CURRICULUM: Areas of Study

CURRICULUM: Areas of Study

ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS (ELA) ELA (grades 9, 10) study fosters a lifelong interest in and appreciation of language and literature. Students engage in deep analysis of writing from a variety of periods and genres. They cultivate personal expression, both written and spoken, and, by understanding careful literary criticism, learn to draw their own conclusions from a variety of sources. Experiences and readings build from the contemporary context and experiences in students immediate culture, then extend themes to historically and culturally diverse perspectives. Literature HL (IB; grades 11, 12) encourages students both to appreciate the artistry of literature and to engage critically with the texts they study. This course of study allows students to benefit from the insights of others, explore other cultures and beliefs, and to further their mastery of language. The four sections of the course are Works in Translation (three works in translation), Detailed Study (three works from different genres, including poetry), Literary Genres (four works from the same genre), and Options (teacher s choice). SECOND LANGUAGE STUDIES Spanish and Chinese (grades 9, 10) augment students connections to other cultures and enhance their understanding of their native language. Students may choose to study Spanish or Mandarin Chinese. As students progress, they work toward complete fluency in both written and oral communication. To that end, all students participate in spoken language, aural activities, reading, and writing. All language studies are couched in holistic studies of the cultures in which the language is spoken natively. There are opportunities for international travel for students in the upper levels of study. Ab Initio Spanish (SL) is for students with up to one year of experience in Spanish. This course is organized into three themes: Individual and Society; Leisure and work; and Urban and Rural Environment. The main focus of Spanish is on language acquisition and development of language skills, achieved through the study and use of a range of written and spoken material. The material used is appropriate for each student to develop mastery of language skills and a strong intercultural understanding. Spanish SL is for students with two or more years of experience. The core themes of the course are Social Relationships, including social and religious celebrations, taboos, friendships, and family, Communication and Media, including advertising, radio, television, and the internet, and Global Issues, including migration, poverty, politics, and ecology. Optional themes of the course are Customs and Traditions, including visual arts, music, dance, etiquette, protocol, and food, Cultural Diversity, including beliefs, values, and norms, and Language Diversity and Preservation. Spanish HL is for students with two or more years of experience who would like to go deeper in the study of the language. In addition to the topics and assessments described for the Spanish SL course, HL students complete an additional external assessment consisting of a 150-250 word paper that is a reasoned response to a prompting text dealing with a topic linked to the Core Themes. Further, the Written Assignment for the HL student consists of a creative writing task of 500 600 words linked to one of the two works of literature read in class and a 150-word rationale. The two works of literature studied are Como agua para chocolate by Laura Esquivel and El coronel no tiene quién le ascribe by Gabriel García Marquez. Ab Initio Chinese (SL) is for students with little or no experience of the language. Through the development of receptive, productive and interactive skills, students develop the ability to respond and interact appropriately in a defined range of everyday situations. The course is organized into three themes: Individual and Society; Leisure and work; and Urban and Rural Environment. Chinese SL is for students with two or more years of experience in the language. Interactive, productive and receptive skills are developed through contextualized study of language, texts, and themes. The core themes of the course are Communication and Media, Global Issues, and Social Relationships, and there are also two optional themes covered.

HISTORY AND SOCIAL SCIENCES History and Social Sciences (grades 9 and 10) combines the traditional study of history with the social sciences, including anthropology, sociology, psychology, geography, economics, and political science, as well as civics. The key concepts of each of the social sciences are illustrated by historical case studies from around the globe and from prehistory to the present. Student experiences include: key texts, seminar discussions, individual research, and field work. These shed light on the patterns of human behavior and make possible an understanding of historical causality. They provide students with diagnostic and prognostic tools that make it possible to perceive accurately the world as it has come to be and to envision a better future. HISTORY HL focuses on key themes in the history of the 20 th century, giving students the opportunity to delve more deeply into the analysis of critical events and the full range of primary source evidence. Students develop a broad familiarity with the methods and principles of historical inquiry, and they put their research skills into action in an historical investigation of their own design. Their critical analysis of the past affords them an appreciation of the impact of events at the local, national, and global levels, an awareness of their own historical identity in a world of diverse cultural experiences, and a more nuanced understanding of the historical roots of contemporary world issues. Economics HL introduces students to the study of the ways society deals with human needs in the context of the material environment. Studying Economics as a social science discipline allows us to organize the way we think about the numerous economic problems faced by our own and other societies, and helps us to make informed and responsible choices. This two-year comprehensive course will provide perspective into how individuals and nations choose to organize and allocate resources and, further, how they interact within a global developing economy. Students will be expected to review and reflect upon both historical and current events as a means to better appreciate the evolutionary nature of economic theory and its far-reaching implications. SCIENCE Natural Science (grades 9 and 10) studies at the High School begin with integrated investigations into cosmology, astronomy, physics, chemistry, biology, zoology, and ecology. Inquiry and innovation are the driving principles as students implement scientific methodologies using state-of-the-art equipment. Lectures, seminars, group work, lab experiences, and field work combine to create cross-disciplinary grounding in physical and life sciences, which helps satisfy natural adolescent needs to connect the dots of earlier science studies. Students learn to develop and critically investigate their own questions. Every scientific idea connects to the human story and to the historical backdrop upon which the story of the universe, the story of Earth, and the story of humankind plays out. Physics, chemistry, and biology provide the foundation of scientific methodologies used to consider local and global environmental phenomena and how these affect human societies small and large. Students learn that issues are complex, multinational, and evoke many different reactions across cultures and time. The course provides opportunities for students to investigate the costs/benefits of technological progress and the role of small- and largescale collaboration in resolving environmental issues. Biology SL or HL covers many major concepts in Biology, including cells, basic biochemistry, genetics, ecology, evolution, human health, and physiology. We will also cover two topics in more depth: behavioral neurobiology and conservation ecology. Field studies, laboratory exercises, and the students own self-directed work aim to enable students to apply their knowledge and skills in the lab and the field. They will come to understand biological issues from the local to the global. Biology HL covers all of the same topics as SL as well as nucleic acids and proteins, cell respiration and photosynthesis, genetics, human physiology, and health.

MATHEMATICS Mathematics (grades 9, 10) is an everyday tool, as well as one of humankind s most elegant abstractions. The goal in the study of mathematics is for students to develop a range of pragmatic skills and an ever deepening understanding of the mathematics underlying our modern world. Initial mathematics at the high school focuses on a historical, contextualized approach that helps students understand mathematical principles of discovery and problem solving. Standard coursework includes algebra, geometry, logic, and trigonometry; advanced topics are chosen based on students interests and abilities. The format is a mixture of lecture, seminar, and work in the field. Upper level mathematics includes topics in advanced algebra, functions, advanced trigonometry, matrices and determinants, vectors, statistics, probability, and calculus. Optional studies include sets, relations and groups; series and sequences; differential equations; and discrete mathematics. Central to students success in this two-year course is a solid foundation in mathematical approaches and persistence in problem solving in algebra and geometry. Students develop creative and logical thinking while using digital technologies to augment their own work. Philosophical questions about the fundamental nature of numbers naturally emerge as students progress. In addition to the expected proficiency, this course endeavors to impart to students the gift of understanding and appreciating the beauty, order, and elegance of mathematics. Math Studies SL emphasizes applications of mathematics, and the largest section is on statistical techniques. It is designed for students with varied mathematical backgrounds and abilities and offers students opportunities to learn important concepts and techniques and to gain an understanding of a wide variety of mathematical topics. Mathematics SL offers students a liberal variety of math topics providing a solid foundation of basic knowledge to support study in higher mathematics. The course work covers topics that would traditionally be covered in precalculus, calculus, and statistics courses. Mathematics HL caters to students with a solid background in mathematics who are competent in a variety of analytical and technical skills. The majority of students in this course will be expecting to go on to study higher math topics as a major component of their university studies, although students with simply a strong interest in mathematics who enjoy the mental challenges it offers may take this subject. The course work includes all of the topics covered in the Mathematics SL course, as well as one more topic of the student s choice, further calculus or further statistics. THEATER ARTS Theater Arts (grades 9, 10) helps students cultivate natural self-expression. There are a variety of connection possibilities as students engage in learning acting techniques, dramaturgy, set design, prop management, and technical theater. Students in their first two years take one or two semesters of Drama. Theater SL or HL provides an environment to explore theater with an open mind, expressive body, and caring heart. Students in the first year explore the origins and development of theatre in the world through research and observing plays. Students participate in vocal and physical work to become more effective communicators. Second year work leads to thoughtful risk in a final live performance piece involving exploration of dramaturgy, technical theatre, and playwriting. MUSIC Music (grades 9, 10) theory and performance provides students opportunities to connect their interest in music (listening or performing) to critical studies of music theory, music history, and performance. Students in their first two years take one or two semesters of music, depending on their interest. Music SL or HL is a two year curriculum providing experiences in all aspects of Music Performance and Creation. The first year covers music history, music theory, and various exploration activities which will enhance

each student s knowledge of music. Particular emphasis is placed on studying the interactions of different styles of music across different cultures and historical eras, gaining perspective on how music serves as both a support and reflector of the human spirit/condition. VISUAL ART Visual Art (grades 9, 10) encompasses drawing, painting, collage, sculpture, assemblage art, ceramics, graphic design, photography, videography, and more. Students in their first two years take one or two semesters of visual arts depending on interest, with the goals of developing a working understanding of a variety of techniques and media types; exploring a variety of artistic qualities; investigating meaning and content; and developing an appreciation for and sensitivity to art across time and cultures. Visual Art SL or HL is a two year exploration and production of visual art within the student s own and other cultural context. The content of the course is assessed on three components: Visual Inquiry (exploration, investigation, research and experimenting within the context of the Process Portfolio), Comparative Study (comparison of two or more artists work in a written document supported with illustrations and photos), and Visual Art Exhibit (video documentation including studio art work, a diagram for the exhibit, and text in a written curatorial format). THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE (TOK) (IB; grades 11, 12) gives students the opportunity to step back from the continuous acquisition of knowledge that characterizes the greater part of their academic work in order to engage in a critical inquiry into the nature of knowledge itself. This unique course is organized around a series of probing questions, including What counts as knowledge?, How does knowledge grow?, and What are the limits of knowledge? Students consider a variety of ways of knowing (reason, sense perception, language, faith, etc.) and investigate how each contributes to the production of knowledge in fields such as the Arts, History, Natural Sciences, and Math. THE EXTENDED ESSAY (EE) (IB; grades 11, 12) is an in-depth study of a focused topic chosen from the list of approved DP subjects normally one of the student s six chosen subjects for the IB diploma. It is intended to promote high-level research and writing skills, intellectual discovery, and creativity. The EE provides students with an opportunity to engage in personal research in a topic of their own choice, under the guidance of a supervisor (a teacher in the school). This leads to a major piece of formally presented, structured writing, in which ideas and findings are communicated in a reasoned and coherent manner, appropriate to the subject chosen. CREATIVITY, ACTIVITY, AND SERVICE (CAS) (IB; grades 11, 12) is at the heart of the Diploma Program. It is one of the three essential elements in every student s Diploma Program experience and involves a range of activities alongside academic studies. For CAS, students will undertake a long-term project or internship with a local organization, institution, or community. The work each student will do requires creative thinking, physical exertion contributing to a healthy lifestyle, and an unpaid and voluntary exchange that has a learning benefit for the student. PHYSICAL FITNESS spans the four years of study. The approach is one of fitness for life that provides opportunities for students to engage in life sports and physical activities in addition to playing with friends. The course offers introductions to a variety of team and individual sports as well as opportunities for basic cardiotraining, strength training, geocaching, orienteering, yoga, and other fitness activities. Required for grades 9 and 10.