Course Guide

Earth Science is the study of the earth and space. It covers five basic areas: geology, earth's surface, astronomy, meteorology, and oceanography. Basic concepts to the understanding of the makeup of the earth, the processes that occur on the earth, and its place in the universe are stressed. Laboratory activities, demonstrations, and written activities are used to introduce or reinforce these concepts. A main objective of the course is to relate the processes that are shaping the earth to the student's daily life.

An end of course SOL exam is given at the completion of this course.

Biology is a survey course with emphasis on the basics of biology. Topics include ecology, evolution, genetics, cell structure and classifications. A brief overview of the kingdoms is also included. A large part of the class time will be spent in laboratory work.

An end of course SOL exam is given at the completion of this course.

Ecology is a course intended to fulfill the third science credit for non-college bound students. Students pursuing the Advanced Diploma cannot use this credit as one of four required science credits. Ecology studies the relationships between man and the environment and helps students make more informed choices about how man affects his environment. The course emphasizes laboratory fieldwork (working outside) and examines practical problems associated with daily living.

This course offers students the opportunity to participate in a project-based class designed to stimulate interest and achievement in math and science. Students who take this class are laying the groundwork to further their science education. This class will focus on inquiry and investigation. The course is designed to better prepare students for starting positions in the technical work place, technical schools, apprenticeships, and/or further education.

College-Prep Course. Chemistry is a college preparatory course covering chemical behavior and interactions. Emphasis is placed on analytical thinking, scientific logic and basic chemical calculations through laboratory investigation, chemical demonstrations and real world solution application. A solid background in Basic Algebra is required.

An end of course SOL exam is given at the completion of this course.

College-Prep Course. This course covers some of the introductory ideas in classical physics. Because of an emphasis in problem solving and using math to illustrate the concepts, math skills are particularly important. The specific topics covered in this course include motion of objects, forces of nature, sound and light waves, basic optics, electrical circuits, thermodynamics, and modern physics.

College-Prep Course. Anatomy extends and explores in greater depth the concepts, processes, and principles of human anatomy first seen in biology. Emphasis is placed on anatomy and physiology. This course is geared for those interested in a health care field.

SOCIAL STUDIES

Students pursuing an Advanced Diploma must earn a minimum of 4 Standard Credits and 2 Verified Credits in Social Studies. Students pursuing a Standard Diploma must earn a minimum of 3 Standard Credits and 1 Verified Credit in Social Studies.

The focus of this course is the study of the world's people, places, cultures, economies, and environments with historical emphasis on Asia, Latin America, Russia, Pacific Islands, Australia, Africa, North America, Europe and the Middle East. The knowledge, skills, and perspective of the course are centered on the world's population and cultural characteristics, its countries and regions, land forms and climates, natural resources and natural hazards, economic and political systems, and migration and settlement patterns. Political concepts of geography will be linked to chronological concepts of history to set a framework for studying human interactions. The course will emphasize how people in various cultures influence and are influenced by their physical geographic, inquiry/research, and technology skills. Students will consider the relationships between people and places while asking and answering geographic questions.

An end of course SOL exam is given at the completion of this course.

The focus of this course is the study of the roots of the world’s great civilizations beginning from prehistoric times until the Middle Ages at 1000 A. D. A strong emphasis is made on the role of geographic and cultural influences on history. Emphasis is also placed on the use of historical research tools including: interpreting artifacts, archeological digs, using primary and secondary sources, distinguishing between facts and legends, and analyzing documents and data.

An end of course SOL exam is given at the completion of this course.

This course covers history and geography from the late Middle Ages (1000 A.D.) to the present with emphasis on Western Europe. Geographic influences on history continue to be explored but increasing attention is given to political boundaries that developed with the evolution of nation-states. Significant attention will be given to the ways in which scientific and technological revolutions created new economic conditions that in turn produced social and political changes. The people and events of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries will be emphasized for their strong connections of contemporary issues. The standards strike a balance between the broad themes of history and the probing of specific historic events, ideas, issues, persons, and documents. Using texts, maps, pictures, stories, diagrams, charts, and a variety of chronological, inquiry/research, and technological skills, students develop competence in chronological, thinking, historical comprehension, and historical analysis. This is an SOL tested and Advanced Studies course.

An end of course SOL exam is given at the completion of this course.

The standards for eleventh-grade students cover the historical development of American ideas and institutions from Age of Exploration to the present. While focusing on political and economic cultural history, the standards provide students with a basic knowledge of American culture through a chronological survey of major issues, movements, people and events in United States and Virginia history and focus of American history in a global context. This is an SOL tested course.

An end of course SOL exam is given at the completion of this course.

College-Level Course. Advanced Placement United States History focuses on developing students’ understanding of American history from approximately 1491 to the present. The course has students investigate the content of U.S. History for significant events, individuals, developments, and processes in nine historical periods, and develop and use the same thinking skills and methods employed by historians when they study the past. These methods include: analyzing primary and secondary sources, making historical comparisons, chronological reasoning, and argumentation. The course also provides seven themes that students explore in order to make connections among historical developments in different times and places. These themes include: American and national identity; migration and settlement; politics and power; work, exchange and technology; America in the world; geography and the environment; and culture and society. AP History is designed to be the equivalent of a two-semester introductory college US History course.

An end of course SOL exam is given at the completion of this course.

The standards for the study of United States and Virginia government will ensure the graduates of Virginia’s public schools an understanding of the origins and workings of the American and Virginia political systems. The standards require that students have knowledge of the United States and Virginia Constitutions; the structure and operation of United States and Virginia governments; the process of policy-making, with emphasis on economics, foreign affairs, and civil rights issues; and the impact of the general public, political parties, interest groups, and the media on policy decisions. United States political and economic systems are compared to those of other nations, with emphasis on the relationships between economic and political freedoms. Economic content covers the United States market system, supply, and demand, and role of the government in the economy.

College-Level Course. Advanced Placement American Government is designed to study the nature of the American political system, its development over the past two hundred years, and how it works today. Particular emphasis will be placed on understanding political institutions and processes and the formation and implementation of public policy. Following a seminar approach, the course will encourage interaction between student and teacher as well as supplemental reading, critical thinking skills, and continued development of research and communication skills. This course is designed to prepare students for success on the AP exam offered in May.

Psychology is an elective course designed for students who desire to know more about themselves and why they behave and interact with others as they do. This course also covers basic information about the various areas of psychology which may afford career opportunities. Components of sociology will be covered in this course dealing with the understanding of human relationships and the basic characteristics of a culture. The course will take a topical approach to cover contemporary social concerns such as crime and punishment, politics and religion, substance abuse, family relationships, etc. Instructional methods will include outside reading, library research, class discussion, field trips and guest speakers.

Current Affairs offers an in-depth study of world events as they occur and the impact they have on both the United States and foreign countries. A knowledge of world geography, world cultures including religions, and world governments will be utilized. Chrome books will be used extensively for both research and up-to-date reporting on current events.

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