|
|
|
|
Course Info
Algebra 1A is the first semester of a traditional middle/high school Algebra I course. In this course, offered via the Web, students are introduced to algebraic concepts including the language of algebra and how algebra is used in today’s world. Students will work with integers and rational numbers in applying algebraic properties to evaluate expressions, manipulate polynomials, and to solve and graph linear functions, inequalities, and absolute value equations. By semester’s end, students will factor polynomials. Algebra 1B is the second semester of a traditional middle/high school Algebra I course. In this course, offered via the Web, students continue their progression through algebraic concepts, expanding their knowledge of functions and relations, solving systems of equations and inequalities, simplifying rational and radical expressions, and solving quadratic equations. A unit on probability and statistics is also included helping students to analyze data and make predictions about real-world situations utilizing a variety of visual representations. Algebra 2A is the first semester of a traditional high school Algebra II course. Successful completion of Algebra I is a mandatory prerequisite. This course, offered via the Web, provides a thorough treatment of algebraic concepts. The course begins with a study of the fundamentals of linear equalities and inequalities and continues with the study of functions, including piecewise, absolute value, and radical functions. A strong emphasis is placed on quadratic functions, including fitting a curve to data. The course ends with a unit of study on polynomials. An emphasis on matrices to solve systems of equations, systems of equations used with linear programming problems, and complex numbers are addressed as solutions to quadratic equations. The mechanics of algebra with real-life applications is evident throughout the course. A transformational approach to graphing all functions is used with families of related graphs. Algebraic and graphical solutions are used when appropriate. Graphing calculators are an integral part of this course. Algebra 2B is the second semester of a traditional high school Algebra II course. Algebra IIB continues the treatment of algebraic concepts through the study of rational functions, exponential functions, logarithmic functions, sequences and series, conic sections, and data analysis. Other topics are included within this context. Variations of all types are studied within the context of rational functions; exponential growth and decay are part of the exponential function unit; and using a calculator for curve fitting is part of the data analysis unit. Emphasis is placed on the mechanics of algebra with real-life applications. A transformational approach to graphing all functions and relations is used with families of related graphs. Function notation and a function approach are used throughout. Graphing calculators are an integral part of this course. American Government: students join six teenagers as they travel around the United States in a recreational vehicle named "Washington." The teens, called the "Insiders," travel to five cities to collect information about the Constitution, the federal bureaucracy, and the three branches of government. As the "Insiders" gather information, they pass it along to the student. While exploring the country, the "Insiders" also learn about a variety of public policy issues, from teen pregnancy to affirmative action. The "Insiders" interview ordinary Americans about their opinions, offer Web sites, and present information about the issues. The students must select five issues and complete five projects, in which they will have to make the same kind of decisions expected of voting-age Americans. American History 1A: students follow events and trends in the history of the United States from the arrival of the indigenous peoples through the end of the Civil War. American history is presented from multiple perspectives as recorded by various groups. Students read and hear the words of Native Americans, Europeans, Euro-Americans, Africans, African Americans, Mexicans, and Mexican Americans as they describe events and conditions that reshaped life in the Western Hemisphere. American History 1B: students learn about American History from the Civil War's end through the 1970s. The course is divided into four historical eras, and each era is divided into five different types of history: political history, popular history, the multicultural peoples' history, military history, and economic history. The course's structure allows students to learn about history from a variety of different viewpoints. Anthropology: students become familiar with their own culture, and they are introduced to cultures from around the world and from different periods in history. The course uses five Roots of Culture: Family, Land, Death, Identity, and Power to explore the similarities and differences in cultural roles in various times and places. Applied Math: students are introduced to such everyday life skills as balancing a checkbook, calculating net pay, budgeting expenses, making cost comparisons, buying and renting a home, and finding the cost of operating a motor vehicle. Basic business matters, including borrowing money, investing, and calculating business profits and losses are also included. The goal of this course is to guide students in building a strong foundation in logical thinking and problem solving that will enable them to make good decisions concerning matters of money and finance in their daily lives. Several projects and activities will allow them to use the skills and knowledge they gain from this course and apply them to real-life situations. Art: This is a basic two dimensional art class designed to teach students the basics about two dimensional art. Students will focus on the Elements and Principles of Design, but will also have an opportunity to explore different kinds of art, created by all kinds of artists. Students will also be asked to create art, using basic design elements. Biology 1A: by retracing Charles Darwin's famous voyage to the Galapagos Islands, students will learn how science is used daily to answer questions about life. On their journey, they will learn basic biology concepts such as the characteristics of life, chemistry, cell biology, photosynthesis, mitosis and meiosis, genetics, DNA, evolution, and classification. Biology 1B is about biological diversity—including viruses, bacteria, protists, fungi, plants, and animals. It is also about the basic principles of ecology, which is the study of the interactions of organisms with each other and with their environments, and the consequences of these interactions. Career Planning: a course designed to offer the student an opportunity to explore their own interests and values, investigate career interests, and practice making goals and decisions. The course provides information on finding, getting, and keeping a job, and emphasizes the transition to the student's next phase of life. Chemistry 1A: As young voyagers leave planet Earth in search of a new place to live, they encounter many problems they must solve through the application of chemistry principles. In this course offered via the Web, students solve problems dealing with food, transportation, energy, atmosphere, and shelter and clothing. They gain information about matter, the structure of atoms and molecules, elements and compounds, the periodic table, chemical reactions, and the behavior of gases. They learn how to balance equations, calculate empirical and molecular formulas, and determine molar mass. Chemistry 1B: A hypothetical space trip by young explorers to colonize a new "livable" planet provides the vehicle for teaching the content of chemistry though challenging and imaginative units centered on typical life-essential scenarios in this course offered via the Web. The five units teach colligative properties, kinetics and equilibrium, acids and bases, oxidation and reduction formulas, and organic chemistry. Students can watch demonstrations of chemical reactions. Civics: Students will learn about the rights and responsibilities of United States citizenship. They explore the structure of the federal government, as outlined in the U.S. Constitution, and the organization of state and local governments. They learn the basics of the American free enterprise system and United States foreign policy. Each of the five units--Citizenship, National Government, State and Local Government, Economics of Free Enterprise, and Foreign Policy--contains an in-depth section where the student investigates a specific incident or issue tied to the unit theme. Digital Photography: This introduction to digital photography shares essentially the same objectives as a Beginning Black&White Photography course. It is an introduction to photography as a fine art and emphasizes all aspects of the subject, pre-visualization and camera work to image manipulation and print processing. In Digital Photography, however, the computer, GIMP, and a Flickr replace the traditional chemical darkroom. Earth Science 1A: This introductory Earth Science course is designed to study all aspects of our planet, including earth, water, atmosphere, and space as they impact our universe. This course will provide the student with information that will enable him or her to effectively investigate and study the interactions of the earth and its processes. This first semester will examine historical and current tectonic theory, earthquakes and volcanoes; the effects of plate tectonics, Earth materials, weathering, erosion and geologic time. English 1: students will encounter many of the aspects of what keeps a language “alive”—reading the words that others have written, listening to the words that others have spoken, and writing words of your own. By the time students complete this course, they will have applied their skills to a number of writing situations, and they will have learned techniques that they can use in nearly every writing situation. Students will be introduced to different types of writing-- speeches, essays, and research writing. They'll learn the secrets of successful reading and skills to help them increase their vocabulary. Students will read excerpts from a variety of literary works (some famous and others not as well-known), as well as from "everyday" writing. English 2: Students will explore several general approaches to presenting your ideas in writing and also specific techniques you can use to get your ideas across to the reader. By the time students complete this course, they will have applied their skills to a number of writing situations, and will have learned techniques that they can use in nearly every writing situation. Students will be introduced to different types of writing--short stories, poetry, novels, and nonfiction. They will learn the secrets of successful reading and skills to help them increase their vocabulary. They will read excerpts from a variety of literary works (some famous and others not as well-known), as well as from "everyday" writing. English 3: Students explore a variety of pre-reading, reading, and post-reading strategies, while reading a variety of genres. Additionally, students learn to engage in literary analysis as they complete the short story unit. Students also learn to identify the characteristics of realistic fiction, multicultural novels, and classic novels. Finally, students begin to recognize and employ logical appeals, fallacy, and emotional appeals while they explore how to write and speak more effectively in the essay unit. English 4: Students explore the themes of technology, language, illusion, and independence. Students read culturally diverse selections, within such differing genres as the essay, short story, novel, historical writings, and poetry. Through multimedia presentations, selections provide vocabulary enrichment, textual insights, and audio readings of excerpts to enhance the learning experience. Students will develop critical thinking and writing skills by taking quizzes, completing creative projects, and sharing their thoughts in newsgroups, or one-on-one with the teacher or other students. English 5: In this course students will explore the process of writing through the Six Traits of Writing: Conventions, Organization, Ideas, Word Choice, Voice, and Sentence Fluency. Students will:
English 6: Students explore American literature about nature, ethnicity, gender, culture, family, and identity in this course offered via the Web. The selections offer diverse perspectives in history, culture, class, geography, age, gender, and sexual orientation. Literature of various genres (short story, novel, poetry, autobiography, testimony, nonfiction) guides students to a better understanding of people of many cultural backgrounds. Students develop critical as well as creative thinking, writing, and communication strategies and skills as they examine the literary treatment of human relations in a multicultural society. Creative and analytical writing projects, vocabulary terms, newsgroup contributions, and self-guided activities enhance the learning process. English 7: Students learn to write in many styles. They learn the major steps of the writing process: prewriting, drafting, peer review, and revision. Students identify audiences, generate topics, organize information, and edit and hone effective writing techniques. Students build a portfolio and learn to critique the work of others. English 8: Students explore the universal nature of spiritual and intellectual needs for love, justice, integrity, knowledge, and acceptance. Students acquire a vocabulary of literary criticism and convention by examining literary selections in their historical and cultural perspectives. The literary techniques of the classic authors are studied and analyzed with a focus on critical analysis. Students complete notebook activities, participate in newsgroup discussions and complete a formal writing project. Essential Math 1A: series of three modules designed to help students master the portions of the California Mathematics Content Standards, as outlined below
Essential Math 1B: series of two modules designed to help students master the portions of the California Mathematics Content Standards, as outlined below
Fit4Life: Instruction occurs online to further develop student’s interest in personal lifelong physical activity and fitness. Students participate in research, discussion, and physical fitness self-assessment and other physical activities. Application of concepts, thinking skills, and positive attitudes towards health-related and skill-related fitness are features. Students access information and obtain and analyze data to set goals and plan their own personal fitness program. Geometry 1A: students taking this course develop reasoning skills using geometric terms and processes, concepts of logic, and applied problem solving. This course explains geometric concepts clearly and challenges students to reach higher levels of understanding. It has many deductive proofs (formal, paragraph, and indirect) that establish a basis for much of the geometric explanations. Geometry 1B: students taking this course continue to develop geometry skills while studying similarity, areas and volumes, right triangles, circles, coordinate geometry, and transformations. The concepts of problem solving, communication, reasoning, and connections are addressed in this course. Health Science 1A: students are introduced to healthy lifestyle choices that are built around the basic concepts of physical health and wellness. Nutrition and exercise are emphasized. Students also learn about the health risks associated with tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs. Other subjects addressed include types of illnesses, functions of the major systems of the body, and career choices associated with health. Students have the opportunity to interact with their teacher and classmates on the Web. Health Science 1B: students cover a broad range of health-related topics. The course begins with a detailed treatment of various aspects of mental health. Students also explore lifetime development, from conception through death, including topics dealing with marriage and family. Issues covering the causes and effects of violence on the individual and society are also addressed. The course also touches on the environment, public health, and basics of safety and emergency care. Introduction to Psychology: students explore concepts of psychology through life-like scenarios focusing on aggression, addictive behavior, memory, interpersonal relations, and self-care. Students explore scientific methods of research as well as the major schools of psychology as they relate to issues in the five primary focus areas. Macroeconomics: students gain an understanding of macroeconomics by exploring and analyzing economic data through a variety of learning activities. Students learn how macroeconomics relates to them and how it differs from microeconomics. They study the measurement of aggregate economic activity and how it relates to employment and inflation. Finally, students study fiscal and monetary policies designed to promote economic stability. Throughout the course, students visit Web sites to access current economic data. Math Skills Review: students review basic mathematics concepts as they visit the six major areas of the Carnival: Percentage Pavilion, Fraction Fairway, Integer Island, Decimal Deluge, Capacity Courts, and Guest Graphing. They are able to check their mathematics knowledge and decide in which areas they need to spend the most time. Students refresh their knowledge of problem-solving strategies and the application of basic mathematical concepts in real-world situations. Students have the opportunity to interact with their teacher and classmates on the Web. Native American Literature: course readings include works by nationally recognized authors as well as works by people who are publishing on a local level in their communities. students will also read one novel on their own and write a short paper about how the book connects to the course themes and to their own life experiences. Oceanography: students construct an applied knowledge of the characteristics of aquatic systems. Students study ocean structure and marine ecology through hands-on exploration of coastal waters, open ocean waters, deep ocean waters, coral reefs, kelp forests, deep ocean vents, and tide pools. Through guided practice of the scientific model and with household instruments, the student conducts a field study of a local aquatic structure for the final project. Outdoor Education: Students will learn fundamentals of a variety outdoor recreation sports. They will utilize the local resources like the Wind River Mountains, Yellowstone National Park, and the outdoor recreation opportunities that they have to offer, like skiing, map reading, canoeing, backpacking, snow shoeing and so forth. Students will work through the basics of the sports and apply the skills that they have learned to the specialty that they choose for the final practicum of the course. Physical Science 1A: is an interactive course designed to help students master physical science concepts which are based upon the required standards and objectives. Through text, graphics, and interactive simulations, they will investigate various topics from the science basics like the like scientific method, to science and technology, the classification of matter, identifying physical and chemical changes along with the properties of matter, learning how a pH system works, through the gas laws and ending with Bernoulli's Principle. Physical Science 1B: basics of physics are covered, from the study of motion, (which includes discussions of Newton's laws of motion), to energy, waves, and electricity and magnetism. Scientific inquiry, along with reading and writing are incorporated throughout the course as students participate in discussions, complete inquiry labs and assignments, and explore scientific significant web sites. In addition, "Real World Connections," "Highlights in Science," and activities are integrated throughout the course to help students apply their knowledge learned to real-life situations and across all curriculums. Physics 1A: The science of physics involves the discovery of patterns and relationships in natural phenomena. As students progress through this Interactive Physics 1A course offered via the Web, they will be introduced to familiar situations from a new perspective. They will learn to explain, according to the laws of physics, the events that occur in the world around them. Through text, graphics, and interactive simulations, they will investigate straight-line motion, motion in two dimensions, energy, relativity, properties of matter, change of state, heat, and temperature. Physics 1B: The science of physics involves the discovery of patterns and relationships in natural phenomena. As students progress through this Interactive Physics 1B course offered via the Web, they will continue to view familiar situations from a different perspective. They will learn to explain, according to the laws of physics, the events that occur in the world around them. Through text, graphics, and interactive simulations, they will investigate wave motion, sound, light, reflection and refraction, color, magnetism, electricity, and nuclear physics. Pre-Algebra 1A: provides an opportunity for students to learn fundamental mathematics concepts using an interactive, problem-based approach. They develop an understanding of fractions, decimals, and percentages by applying them in practical situations; learn to handle data through graphs; develop an understanding of probability; become familiar with scientific notation; and learn to use ratios and proportions to solve problems. Students can interact with their teacher and classmates on the Web. Pre-Algebra 1B: students learn about general mathematics concepts as they plan a two-country concert tour. This metaphor helps students engage with the comprehensive content, which includes statistics, graphs, basic geometric concepts, set theory, networking, simple equations, and the coordinate plane. Students are given several opportunities to check their skills as they complete interactive activities throughout each lesson. Pre-Algebra Prep: this course has been designed with a major emphasis on number operations. It reinforces the operational skills necessary to be successful in subsequent math courses. This course contains lessons, graded practice sets, dropbox assignments, quizzes and unit tests. The dropbox assignments are unique in that they utilize a spiraling technique to review previous lessons. Each assignment will not only contain problems from the current lesson, but also the previous four lessons. Pre-Calculus 1A: designed to provide students with the necessary preparation for studying calculus and other college mathematics courses. This course reviews algebraic properties and then introduces functions and graphs. As students continue with the course, they will learn about algebraic and inverse functions, exponential and logarithmic functions, conic sections, matrices, determinants, complex numbers, and discrete algebra. Throughout the course, they will discover examples of the role of mathematics in daily life. Pre-Calculus 1B: designed to provide students with the necessary preparation for studying calculus and other college mathematics courses. This course begins by reviewing basic concepts in trigonometry. As students continue with the course, they will learn about approximate values, trigonometric identities, graphs, and equations, logarithms, vectors, complex numbers, and polar coordinates. Throughout the course, students will discover examples of the role of mathematics in daily life. Study Skills: students are guided through developing study skills to improve academic and work performance, based on their learning styles. They are provided several application opportunities based on self-assessments in topics such as time management, memory, oral communications, reading, writing, note taking, critical thinking, test taking and researching. Students have the opportunity to interact with their teacher and classmates on the Web. Weight Training: The purpose of this course is to give students an overview of the concepts involved with weight training, from the physiology, goal setting, upper body and lower body all the way to flexibility. By the end of the course the student will be able to create his or her own personal fitness plan that meets their personal goals. Through activities and their own personal time in a strength training center of their choice students will be creation a health enhancing program that they can continue through their adult lives. World Civilizations 1A: students will explore the many aspects of the various world civilizations, from the earliest civilizations that originated before 2300 B.C. to those that ruled the world in A.D. 1500. A broad range of cultural elements, including art, architecture, religion, education, family life, and roles of women in each civilization are addressed. Additionally, at various points in the course, "Highlights in History" pages showcase events or achievements from certain civilizations. World Civilizations 1B: students will learn about the global history from 1500 to the 1990s, which covers events from the conquest of the "New World" to the end of the Cold War. The course is divided into six units, with each unit containing six lessons. Each lesson covers a different geographical region of the world, and the topics within each lesson cover the sequence of events in that region within the unit's chronological boundaries. As with World Civilizations 1A, the course's scale will necessitate superficial examination of many events. Although globe-altering events such as the Protestant Reformation and World War I will receive in-depth study, emphasis will be placed on the universality of certain qualities of civilization and establishment and consequences of interconnected regions, economies, and cultures. World Geography 1A: This course provides students a comprehensive look at the geographical composition of the world, while integrating the other threads of the social sciences |
|||||||||
|
