English 9 (1.0 Credit) Back to Top
Course Description:
As students move into the world of later adolescence, they are expanding their interests and beginning to look for areas of expertise. This course meets the needs of students in this process by providing an introduction to a more detailed writing process and more intensive instruction in reading comprehension and analysis.
English 7-8 (1.0 Credit) Back to Top
Course Description:
This course meets the standards of the Utah Core Curriculum at this level. Intensive instruction is provided in the basics of reading comprehension, listening and speaking skills, and the writing process. These concepts and skills are taught in an integrated, interdisciplinary environment in which the student is aided in moving out of a dependent learning state into a more independent learning mode.
English 10 (1.0 Credit) Back to Top
Course Description:
In accordance with the Utah State Core, this course is designed to meet students' needs who, at this level, are looking forward to post-high school goals of work and other training. At this level, though reading comprehension skills remain an important focus, this course begins a more intensive emphasis on writing process and, in particular, informational and persuasive writing. It continues to support the development of listening and speaking skills in informal situations and introduces informational and persuasive formal speech.
English 11 (1.0 Credit) Back to Top
Course Description:
In accordance with the Utah State Core, this course is designed to meet students' needs, who, at this level, have begun to anticipate seriously their possible careers. Although they are not necessarily settled on a career, they are searching for a specific area of broad interest. This course seeks to bring together student abilities into the important workplace and community skill of formal presentation. Reading and writing process skills have received two years of intense instruction. Therefore, students should be able to combine these into the skill of effectively adressing groups and individuals.
English 12 (1.0 Credit) Back to Top
Course Description:
In accordance with the Utah State Core, this course continues the development of thinking, reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. Students are also introduced to a greater variety of literature, including practical as well as traditional literary material. They improve their expressive and receptive vocabularies. They continue their development of investigative and library reference skills. Students also have multiple opportunities to practice writing, to increase fluency, to generate ideas, and to begin to emphasize correctness in finished pieces.
Calculus (1.0 Credit) Back to Top
Course Description:
Beginning differential and integral calculus
Elementary Algebra (1.0 Credit) Back to Top
Course Description:
Students in Elementary Algebra will learn algebra as a style of thinking for formalizing patterns, functions, and generalizations. In this course, students will expand previously learned quantitative rational number relationships to include the irrational numbers. The focus will be on proficiency in recognizing and working effectively with linear relationships and their corresponding representations in tables, graphs, and equations; such proficiency includes competence in solving linear equations, generating equivalent expressions, using formulas, and applying proportionality. To develop proficiency in symbolic and graphical representations, students will use physical models, visual models, and technology. While mathematical skills will be developed, teaching will focus on the understanding of concepts in depth, enabling students to apply mathematical skills and make meaningful connections to life's experiences.
Geometry (1.0 Credit) Back to Top
Course Description:
Students in Geometry study Euclid's postulates and theorems as the basis for an axiomatic system. Students will explore geometry through inductive and deductive processes, technology, constructions, manipulatives, and algebraic connections. Topics of investigation include logic, angle and line relationships, triangles and other polygons, congruence, and similarity. Students also study coordinate geometry. Trigonometric ratios of sine, cosine, and tangent are used to solve triangle problems. Students will use area, volume, geometric probability, and geometric relationships to solve real-life problems. While mathematical skills will be developed, teaching will focus on the understanding of concepts in depth, enabling students to apply mathematical skills and make meaningful connections to life's experiences.
Intermediate Algebra (1.0 Credit) Back to Top
Course Description:
Intermediate Algebra will build upon the knowledge previously learned in Elementary Algebra and Geometry. It will provide students with the reasoning skills necessary for many careers and the mathematical tools they will need to be successful in advanced mathematics classes. The study of functions is the primary focus of Intermediate Algebra. Exploring functions, investigating their behaviors, and making and verifying reasonable guesses about those behaviors will develop students' reasoning and thinking skills. To develop these important skills, students will study functions algebraically by traditional methods, as well as numerically and graphically using technology and manipulatives. Types of functions receiving a major focus in the course will be quadratic, absolute value, radical, and sine and cosine. The course will also emphasize the concepts of complex numbers, matrices, systems of equations and inequalities, and probability using permutations and combinations. While mathematical skills will be developed, teaching will focus on the understanding of concepts in depth, enabling students to apply mathematical skills and make meaningful connections to life experiences. Because of the importance of technology in this course, access to a graphing calculator is required.
Math 7-8 (1.0 Credit) Back to Top
Course Description:
Math 7-8 is provided as an intervention for students requiring additional experience in developing conceptual understanding and building mathematical skills. Math 7 meets the needs of those students who are not ready to move on to Pre-Algebra by focusing on computation and estimation with rational numbers, introduction to proportional reasoning, and linear relationships. Students in Math 7 will review and extend knowledge obtained in sixth grade mathematics by conjecturing, verifying, thinking critically, and applying mathematical concepts. While mathematics skills will be strengthened, teaching will develop understanding of concepts in depth and enable students to make meaningful connections in life.
Pre-Algebra (1.0 Credit) Back to Top
Course Description:
The major emphases of the Pre-Algebra course are rational numbers, proportionality, measurement, data collection and analysis, probability, and beginning algebra concepts that serve as a transition into formal algebra and geometry. Students will develop a deep understanding of rational number concepts, become proficient in rational number computation, and learn to think flexibly about relationships among fractions, decimals, and percents. Concepts involving rational numbers will be developed through experience with problems involving a range of topics. Knowledge of proportionality concepts is developed through extensive applications of ratio and proportion, percent, similarity, scaling, and slope of linear equations. Students will learn to recognize and generate equivalent expressions as well as solve one- or two-step single-variable equations and inequalities. Students will investigate geometric relationships by drawing, measuring, visualizing, comparing, transforming, and classifying geometric objects. Important aspects of measurement will include selecting and using appropriate units and scales. Students will formulate questions; design studies; and collect, organize, and interpret data. Students will develop simple probabilities by using experimentation and analysis of possible outcomes. While mathematical skills will be developed, teaching will focus on the understanding of concepts in depth, thus enabling students to apply mathematical skills and make meaningful connections to life's experiences. Students should see mathematics as an exciting, useful, and creative field of study.
Pre-Calculus (1.0 Credit) Back to Top
Course Description:
Pre-calculus fills the minimum mathematics course requirement for students who plan to participate in post-secondary training. It also serves as the prerequisite for Advanced Placement Calculus or Statistics courses. In preparation for this course, students should have mastered linear and quadratic functions, concepts from discrete mathematics involving sequences and series, and data analysis and probability techniques. They should also be able to confidently work with expressions containing rational exponents and radical and rational terms. Areas of study for the course will include exponential, power, polynomial, rational, logarithmic, and piece-wise functions, along with trigonometric functions and their inverses. Students will investigate and explore mathematical ideas using methods that will help them gain a deep understanding of fundamental concepts, develop multiple strategies for analyzing complex situations, and acquire appropriate technological skills. Students will analyze situations verbally, numerically, graphically, and symbolically. Effective communication skills will be developed so that students will be able to discuss, explain, and justify their thoughts and ideas. While mathematical skills will be developed, teaching will focus on building a deep understanding of concepts that will enable students to apply mathematical skills and make meaningful connections to life's experiences. Because of the importance of technology in this course, access to a graphing calculator is required.
7-8 Integrated Science (1.0 Credit) Back to Top
Course Description:
8th Grade: Eighth Grade Integrated Science focuses on the theme of "change." Earth, physical, and life sciences content are integrated in a curriculum with two primary goals: (1) students will value and use science as a process of obtaining knowledge based upon observable evidence, and (2) students will develop an understanding of change as an organizing science concept common to all content areas. The Core was designed using Project 2061s Benchmarks For Science Literacy as a guide to determine appropriate content and process skills for students to reach science literacy. Core concepts can best be taught using integrated instruction of science and skills form other curriculum areas. The nature of science and issues relating to technology have been infused into the Core. The personal relevance of science is an important part of this Core and should be emphasized. Hands-on, student-centered approaches to instruction with student as scientist should be emphasized. Chemistry in the eighth grade Core should be described at a macroscopic level and the objectives can be accomplished using common household substances and/or microchemistry techniques.
Biology (1.0 Credit) Back to Top
Course Description:
The Biology Core Curriculum is a set of learning standards that all students are expected to know and be able to do upon completion of this course. All objectives and indicators may be successfully completed with a variety of learning activities. A major guide used during the writing of this curriculum is Project 2061s Benchmarks for Science Literacy. Students are expected to explain ideas or concepts in their own words, relate them to other topics, and apply them in a new context. Throughout the curriculum, students are provided with information and then are required to apply it (e.g., design a model, compare and contrast, infer). It is necessary for students to examine their decisions or action and determine how they impact the world around them. Careers in many fields of biology are infused across the curriculum.
Chemistry (1.0 Credit) Back to Top
Course Description:
Students will value and use science as a process of obtaining knowledge based upon observable evidence of this Core. Project 2061s Benchmarks For Science Literacy was used as a guide to determine appropriated content and process skills for students. Science and technology issues have been infused in the Core. Personal relevance of science is an important part of this Core and should be emphasized. Three topics are central to chemistry Core. The first topic presents ideas intended to give students an understanding of the atom as a complete and functioning entity; second, the study of chemical systems and factors affecting these systems. Finally, chemical analysis is used to have students design and perform experiments and determine the relevancy of chemistry in their lives.
Earth Science (1.0 Credit) Back to Top
Course Description:
9th Grade Earth Systems: Ninth Grade Integrated Science focuses on the theme of "Earth Systems". Earth, physical, space, and life science content are integrated in a curriculum with two primary goals. *Students will value and use science as a process of obtaining knowledge based on observable evidence. *Students will develop an understanding of interactions and interdependence within and between Earth systems and changes in Earth systems over time. The Core was designed using Project 2061s Benchmarks For Science Literacy. Special emphasis in the Core is given to the effects of biological processes on Earth systems may be summarized as matter cycles, energy flows, and life webs. The web of life is intertwined with Earth's energy flows and matter cycles. Emphasis should be placed on the inter-connections among Earth's systems and on understanding how alterations in one part may affect the system as a whole. Students understanding of science should enable them to make informed and responsible decisions.
Economics (1.0 Credit) Back to Top
Course Description:
Economics focuses on the study of economic prblems and the methods by which societies solve them. Characteristics of the market economy of the United States and its function in the world and methods of applying economics to one's life will be explored.
U.S. History, The Early Years (1.0 Credit) Back to Top
Course Description:
The Early Years - United States History for grades 7 and 8 covers events and issues from the Age of Exploration through Reconstruction and the Western Movement, emphasizing the 18th and 19th centuries. Topics covered will include, but are not limited to: exploration, colonization, Revelutionary War, constitutional issues, nation building, Civil War, Reconstruction, and Western Movement.
U.S. History, The Modern Era (1.0 Credit) Back to Top
Course Description:
United States History for grades 9-12 covers events and issues from the Reconstruction period to the present. A brief review of U.S. history up to the reconstruction era will be provided to set a foundation for student learning. Students will gain a greater understanding and appreciation for America's rich history during this time period.
United States Government (1.0 Credit) Back to Top
Course Description:
United States Government focuses on the major ideas, protections, privileges, structures, and economic systems that affect the life of a Citizen in the United States political system. Students will become more aware of political issues and the importance of becoming an informed voter and participant in the democracy that they are a part of.
World Civilizations (1.0 Credit) Back to Top
Course Description:
World Civilizations covers the increasing interrelationships over time of the world's peoples. The course will cover two major interrelationships that have developed among the major regions of the world: East Asia, South Asia, Southwest Asia ( Middle East), Africa, Europe, North America, and Latin America. Second, relationships have developed within all aspectsof human activity: political, economic, social, philosophical and religious, scientific and technological, and artistic.
