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Section VI - Courses of Study (9-12)
Length of Course: 10 Credits
This course will expose students to both fictional stories and non-fiction articles. This course will enhance students’ ability to comprehend and develop inferences towards the content of their reading assignments. It will expose students to authors’ intent and literature concepts. Each lesson will develop and increase students’ terms and vocabulary. An aspect of grammar will be introduced and students will implement their knowledge in their own writing. The novels Stargirl and Lord of the Flies will accompany this course that will utilize the students’ imagination and creativity. At the end of each unit, students will have an opportunity to incorporate what they have learned in their writing. This course has been accepted on the UC A-G course list.
Length of Course: 10 Credits
These courses fulfill the 9th grade college preparatory English requirement with challenging literature-based courses from Prentice Hall’s Literature Gold textbook. The text includes a survey of various literary genres including short stories, drama, nonfiction, poetry, the epic and novels by Charles Dickens and Anne McCaffrey. In addition to the readings, students develop writing skills including narration, description, persuasion, creative writing and exposition through various assignments. This course has been accepted on the UC A-G course list.
Length of Course: 10 Credits
This course emphasizes developing background information, acquiring reading skills, comprehension, and moving beyond a textbook to think critically and make new connections. Students will be exposed to reading cross-curricular selections coupled with challenging activities that stimulate reading comprehension and critical thinking. Students will also be reading the novels The Bomb and Where the Red Fern Grows to further develop their reading skills.
Length of Course: 10 Credits
This course offers a diverse range of readings that represent the drama, poetry and fiction of selected international works. Students will engage in a variety of writing activities geared to enhance and develop their ability to analyze text and express themselves in the written form. Students are required to write several essays throughout the course by responding to a writing prompt. Students will also use their literary knowledge and reading skills to read and analyze the George Orwell novel, 1984 and Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
Length of Course: 10 Credits
These courses fulfill the 10th grade college preparatory English requirement with challenging literature-based programs from Prentice Hall’s Literature Platinum textbook. This text continues the survey of various literary styles including short stories, drama, nonfiction, poetry and novels by John Knowles and Buchi Emecheta. Writing assignments include the development of such skills as narration, exposition, persuasion, creative writing and description through various assignments. This course has been accepted on the UC A-G course list.
Length of Course: 10 Credits
This course offers a diverse range of readings that represent the drama, poetry, and fiction of selected international works. Students will engage in a variety of writing activities geared to enhance and develop their ability to analyze text and express themselves in the written form. Students will write short essays throughout the course and present a speech. Students will read A Wrinkle in Time and Tuck Everlasting as supplements to the course. The McDougall-Litell textbook Bridges to Literature, Level III is the focus of this course.
Length of Course: 10 Credits
These courses combine famous writings and literary styles from the American Anthology text with the development of writing, composition and vocabulary skills from the Writer’s INC text. The courses are designed to enhance student awareness of classic American literature while expanding their critical thinking, comparison and contrast, and writing skills and styles. This course has been accepted on the UC A-G course list.
Length of Course: 10 Credits
These courses fulfill the 11th grade college preparatory English requirement with various selections of literature from Prentice Hall’s textbook Literature: The American Experience. Selections include works by William Bradford, Benjamin Franklin, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Chief Joseph, Mark Twain, Ernest Hemingway and Arthur Miller. The courses continue the development of such writing skills as narration, creative writing, exposition and persuasion through various assignments. This course has been accepted on the UC A-G course list.
Length of Course: 10 Credits
These courses provide appropriate curriculum for students who require remediation of the 11th grade English skills. Students will use the curriculum associated with S Contemporary Composition and S American Literature. They will read the novels The Watcher and Hoot.
Length of Course: 10 Credits
This course provides a moderate survey of Continental and British literature from the Epic writings to modern literature. From the Anglo-Saxon period students are introduced to Old English literature in readings from texts like Beowulf and Gilgamesh. Students then sample Middle English literature with readings from the Canterbury Tales and Everyman. From there, students are introduced to the English Renaissance, both its poetry and the Elizabethan drama. They continue with a sampling of 17th Century writers: the Metaphysical poets, the Cavalier poets, and the Puritans. They explore the Restoration and continue onto the 18th century with selections from Swift, Pope, Pepys and Defoe. From there students sample the Romantic age with readings from Wollstonecraft, Wordsworth and Shelley. Through this survey students gain an understanding of the religious and political climates in which these artists wrote, as well as the myriad forms and literary devices they employed to express their beliefs, values and traditions. Students read two novels: Huxley’s Brave New World and Achebe’s Things Fall Apart. Part of this course has been accepted on the UC A-G course list.
Length of Course: 10 Credits
Students taking this course will acquire a thorough knowledge of British Literature by examining a wide array of literary genres and the history of British writing. Works will range from early Old English and Medieval Works to later 20th century and contemporary writers. Students will examine works in the context of historical events and literary trends. In addition to material covered in their textbook, students will also read the play Twelfth Night and the novel Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland throughout the course at the end of which they will submit a book report about the play and novel. Students are expected to conduct careful analyses of the texts in order to complete the corresponding writing assignments. This course has been accepted on the UC A-G course list.
Length of Course: 10 Credits
This course offers a wide-ranging study of British Literature using readings beginning from early Anglo-Saxon writings to the contemporary writers important in Britain today. Students will also read the novels Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson and 1984 by George Orwell. This course will demand writing skills development as well as improved reading comprehension. Students will write in a periodic journal, compose vocabulary sentences, write a five-paragraph essay, and choose to pursue a creative project or an oral presentation. This course uses the Globe Fearon Literature Gold: British Literature textbook.
Length of Course: 5 Credits
This one-semester writing course is grounded in the fundamentals of writing material other than journalism and standard school essays and analysis. The course uses the text Writing Power. In order to be successful, students should be above average in maturity and self-direction and be motivated to write.
Length of Course: 5 Credits
This one-semester writing course may be taken to meet the 11th grade composition requirement or it can be taken as an elective course (NOTE: It cannot fulfill both requirements). The focus of this course is on the development of writing and composition skills such as persuasive, test, and descriptive essays, and learning how to revise and edit their own work. This course uses the Writer’s Inc. textbook.
Length of Course: 5 Credits
This writing course may be taken to meet an English composition requirement or it can be taken as an elective course. (NOTE: It cannot fulfill both requirements.) Students will learn the elements of writing a story as well as further developing their research and writing skills. This course uses the Write to Succeed Book II textbook.
Length of Course: 5 Credits
This one-semester writing course may be taken to meet the literature requirement for 11th grade English or it can be taken as an elective course. (NOTE: It cannot fulfill both requirements.) The course curriculum surveys short stories, famous writings and other literary styles from the textbook American Anthology which also includes a workbook. This course develops contrast and comparison skills, critical and analytical thinking and research skills based on the assigned readings. A student who receives credit for English III A/B cannot receive credit for this course.
Length of Course: 5 Credits
This course will expose students to a variety of American authors and stories from the early settlement days to the present day. Students will explore each story in depth by completing various activities that will challenge their thinking and open them up to new ways of learning. Students will also learn literary concepts that are vital to the complete understanding of some of these stories. Through the use of such concepts as dialect, characterization, onomatopoeia, metaphors, personification, similes, realism, imagery, and dialogue, students will be able to extract important information from each reading selection, as well as the time period from which it was written. Students will also be reading the novel, The Watcher, to complement their regular assignments. The textbook used is the AGS American Literature. A student who receives credit for S English III A/B cannot receive credit for this course.
Length of Course: 10 Credits
In these courses students will learn about common themes in literature and will be given high-level reading and writing experiences. The courses include sections on the immigrant experience and multicultural issues and encourage the extension of reading, writing and critical thinking skills for effective reception and expression of ideas. The courses include reading assignments from several literary works including Bintel Brief, Farewell to Manzanar and Light in the Forest.
Length of Course: 5 Credits
This course introduces students to the history, nature and responsibilities of print journalism in the United States. Special emphasis is placed on understanding the different parts of the newspaper such as front-page news, opinion, feature and sports; students will also write journalistic models and complete other exercises. Reading and analyzing a variety of historical and contemporary journalism will strengthen critical thinking skills. Observation and interviews, as well as research and analysis skills, will be practiced and applied through the writing process.
Length of Course: 5 Credits
Poetry offers a comprehensive study of the poetic form, elements of poetry, key literary genres, poem types as well as influential poets throughout the ages. Students will develop their ability to read and analyze poetry and decipher all varieties of poetic language. They will explore the historical origins of poetry in the English language that incorporates poets of the British Isles as well as North America. Students will write down a poetry log throughout the course where they can express their personal opinions about the poems they read. They will be able to write a thoughtful critical essay by the end of the semester that will demand the ability to incorporate their poetry learning into a detailed analysis of a poem or poetry subject.
Length of Course: 5 Credits
This English course may be taken as either an elective or as a general requirement for limited English proficiency students. Students will learn various skills, including how to use the library and the dictionary, how to read a newspaper for content and useful information, how to use telephone directories and maps and how to deposit money and write checks. Students also learn how to follow instructions, answer questions regarding social security, fill out tax and voting forms, as well as how to complete a job application and understand the vocabulary of employment forms.
Length of Course: 5 Credits
This English course is suitable for students with limited English proficiency skills and may work towards fulfilling the general elective requirement. The course focuses on students being able to set goals for themselves, manage their time well, take effective notes, and prepare for exams. They will also learn how to use different researching tools to create reports or to better understand a topic in which they are interested.
Grade Level Option: 9-12 Prerequisite: None Graduation Requirement: General Elective This course was created to help you review and master the key elements of the California content standards in language arts. As you review and master each standard, you will increase your competence in language arts and gain confidence in your abilities. The lessons are organized into reading and writing sections. The reading portions will help you review and master skills related to vocabulary, reading comprehension, and literary analysis via multiple-choice items. The writing portion of this course assesses three aspects of writing: strategies, applications, and English language conventions. For the writing portion you can expect to write two essays, as well as answer multiple-choice items.
Grade Level Option: 9-12 Prerequisite: None Graduation Requirement: General Elective S Grammar is designed to familiarize the student with the fundamentals of grammar, usage, and mechanics. Students will be exposed to and learn to master parts of speech, sentence structure, phrases and clauses, modifiers, and punctuation. Students will also learn the functions of verb tenses, direct and indirect objects, and object complements. This course will help to teach students how to become better writers through numerous exercises that increase their knowledge and skills of certain grammar and mechanical concepts.
Length of Course: 10 Credits
The major emphasis of this course is to continue the work of Reading Development A to improve the student’s reading comprehension and increase their vocabulary. The course teaches students improved methods for word recognition and it expands their vocabulary. It also helps students to comprehend main themes and ideas, to identify sequence of events, to note significant details and to use alphabetical order. It employs writing skills that reinforce reading performance. Particular emphasis is placed on the reading and thinking skills needed for success in subject matter courses. Students are introduced to reading for pleasure.
Length of Course: 5 Credits
In this course the student will read five novels: The Westing Game, The Catcher in the Rye, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, The House of the Scorpion, To Kill a Mockingbird. Each unit will look at the important events in the novel that shape the characters, theme, and setting. The student will also relate the themes of the novel to their life.
Length of Course: 5 Credits
The course of study is taught in a small group and focuses on developing the student’s reading and writing abilities through kinesthetic and visual projects and assignments. Students will learn to increase their reading comprehension while also learning to write well-organized and analytical essays. The course will help the student to problem solve, analyze situations, and study more efficiently. The program uses materials from the AVID program and the Time/Warner sponsored Time to Read program.
Length of Course: 10 Credits
Basic Math is a one-year course that prepares students for success in the Pre-Algebra or Consumer Math program. It begins with a review of basic operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. It then delves into factorizations, fractions and fractional notations. Students also experience an understanding of order of operations, decimal notation, estimation, ratio and proportion and their geometric application. Topics also include percent notation including application to tax rate, discounts, and simple and compound interest. Students also explore central tendencies of data and learn of the various graphical representations of such data. Students delve into the relationship between the American Measurement System and the Metric System. The course concludes with an introduction to basic geometry as well as properties of real numbers. The objective of these courses is to prepare students to move into Consumer Math and/or Pre-Algebra.
Length of Course: 5 Credits
Students in this course learn and apply mathematical skill to the areas of employment, banking, credit, transportation, housing, personal finance, insurance, shopping, taxes and investments. The main purpose of this course is to provide opportunities for students to develop those skills necessary to function in practical and real-life situations. This course also prepares students for success in the Business Math course.
Length of Course: 5 Credits
This course is designed to fine tune and hone the student's skills in math. Through this class, students will review concepts and standards they have previously been exposed to, but maybe not mastered. Over the course of sixty standards-based lessons, students will review concepts such as absolute value, number sense, rational numbers, percents, scientific notation, systems of inequalities, algebraic expressions, monomials and polynomials, linear equations, and quantitative relationships. Students will also be exposed to some measurement and geometry concepts like converting square and cubic units, planes, geometric figures, surface area and volume, and congruent figures. Lastly, students will explore the statistics, data analysis, probability, and mathematical reasoning.
Length of Course: 5 Credits
This course is designed to strengthen the student’s basic skills in personal and business math. Students learn how to figure income tax and comparative shop. They will learn the basics of starting and running a business and practice such real-world scenarios as paying employees, figuring insurance costs, and calculating travel expenses and training costs. Students will also learn about the costs of production and purchasing, work with sales, warehousing, distributing, and marketing devices, and handle general accounting schemes.
Length of Course: 10 Credits
This course helps to build students’ foundational skills for entry into the Algebra I course. It begins with a review of integers and the order of operations. Students are then introduced to variables and simple equations as well as solving application problems. Emphasis is then placed on solving problems with fractions with application to basic geometry. Other concepts covered include solutions of decimal problems, an introduction to a three-dimensional surface area (volume), and comprehensive work with percents and measurement systems. The course concludes with the product rule, power of exponents, and multiplying polynomials.
Grade Level Options: 9-12 Prerequisite: Basic Math B or passing grade on Math Diagnostic Test 2 Graduation Requirement: Mathematics This course uses the Pre-Algebra curriculum. This course helps to build students’ foundational skills for entry into the Algebra course. It begins with a review of integers and the order of operations. Students are then introduced to variables and simple equations as well as solving application problems. Emphasis is then placed on solving problems with fractions with application to basic geometry. Other concepts covered include solutions of decimal problems, an introduction to a three-dimensional surface area (volume), and comprehensive work with percents and measurement systems. The course concludes with the product rule, power of exponents, and multiplying polynomials.
Length of Course: 10 Credits
In this course students will review essential and fundamental algebra concepts. This includes understanding the use of variables and exponents as well as properties of real numbers. The course then places much emphasis on solving linear equations and inequalities. Students also graph linear equations and inequalities in two variables along with determining the slope and equations of lines. Students will explore adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing polynomials as well as the quotient rule and scientific notation. They continue with factoring trinomials, solving quadratic equations and their application, the property of rational expressions and its application. Students also solve systems of linear equations by a variety of methods and conclude with lessons on roots and radicals as well as graphing quadratic equations and an introduction to functions. This course has been accepted on the UC A-G course list.
Length of Course: 20 Credits
This extended 2-year Algebra course begins with a review of essential and fundamental Algebra concepts. This includes understanding the use of variables and exponents, as well as properties of real numbers, and solving linear equations and inequalities. Students will then learn to graph linear equations and inequalities in two variables along with determining the slope and equations of lines. They move onto subtracting, multiplying and dividing polynomials as well as the quotient rule and scientific notation. Students begin the second half of the course with factoring. This includes understanding how to factor and apply it to everyday life. You will also learn how to manipulate rational expressions, explore complex fractions, solve rational expression and understand direct and indirect variations, and solve linear equations. Finally, students move into a review of graphing, key terms and line equations. The units include the applications of linear systems, solving linear inequalities, equations, inequalities and absolute value. This course concludes with graphing quadratic equations and functions.
Length of Course: 10 Credits
These courses are traditional, first year college preparatory Algebra classes. Adv Algebra I CP covers language and uses of Algebra, real number operations, solving equations, relations and functions, graphing, systems of linear equations, radicals and exponents, polynomials, quadratic functions and rational expressions. This course has been accepted on the UC A-G course list.
Length of Course: 10 Credits
Students who have completed a college preparatory level Algebra I course should be enrolled in P Algebra II. Students begin with a brief review of essential skills covered in Algebra I and then cover all of the advanced Algebra topics including functions and matrices. The courses will fully prepare a student for college Algebra. This course has been accepted on the UC A-G course list.
Length of Course: 10 Credits
Geometry A builds upon skills acquired in Pre Algebra and Algebra and incorporates them into learning about new Geometry basics. Students will master the foundation blocks for the structure of Geometry and understand how to represent geometric figures. They first must familiarize themselves with the tools of Geometry and then go on to understand the importance of reasoning and using proofs. In this semester, they will consider the difference between parallel and perpendicular lines. They will use proofs to understand congruent triangles and well as the relationship between triangles. They will also learn about the properties of the different types of quadrilaterals. Geometry B introduces and develops concepts of Geometry from coordinate Geometry, constructions, proofs, symmetry, and transformations, to finding area, perimeters, and volume of complex shapes. A student passing this course will have a thorough understanding Geometry and a good start on advanced Algebra and Trigonometry. This course has been accepted on the UC A-G course list.
World History & Cultures A/B CP
Length of Course: 10 Credits
World History & Cultures will discuss how life in Eastern and Western Europe has changed throughout history, and students will look at the key events that helped to shape our culture today. Students will trace the rising and falling of various world empires and how each helped to shape the world today. They will follow the struggle for human rights of individuals throughout time, and discuss the growth of living documents, like the Constitution of the United States. Students will also explore the history and influence of Asian, European, South American, and African countries and how they help to affect the rest of the world. This course has been accepted on the UC A-G course list.
Length of Course: 10 Credits
These courses provide students with a chronological survey of world history and civilization since ancient times. Students will examine historical cause and effect and the role of values and attitudes in history, as well as cultural and intellectual history. The French Revolution, nineteenth century nationalism, imperialism, the World Wars, Modern Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and the Soviet Union all are topics of study, as well as an introduction to historical research and evaluation of sources. The courses are part of the college preparatory system. The textbooks are used are World History: Perspectives on the Past and Issues in the Modern Age. This course has been accepted on the UC A-G course list.
Length of Course: 10 Credits
This course covers the origins and evolution of Western Civilization and its dramatic expansion and influence across the globe. Beginning with the democratic ideals of Ancient Greece and Rome to the questionable glory of European Imperialism. Students will closely study the revolutions that shaped France and the United States. They will study the origin of the Industrial Revolution in Great Britain and how it ultimately turned the world to modernity. Students will also investigate how imperialism has affected South America, Asia, India, and Africa. It then shifts to important world events beginning with the effects of World War I, the rise of dictators and the devastating consequences of World War II. Students will understand the causes of the Russian Revolution and the rise of the communist Soviet Union. They will learn about the violent issues plaguing the Middle East, the problematic governments of Latin America, and the cold war that pitted capitalist America with communist U.S.S.R. Finally, students will develop an understanding of current world events in the context of history and the relevant concerns of the present and the future. The Globe Fearon textbook World History is used.
Length of Course: 10 Credits
This U.S. History course traces the development of the United States from the ravages of the Civil War to the modern day times of terrorism. Students will study such concepts as Reconstruction, Prohibition, the Open Door Policy, urbanization, Normalcy, Terrorism, and Americanization. Students will learn in depth about the Civil War, the Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam Conflict, the Cold War, and the first and second wars in Iraq. Students will also learn about events like the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl, the Iran-Contra Affair, 9/11, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the first and second New Deal. Lastly, students will study each presidency from Abraham Lincoln to George W. Bush and the affect their administration had on history. This course has been accepted on the UC A-G course list.
Length of Course: 10 Credits
Students taking this college preparatory course in United States history will review how political institutions, practices of government, and religious freedom emerged during the 18th century. Students will analyze the causes of the Civil War, and attempts at reconstruction during the 19th century. Students will learn how the rise of big business, heavy industry, and mechanized farming transformed America. Next students study how the Progressives addressed the problems caused by urbanization and political corruption. They learn about the rise of the U.S. as a world power; the causes of World War I, America's involvement, and how the war changed America. Students read about the causes of the Great Depression and how the New Deal transformed American federalism and initiated the welfare state. They will read about the origins and causes of World War II, and how the war reshaped the U.S. role in world affairs. Students will learn about the postwar extension of the New Deal and the postwar economic boom. They will trace the major developments in foreign and domestic policies during the Cold War era, including the Korean and Vietnam conflicts. Students will read about the major social and economic developments in contemporary America, including the struggle for racial and gender equality and for the extension of civil liberties. The text for these courses is American Voices. Additional readings will come from The American Reader. This course has been accepted on the UC A-G course list.
Length of Course: 10 Credits
This course will discuss the beginnings of our Nation and the important role that different cultures and religious beliefs have had in shaping our country. An emphasis will be placed upon the contributions of important individuals throughout our history. It will examine different historical documents and analyze the impact that they made upon our nation. This course will discuss the expanding role of the United States as a world power beginning in the twentieth century. It will focus on the economic ups and downs of the early twentieth century and the economic reforms that rose out of this period. It will look at the different wars that helped to shape our present day country. It will conclude with how these events have come to shape our Nation and what the future may hold. This course uses the Globe Fearon United States History textbook.
Length of Course: 5 Credits
Students taking this course will learn about the principles and foundation of American democracy and understand its distinguishing characteristics. The class will explore the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights and how they protect citizens. Students will understand what it means to be United States citizens and how the government protects the American way of life. Students will explore in-depth the importance of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the government. Students will also understand how the U.S. Constitution is a living document that has changed with the times through the amendment process. Students will learn about significant Supreme Court cases about racial equality and civil rights that have changed the country. They will also learn about political parties and the two-party system and the election and campaign process as well as about the census and the Electoral College. Students will also be exposed to how states and localities manage their authority apart from the federal government. They will be able to describe and explain the role of state legislatures, state executives, local authorities, and how local governments raise revenue. Students will learn about the court systems at the state, criminal, and civil level. They will be able to understand why the federal government sometimes needs to intervene in state and local matters for the protection of the peoples under those authorities. This course has been accepted on the UC A-G course list.
Length of Course: 5 Credits
This college-preparatory course is a study of American government and politics in history and contemporary American society. The course includes an introduction to the theories of government, the structure and functions of national, state and local government, comparative international systems and the study of political processes. Study of the influence of the news media, interest groups, political parties and political commentary in the formation of points of view on issues by citizens and government officials is an important part of the course, as is the relationship of government to the economy. The text used is Magruder’s American Government. This course has been accepted on the UC A-G course list.
Length of Course: 5 Credits
This course will give an introduction to American government and its workings. The student will be exposed to many different issues pertaining to; the roots of American government and its different levels, branches and responsibilities. Also examined will be the Constitution, the rights and freedoms in this country and others, economic choices of the government and individuals. Finally, the responsibilities of a United States citizen and the sacrifices that sometimes have to be made to live in a free community and country will be explored.
Length of Course: 5 Credits
This course will expose the student to the basic concepts found in the American and global economy of today. Students will learn the finer points of becoming a responsible consumer through building budgets and learning how to develop credit. Students will also learn about the various economic models and theories and what affect each has on our economy. They will learn about investing, saving, and the risks involved in each. Students will also learn how other countries’ economies compare to the economy of the United States. They will learn how and why some economic theories work, while others do not. This course has been accepted on the UC A-G course list.
Length of Course: 5 Credits
This class looks at principles of economics and how they work. Knowledge of these principles will help you to understand many events in the news and your responsibilities as a citizen. Economics is all about making choices. Making wise economic choices is a skill, one that both governments and individuals need in order to be successful. How you use these principals to make choices will affect how you live now and in the future. Students will use the Globe Fearon Economics textbook.
Length of Course: 5 Credits
This elective course is for those who have difficulty grasping economic theory. Students learn about economics on a more fundamental and personal level. The major emphasis of the course is on studying practical, personal and family money management in relation to basic economic principles. Moreover, students will develop an understanding about advertising, buying, budgeting, credit, insurance, savings, retirement and taxes. This course does not meet the senior economic graduation requirement but will help to prepare students for entry into the Economics CP course.
Length of Course: 5 Credits
This course is a survey of the five major ethnic groups of the United States – Native Americans, Latinos, Caucasians, Asians, and African Americans. Students learn about the histories of these groups, including famous Americans and how they have contributed to this nation and the world. The primary purpose of this course is to enrich student understanding about different peoples and promote greater sensitivity and enlightenment.
Length of Course: 5 Credits
The major emphasis of this course is on significant political, social and economic developments in the Spanish, Mexican and American periods of California history. Beginning with the Indian tribes who lived in California and the early explorations by Spain and Mexico, students learn how California came to be settled and later joined the United States. Reading assignments for this course include The Shirley Letters.
Length of Course: 5 Credits
This course will give students an overview of the geography of the world. It will give them an understanding of latitude and longitude, as well as help them develop their map skills. It will allow them to understand the different regions of the world, and how geography affects them. It will cover climate, population, cultures, religions, languages, and economic systems.
Length of Course: 5 Credits
This is a general geography course in which students learn about the physical and cultural aspects of geography. It is based on regional studies of the continents of the world and the people who inhabit them. Emphasis is on the reasons cultures have developed in specific areas including physical, cultural and economic. This course is often used to fulfill a semester of S World History A/B.
Length of Course: 5 Credits
This course is an introduction to the physical variation on the earth’s surface as it can be applied to the study of history and other social sciences. It is the study of humankind in relation to the environment. Topics included are: land forms, bodies of water, map projections and symbols, latitude, longitude, altitude, climate, plant and animal life, population density, natural resources and features, natural and man-made boundaries, as well as information about economic, cultural and political geography. Principles learned will be applied in studies of several areas.
Length of Course: 5 Credits
This course focuses on the historical and cultural impact of the five major professional sports in America today: Basketball, Football, Baseball, Hockey, and Soccer. Students will explore the intricate and colorful history of each sport beginning from its inception, through its early developmental stages, and into the current times. Students will learn about various athletes who have greatly impacted each sport. Students will also study how each sport has found a niche in the American culture and they will explore the future possibilities for each sport.
Length of Course: 5 Credits
This course emphasizes the development of the three Latin American regions. Students will study Central America, the Caribbean, and South America. They will learn about each area’s geography, culture, climate, history, and tradition. Students will cover some countries in detail and learn how political systems and ideals have shaped its history.
Length of Course: 10 Credits
This unique course details the lives and times of some of the most famous Americans of the 20th Century. Students will learn about various historical figures from public service, sports, arts and entertainment, business, and science and medicine. The student will explore the life of each person and learn how their dreams, their successes, and their failures helped to invigorate, inspire, and advance the American Dream during different phases of the 20th century.
Length of Course: 5 Credits
This course will provide the student with an introduction to the historical and philosophical foundations of the major living world religions. The students will examine theories about the origins of religions as well as explore facets that are unique to each religion. Students will discover where religious movements arose, cultural factors that influenced them, the lives of their founders, their basic teachings, their historical development, and their current status in this world.
Length of Course: 5 Credits
This course provides an overview of the major areas in the field of psychology. The following areas will be emphasized: major models in psychology, major principles of memory applicable to learning of psychology, research methods used in psychology, social psychology, the organization of the human brain and the biological bases of behavior, principles of learning, major theories of personality development, stress and its effects on health, intelligence, development in infancy and childhood, and psychological disorders. Upon completion of the course, students should be able to identify the major theories, terminology, principles, processes, and methods in the above areas.
Length of Course: 5 Credits
Students will study the criminal justice system in America and its three basic components: police, courts, and corrections. The course begins with examining the concept of justice, and how this ideal relates to the everyday practice of criminal justice in the United States today. Students will then explore the history, the activities, and the legal environment surrounding the police. Students then build upon what they have learned by understanding the court, prisons, probation, and parole. Throughout these units students will be exposed to concepts that will allow them to come away from the course with a more informed position on criminal justice topics. This course will benefit those with interest in pursuing a criminal justice career or simply responding as more informed citizens.
Environmental/Life Science A/B
Length of Course: 10 Credits
In these courses students will explore ecological principles including plant and animal interactions, biomes, food chains and webs and evolution. In addition to the regular course curriculum, supplemental materials will be taken from Careers in Life Science and Mountaineering First Aid.
Length of Course: 10 Credits
Students will be introduced to the field of earth science, be familiar with maps, and be acquainted with the concepts of rock and mineral composition, plate tectonics, and earthquakes. Students will be challenged to demonstrate their learning at different thinking levels such as interpretation, prediction, analysis, and evaluation. Earth Science A is valuable as an exploratory course for those interested in the scientific field or for those students seeking to increase their understanding of the Earth. At the end of each unit there is a virtual laboratory assignment. The instructor can assist any students with this portion of the unit.
Length of Course: 10 Credits
These courses are the equivalent of introductory biology courses. They provide students with the conceptual framework, factual knowledge and analytical skills necessary to deal critically with the rapidly changing science of biology. Topics covered include: biochemistry, cells, energy transformations, molecular genetics, heredity, evolution, taxonomy, plant anatomy and physiology, animal anatomy and physiology and ecology.
Length of Course: 10 Credits
This course begins with an introduction of the definition and purpose of science. The scientific method is also explained and serves as a basis for students activities. Students delve into such topics as the structure, chemistry, human genetics, diverse organisms in various habitats, nutritional planning, human development from birth to late adulthood and reproduction of cells, including a study of the differences between meiosis and mitosis as well as the differences between animal cell reproduction and plant cell reproduction. Students will also study various classification systems, basics of microbiology, and they will explore each of the major human body systems which include the skeletal, muscular, digestive, nervous, endocrine, circulatory, respiratory, excretory, and reproductive systems. Students will use the Science Voyages, Life Science textbook from Glencoe.
Length of Course: 10 Credits
These courses provide a survey of the physical and earth sciences. Students will study a variety of subjects pertaining to various sciences such as geology, physics and chemistry. These courses investigate the chemical and physical properties of matter, chemical interactions, atomic structure, thermodynamics, forces, motion and energy, sound, light, magnetism, electricity and heat. The courses will include both text study and virtual laboratory experiences using CD-ROM programs and the Internet.
Length of Course: 5 Credits
The course of study for this elective class is arranged between the teacher and the student. Students must view 10 classic movies – each from a different film genre - and then complete a 3-4 page review and analysis on each film. The course is designed to help students observe the techniques behind film production and how various scenes and effects are produced. This course has been accepted on the UC A-G course list.
Length of Course: 10 Credits
Arts and Crafts begins by focusing on the elements of art and the color wheel. Students eventually progress to learning about the principles of art and how to apply them to various works of art. Students will learn about various artists and their crafts, and students will mimic some of the art styles by creating artwork of their own throughout each unit. Students will learn how to critically analyze various pieces of famous artwork. By the end of the last unit, the student will have gathered a portfolio of artwork which they will share with their instructor for evaluation.
Length of Course: 10 Credits
These courses will introduce students to the building blocks of visual art: aesthetic elements and principles. The courses survey prehistoric art, as well as arts of the Mediterranean cultures, Asia and Africa. Students will learn that the evolution of our common visual vocabulary is not an irrelevant artifact of the past but rather an evolving language which we use every day. Students will understand how artists throughout human history and varied cultures have employed visual elements and principles to create unique and effective works of art. The text for this course is Art in Focus. This course has been accepted on the UC A-G course list.
Length of Course: 10 Credits
In this semester the student will study basic music theory concepts in Unit 1. Each following unit will introduce an era of music from history, beginning with medieval music and finishing with the Romantic Period. Students will listen and respond to selections from each musical period using music specific vocabulary, and will study the lives of selected composers from each era. Each unit will look at the events in history that shaped the musical period, as well as the changes in musical elements that create different styles and sounds in music. In the second semester the student will continue their study of musical eras beginning with 20th century music and continuing through to contemporary music. Students will listen and respond to selections from each musical period using music specific vocabulary, and will study the lives of selected composers and performers from each era. Each unit will look at the events in history that shaped the musical period, as well as the changes in musical elements that create different styles and sounds in music.
Length of Course: 5 Credits
This course explores a variety of techniques, materials and visual exercises that will provide the student with a solid background for most art courses where the ability to draw is essential. Students will learn techniques to produce 120 different sketching projects while maintaining a drawing journal throughout the course. Students can complete work for this course right in the Draw Squad textbook.
Length of Course: 5 Credits
This course consists of a series of drawing exercises giving students the opportunity to explore the art and craft of cartooning and develop creative solutions for its many inherent challenges. The course is particularly designed for students who really enjoy drawing. The text for this course is Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Cartooning But Were Afraid to Draw. There is also an art material kit that supports this class.
Health A/B
Length of Course: 10 Credits
In Health A, students shall be introduced to the many aspects of health including the concept of wellness, health risks, personality, mental health, self-esteem, and expression of emotions. Students shall also be exposed to an understanding of stress, responses to stress, and stress management. Students will study family roles and changes in family structures which have occurred. Also explored in this course are human reproduction, heredity, and human development. Students will begin with lessons in the human skeletal, muscular, nervous, respiratory, and cardiovascular systems. Students shall also explore the elements of physical fitness and the design of suitable exercise programs. An area of emphasis in Health B is the use and abuse of prescription and illegal drugs. Students shall explore the body effects of alcohol and issues regarding social pressures to consume alcohol. Also studied will be the harmful effects of all tobacco products. Another area of emphasis in this course is the human immune system and its response to infectious and noninfectious diseases. Finally, this course shall conclude with lessons about environmental pollution and the healthcare system.
Length of Course: 5 Credits
This course begins by defining the health triangle which includes an analysis of physical, emotional, and social health. Students will explore the elements of communication including refusal skills and conflict resolution. This course allows students to understand the value of setting goals as well as analyze factors that influence self-concept. Also explored are the various methods of stress management. Students will also look at the importance of personal hygiene as well as the basics of nutritional needs of the human body. They will also create and implement a pre-planned diet with a menu as well as discuss the components of fitness. In the second half of the course, students explore the components of body systems and how they relate to one another. It explains the mechanisms of growth through adolescence along with the life cycle. Students explore the causes and prevention of communicable and non-communicable diseases as well as sexually transmitted infections (STI’s). This course emphasizes the harmful effects of all drug use including tobacco and alcohol. Students shall gain an understanding of the importance of personal safety including the basics of first aid. Students will use the Teen Health, Course 1 textbook by Glencoe.
Length of Course: 5 Credits
This course is an elective program that allows students to select activities that will familiarize them with activities suitable for lifelong recreation and physical fitness. Students must perform at least thirty minutes of an activity for it to count and no more than two hours may be claimed per day. A total of 50 hours must be performed to complete the course. As well as the hours of activity, the course requires the completion of a research report and ten sport or nutrition related articles. Students must write summaries on each article. This course can only be taken once a semester.
Introduction to Plays and Theater CP
Length of Course: 5 Credits
Introduction to Plays and Theater is the study of Drama, a story that is written to be performed in front of an audience. In this course you will be learning the techniques involved in writing drama. These include: setting, plot, character development, conflict, props, play structure, dialogue, symbolism, and theme.
Length of Course: 5 Credits
In this course students will learn to explore the natural world and make personal connections with it in a creative manner. They will learn to make regular recordings of observations, perceptions and feelings about the natural world as they explore it. Each student’s nature journal will contain drawings, reflective writings and personal thoughts. Nature Journaling fosters self-learning and challenges students to combine intellect with experience.
Length of Course: 2.5 Credits
Students under the age of 18 must complete a course in driver education, either at OFY or at a private driver’s training school, in order to obtain a learner’s permit. This course provides only the in-class portion; the behind-the-wheel training must be taken in an outside program. Through this course, the student should develop a strong sense of personal and social responsibility, effective habits of cooperation and pride in high standards of performance. First aid, public safety, accident prevention, narcotics and alcohol are all studied in relation to driver education. This course is not required for graduation.
Length of Course: 5 Credits
This course covers the material listed in the Drivers Education course but also includes driver awareness and safety films that cover information on automobile safety, maintenance and operation. This course provides only the in-class portion; the behind-the-wheel training must be taken in an outside program. Through this course, the student should develop a strong sense of personal and social responsibility, effective habits of cooperation and pride in high standards of performance. First aid, public safety, accident prevention, narcotics and alcohol are all studied in relation to driver education.
Length of Course: 10 Credits
Student Assistants serve teachers and other staff members by providing clerical and instructional assistance in the centers. Teacher permission is required and students must complete training as required by the Director of Educational Operations. Students who fall behind in their regular school work will need to take a break from this course until their other studies have improved. Student Assistants must demonstrate responsibility, maturity and integrity in their relations with adults and other students. Students will earn 5 credits upon completion of 60 hours of work during each semester.
Length of Course: 5 Credits
This semester-long course provides a detailed introduction to photography and the technical elements required to be a successful photographer. Students will be able to differentiate between the different types of cameras available whether it is a single lens reflex camera that uses 35mm film or a compact digital camera. They will understand the importance of framing shots and recognizing good composition. They will come to appreciate the critical importance of proper lighting, exposure, aperture, film speed, focal length and shutter speed. They will combine technical know-how with creative thinking to experiment with portraits, themes and special effects. This course will offer students the opportunity to take a great variety of photographs themselves and work towards a final portfolio that will help determine their course grade. Students use the textbook Starting Photography by Focal Press.
Length of Course: 10 Credits
The major purpose of these courses is to provide students an opportunity to combine paid employment with classroom instruction. The courses will allow students to develop good work habits, attitudes, self-confidence and job skills that can be used to locate, secure and retain meaningful employment in the community.
Length of Course: 10 Credits
The major purpose of these courses is to provide students an opportunity to combine paid employment with classroom instruction. The courses will allow students to develop good work habits, attitudes, self-confidence and job skills that can be used to locate, secure and retain meaningful employment in the community. These courses are a continuation of General Work Experience I A/B.
Length of Course: 10 Credits
A student who wishes to complete a special independent project, which cannot be completed in a regularly scheduled course, may apply to enroll in Independent Project. An application with a description of the project and approval of the Instructor and Area Supervisor must be completed before enrollment will be permitted. The project must include at least 12 hours of work per unit. Students may earn variable credit but may not earn more than 5 credits per semester course.
Computer Literacy
Length of Course: 5 Credits
This course introduces students to basic skills with computer operations. Students learn about word processing, spreadsheet, presentation software, and use of email and the World Wide Web. It is a hands-on course. Students who do not have access to a computer at home will be able to use the student computers in the center.
Independent Living
Length of Course: 5 Credits
This course helps to prepare young adults for success in an increasingly complex and demanding home and work environment. It also gives them some basic principles for tackling an unknown future. Students learn about managing resources, developing a budget, planning and preparing meals and establishing a home. The course also helps students understand their relationships with other people including the importance of developing good communication skills and a solid value system. The textbook that students will use is Decisions for Independent Living.
Length of Course: 10 Credits
These courses endeavor to prepare students to know and understand the physical, intellectual, emotional and social growth and development of young children. Students learn about parenting, pregnancy, birth and the different stages of a child’s physical, emotional, social and intellectual development. The courses cover the early years (1-6) of a child’s life. The textbook for these courses is The Developing Child.
Length of Course: 5 Credits
This course helps students explore careers and develop employable skills. Topics include: the function of a job application, resume writing, interviewing skills, career exploration, paychecks, checking accounts, saving accounts, budgeting and business records. Students are encouraged to explore their talents and consider what type of job would best utilize those talents. Students will also use the Internet to complete job-related assignments. Materials for this course include the Career Choices textbook with an accompanying workbook and portfolio.
Length of Course: 5 Credits
This course helps students to further explore possible career choices and develop employable skills through the use of literature. Using the textbook Possibilities, students will read inspirational writings by such authors as Maya Angelou, Emily Dickinson, Langston Hughes, Mark Twain and Walt Whitman. Topics include subjects like dreams, life, saving, uphill battles and hope. Students are encouraged to keep a journal prior to each reading and then answer questions, reflecting on the passages presented.
Length of Course: 2.5 Credits
This four-part seminar is conducted for all new OFY students to help them set life goals and determine a plan of action for achieving them. Students work to improve their self-esteem and become more self-motivated. The course is designed to assist the students to grow in the ability to make decisions and to appreciate their strengths and skills in the high school environment.
Length of Course: 2.5-5 Credits
This course helps students begin to look at career choices and the process for determining career areas that they are interested in further exploring. There are ten career areas that students will explore - Careers in the World of: The Trades, Technology, Sales, Entrepreneurs, Health Care, Offices, Sports and Entertainment, Environmental Sciences, The Government and Homemaking. The primary text for this course is the Globe Fearon series called Careers and Opportunities.
Length of Course: 5 Credits
This course will discuss health issues and concerns of students. Students will examine topics the impact and influence of food choices and practices of good nutrition, Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the impact and importance of calories, the dangers, effects, and treatments of eating disorders, safety issues, and basic first aid in the kitchen. Students will also explore the different parts of any given recipe, which includes language and the methods of measuring out ingredients. Students will expand on the notion of creating a meal that has appeal, limited to resources available to students and the luxury of convenience foods. Students will learn smart shopping, shopping with a plan, creating a shopping list, ways to save money, reading the labels on the food products, and understanding the Universal Product Code. They will also discuss food groups and the four food groups from the Food Pyramid Guide. Students will also study the types of dairy products, cultured products, frozen dairy desserts, cheeses, and butter. Lastly, the students will discuss and explore how to buy, store, prepare, and cook meats, fish, poultry and desserts. | |