K-12 Course Catalog

HALF-CREDIT OPTIONS AVAILABLE; English 6A, English 6B

This course provides a strong foundation in grammar and the writing process. It emphasizes simple but useful composition and language mechanics strategies with multiple opportunities for modeling practical, real-world writing situations that will enable students to improve their written communication skills quickly. Through a variety of grade-appropriate reading selections, students develop a clear understanding of key literary genres and their distinguishing characteristics.

HALF-CREDIT OPTIONS AVAILABLE; English 7A, English 7B

English 7 Integrates the study of writing and literature through the examination of a variety of genres. Students identify the elements of composition in the reading selections to understand their function and effect on the reader. Practice is provided in narrative and expository writing. Topics include comparison and contrast, persuasion, and cause and effect essays, as well as descriptive and figurative language. Lessons are supplemented with vocabulary development, grammar, and syntax exercises, along with an introduction to verbal phrases and research tools.

HALF-CREDIT OPTIONS AVAILABLE; English 8A, English 8B

English 8 extends the skills developed in English 7 through detailed study of parts of sentences and paragraphs to understand their importance to good writing. Students also acquire study skills such as time management and improved test-taking strategies. Other topics include punctuation, word choice, syntax, varying of sentence structure, subordination and coordination, detail and elaboration, effective use of reference materials, and proofreading.

Art I encourages students to collaborate to create art. Students investigate how art can be personally significant while learning to be open to new artistic ideas, materials, methods, and creative approaches. In this course, students also explore the ways in which art equipment and materials can affect the environment. They study why and how artistic design can influence people, and they design art for a diverse population. Students also determine whether works of art successfully communicate their intended message. This course introduces three-dimensional art, and students compare two-dimensional and three-dimensional pieces before creating their own 3-D artwork. They will view art from around the world and determine what the works reveal about the values and lifestyles of the people depicted in the works. Finally, students learn the importance of preserving art and the ways in which to critique art.

Prerequisite: Art 1

In Art II, students transition from exploratory art discovery to a more discipline-based approach. This new approach focuses on developing students’ skills and techniques as well as content knowledge, while still allowing for exploration and individuality. Students have the opportunity to act as real artists through repeated sketching, concept development, and continued research and observation activities while they work with a variety of media. Art II includes a strong focus on independent, creative thinking and problem solving through project-based learning. This course is designed to cover a half year of instruction, but it can be completed at each student’s own pace. The project-based activities have dedicated, multi-day lessons to allow students time to sufficiently and successfully develop their ideas and artwork.

HALF-CREDIT OPTIONS AVAILABLE: MS GAME DESIGN 1A, MS GAME DESIGN 1B

We love to play video games, but have you ever wanted to build your own? If you are interested in a career in technology but also want a creative outlet, Game Design might be the field for you. Learn how to build a game from the ground up in this interactive and hands-on course that will teach you all the ins and outs of making your own game.

HALF-CREDIT OPTIONS AVAILABLE: MS PHOTOGRAPHY 1A, MS PHOTOGRAPHY 1B

Photographs are all around us, and each helps to tell a story. Now it’s time for you to create your story through photos you learn how to take in part A of this course. Learn the basics of using a camera, lighting, and how to choose great subjects to create magazine-worthy photos and amaze your friends and family with your skills.

Do you have vacation photos or pics of your pet that need a little editing? How about getting ready to add that new selfie you took to your social media platform? Taking photos is an art, and editing photos is a skill that many photographers seek to master. In part of this course, explore how to manipulate angles and lighting, the purpose for different types of photo files, how to use different software to edit photos, and safe places you can store them. You’ll be well on your way to being an editing guru when you’re done with this course.

Required Materials

• Digital camera: “point and shoot” or above
• USB cable, as needed to transfer photos
• Audio recording device
• Video recording device
• An everyday household object (like a TV, refrigerator, etc.)
• Assorted food items
• Backdrop (blanket, construction paper, sheet, etc.)
• Word processing software
• Slide presentation software
• Online timeline creator

Note: A Smartphone may be used for most required tasks; however, appropriate applications will need to be installed to allow the student to make the necessary adjustments to the camera mode, shutter speed, and aperture.

HALF-CREDIT OPTIONS AVAILABLE; MS GUITAR 1A, MS GUITAR 1B

This course is designed for people who have never picked up the instrument before but have always wanted to try. The course covers all of the notes, chords, and theory that you need to get started. And for those more advanced players, you’ll learn about different musical styles and techniques that aim to round out your sound and inspire your song craft. You will need a playable six-string guitar and a way to record and submit a video performance to your instructor. A guitar is “playable” if it is the correct size for the guitarist, is easy to press the strings down against the frets, and plays in tune up and down the fretboard. There are three common types of six-string guitars: classical, steel string, and electric. If you do not already have a guitar, you may want to seek the advice of an experienced guitarist, a guitar teacher, or your local music store. This course is taught using a right-handed guitar. Students choosing to use a left-handed guitar will need to adjust accordingly. No prior music background is required. No prerequisites are required.

Required Materials

To complete this course, you will need 1 of the following types of guitars:

• 6 string acoustic
• 6 string electric
• 6 string classical

You will also want a few picks at your disposal.

Optional purchases that most players like to have on hand include:

• 1 set of backup strings
• 1 string winder / peg winder
• 1 tuner app downloaded on your phone (or 1 physical tuner)

HALF-CREDIT OPTIONS AVAILABLE: MS UKULELE A. MS UKULELE B.

The ukulele is the perfect instrument for budding musicians who have never played a musical instrument, as well as experienced musicians who desire to expand their instrumental diversity. MS Ukulele is an entry-level course for students wishing to develop knowledge of musical concepts, while also developing the technical skills necessary to play melodies and accompaniments on the ukulele. Various forms of notation and symbolism common to the ukulele (e.g. standard notation, tablature, fretboard diagrams and chord diagrams) are presented along with techniques and strategies for improvising melodies and chord accompaniments. No prior music background is required. No prerequisites are required.

Required Materials:

• Students will need to borrow, rent, or purchase a playable ukulele (soprano, concert, or tenor). Because of the differences in tuning, baritone and bass ukuleles are not appropriate for this course. A ukulele is “playable” if it is the correct size for the ukulele player, is easy to press the strings down against the frets, and plays in tune up and down the fretboard. This course is taught using a right-handed ukulele. It is recommended that left-handed students try playing on a right-handed ukulele when first learning.
• Students will need a way to record and submit video performances to their instructor. (This can be done via a webcam and microphone connected to a computer. Other alternatives include a smartphone, tablet, or digital camera.)

HALF-CREDIT OPTIONS AVAILABLE; MS CODING 1A, MS CODING 1B

Do you find yourself wondering how your favorite apps, websites, and games were made? Maybe you want to try building your own. Well, now you can! In Middle School Coding 1, you will get an introduction to the basics of computer science, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Python. You’ll leave the course with a portfolio of work you can show off!

PREREQUISITE: MS CODING 1

HALF-CREDIT OPTIONS AVAILABLE; MS CODING 2A, MS CODING 2B

In Middle School Coding 2, you will expand your knowledge of programming languages and web development by further exploring Python, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. You will analyze the differences between web development and web application development while growing your portfolio, which will serve to highlight everything you have learned and created in the course.

HALF-CREDIT COURSE

Are you physically fit? What does being fit mean to you? Physical fitness is a lot more than just a number on a scale – and that’s exactly what you’ll learn in this course! This course will help you understand the basics behind what it means to be physically fit; allow you to gain a deeper understanding about how your body functions; learn the complex science behind exercise; explore what it means to be mindful and what inspires you; and determine how you can test your current level of fitness. Being and staying physically fit is a lifelong endeavor and, just like human beings, there are many complexities involved! Learning about and improving your physical fitness is a smart choice to make at any age – and by signing up for this course, you will be doing exactly that! Consider this course to be the first step on your exciting journey to understanding and improving your physical fitness!

Half-Credit Course

This course gives students an introductory look at artificial intelligence, to understand how algorithms, machine learning, and neural networks function. Students grapple with difficult topics, such as bias in AI, and how it will impact the jobs we have and the tasks we do. This course allows students to explore the potential, as well as the perils, of artificial intelligence.

Half-Credit Course

As students enter middle school, they need a new set of skills because they face more autonomy, more responsibility, and greater social pressure than before. In the Turbo Leader I course, students learn how to build confidence, boost academic achievement, and manage complex interpersonal relationships. By the end of the course, students will have mastered dozens of proven strategies for promoting growth, solving challenges, and achieving their goals.

Half-Credit Course

Turbo Leader 2 equips students with tools that boost their skills and personal voice, which ultimately leads to building confidence, creating healthy coping mechanisms, and finding lifelong passions. Through applying these powerful skills, students can make meaningful differences in their schools and communities.

The content within this course focuses on the four critical areas defined by the Common Core State Standards: (1) connecting ratio and rate to whole number multiplication and division and using concepts of ratio and rate to solve problems; (2) completing understanding of division of fractions and extending the notion of number to the system of rational numbers, which includes negative numbers; (3) writing, interpreting, and using expressions and equations; and (4) developing understanding of statistical thinking.

This course uses a program called ALEKS (Assessment and Learning in Knowledge Spaces), a Web-based, artificially intelligent assessment and learning system. ALEKS uses adaptive questioning to quickly and accurately determine exactly what a student knows and doesn’t know in a course. ALEKS then instructs the student on the topics he/she is most ready to learn. As a student works through a course, ALEKS periodically reassesses the student to ensure that topics learned are also retained. ALEKS courses are very complete in their topic coverage and ALEKS avoids multiple-choice questions.

The content within this course focuses on the four critical areas defined by the Common Core State Standards: (1) developing understanding of and applying proportional relationships; (2) developing understanding of operations with rational numbers and working with expressions and linear equations; (3) solving problems involving scale drawings and informal geometric constructions, and working with two- and three-dimensional shapes to solve problems involving area, surface area, and volume; and (4) drawing inferences about populations based on samples.

This course uses a program called ALEKS (Assessment and Learning in Knowledge Spaces), a Web-based, artificially intelligent assessment and learning system. ALEKS uses adaptive questioning to quickly and accurately determine exactly what a student knows and doesn’t know in a course. ALEKS then instructs the student on the topics he/she is most ready to learn. As a student works through a course, ALEKS periodically reassesses the student to ensure that topics learned are also retained. ALEKS courses are very complete in their topic coverage and ALEKS avoids multiple-choice questions.

The content within this course focuses on the three critical areas defined by the Common Core State Standards: (1) formulating and reasoning about expressions and equations, including modeling an association in bivariate data with a linear equation, and solving linear equations and systems of linear equations; (2) grasping the concept of a function and using functions to describe quantitative relationships; (3) analyzing two- and three-dimensional space and figures using distance, angle, similarity, and congruence, and understanding and applying the Pythagorean Theorem.

This course uses a program called ALEKS (Assessment and Learning in Knowledge Spaces), a Web-based, artificially intelligent assessment and learning system. ALEKS uses adaptive questioning to quickly and accurately determine exactly what a student knows and doesn’t know in a course. ALEKS then instructs the student on the topics he/she is most ready to learn. As a student works through a course, ALEKS periodically reassesses the student to ensure that topics learned are also retained. ALEKS courses are very complete in their topic coverage and ALEKS avoids multiple-choice questions.

HALF-CREDIT OPTIONS AVAILABLE; Science 6A, Science 6B

 
This inquiry- and lab-based course is designed to support modern science curriculum and teaching practices. It robustly meets NGSS learning standards associated with a sixth-grade integrated science course (NGSS Appendix K: Modified Conceptual Progression Model, p. 19), focusing on basic physical science, Earth and space science, and ecosystems. Content topics include structure and properties of matter, forces and motion, the Earth and space, the history of the Earth, the interdependence of ecosystems, and weather and climate.

Each lesson includes one or more inquiry-based activities that can be performed online within the context of the lesson. In addition, the course includes a significant number of hands-on lab activities. Approximately 40% of student time in this course is devoted to true lab experiences, as defined by the National Research Council (2006, p. 3).

Lab materials note: All hands-on labs employ relatively-common household materials.

HALF-CREDIT OPTIONS AVAILABLE; Science 7A, Science 7B

This inquiry- and lab-based course is designed to support modern science curriculum and teaching practices. It robustly meets NGSS learning standards associated with a seventh-grade integrated science course (NGSS Appendix K: Modified Conceptual Progression Model, p. 19), focusing on cells, the life cycle, nutrition, chemical reactions, force fields, and energy. Content topics include cells and human body systems, the life cycle, nutrition and energy, chemical reactions, force fields, and energy.

Each lesson includes one or more inquiry-based activities that can be performed online within the context of the lesson. In addition, the course includes a significant number of hands-on lab activities. Approximately 40% of student time in this course is devoted to true lab experiences, as defined by the National Research Council (2006, p. 3).

Lab materials note: All hands-on labs employ relatively-common household materials.

HALF-CREDIT OPTIONS AVAILABLE; Science 8A, Science 8B

This inquiry- and lab-based course is designed to support modern science curriculum and teaching practices. It robustly meets NGSS learning standards associated with an eighth-grade integrated science course (NGSS Appendix K: Modified Conceptual Progression Model, p. 19). Content topics include genes and adaptations, evolution, energy and the Earth, the Earth’s changing climate, waves, and technology and human impacts on the Earth.

Each lesson includes one or more inquiry-based activities that can be performed online within the context of the lesson. In addition, the course includes a significant number of hands-on lab activities. Approximately 40% of student time in this course is devoted to true lab experiences, as defined by the National Research Council (2006, p. 3).

Lab materials note: All hands-on labs employ relatively-common household materials.

Sixth grade students will understand the cultural, religious, economic, and political systems of selected societies with a focus on the Eastern Hemisphere. Regions include the Middle East and North Africa, sub-Saharan Africa, Europe, Asia (east, south, and southeast), and Oceania. This course covers prehistory to Renaissance.

The content focus will be viewed through historical and geographic lenses. Seventh grade students will understand the relationships and interactions between societies and cultures in both the Eastern and Western Hemispheres. United States history will be taught as it intersects with global issues. This course covers the time period between the Scientific Revolution/Enlightenment and the present.

The content focus will be viewed through civic and economic lenses. Citizenship and civic engagement will be taught through inquiry. Eighth grade students will make connections between historical and current/recent issues as a base for implementing change in society. Students will recognize and practice their roles and responsibilities as both American and global citizens. United States History will focus on the major events that have their roots in the Constitution, Bill of Rights, and subsequent amendments.

HALF-CREDIT OPTIONS AVAILABLE: MS BEGINNER SPANISH A, MS BEGINNER SPANISH B

Spanish is the most spoken non-English language in U.S. homes, even among non-Hispanics, according to the Pew Research Center. There are overwhelming cultural, economic, and demographic reasons for students to achieve mastery of Spanish. MS Spanish engages students and uses a variety of activities to ensure student engagement and to promote personalized learning.

HALF-CREDIT OPTIONS AVAILABLE: MS INTERMEDIATE SPANISH A, MS INTERMEDIATE SPANISH B

Spanish is the most spoken non-English language in U.S. homes, even among non-Hispanics, according to the Pew Research Center. There are overwhelming cultural, economic, and demographic reasons for students to achieve mastery of Spanish. MS Spanish engages students and uses a variety of activities to ensure student engagement and to promote personalized learning.