2020–2021 Course Catalog - K12

Transcription

2020–2021Course Catalog1

T A B L E O F CO N T E N T SMiddle SchoolENGLISH AND LANGUAGE ARTSMATHSCIENCEHISTORYARTWORLD LANGUAGESJOURNEYS SYMPOSIUM3333344Upper SchoolENGLISHMATHSCIENCEHISTORY AND SOCIAL SCIENCESWORLD LANGUAGESELECTIVESJOURNEYS SYMPOSIUMORIENTATION57810131521212Some courses may require families to purchase materials beyond those supplied by George Washington University OnlineHigh School to successfully complete the course. For more information, please contact our school.

LKMiddle SchoolGWUOHS offers a full list of standard 8th grade courses aslisted below. Eighth-grade students who are more advancedin one or more subject areas and wish to challengethemselves even further are eligible to enroll in high schoolcourses, with the approval of our college counselor. The fulllist of high school courses can be found in the high schoolsection of the catalog.ENGLISH AND LANGUAGE ARTSSUMMIT LANGUAGE ARTS 8Throughout this course, students engage in literary analysis andclose reading of short stories, poetry, drama, novels, andinformational texts. The course focuses on the interpretation ofliterary works, analysis of informational texts, and thedevelopment of oral and written communication skills instandard (formal) English. Students read “between the lines” tointerpret literature and go beyond the text to discover how theculture in which a work of literature was created contributes tothe theme and ideas it conveys. Analysis of the structure andelements of informational texts and media helps studentsdevelop the skills needed for academic success and navigatingthe world. Students continue to acquire knowledge and skills ingrammar, usage, mechanics, and vocabulary. Implementingreading strategies, self-monitoring progress, and reflecting onsuccesses and challenges help students become metacognitivelearners. The course includes discussion activities that engagestudents in the curriculum while creating a sense of community.Course Length: Two SemestersPrerequisite: Language Arts 7 or equivalentSCIENCESUMMIT PHYSICAL SCIENCEThe Physical Science curriculum introduces students to manyaspects of the physical world, focusing first on chemistry and thenon physics. The course provides an overview of the physical worldand gives students tools and concepts to think clearly about matter,atoms, molecules, chemical reactions, motion, force, momentum,work and machines, energy, waves, electricity, light, and otheraspects of chemistry and physics.Among other subjects, students study the structure of atoms; theelements and the Periodic Table; chemical reactions; forces,including gravitational, motion, acceleration, and mass; and energy,including light, thermal, electricity, and magnetism.Course Length: Two SemestersHISTORYSUMMIT WORLD HISTORY IIContinuing a survey of world history from prehistoric to moderntimes, the online lessons and assessments complement the secondvolume of The Human Odyssey, a textbook series. This coursefocuses on the story of the past, from the 15th century to 1914 andthe beginning of World War I. The course is organizedchronologically and, within broad eras, regionally. Lessons exploredevelopments in religion, philosophy, the arts, and science andtechnology. The course introduces geography concepts and skills asthey appear in the context of the historical narrative.MATHCourse Length: Two SemestersSUMMIT ALGEBRA 1ARTThe Summit Algebra 1 course is intended to formalize and extendthe mathematics that students learned in the middle grades.Because it is built to follow revised middle school math courses, thecourse covers slightly different ground than previous versions ofalgebra. In this course, students deepen their understanding oflinear and exponential relationships by contrasting them with eachother. Students also apply linear models to data that exhibit a lineartrend. The course also covers analyzing, solving, and using quadraticfunctions.Course Length: Two SemestersSUMMIT INTERMEDIATE WORLD ART IIIntermediate World Art II lessons include an introduction to theartists, cultures, and great works of world art and architecture fromthe Renaissance through modern times. Students will study variousworks of art from the Renaissance and beyond; discover greatworks of art and see how they influenced later artists; compare andcontrast works from many civilizations, from paintings to sculpturearchitecture, book covers, prints, and more; and create artworksinspired by works they learn about.3

WORLD LANGUAGESMIDDLE SCHOOL SPANISH 2Students continue their language-learning adventure by progressingto the next level of middle school Spanish. Throughout the coursestudents focus on the four key areas of foreign language study:listening, speaking, reading, and writing. The course represents anideal blend of language learning pedagogy and online learning. Eachunit consists of a new vocabulary theme and grammar concept,reading, and listening comprehension activities speaking and writingactivities, multimedia cultural presentations, and interactiveactivities and practices which reinforce vocabulary and grammar.There is a strong emphasis on providing context and conversationalexamples for the language concepts presented in each unit.Students should expect to be actively engaged in their languagelearning, become familiar with common vocabulary terms andphrases, comprehend a wide range of grammar patterns, participatein simple conversations and respond appropriately to basicconversational prompts, analyze and compare cultural practices,products, and perspectives of various Spanish-speaking countries,and take frequent assessments where their language progressioncan be monitored. The course has been carefully aligned to nationalstandards as set forth by ACTFL (the American Council on theTeaching of Foreign Languages).JOURNEYS SYMPOSIUMEntering a new school (and an on-line one to boot!) can be a difficulttransition. The Journeys Symposium Middle and High Schoolprograms blend a robust on-line learning introduction with help inestablishing academic, social, and emotional skills to best preparestudents for success in middle school, high school, and beyond.Students meet in on-line classrooms with their Journeys instructorand classmates and build a sense of community and camaraderie aswell as essential skill sets. The Journeys Symposium Middle Schoolprogram is composed of two, consecutive year-long seminars.GRADE 8: JUMPING INTO JOURNEYSJumping into Journeys alludes to the 8th-grade transition into highschool. This course challenges 8th graders to become leaders of themiddle school community and actively map out their plan foracademic success, including course scheduling and progression,career exploration, self-reflection, and preparing for the rigor of highschool.Course Length: Two SemestersPrerequisite: Middle School Spanish 1 (or equivalent)MIDDLE SCHOOL FRENCH 2Students continue their introduction to French by focusing on thefour key areas of foreign language study: listening, speaking,reading, and writing. The course represents an ideal blend oflanguage learning pedagogy and online learning. Each unit consistsof a new vocabulary theme and grammar concept, reading, andlistening comprehension activities speaking and writing activities,multimedia cultural presentations, and interactive activities andpractices which reinforce vocabulary and grammar. There is a strongemphasis on providing context and conversational examples for thelanguage concepts presented in each unit. Students should expect tobe actively engaged in their language learning, become familiar withcommon vocabulary terms and phrases, comprehend a wide rangeof grammar patterns, participate in simple conversations andrespond appropriately to basic conversational prompts, analyze andcompare cultural practices, products, and perspectives of variousFrench-speaking countries, and take frequent assessments wheretheir language progression can be monitored. The course has beencarefully aligned to national standards as set forth by ACTFL (theAmerican Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages).Course Length: Two SemestersPrerequisite: Middle School French 1 (or equivalent)4

Upper SchoolIn comprehensive courses, students do more extensive writing andresearch projects and tackle problems that require more analyticalthinking. Course projects and activities also demand moreindependent thinking and self-discipline than projects in corecourses. Honors courses hold students to a greater degree ofaccountability and demand even greater independence and selfdiscipline. Students synthesize and evaluate information andconcepts from multiple sources and read texts typically assigned incollege-level courses. Students also demonstrate college-levelwriting in essays that require analysis of primary and secondarysources, responsible use of evidence, and comprehensive citation ofsources. AP courses are college-level courses that follow thecurriculum specified by the College Board. These courses aredesigned to prepare students for success on AP exams, providingstudents the opportunity to earn credit at most of the nation’scolleges and universities.ENGLISHENG108 as well as several extension activities. Each semester alsoincludes an independent honors project.Course Length: Two semestersPrerequisites: Literary Analysis and Composition (Grade 8) (orequivalent)ENG208E3: SUMMIT ENGLISH 10 (COMPREHENSIVE)The Summit English 10 course includes engaging and interactiveinstruction about reading, writing, speaking and listening, andlanguage, with a focus on exploring a wide variety of genres andtheir elements. Students learn how to carefully read, interpret, andanalyze literature and nonfiction works of cultural or historicalsignificance appropriate to grade 10. Throughout the course,students practice narrative, informational, and argument writing.Students also develop and deliver presentations and participate indiscussions with their peers.(These courses fulfill the English Credit Requirement)Course Length: Two semestersENG108E3: SUMMIT ENGLISH 9 (COMPREHENSIVE)Prerequisite: Success in ENG108: Literary Analysis and Composition I(or equivalent)This Summit English 9 course includes engaging and interactiveinstruction about reading, writing, speaking and listening, andlanguage, with a focus on exploring a wide variety of genres andtheir elements. Students learn how to carefully read, interpret, andanalyze literature and nonfiction works of cultural or historicalsignificance appropriate to grade 9. Throughout the course, studentspractice narrative, informational, and argument writing. Studentsalso develop and deliver presentations and participate in discussionswith their peers.Course Length: Two semestersPrerequisites: Literary Analysis and Composition I (or equivalent)ENG109E3: SUMMIT ENGLISH 9 HONORSThe Summit English 9 Honors course includes engaging andinteractive instruction about reading, writing, speaking and listening,and language, with a focus on exploring a wide variety of genres andtheir elements. Students learn how to carefully read, interpret, andanalyze literature and nonfiction works of cultural or historicalsignificance appropriate to grade 9. Throughout the course, studentspractice narrative, informational, and argument writing. Studentsalso develop and deliver presentations, and participate indiscussions with their peers. This course includes all the topics inENG209E3: SUMMIT ENGLISH 10 HONORSThe Summit English 10 Honors course includes engaging andinteractive instruction about reading, writing, speaking and listening,and language, with a focus on exploring a wide variety of genres andtheir elements. Students learn how to carefully read, interpret, andanalyze literature and nonfiction works of cultural or historicalsignificance appropriate to Grade 10. Throughout the course,students practice narrative, informative, and argument writing.Students also develop and deliver presentations, and participate indiscussions with their peers. This course includes all the topics inSummit English 10, as well as an independent honors project in eachsemester.Course Length: Two semestersPrerequisites: ENG109: Literary Analysis and Composition I (orequivalent)5

ENG303: SUMMIT AMERICAN LITERATURE(COMPREHENSIVE)ENG404: SUMMIT BRITISH AND WORLD LITERATUREHONORSIn this course, students read and analyze works of Americanliterature from colonial to contemporary times, including poetry,short stories, novels, drama, and nonfiction. The literary worksprovide opportunities for critical writing, creative projects, andonline discussions. Students develop vocabulary skills and refreshtheir knowledge of grammar, usage, and mechanics.Students read selections from British and world literature andanalyze the themes, styles, and structures of these texts. They alsomake thematic connections among diverse authors, periods, andsettings. Students work independently on many of their analysesand engage in creative collaboration with their peers. Students alsopractice test-taking skills for standardized assessments in criticalreading and writing.Course Length: Two semestersCourse Length: Two semestersPrerequisite: Success in ENG208ENG304: SUMMIT AMERICAN LITERATURE HONORSIn this course, students read and analyze works of Americanliterature from colonial to contemporary times, including poetry,short stories, novels, drama, and nonfiction. The literary worksprovide opportunities for critical writing, creative projects, andonline discussions. Students develop vocabulary skills and refreshtheir knowledge of grammar, usage, and mechanics. Studentsenrolled in this challenging course will also complete independentprojects that deepen their understanding of the themes and ideaspresented in the curriculum.Course Length: Two semestersPrerequisites: ENG209: Honors Literary Analysis and CompositionII(or equivalent) and teacher/school counselor recommendationENG313: RHETORIC (COMPREHENSIVE)This course is designed for students who already have a basicunderstanding of the writing process in general and someexperience with research writing. The course examines elements ofvarious analytical writing patterns (expository, descriptive, compareand contrast, argument, etc.). After a refresher of these patterns,students will complete a series of research projects and begincompiling a writing portfolio showcasing their abilities as writers.The goal of this course is to prepare students for the writingchallenges that exist for freshmen entering a typical four- yearuniversity.Course Length: Two semesters. Semesters A and B should be takenconsecutively and not simultaneously.ENG403: SUMMIT BRITISH AND WORLD LITERATURE(COMPREHENSIVE)Students read selections from British and world literature andanalyze the themes, styles, and structures of these texts. They alsomake thematic connections among diverse authors, periods, andsettings. Students complete guided and independent writingassignments that refine their analytical skills. They haveopportunities for creative expression in projects of their choice.Students also practice critical reading and writing test-taking skills.Prerequisites: ENG304: Honors Literary Analysis and Composition II(or equivalent) or ENG304: Honors American Literature (orequivalent); and teacher/school counselor recommendationENG500AE: AP ENGLISH LANGUAGE ANDCOMPOSITIONStudents learn to understand and analyze complex works by avariety of authors. They explore the richness of language, includingsyntax, imitation, word choice, and tone. They also learncomposition style and process, starting with exploration, planning,and writing. This continues with editing, peer review, rewriting,polishing, and applying what they learn to academic, personal, andprofessional contexts. In this equivalent of an introductory collegelevel survey class, students prepare for the AP exam.Course Length: Two semestersPrerequisites: Success in ENG204: Honors Literary Analysis andComposition II (or equivalent) or ENG304: Honors AmericanLiterature (or equivalent), and teacher/school counselorrecommendationENG510AE: AP ENGLISH LITERATURE ANDCOMPOSITIONIn this course, the equivalent of an introductory college-level surveyclass, students are immersed in novels, plays, poems, and shortstories from various periods. Students read and write daily, using avariety of multimedia and interactive activities, interpretive writingassignments, and discussions. The course places special emphasis onreading comprehension, structural and critical analyses of writtenworks, literary vocabulary, and recognizing and understandingliterary devices. Students prepare for the AP Exam and furtherstudy in creative writing, communications, journalism, literature,and composition.Course Length: Two semestersPrerequisites: Success in ENG204: Honors Literary Analysis andComposition II (or equivalent) or ENG304: Honors AmericanLiterature (or equivalent), and teacher/school counselorrecommendationCourse Length: Two semestersPrerequisite: ENG303: American Literature (or equivalent)6

MATH COURSES(These courses fulfill the Math Credit Requirement)MTH128 SUMMIT ALGEBRA 1The Summit Algebra 1 course is intended to formalize and extendthe mathematics that students learned in the middle grades.Because it is built to follow revised middle school math courses, thecourse covers slightly different ground than previous versions ofalgebra. In this course, students deepen their understanding oflinear and exponential relationships by contrasting them with eachother. Students also apply linear models to data that exhibit a lineartrend. The course also covers analyzing, solving, and using quadraticfunctions.Course Length: Two SemestersPrerequisite: Intermediate Mathematics C (or equivalent)MTH129: SUMMIT ALGEBRA 1 HONORSK12’s Summit Algebra 1 course is intended to formalize and extendthe mathematics that students learned in the middle grades.Because it is built to follow revised middle school math courses, thecourse covers slightly different ground than previous versions ofAlgebra. In this course, students deepen their understanding oflinear and exponential relationships by contrasting them with eachother. Students also apply linear models to data that exhibit a lineartrend. The course also covers analyzing, solving, and using quadraticfunctions.Course Length: Two semestersPrerequisites: Intermediate Mathematics C (or equivalent)dimensional objects, conic sections, and geometric modeling.Course Length: Two semestersPrerequisite: Algebra 1 (or equivalent)MTH209: SUMMIT GEOMETRY HONORSThis Summit Geometry Honors course builds on the geometrycovered in middle school to explore more complex geometricsituations and deepen students’ ability to explain geometricrelationships, moving toward formal mathematical arguments.Specific topics include similarity and congruence, analytic geometry,circles, the Pythagorean theorem, right triangle trigonometry,analysis of three-dimensional objects, conic sections, and geometricmodeling. This course includes all the topics in MTH208 as well asseveral extension activities. Each semester also includes anindependent honors project.Course Length: Two semestersPrerequisites: Algebra 1 (or equivalent)MTH308: SUMMIT ALGEBRA 2 (COMPREHENSIVE)This Summit Algebra 2 course, students build on their work withlinear, quadratic, and exponential functions, and extend theirrepertoire to include polynomial, rational, radical, andtrigonometric functions. Students also expand their ability to modelsituations and solve equations, including solving quadraticequations over the set of complex numbers and solving exponentialequations using the properties of logarithms. The course coverssequences and series, probability distributions, and more advanceddata analysis techniques.Course Length: Two semestersMTH307: SUMMIT PRACTICAL MATHIn this course, students use math to solve real-world problems—andreal-world problems to solidify their understanding of keymathematical topics. Data analysis, math mo

course catalog . 2 . t a b l e o f co n t e n t s . middle school english and language arts 3 math 3 science 3 history 3 art 3 world languages 4 journeys symposium 4 . upper school english 5 math 7 science 8 history and social sciences 10