotics, technology, and fabrication techniques through individual mini projects culminating in a complex group project involving the design and manufacture of a robot to solve a local problem. To understand the fundamentals of designing, building, and programming robots, students learn terminology through lectures, guided socratic discussions, and a hands-on weekly mini-build to develop skills, knowledge, and experience with various actuators, effectors, sensors, controllers, housings, and power sources. Lab safety, soldering, arduino coding, and problem solving using the Engineering Design Process (EDP) are further developed with projects involving the construction of a hydraulic robotic arm, robotic hand/gripper, and self navigating wheeled or walking robots. The course culminates with a final project: designing and building a navigational underwater robot to assist with cave rescues. Prerequisite: Rapid Prototyping and Fabrication
Technology: Arduino, tilt, infrared, and pressure sensors, robotics, Tynkercad, power sources, fabrication technologies (laser cutters, vinyl cutters, 3D printers, and CNC mills/routers, and sewing machines)
Robotics, Fabrication, and Equity
Full Year 1 Credit
In this lab oriented course, students use the engineering design process and guided socratic dialogue to consider the role of robotics in our current and future society in the context of societal equity. As technologies rapidly change our societal landscape, robotics are evolving to provide inexpensive solutions to complex problems. Posed with a thoughtful question addressing specific societal or individual problems, learners must work collaboratively and use the engineering design process to design and fabricate robotic solutions to complex problems. This course involves two large scale projects challenging the students to apply all the knowledge and skills they have accumulated up to that point to solve a large scale problem. The first challenge, modeled after the Thailand soccer team children cave rescue, is to build an underwater robot that can navigate through the twists and turns of a cave system while carrying critical supplies. In the second and final project, students design, fabricate, build, code, and present a robotic arm that can complete the tasks in the NASA Mission to the Moon Experience at a local museum. Prerequisite: Intro to Robotics
Technology: Adafruit Circuit Playground Express, Adafruit Crickit, CircuitPython, CAD, robotics, soldering, fabrication techniques (woodworking, laser cutting, 3D printers)
Robotics for Community Outreach
Full Year 1 Credit
Building upon the skills from the previous two or three years of robotics, students work collaboratively to design, organize, and operate community outreach projects to promote the understanding and use of robotics. Students design, organize, and operate multi week courses for other students, including a wearables class involving electronic microcontrollers and a variety of fabrication techniques to create original Halloween costumes. Another project requires students to develop, organize, and plan a hands-on robotics program for middle school and elementary students at the local library. Students are expected to assist with maintenance and repair of fabrication technologies and also run a Robotics meet up for those with Adabox subscriptions to experiment with new technology. Prerequisite: Robotics, Fabrication, and Equity
Technology: Adafruit Flora and Gemma Microcontrollers, Adafruit Circuit Playground Express, AdafruitCrickit, Arduino, wearables, CircuitPython, CAD, robotics, soldering, fabrication techniques (woodworking, laser cutting, 3D printers, sewing)
Digital Animation
Digital Animation: Visual Storytelling Stop Motion
Full Year 1 Credit
Under the guidance of an industry expert (Jhonny Parks), students write a short experimental narrative, create and build characters, design and build a stage, and film a stop motion short movie for presentation at the end of year Showcase. Comprised of hundreds or thousands of still images shot in sequence, stop-motion develops concepts such as motion and timing, lighting, stage design, editing, special effects, and compositing. Development of physical techniques includes the hands-on animation of physical materials including clay, paper cutouts, found objects, and people, as well as building puppets.
Technologies: Storytelling, Screenwriting, Storyboarding, Photography, Clay Sculpture, Animation, IMovie
Introduction to Digital Animation
Full Year 1 Credit
Using Pixar in a Box from Khan Academy as the basis for this class, students build upon their knowledge of storytelling, story structure, character development, visual language to learn and use appropriate film grammar to pitch an original idea for a short animation film. A variety of mini projects introduces students to the application of mathematical concepts and artistry in order to develop digital lighting, simulation, movement, reflection, color science, virtual cameras, visual effects, patterns, and rigging components.
Technology: GarageBand, Adobe Animate, Procreate 5X
3D Animation: Virtual Reality
Full Year 1 Credit
Working with Unreal Engine to design and create a unique and immersive Virtual Reality World featuring cutting-edge content and interactive experiences. Students will understand how to download, install, setup, and update projects in Unreal Engine. To create a unique setting, they will build levels, create materials, customize particles, and edit sound. The final project will require them to script interactive gameplay elements using basic storyboarding techniques and planning.
Technology: Unreal Engine
Digital Animation and Illustration: Animated Short Film
Full Year 2 Credits
A high level interdisciplinary course culminating with a completed original Animated Short Film. The project involves storytelling, script development, filmmaking, sound engineering, and animation through traditional methods and computer graphics systems. The project will be self-driven, with students working collaboratively to organize and create work schedules, assign tasks, meet deadlines, and provide reviews of the work, self, and team. Teams navigate design solutions, with emphasis placed on how they convey emotion through a combination of body language and facial expressions/ dialog, while demonstrating an understanding of physical motion, weight, balance and form. Other skills include, translating storyboards/ sketches into a sequence of shots, determining camera composition, angles and movement, establishing set and background geometry, creating basic blocking for all characters and props, and developing a sequence of shots to convey the storyline. The final project will be entered by the teams into researched film festivals for real-world feedback. Prerequisites: Digital Animation, Creative Writing: Screenplay
Technology: Adobe Animate, Adobe After Effects, iMovie, Digital Art, GarageBand
Art
Drawing and Character Design
Full Year 1 Credit
This course will explore drawing as a tool for expression, with a focus on character design. Socratic discussions lead to assignments that center around challenging once beliefs and assumptions to create characters composed of details from both the real world and from the imagination. Working from observation, imagination, and memory, students use a wide range of drawing materials, such as artist’s drawing pencils, Conté pencils, colored pencils, markers, pastels, and pen and ink. Students also examine how leading artists in the field make their characters move using traditional hand-drawn techniques with a digital drawing tablet. Taught by professional artist Yedi Fresh.
Technology: Krita
Comic Book Illustration
Full Year 1 Credit
Building upon the skills developed in Drawing and Character Design, students create their own memorable characters using the core concepts of character design, such as fundamental shapes and color theory. To place their characters in a believable, highly creative and unique world, students will create storylines and character arcs, communicated with storyboards. Students also learn about pacing, panel structure, composition, inking, and lettering. Prerequisite: Drawing and Character Design. Taught by professional artist Yedi Fresh.
Children’s Picture Book Illustration
Full Year 1 Credit English; 1 Credit Art
Children’s Picture Book Illustration is an interdisciplinary STEAM course integrating art, technology, literature, and writing. A variety of art techniques including drawing, pastels, watercolor, acrylic, collage, clay sculpture, and digital design are explored, analyzed, and learned through mini-projects aligned with the required concurrent Children’s Picture Book Writing course. Visual storyboarding techniques, storytelling through illustration without text, and digital illustration techniques and technologies are explored, researched and experimented with in order to create mini stories and a final project. Students study and develop strategies to create, revise, critique, and edit both their own work and that of others in order to produce the final project: a self-published children’s picture book.
Concurrent with Children's Picture Book Writing.
Technology: Krita, Stop Motion, iMovie, Canva
Political Cartooning
Full Year 1 Credit Art; 1 Credit History
Run in conjunction with US History I, Political Cartoons require the artist to thoroughly understand a political issue or event, in order to make the observer think about current events, or even sway their opinion (as in the Case of Thomas Nash and Boss Tweed). In this course, students gain an understanding of the elements that make up political cartoons and learn how to create them. Through discussion and examination of historically relevant political cartoons and cartoonists, students will build a visual vocabulary of symbols and learn how to design a page layout for maximum effect. Using the techniques developed in this class, students visually demonstrate understanding and their perceived connections of historical relationships, issues, and events, through the individual creation of an original series of political cartoons. For a final project, students collaborate in groups to edit and produce a final Political Cartoon book to be presented at Showcase. Taught by Yedi Fresh.
Computer Science
MakeCode
Full Year 1 Credit
Microsoft MakeCode is a free, open source platform for creating engaging computer science learning experiences that support a progression path into real-world programming. In this class, students use MakeCode, which is a blocky type programming language to create mini video games and control drones and other robotic creations. A Javascript editor can be previewed, compared, and modified as the students gain further understanding of programming.
Technology: MakeCode
Python
Full Year 1 Credit
Using Python and PyCharm, students learn the basic concepts and fundamentals of the Python programming language in a lab based setting. Students learn Python training basics like variables, data types, condition statements and manipulating strings and texts, as well as more complicated advanced Python code topics like loops and functions.
Technology: Python
Coding for Robotics
Full Year 1 Credit
This class compliments the course, Robotics, Fabrication, and Equity. Using real world problems, students fabricate robotic solutions and use Python to operate them. Building upon their knowledge of variables, data types, condition statements, strings, text, loops, and functions, students must troubleshoot and find work arounds to the variety of problems that will inevitably arise in this hands-on, lab-oriented class.
Technology: MakeCode, Arduino, Python, CircuitPython, Mu
Malware Explained
Full Year 1 Credit
People tend to play fast and loose with security terminology. However, it's important to get your malware classifications straight because knowing how various types of malware spread is vital to containing and removing them.
This concise malware bestiary will help you get your malware terms right when you hang out with geeks.
Technology: Python,
Science
Biology
Full Year 1 Credit
Designed for high-ability, highly-motivated students, Honors Biology is a lab-based, in-depth study of biology. Topics covered include: the scientific method, the chemistry and metabolism of living organisms, the structure and function of cells, microbiology, genetics and biotechnology, human inheritance, evolution, taxonomic classification of organisms and ecology and humans and their environment.
Chemistry
Full Year 1 Credit
This lab-oriented course develops analytical skills in chemistry and laboratory techniques in the following four areas of chemistry: fundamental concepts, practical applications, laboratory techniques and mathematical applications. Core topics concentrate on atomic structure, properties of elements, phases of matter, laboratory techniques and equipment use, bonding and chemical reactions, polymers and their applications, acids and bases, energy transformations, and energy fuel sources. Group-based and individual lab experiments emphasize qualitative, quantitative and instrumental methods of analysis, as well as collaboration, communication, and documentation skills.
Physics
Full Year 1 Credit
Using observation and experimentation, this lab-oriented, thematic course enables students to discover the relationship between many "every-day" experiences and basic physics principles using the methods and ideas used by physicists to describe the physical world. Through laboratory investigation, students explore and apply the basic principles of motion, forces, energy, optics and light, electricity, magnetism, and atomic and nuclear physics to their own lives. Mathematics, including the application of Algebra and Calculus will be used in laboratory data analysis and for the solution of real-world problems.
Marine Biology
Full Year 1 Credit
This lab oriented, hands-on course explores the world of marine science through practical fieldwork, scientific research projects, journals, dissection, and a Capstone Showcase presentation. Over the course of the year, students study the biological, physical, and chemical factors in the marine environment, including ocean currents and zones, marine invertebrates and vertebrates, marine reptiles and birds, and environmental threats. A self-directed Capstone project is designed, completed, and publicly presented by each of the students to impart and share their knowledge of a chosen species or issue to the local community.
Biomimicry
Full Year 1 Credit
Using examples from nature’s designs, core content in chemistry, physics, and biology is reinforced and practically applied in this integrated engineering/science course. The engineering design process is taught and utilized throughout the course, along with group work, experimentation, journaling, and innovation lab skills such as prototyping/construction/electronics. A knowledge of nature’s solutions in the natural world, identifying nature’s design achievements (such as energy efficiency, recycling, zero-waste systems, solar energy, etc.), and learning how some of nature's strategies have inspired solutions to current challenges will help students create their own actual solutions to real world problems. A Capstone design project solving a real-world problem will be presented at Showcase to demonstrate understanding and the application of the engineering design process.
Example Capstone Project: Using Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells as a non toxic energy supply in space exploration and habitation.
Social Studies
Mythology of the Ancient World
Full Year 1 Credit
Mythology of the Ancient World explores how historical events, society, culture, geography, and belief systems impacted the development of Egyptian, Greek/Roman, Norse/Celtic, and Native American mythology. Through Socratic Dialogue, individual mini-projects, and four semester long group projects designed and created to answer an essential question, students will develop and experience the art of storytelling through auditory, visual, and written means. Communication, reading, writing, research, and analytical skills that will culminate with the students’ project presentations at the end of year Showcase.
US History I
Full Year 1 Credit
Using Socratic Dialogue to answer essential questions, students investigate US History in chronological order from the time of pre colonization through the end of Reconstruction. Emphasis was not just on the acquisition of content knowledge, but the interpretation and understanding of direct and indirect relationships regarding political institutions, diplomacy, international relations, political developments, public policy, and social, economic, cultural, and intellectual developments. Cause and effect is thoroughly examined and explored, with focused research presentations occurring both individually and collaboratively. Additional skill development included: visual note-taking, self-evaluation, memorization techniques, and best practice study strategies from Barbara Oakley’s book, Learning How to Learn. The year culminates with the students applying their skills and knowledge to answer an original research question with a visual, written, and oral presentation at Showcase.
US History II
Full Year 1 Credit History; 1 Credit Art
This interdisciplinary course is run in conjunction with Political Cartooning. Using Socratic Dialogue to answer essential questions, students investigated US History in chronological order from the time of the Reconstruction to the Present. Emphasis was not just on the acquisition of content knowledge, but the interpretation and understanding of direct and indirect relationships regarding political institutions, diplomacy, international relations, political developments, public policy, and social, economic, cultural, and intellectual developments. Students demonstrate understanding of these relationships, issues, and events, through the individual creation of an original series of political cartoons. Political Cartoons require the artist to thoroughly understand a political issue or event, in order to make the observer think about current events, or even sway their opinion (as in the Case of Thomas Nash and Boss Tweed). For the end of year project to be presented at Showcase, students collaborate to edit and produce a final Political Cartoon book.
World History through Art
Full Year 1 Credit
World History uses a chronological thematic approach anchored in art to explore the features and achievements that led to the development of human civilizations around the world. Beginning with evidence of human migration, students explore the development of human civilization up to the modern day through political, social, and economic lenses as represented by major art and architectural discoveries. Human development and civilizations are explored in chronological order to allow for comparisons with the development of civilizations from Europe to Asia and Oceania to the Americas. Students learn and use college essay formats (MLA and APA) to create an original thesis regarding their theorized links between civilizations using themes such as human migration, the impact of the agricultural revolution, climate and economic influences, warfare, and the spread of religion. Throughout the course, students continue to use and develop skills such as active listening, sketch and note taking, reading, writing, research, and analysis to create several unique theses and research papers.
Geometry
Full Year 1 Credit
This course includes a rigorous axiomatic study of plane figures in Euclidean Geometry. It examines their properties, measurement, and mutual relations in space. Topics include geometric reasoning, parallel and perpendicular lines, triangles, similarity, right triangle trigonometry, polygons, three-dimensional solids, circles, congruence, proofs, construction, geometric probability, and transformations on the coordinate plane.
Algebra 2
Full Year 1 Credit
This course covers quadratic functions, probability and the counting principle, complex numbers, polynomials functions, series and sequences, exponential and logarithmic functions, rational functions and measures of central tendency.
Algebra I
Full Year 1 Credit
This course studies linear equations and inequalities, linear functions, scatter plots and trend lines, systems of linear equations, function notation, quadratic functions, and exponential functions.
Mathematics
College Algebra and Trigonometry
Full Year 1 Credit
Content includes a comprehensive study of quadratic, rational, polynomial, exponential and logarithmic functions, as well as an introduction to right triangle and circular trigonometry.
Foreign Language
Italian
Italian 1
Full Year 1 Credit
This beginning course stresses basic conversational skills in Italian as well as simple reading and writing. Students will learn about the culture of Italian-speaking countries through internet activities, videos, and projects. The curriculum is focused on listening and speaking at the novice ACTFL proficiency level.
Italian 2
Full Year 1 Credit
This course continues to develop the skills begun in Italian 1. The curriculum is focused on listening and speaking at the novice ACTFL proficiency level and on a greater development of reading and writing skills. A deeper understanding and appreciation of the Italian culture will be emphasized.
Italian 3
Full Year 1 Credit
The curriculum of this course focuses on listening and speaking at the novice/intermediate ACTFL proficiency level. Students continue their studies of the Italian language and its culture with emphasis on the development of free expression in speaking and writing. Readings will include literary and non-literary selections of contemporary and classical materials.
Italian 4
Full Year 1 Credit
The curriculum of this course focuses on listening and speaking at the intermediate ACTFL proficiency level. Students continue their studies of the Italian language and its culture with emphasis on the development of free expression in speaking and writing. Readings will include literary and non-literary selections of contemporary and classical materials.
Spanish
Spanish 1
Full Year 1 Credit
This beginning course stresses basic conversational skills in Spanish as well as simple reading and writing. Students will learn about the culture of Spanish-speaking countries through internet activities, videos, and projects. The curriculum is focused on listening and speaking at the novice ACTFL proficiency level.
Spanish 2
Full Year 1 Credit
This course continues to develop the skills begun in Spanish 1. The curriculum is focused on listening and speaking at the novice ACTFL proficiency level and on a greater development of reading and writing skills. A deeper understanding and appreciation of the Spanish culture will be emphasized.
Spanish 3
Full Year 1 Credit
The curriculum of this course focuses on listening and speaking at the novice/intermediate ACTFL proficiency level. Students continue their studies of the Spanish language and its culture with emphasis on the development of free expression in speaking and writing. Readings will include literary and non-literary selections of contemporary and classical materials.
Spanish 4
Full Year 1 Credit
The curriculum of this course focuses on listening and speaking at the intermediate ACTFL proficiency level. Students continue their studies of the Spanish language and its culture with emphasis on the development of free expression in speaking and writing. Readings will include literary and non-literary selections of contemporary and classical materials.
