HIGH SCHOOL COURSE CATALOGUE
2013-2014
IA Curricular Approach
~Mission Statement~
The Orion School develops young leaders who can transform
our world through dynamic change.
~Vision Statement~
The Orion School creates prosperity for all communities by
developing innovative leadership.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction ...................................................................................................... 4-6
School College Counseling Services
Graduation Requirements
The Grading System
English Department ........................................................................................ 7-11
English For Speakers of Other Languages
Fine Arts ........................................................................................................... 12-14
Digital Photography
Art Foundations
Art History
Foreign Languages Department ................................................................... 15-19
Mathematics Department ............................................................................... 20-23
Electives ........................................................................................................... 24-31
Computer Science
Computer Applications
Psychology
Health Science Careers
Financial Literacy
Journalism
Game Theory
Philosophy
Geography
Sociology
Health
Humanities
Physical Education .......................................................................................... 32-33
Nutrition & Weight Management
Physical Fitness
Sports Training
Science Department ....................................................................................... 34-37
Social Science ................................................................................................. 38-44
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IA Introductions
Program Overview
The central intent of the experience at Orion International Academy is to prepare
students for college. This process entails gaining mastery and command in the
traditional academic disciplines, while gaining skills to excel in today’s competitive institutions of higher education. To this end, OIA students:
• Become technologically literate, honing their ability to use 21st century tools
effectively in research and presentation of knowledge
• Engage sophisticated, complex coursework as a preparation for the future,
wrestling with questions of high complexity
• Integrate thinking from each of their classes, learning to apply knowledge
mastered in one field to enhance learning in another
• Practice academic collaboration with teachers, with the expectation that this will
be a continued and important part of their college experience
• Navigate a robust collection of course offerings, learning to discern their
personal academic interests and choose a relevant path
High school School Counseling
College Quest
Grade Level – 12
Length – Fall Semester
Course Type – Required
Prerequisite – None
Criteria for Enrollment – Mandatory for all seniors (or juniors who intend to graduate early)
Students meet once a week with the college counselors in a classroom setting to
review: transcript verification, application forms, personal statements, recommendations, interview preparation and management of deadlines and associated
paperwork. With over 50 college representatives visiting Orion each fall, students
are encouraged to supplement the class by attending on-campus information
sessions for the colleges to which they are applying.
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Academic Graduation Requirements (minimum requirements)
A – History/Social Science
4 years (1 must be US History)
B – English
4 years
C – Mathematics
*3 years (through Algebra 2 required; 4 years recommended)
D –Laboratory Science
3 years of laboratory sciences (4 recommended)
E – Foreign Language
*3 years of the same language (Level 1 thru 4 recommended)
F – Visual and Performing Arts
Each year in attendance: Visual Arts, Drama, Creative Writing,Music, other approved
arts course
G – Electives
1 year in addition to A-F
Physical Education/Health
3 years of PE/Health
Workshop/Community Service
Each year in attendance and 60 hours of community service
Mysteries
Each year in attendance
Senior Requirements
College Quest
Senior Project
5
Grading System
The graphic below gives the correspondence of letter grades
and grade point average.
Letter Grade
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD+
D
F
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GPA
4.0
3.7
3.3
3.0
2.7
2.3
2.0
1.7
1.3
1.0
0.0
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english
English
AP Language and Composition A/B
The graphic AP Language and Composition A/B
Grade Level – 11 or 12
Length – 2 Semesters
Course Type – Optional
Prerequisite – English 11 or 12
This course prepares students for the Advanced Placement Language and
Composition Exam administered each May. Students of this online English course
will read, write and discuss prose at an advanced college level while using online
resources to develop English language skills including sophisticated use of literary
elements and terminology, close readings of various texts, creating, drafting, and
editing college-level analytical essays, preparing and writing timed essays, and
advanced use and mastery of standard English.
The focus of this English language learning course will be on intensive reading
and discussion of prose, as well as an intensive focus on expository writing.
Emphasis will be placed on the composition process. Students will explore ideas,
reconsider and take risks in their writing, and revise their work. Writing will be informal and formal, personal and reflective. Grammatical conventions and language
in prose will be studied and applied, as well as research and the citation process
using MLA format. Both primary and secondary sources will be studied and read
as a guide for writing.
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English
AP Literature and Composition A/B
Grade Level – 11 or 12
Length – 2 Semesters h
Course Type – Optional
Prerequisite – English 11 or 12
This college-level high school course assists students in enhancing and developing analytical and writing skills in English. It also prepares students who do all the
coursework for the Literature and Composition Advanced Placement Exam.
Students will read, write and discuss poetry, fiction, and drama at an advanced
college level while using online resources to develop skills including sophisticated
use of literary elements and terminology, close readings of various texts, creating,
drafting, and editing college-level analytical essays, preparing and writing timed
essays, and advanced use and mastery of standard English.
English
English 9 A/B
Grade Level – 9
Length – 2 Semesters
Course Type – Mandatory
Prerequisite – None
English 9 A is an introductory course for all other high school English courses. This
English 9 online course covers literary terminology, vocabulary building, test taking
strategies, and several literary genres including poetry, short story, mythology,
essay, and drama. This course will introduce students to the requirements of the
persuasive, comparison/contrast, and reflective essays and offer the opportunity
to write journals, poetry, and short stories.
English 9 A
This English 9 A course includes selections from Greek mythology, Romeo and
Juliet, "The Cask of Amontillado," "The Most Dangerous Game," "I Have a
Dream," "The Road Not Taken" and others.
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English
English 9 B
This English 9 B course includes selections from The Odyssey, "The Secret Life of
Walter Mitty," "Fire and Ice," "There Will Come Soft Rains," "The Scarlet Ibis," "The
Gift of the Magi," "The Necklace," Tuesdays with Morrie, "The Raven," "Dream
Deferred," "Eagle" and more.
English
English 10 A/B World Literature
Grade Level – 10
Length – 2 Semesters
Course Type – Mandatory
Prerequisite – English 9
English 10 is a world literature survey course. The course covers literary terminology, vocabulary building, test taking strategies, and several literary genres including poetry, short story, mythology, drama, essay, and business letters. This course
will introduce students to the requirements of the student essay and offers the
opportunity to write poetry, short stories and dramatic dialogues. Students will
involve themselves in self-assessment as well as in teacher guided practice and
assessment throughout the course.
English 10 A
English 10 A includes selections from Nobel Prize in Literature winners and
Pulitzer Prize winners. Among the authors and poets included in the course are
O. Henry, Jamaica Kincaid, David Guterson, R.K. Narayan, Leo Tolstoy, William
Melvin Kelley, Rabindranath Tagore, David Diop, Emily Dickinson, Pat Mora,
Vassar Miller, Robert Frost, Bei Dao, Shu ting, William Carlos Williams, Gabriela
Mistral, Octavio Paz, Elizabeth Bishop, and William Shakespeare.
English 10 B
English 10 B includes selections from Nobel Prize in Literature winners and
Pulitzer Prize winners. Among the authors and poets included in the course are
Emily Bronte, Anna Akhmatova, Leopold Staff, Anita Desai, Vladimir Nabokov,
Pearl S. Buck, Virginia Woolf, Chinua Achebe, N. Scott Momaday, Elie Wiesel,
Vincent Canby and Roger Ebert. We will also read Sophocles's Antigone and
Alfred Lord Tennyson's Morte d'Arthur as well as a selection from T.H. White's The
Once and Future King.
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English
English 11 A/B
American Literature
Grade Level – 11
Length – 2 Semesters
Course Type – Mandatory
Prerequisite – English 10
English 11 is an American literature survey course. This course will introduce students to the requirements of the student essay and offers the opportunity to write
poetry, short stories and dramatic dialogues. English 11 covers literary terminology
and several literary genres including poetry, short story, speeches, political documents, the essay, drama and the writing of the resume. Students will involve themselves in self-assessment as well as in teacher guided practice and assessment
throughout the course. The central focus of the course is the reflection of the
American character in Pre-20th century literature. Students will also focus on how
this literature is specific to the formation and reflection of American culture. The
course includes forming generalizations about how a land and the experience in
that land begin to form a particular genre of writing as well as a philosophical way
of seeing events and creating meaning.
English 11 A
The literature in English 11 A includes selections from Mark Twain, Benjamin
Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Phyllis Wheatley, Dr. Martin Luther King, Patrick
Henry, Washington Irving, Edgar Allen Poe, Nathanial Hawthorne, Ralph Waldo
Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, Emily Dickinson, Walt Whitman, Ambrose Bierce,
Robert E. Lee, Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglas, Brett Harte, Jack London,
Larry McMurty, Kate Chopin, Edith Wharton, Willa Cather, Edgar Arlington Robinson and Edgar Lee Masters. We will also read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
by Mark Twain.
English 11 B
The literature in English 11 B includes selections from American poets Ezra
Pound, William Carlos Williams, Wallace Stevens, W.H. Auden, E. E. Cummings,
Archibald MacLeish, Marianne Moore, Carl Sandburg, Robert Frost, Langston
Hughes, Claude McKay, Lorna Dee Cervantes, Martin Espada, Simon Ortiz, Dina
Chang, and Garret Hongo. Anne Tyler, Bernard Malamud, Flannery O'Connor,
John Steinbeck, E.B. White, William Faulkner, Katherine Anne Porter, Eudora
Welty, Sherwood Anderson, and Thomas Wolfe are the authors of fiction included
in the course. Finally, we will read Arthur Miller's The Crucible as the drama for this
semester. Students will also read Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck as the novel
for the course.
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English
English 12 A.B British Literature
Grade Level – 12
Length – 2 Semesters
Course Type – Mandatory
Prerequisite – English 11
English 12 is a British literature survey course. The course covers historical literary
periods and several literary genres including poetry, speeches, satires, drama, the
essay, and the semester problem solving project. This course will introduce
students to the requirements of the student essay and offers the opportunity to
write poetry and dramatic monologues. Students will involve themselves in selfassessment as well as in teacher guided practice and assessment throughout the
course. The central focus of the course is the contribution of the various periods of
British literature to modern English. Students will focus on the intellectual development apparent within this literature over the 800 years that are covered. The
coursework includes forming generalizations about how historical, scientific,
social, and political experiences are reflected in the literature which represents
ways of seeing events and creating meaning in the various periods we study.
English 12 A
The literature in English 12 A includes Beowulf, Canterbury Tales, "The Passionate
Shepherd to His Love," "The Nymph's Reply to the Shepherd," Shakespeare's
"Sonnet 130," MacBeth, "The Bait," "Song: To Celia," "To His Coy Mistress," "To
the Virgins, to Make Much of Time," Paradise Lost, "Eve's Apology in Defense of
Women," "To Lucasta, on Going to the Wars," "To Althea, From Prison," Gulliver's
Travels, "The Countess of Winchilsea," "Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard,"
and "A Nocturnal Reverie."
English 12 B
The literature in English 12 B includes Jane Eyre, A Tale of Two Cities, Animal
Farm, "To a Mouse," "To A Louse," "The World is Too Much with Us," "The Rhyme
of the Ancient Mariner," "She Walks in Beauty," "Child Harold's Pilgrimage," "Ozymandias," "To a Skylark," "When I Have Fears that I May Cease To Be," "Sonnett
to a Cat," "Flower in a Crannied Wall," "The Lady of Shalott," "My Last Duchess,"
"Sonnett 43," "To an Athlete Dying Young," "When I Was One and Twenty," "When
You Are Old," "The Wild Swans at Coole," "In Memory of W.B. Yeats," "Musee des
Beaux Arts," "Shooting an Elephant," "The Demon Lover," "The Soldier," "Wirers,"
"Anthem for Doomed Youth," "Wartime Speech," "Lady in the Looking Glass: A
Reflection," "The First Year of My Life," "The Rocking-Horse Winner," "A Shocking
Accident," "An Introduction to Frankenstein," and
"No Witchcraft for Sale."
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art
Fine Arts
Advanced Digital Photography
Grade Level – 11, 12
Length – 2 Semesters
Course Type – Optional
Prerequisite – None
This course provides students with advanced knowledge of techniques and skills
in the application of electronic and digital/computer technologies to all areas of
commercial photography. The integration of technical skills and aesthetic expression are emphasized along with a study of different photographic themes and
important photographers associated with those themes. Projects require exploration and experimentation. Students develop skills necessary to create their own
unique body of work using digital photographic technologies. During this course,
students can expect to further develop their photographer's eye. Although there is
no required text for this class, it is recommended that students purchase a Photoshop Elements Supplement to help expand their digital studio repertoire.
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Fine Arts
Art Foundations A/B
Grade Level – 9, 10, 11, 12
Length – 2 Semesters
Course Type – Mandatory
Prerequisite – None
Art Foundations A/B is a lively, inviting, comprehensive course written for beginning level artists. This course includes interactive activities and multicultural studio
projects representing a wide variety of cultures, artistic styles and art media. This
course is designed to enrich the lives of its participants through discovery and
creative problem solving. It provides students with a broader perception of their
environment and cultural perspectives. The course was designed around the
following key concepts:
• Meaningful, hands-on learning experiences that allow for personal growth and
creative expression
• Integration of aesthetics, art criticism, art history, and studio production
• Sequentially planned experiences that build on concepts and provide learning
opportunities that incorporate a variety of media, artistic styles and historical
periods
Throughout this course, students will keep a sketchbook and develop an art
portfolio featuring selected works of art. In addition, students will self-examine
completed works in an effort to foster a sense of accomplishment and commitment
to high standards of art production. This course is written to National Standards for
Art Education.
Fine Arts
Art History A/B
Grade Level – 10, 11, 12
Length – 2 Semesters
Course Type – Optional
Prerequisite – None
Art History A/B is a full year art history course designed to help students develop
critical thinking skills while developing an understanding and knowledge of diverse
historical and cultural contexts of architecture, sculpture, painting and other art
media. Students will analyze major forms of artistic expression from the past
through present and from various cultures.
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While visual analysis is a fundamental tool of the art historian, art history emphasizes an understanding of how and why works of art function in historical context,
taking into account patronage, gender, culture, religion, events, politics and more.
A meaningful way to experience works of art is learning to frame an understanding
that relates how and why works of art communicate visual meaning. In this course,
students will pay particular attention to five areas for class discussion: subject
matter, function, artistic decision making, contextual analysis, and cultural impact.
Contemplating these five factors will help students to see art as a meaningful part
of their lives.
Fine Arts
Introduction to Digital Photography
Grade Level – 9, 10, 11, 12
Length – 2 Semesters
Course Type – Optional
Prerequisite – None
In this course students will explore digital photography and related technologies
for the production of fine art. Students will be given assigned readings and
writings, will be asked to produce art work and will be asked to participate in
class discussion to better understand the physical, conceptual and theoretical
characteristics of the electronic media as it pertains to art and art making.
Emphasis will be placed on the students' development of an understanding of the
evolution of and the theory associated with art, photography and electronic imaging in a way that will help them to produce expressive and thoughtful works of art.
Students will be introduced to the basic technology necessary for the production
of their art work. Students will be expected to demonstrate an ability to use the
tools competently in the production of their art work; however, the production and
analysis of expressive and thoughtful art work is the main objective of this course.
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language
Foreign Languages
AP Spanish
Grade Level – 11, 12
Length – 2 Semesters
Course Type – Optional
Prerequisite – Spanish I, II, III
AP Spanish Language is conducted entirely in Spanish and integrates listening,
speaking, reading, and writing skills. Students will use all four skills in three ways:
in social interactions, in presentations, and in the interpretation of authentic and
constructed materials. The course is divided into lessons, and after lesson 10,
greater emphasis is placed specifically on preparation for the AP Spanish
Language exam.
Foreign Languages
Spanish I A/B
Grade Level – 9
Length – 2 Semesters
Course Type – Mandatory
Prerequisite – None
Spanish I A
The first year online Spanish course is designed to introduce students to the
basics of the Spanish language. Emphasis will be placed on perceiving and
acquiring the correct pronunciation of sounds; using vocabulary to speak and write
and to understand the spoken and written word;
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recognizing and using the present, past, and immediate future tenses of regular
verbs and selected irregular verbs; and understanding and using basic grammatical constructions. Through videos, students see and hear native speakers in
authentic locations around the Spanish-speaking world.
Each unit in this online Spanish course includes numerous interactive activities,
cultural notes, and cultural interviews. The activities help build competency in
each of the four Spanish language skills—listening, speaking, reading, and
writing. Use of interactive software allows students and instructors to engage
in real-time, online, video and audio communication.
Spanish I B
Spanish I B is a communicative beginning-level online Spanish language course.
Students will continue to develop their Spanish proficiency through extensive
interaction in the target language. A key component of this course is the "E-edition"
of the ¡En español! textbook that each student will be using for this course. The
E-edition of ¡En español! is an online, interactive version of the ¡En español!
textbook. Ideally, each student will purchase both the textbook and E-edition of the
textbook. However, the E-edition can be purchased without the textbook if that is
preferred.
Each unit of this online Spanish course begins with a video dramatization that
introduces the functions, vocabulary, and grammar targeted in the unit. Through
videos, students see and hear native speakers in authentic locations around the
Spanish-speaking world. There are also numerous audio clips that reinforce the
language taught through the video segments. Each unit also includes a variety of
interactive activities, cultural notes, and cultural interviews. The activities help
build competency in each of the four language skills—listening, speaking, reading,
and writing. The quizzes, midterm, and final in this course are based on the activities in this online textbook. The hard copy of the textbook ¡En español! offer
students an opportunity to practice and study the language away from the
computer as well as a Spanish-English glossary of all the words used
in the course.
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Foreign Languages
Spanish II A/B
Grade Level – 9, 10
Length – 2 Semesters
Course Type – Mandatory
Prerequisite – None
AP Spanish Language is conducted entirely in Spanish and integrates listening,
speaking, reading, and writing skills. Students will use all four skills in three ways:
in social interactions, in presentations, and in the interpretation of authentic and
constructed materials. The course is divided into lessons, and after lesson 10,
greater emphasis is placed specifically on preparation for the AP Spanish
Language exam.
Spanish II A
Spanish II A is an intermediate-level Spanish course designed for independent
learners. Through videos, audio clips and a variety of interactive activities and
cultural interviews students will see and hear native speakers around the
Spanish-speaking world. Students of this Spanish language course will participate
in both written and oral activities designed to incorporate the new vocabulary and
grammar they have learned in each unit.
Key components of this online Spanish course are unit assignments, virtual classroom participation, discussion board posting and a term project. Students are
assessed via unit vocabulary tests, completion of unit assignments, and participation in unit virtual classroom discussions, timely postings to the discussion board,
a final examination and successful completion of the term project. Unit suggestions will guide students in completing these tasks successfully. Specific learning
outcomes and reading assignments are provided in each unit.
Spanish II A is intended to be the first half of a second year Spanish course at the
end of which successful students will be able to participate in everyday conversations in Spanish. Both Spanish II A and Spanish II B have been designed so that
students can proceed at an even pace throughout the semester. However, both
courses require that students do additional reading in the first unit of the course
and the seventh unit of the course. Therefore, it is important that students familiarize themselves with the online course and begin reading immediately.
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Spanish II B
Spanish II B is an intermediate Spanish course designed for independent learners.
Through videos, audio clips and a variety of interactive activities and cultural interviews students will see and hear native speakers around the Spanish-speaking
world. Students of this Spanish language course will participate in both written and
oral activities designed to incorporate the new vocabulary and grammar they have
learned in each unit.
Key components of this online Spanish course are unit assignments, virtual classroom participation, discussion board posting and a term project. Students are
assessed via unit vocabulary tests, completion of unit assignments, participation
in unit virtual classroom discussions, timely postings to the discussion board, a
final examination and successful completion of the term project. Unit suggestions
will guide students in completing these tasks successfully. Specific learning outcomes and reading assignments are provided in each unit.
Spanish II B is intended to be the second half of a second year Spanish course at
the end of which successful students will be able to participate in everyday conversations in Spanish. Both Spanish II A and Spanish II B have been designed so that
students can proceed at an even pace throughout the semester. However, both
courses require that students do additional reading the first unit of the course and
the seventh unit of the course. Therefore, it is important that students familiarize
themselves with the online course and begin reading immediately.
Foreign Languages
Spanish III A/B
Grade Level – 9, 10, 11
Length – 2 Semesters
Course Type – Mandatory
Prerequisite – None
Spanish III A
Spanish IIIA is an advanced intermediate-level Spanish course designed for independent learners. Through videos, audio clips and a variety of interactive activities
and cultural interviews, students will see and hear native speakers around the
Spanish-speaking world. Then students will themselves participate in both written
and oral activities designed to incorporate the new vocabulary and grammar they
have learned each unit.
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Key components of this course are: unit assignments, virtual classroom participation, discussion board posting and a term project. Students are assessed unit by
unit via vocabulary tests, completion of assignments, participation in virtual classroom discussions, timely postings to the discussion board, a final examination and
successful completion of a Term Project. Suggestions will guide the student in how
to best complete these tasks. Specific learning outcomes and reading assignments are provided on a unit by unit basis.
Spanish IIIA is intended to be the first half of a third year Spanish course, at the
end of which the successful student will be able to participate in everyday conversations with considerable fluency in Spanish. Both Spanish IIIA and Spanish IIIB
have been designed so that the student can proceed at an even pace throughout
the semester. It is important that the student familiarize him/herself with the sign-in
process and begin reading immediately.
Spanish III B
Spanish IIIB is an advanced intermediate-level Spanish course designed for independent learners. Through videos, audio clips and a variety of interactive activities
and cultural interviews, students will see and hear native speakers around the
Spanish-speaking world. Then students will themselves participate in both written
and oral activities designed to incorporate the new vocabulary and grammar they
have learned each unit.
Key components of this course are: unit assignments, virtual classroom participation, discussion board posting and a term project. Students are assessed unit by
unit via vocabulary tests, completion of assignments, participation in virtual classroom discussions, timely postings to the discussion board, a final examination and
successful completion of a Term Project. Suggestions will guide the student in how
to best complete these tasks. Specific learning outcomes and reading assignments are provided on a unit by unit basis.
Spanish IIIB is intended to be the second half of a third year Spanish course, at the
end of which the successful student will be able to participate in everyday conversations with considerable fluency in Spanish. Both Spanish IIIA and Spanish IIIB
have been designed so that the student can proceed at an even pace throughout
the semester. However, both courses require that the student do additional reading the first unit of the course and, the case of Spanish IIIA, fifth unit of the course.
Therefore, it is important that the student familiarize him/herself with the
E-Classroom sign-in process and begin reading immediately.
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math
Math
Algebra I A/B
Grade Level – 9
Length – 2 Semesters
Course Type – Mandatory
Prerequisite – None
Scout Algebra I is designed to develop concepts and problem solving skills. Upon
successful completion of the course, students will perform operations with real
numbers, simplify and evaluate algebraic expressions, use equations to solve
word problems, graph and solve problems involving inequalities and absolute
value, graph and solve linear equations, solve systems of equations, solve many
types of real-world problems, factor polynomial equations, understand relations
and functions, solve quadratic equations, and world with radical expressions and
rational equations. The course consists of readings, lessons, assignments, and
assessments.
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Math
Algebra II A/B
Grade Level – 10, 11, 12
Length – 2 Semesters
Course Type – Mandatory
Prerequisite – Algebra I and Geometry and recommendation from teacher
Scout Algebra II is designed to develop concepts and problem solving skills. Upon
successful completion of the course, students will have learned linear functions,
inequalities, and systems, quadratic functions and complex numbers, polynomials
and polynomial functions, rational exponents and radical functions, exponential,
logarithmic, and rational functions, conic sections, counting methods and probability, and sequences and series. The course consists of readings, lessons,
assignments, and assessments.
Math
AP Calculus A/B
Grade Level – 10, 11, 12
Length – 2 Semesters
Course Type – Mandatory
Prerequisite – B or better in pre-calculus and teacher recommendation
Scout AP Calculus AB covers all of the material outlined by the College Board as
necessary to prepare students to pass the AP Calculus AB exam. This course
teaches students foundational calculus principles, including derivatives, integrals,
limits, approximation, applications, and modeling. Students will gain experience in
the use of calculus methodology and learn how calculus principles can be applied
practically. The course consists of readings, lessons, assignments, and assessments. All are essential to learning the material, and all are necessary for two
Math
AP Calculus B/C
Grade Level – 11, 12
Length – 2 Semesters
Course Type – Optional
Prerequisite – B or better in AP Calculus A/B
Upon successful completion of Scout AP Calculus BC, students will be able to
work with functions in a variety of ways, including graphically, numerically, analytically, and verbally, and they will gain understanding of the connections between
these representations.
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Students will gain understanding of the meaning of the derivative in terms of rate
of change and local linear approximation and they will be able to use derivatives
to solve a variety of problems. Additionally, students will gain understanding of the
meaning of the definite integral, both as a limit of Riemann sums and as the net
accumulation of change. Finally, they will be able to use integrals to solve a variety
of problems and they will gain an understanding of the relationship between the
derivative and the definite integral as expressed in both parts of the fundamental
theorem of calculus. The course consists of readings, lessons, assignments,
simulations, discussion questions, free-response questions, and assessments. All
are essential to successful completion of the course and achieving a passing
score on the AP Calculus BC exam.
Math
Geometry A/B
Grade Level – 9, 10, 11
Length – 2 Semesters
Course Type – Optional
Prerequisite – C or better in Algebra I with placement test, teacher recommendation and school approval
Scout Geometry is designed to develop geometry concepts and problem-solving
skills using reasoning and proofs, coordinate geometry, triangles, polygons, similarity and transformations, conic sections, and perimeter, area, and volume.
Careers utilizing principles of geometry are explored in each unit.
Math
Pre-Calculus A/B
Grade Level – 10, 11, 12
Length – 2 Semesters
Course Type – Optional
Prerequisite – B or better in Algebra 2/Trig or equivalent
Scout Pre-Calculus addresses California Department of Education Mathematics
Content Standards for Trigonometry, Mathematical Analysis, and Linear Algebra.
Lessons on content covered in Algebra II and introduce new topics, including
vectors, matrices, conic sections, and polar graphs. Upon course completion,
students will have developed an understanding of algebraic, quadratic,
polynomial, rational, exponential, and logarithmic functions, radicals and fractional
exponents, trigonometry, graphs of sine and cosine functions, sum and difference
formulas, vectors of plane, and analytic geometry. This course consists of
readings, lessons, assignments, and assessments.
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Math
AP Statistics
Grade Level – 11, 12
Length – 2 Semesters
Course Type – Optional
Prerequisite – C or better in Algebra 2
Scout AP Statistics covers the exploration of data, sampling and experimentation,
anticipating and identifying patterns, and statistic inference. The course is divided
into six units: sampling, data, and descriptive statistics, probability and discrete
random variables, continuous random variables and normal distribution, the central limit theorem and confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, and Chi-square
distribution and linear regression. Labs require the application of course materials
in terms of design, analysis, and drawing conclusions. Students are required to
have access to a graphic scientific calculator. Successful completion of, or current
enrollment in, Algebra II is recommended. Prerequisites: Junior-year standing or
higher and successful completion of Algebra I.
Math
Statistics A/B
Scout Statistics is the art of gathering, analyzing, and making conclusions from
data. Most of the significant development in the theory of statistics did not occur
until the late nineteenth century and early twentieth centuries. Today, with the
prevalence of computers, the need for careers in statistics has grown exponentially and includes such occupations as police and crime investigators, journalists
and news broadcasters, sports recruiters, and buyers for retails stores. During the
course, students will develop an understanding of descriptive statistics, the connections between probability and statistics, the measurement of data and the
methods in which to properly display that data, the relationship between continuous and discrete variables, and the functions of probability distribution. Activities
and labs will help students to make connections among all aspects of the statistical process including design, analysis, and conclusions. This course consists of
readings, lessons, group projects, assignments, and assessments.
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electives
Electives
AP Computer Science A
Grade Level – 10, 11, 12
Length – 1 Semester
Course Type – Optional
Prerequisite – Algebra I
Scout AP Computer Science teaches students Java programming, how to write
and modify programs, code analysis, software testing and debugging, how to
evaluate different approaches to design and development, how to apply theoretical solutions, and how to generalize problem-specific solutions to other applications. The course is designed to mimic professional programming practices and
includes lab-centric (project-based) and design and development team
approaches. Topics covered include BlueJ IDE, object-oriented programming,
graphical user interfaces, mouse listeners, code with loops, array lists, abstract
classes, static variables and methodology, one- and two-dimensional arrays,
image processing, recursion, and more. The course consists of readings, programming tasks, gated collaborations, quizzes, and tests and prepares students
for the AP Computer Science A exam. Prerequisites: While Scout AP Computer
Science A is appropriate for students who are completely new to programming and
those with more experience, all students must have successfully completed
Algebra I, and all students must possess competence in written communication.
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Electives
AP Psychology
Grade Level – 10, 11, 12
Length – 1 Semester
Course Type – Optional
Prerequisite – Algebra I
Scout AP Psychology covers some of the principal areas and concepts of modern
psychology. Topics include research methodology, ethics, learning, perception,
social interaction, personality, intelligence, social development, and psychopathology. Students will learn about the major methods, theories, findings, and historical
trends in psychology, and be able to apply that knowledge to everyday situations.
Students will become familiar with the history of psychology, the use of statistics in
the field, neuroscience and behavior, heritability and temperament,
Bronfenbrenner’s Model, gender differences in psychology, prenatal and newborn
development, the thought of Piaget and Erikson, sensation and perception, states
of consciousness, learning, memory, language, motivation, stress, psychological
disorders, and therapy. Successful completion of the course is excellent preparation for the AP Psychology exam.
Electives
Financial Literacy
Grade Level – 9, 10, 11, 12
Length – 1 Semester
Course Type – Optional
Prerequisite – None
You will learn the basics of financial literacy and banking in this course. Topics covered include: bad debt, importance of spending plans, non-traditional financial services, being an informed consumer, buying stocks, sell strategy, mutual fund
options, investing in education, planning for the future, purchasing your first home,
taxes and tax planning, life insurance options, health insurance, property insurance, estate planning, and keeping money in perspective. You will have a variety
of activities in this class including, lectures, assignments, quizzes and exams,
course project, all set to some hip, fresh and funky music!
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Electives
Game Theory
Grade Level – 10, 11, 12
Length – 1 Semester
Course Type – Optional
Prerequisite – None
Many events in life are competitive in one way or another, and Game Theory in the
past few decades has revolutionized what to look for—and how to act—when
engaged in competition. As you complete high school and set your sights on
college, a basic knowledge of Game Theory can dramatically improve your strategic instincts and decision-making skills. The course uses a common sense
approach to every day conflicts ("games"), from social settings to business environments, including analyses of getting a job or gaining admission to college,
managing, bluffing, promising and even dating, to name just a few of the areas
studied. Knowledge of self-interest (one's own and the other party's) is a bedrock
concept of Game Theory and concrete examples and interactions are used to
introduce students to a new and effective way of systematically approaching all
conflicts.
Electives
Geography
Grade Level – 9, 10, 11, 12
Length – 1 Semester
Course Type – Optional
Prerequisite – None
This one semester social science course will provide students with the opportunity
to explore the relationship between living things and their environment. The
course will focus on physical, cultural and historical geography and its relation to
modern world problems. By following six major themes, students will gain an
understanding and appreciation of the world in which they live. The themes
include: Definitions and uses of Geography, The World in Spatial terms, Physical
Systems, Environment and Society, Human Systems, and Places and Regions.
Students will explore in geographic terms not only current world events but also
happenings in their own lives. Through this course, students will gain an appreciation and knowledge of the world in which they live and an understanding of their
responsibility as a member of the global community.
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Electives
Health
Grade Level – 9, 10, 11, 12
Length – 1 Semester
Course Type – Optional
Prerequisite – None
This one semester online health education course is designed to familiarize students with the topics of health, including personal health, consumer and community health, injury prevention and safety, alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs, physical activity and nutrition, environmental health, family living, individual growth and
development, and communicable and chronic disease. This health course is
directly related to students' lives and the changes, challenges, and lifestyle habits
with which they will be faced.
Electives
Introduction to Computer Applications
Grade Level – 9, 10, 11, 12
Length – 1 Semester
Course Type – Optional
Prerequisite – None
Introduction to Computer Applications is a one semester elective course designed
to familiarize students with computers and their applications. It also emphasizes
the use of computers and technology throughout high school, college, and future
careers.
Students will learn fundamental concepts of computer hardware and software and
become familiar with a variety of computer applications, including wordprocessing, spreadsheets, databases, and multimedia presentations. Students
will investigate Internet-based applications, work with email and learn how to
browse the web. Coursework includes activities that explore social and ethical
issues related to computers
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Electives
Introduction to Health Science Careers
Grade Level – 9, 10, 11, 12
Length – 1 Semester
Course Type – Optional
Prerequisite – None
This health science career course is designed to give those students interested in
health careers the opportunity to explore the basic concepts surrounding professions related to this field. Some of the basic concepts encompassed in this health
science course included understanding one's role in health careers, having compassion for individuals in other cultures, protecting oneself against communicable
diseases, facilities related to the healthcare profession, health insurance, ethics in
health care, and workplace injuries. This course uses a common sense approach
to understanding every day concepts that one must familiarize themselves with in
regards to health careers.
Electives
Introduction to Journalism
Grade Level – 9, 10, 11, 12
Length – 1 Semester
Course Type – Optional
Prerequisite – None
In this course students will learn skills necessary in communicating in the
print/electronic media with emphasis on writing, but also including interviewing,
observing, and reporting. Students will become intelligent consumers of the mass
media and learn legal, moral, and ethical responsibilities inherent in the free press.
Students will learn the elements of lead writing, inverted pyramid, news story construction, attribution, and appropriate newspaper style.
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Electives
Introduction to Philosophy
Grade Level – 9, 10, 11, 12
Length – 1 Semester
Course Type – Optional
Prerequisite – None
A study of the variety of ways of thinking about such fundamental issues as knowledge and belief, human nature, the nature of reality, the existence of supernatural
being(s) and the relationship between self, mind and the body. Develops philosophical thinking skills and awareness of world philosophies.
Electives
Introduction to Psychology
Grade Level – 9, 10, 11, 12
Length – 1 Semester
Course Type – Optional
Prerequisite – None
This course provides a survey of the field of psychology as it relates to an understanding of human behavior. It will trace the development of psychology from its
earliest antecedents to the present. Students will study and chronicle the major
“schools” of psychology. The focus will discuss and consider the appropriate use
of psychological theory and principles in contemporary society.
Topics featured will include biological processes, sensation, perception, developmental processes, learning and memory, motivation and emotion, personality,
stress, psychopathology, and social behavior. Students will have the opportunity
for self assessment as well as for teacher guidance and assessment throughout
the course including the preparation and finalization of two semester Problem
Solving Projects, which focus on research, organization, and drafting strategies.
The course covers scientific terminology, historical and cultural advances in psychology, vocabulary building, test taking strategies, and several simulated labs,
hands-on labs, the essay, workplace documents, and science projects using the
scientific method.
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Electives
Introduction to Sociology
Grade Level – 9, 10, 11, 12
Length – 1 Semester
Course Type – Optional
Prerequisite – None
This college preparatory class addresses state and national academic standards
for Sociology coursework. Topics featured will include: culture, socialization, social
interaction, groups and organizations in society, social deviance, social stratification, global stratification, race and ethnicity, sex and gender roles, family influences, religious influences, educational values, population, environment, and
social changes in collective behavior.
This class is conducted in a media-rich online environment that addresses individual learning styles in an interactive format. Students will have the opportunity
for self assessment as well as for teacher guidance and assessment throughout
the course including the preparation and finalization of two semester Problem
Solving Projects, which focus on research, organization, and drafting strategies.
The course covers social science terminology, historical and cultural advances in
sociology, vocabulary building, test taking strategies, the essay, workplace documents, and projects.
Electives
Survey of Humanities
Grade Level – 9, 10, 11, 12
Length – 1 Semester
Course Type – Optional
Prerequisite – None
The course introduces students to the concept of humanities. Students will compare several different eras of history; how art, literature, music, philosophy, architecture, politics, and religion differ from one era to the next; and the influences
those ideas and beliefs have had on history.
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The course will begin with a comparison of ancient Greece and Rome, and then
move through the Middle Ages, to the Renaissance, and the Harlem Renaissance
in the United States.
Students will gain an understanding of major historical eras of the Western world
in terms of politics, literature, music, and art. The will also learn to interpret the arts
as well as compare and contrast pieces from various eras. The following historical
eras will be reviewed:
• Ancient Greece
• Ancient Rome
• The Six Major World Religions
• Medieval Era
• Renaissance
• Baroque
• Rococo
• Romantic Era
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health
Physical Education
Nutrition and Weight Management
Grade Level – 9, 10, 11, 12
Length – 1 Semester
Course Type – Optional
Prerequisite – None
This class promotes improving your overall health through developing a fitness
and nutrition program. Students will actively participate in the development and
comprehension of sport activities. It is primarily designed to help students fulfill the
Physical Education portion for a High School diploma. Through time spent in
weekly physical activity, application of dietary fundamentals, learning in chat sessions with the instructor, and research for threaded discussions, students will exercise their bodies and their minds and discover that the only true way to reach their
ideal weight is through a combination of nutrition and exercise!
This class will provide students with all the necessary information to build a strong
foundation for vital health and improved quality of life. Some of the topics covered
in this class are the basic principles of fitness and the importance and benefits
regular aerobic exercise, diet fads, concepts of weight control through nutrition,
vital nutrients and vitamins. Though this program students will understand how to
set goals with the intent of preserving and expanding opportunities for healthful,
enjoyable physical activity and nutrition practices.
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Physical Education
Physical Fitness
Grade Level – 9, 10, 11, 12
Length – 1 Semester
Course Type – Optional
Prerequisite – None
The Physical Fitness course demonstrates how eating right and moderate physical activity help students live healthy physically fit lives. This course balances
physiology, nutrition, and physical activity with lectures, assessments, data recording and a course project. Students will be introduced to what it means to live a
healthy lifestyle, maintaining a healthy weight, how to use activity to lose
unwanted pounds, planning healthy meals, healthy habits, overcoming exercise
barriers, stress management, peer pressure, and positive attitudes. This course is
designed to satisfy a one semester high school physical education course.
Physical Education
Sports Training
Grade Level – 9, 10, 11, 12
Length – 1 Semester
Course Type – Optional
Prerequisite – None
This online Sports Training class promotes fun through sport and athletics. Students will actively participate in the development and comprehension of sport
activities. Through time spent in weekly activity in a chosen sport, in chat sessions
with the instructor, and research for threaded discussions, students will exercise
their bodies and their minds. This sports education class seeks to promote health
education through the collaborative efforts of school, family, and the community.
Some of the topics covered in this online sport training class are the basic principles of fitness, sport, skill development, health and skill-related assessments.
Through the discovery and utilization of their talents, students will set goals for
their physical and mental growth. This program is designed to provide students
with the knowledge, ability and desire needed to maintain active, healthy lifestyles.
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science
Science
AP Environmental Science
Grade Level – 11, 12
Length – 2 Semesters
Course Type – Optional
Prerequisite – Chemistry and Physics
Scout AP Environmental Science covers Earth’s Systems, Human Population
Dynamics, Natural Resources, Environmental Quality, Global Changes, and Environment and Society. The scientific method is used to analyze and understand the
relationships between humans and the natural environment, with emphasis given
to industry’s relationship to environmental degradation and pollution. Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to understand the levels of
the ecological hierarchy, understand the inter-connectedness of the natural environmental processes that occur on Earth, understand the requirements of a
human-sustaining environment, understand how to integrate human societal
needs into natural processes without further compromising the ecosystem, understand the ecological background to global environmental problems, and understand the consequences of individual and collective decisions and policies. AP
Environmental Science is excellent preparation for the AP Environmental Science
exam.
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Science
AP Physics B
Grade Level – 12
Length – 2 Semesters
Course Type – Optional
Prerequisite – B or better in Physics and concurrent enrollment in Calculus or
Advanced Calculus and teacher recommendation.
Scout AP Physics B covers all of the material outlined by the College Board as
necessary to prepare students to pass the AP Physics B exam. This course will
acquaint students with classical and modern physics. The course begins with
Newtonian mechanics, including kinematics, laws of motion, work and energy,
systems of particles, momentum, circular motion, oscillations, and gravitation, and
the first half of AP Physics B concludes with topics in fluid mechanics, thermal
physics, and kinetic theory. The second half covers electricity and magnetism,
waves and optics, and atomic and nuclear physics. The course emphasizes problem solving and students will also gain laboratory experience through interactive
lab simulations. Upon successful completion of SCOUT AP Physics B, students
will be able to apply principles of classical and modern physics to real-world problems.
Science
AP Physics C
Grade Level – 11, 12
Length – 2 Semesters
Course Type – Optional
Prerequisite – AP Physics B
The beginning of Scout AP Physics C consists of a review of selected lessons from
Scout AP Physics B, but at an accelerated rate. Please see the course description
for Scout AP Physics B for a list of topics covered in that course. Additional topics
explored in Scout AP Physics C, (but not B) include center of mass; rotational kinematics and dynamics; angular momentum and its conservation; orbits of planets
and satellites (general); Gauss’s law; capacitors (spherical and cylindrical); dielectrics; capacitors in circuits (transients of RC circuits); Biot-Savart’s law and
Ampere’s law; inductance (including LR and LC circuits); and Maxwell’s equations.
Student assignments include readings, discussions, exercises, and labs, and
there will be quizzes and tests. Scout AP Physics C is excellent preparation for the
AP Physics C exam.
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Science
Honors Physics
Grade Level – 11, 12
Length – 2 Semesters
Course Type – Optional
Prerequisite – Physics A/B
Scout Honors Physics is designed to acquaint students with topics in classical and
modern physics. The course discusses topics in Newtonian mechanics, including
kinematics, laws of motion, work and energy, systems of particles, momentum,
circular motion, oscillations, gravitation, electricity, magnetism, waves, optics, and
atomic and nuclear physics. Students will also gain laboratory experience through
interactive lab simulations. This course consists of readings, lessons, assignments, and assessments.
Science
Biology A/B
Grade Level – 9
Length – 2 Semesters
Course Type – Mandatory
Prerequisite – Algebra I
Study the science of living matter in all its forms and phenomena. “A-G” Approved.
Scout Biology is a first-year course in biology at the high school level with a multirepresentational approach to algebra, with concepts, results, and problems being
expressed graphically, analytically, and verbally. Four themes organize important
concepts: science, technology, and society, evolution, the relationship between
structure and function, and science as a process. Topics include basic chemistry,
the structure, organization, and energetics of the cell, genetics, evolution, taxonomy, microorganisms, fungi, plant biology, animal biology, and environmental
biology. Upon course completion, students will have acquired an understanding of
the conceptual framework for biology and the science process and apply knowledge to environmental concerns and recognize unifying themes that integrate
major topics of biology. This course consists of readings, lessons, assignments,
and assessments. Successful completion of Algebra I is recommended
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Science
Physics A/B
Grade Level – 11, 12
Length – 2 Semesters
Course Type – Mandatory
Prerequisite – 1 year of Science, Geometry and concurrent enrollment in Algebra II
Scout Physics is designed to acquaint students with topics in classical and modern
physics. Students will develop a comprehension of Newtonian mechanics, oscillatory motion, waves, static electricity, classical and modern physics concepts, magnetism, optics, and atomic and nuclear physics. The course emphasizes conceptual understanding of basic physics principles, with some problem solving. There
are interactive conceptual and basic problem-solving examples throughout the
lessons, as well as interactive lab simulations and in-school labs. This course consists of readings, lessons, assignments, and assessments.
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social science
Social Science
American Government
Grade Level – 12
Length – 1 Semester
Course Type – Optional
Prerequisite – None
This required 12th grade college preparatory class addresses state and national
academic standards for American Government/Civics coursework. Topics featured will include: founding philosophies and documents with emphasis on the
U.S. Constitution; separation of powers; federalism; civil rights and liberties; civic
responsibility; and the American political process highlighting the role of media in
today's globally interdependent community. Students will explore how the U.S.
Constitution provides a flexible framework for a dynamic democratic form of government. This class is conducted in a media-rich online environment that
addresses individual learning styles in an interactive format. Together we will
explore and experience how an informed American citizenry exercises civil rights
and liberties to participate in the political process thereby securing the blessings of
liberty we have enjoyed for nearly two-and-a-half centuries.
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Social Science
AP European History A/B
Grade Level – 10, 11, 12
Length – 2 Semesters
Course Type – Optional
Prerequisite – European History
Students build an understanding of the economic, political, diplomatic, military and
social changes that have shaped Western European History from the Renaissance to the present. This online European history course challenges students to
read critically, weigh evidence and interpret problems presented by historians.
Through assessment and critical analysis of historical documents and interpretations of them, students learn to analyze data, form conclusions, and present wellreasoned, persuasive arguments in written form. The AP European history course
is designed to prepare students to take the Advanced Placement exam offered by
the College Board
Social Science
AP Government and Politics
Grade Level – 10, 11, 12
Length – 1 Semester
Course Type – Optional
Prerequisite – American Government
Scout AP Government and Politics covers the Constitution, political beliefs, political parties, interest groups, institutions of government, public policy, and civil
rights. The course teaches students how the US government works. Students will
become familiar with, and develop knowledge of, the institutions, documents, policies, political groups, beliefs, and theories central to the politics of the United
States. Emphasis is placed on critical and evaluative thinking skills, data analysis,
collaborative discussion, timed, free-response essay writing, and interpretation of
primary-source documents. The curriculum covers the six topics that appear on
the AP US Government and Politics exam: the constitutional underpinnings of the
US government, political beliefs and behaviors, political parties, interest groups
and mass media, national government institutions, public policy, and civil rights
and civil liberties. Upon successful completion of this course, students will be prepared for the AP US Government and Politics exam.
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Social Science
AP Macroeconomics
Grade Level – 12
Length – 2 Semesters
Course Type – Optional
Prerequisite – US History, World History and Algebra I
Scout AP Macroeconomics prepares students for the AP Macroeconomics exam.
Topics covered include markets, measuring economic performance, economic
challenges, aggregate demand and supply equilibrium, fiscal policy, banking, the
Fed, the global economy, and foreign exchange. Upon successful completion of
the course, students will understand, among other things, opportunity costs and
the production possibilities curve, product and resource markets, price indexes,
inflation, expansionary and contractionary fiscal policies, fractional reserve banking systems, Keynesian and Monetarist perspectives, and the implications of trade
surpluses and deficits. The course consists of readings, lab experiments, homework assignments, and assessments. This course is recommended for high
school seniors who have completed US History and World History. Prerequisites:
Basic math skills.
Social Science
AP United States History
Scout AP US History covers American History from the age of exploration and
discovery to the present. Emphasis is placed on critical and evaluative thinking
skills, essay writing, interpretation of primary-source documents, and historiography. Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of a broad body of historical knowledge, research historical issues, identify underrepresented historical viewpoints, evaluate differing interpretations of the same historical figure, event, or trend, explain how specific
events relate to larger trends or themes, develop and argue positions on historical
issues, critique and respond to arguments, raise and develop questions, and
evaluate primary and secondary sources. SCOUT AP US History uses five themes
throughout its lessons: politics, the economy, social issues, diplomacy, and
culture. A thorough understanding of the five themes in relation to each lesson is
excellent preparation for the AP US History exam essay questions.
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Social Science
Economics
Scout Economic is designed address California content standards: Basic Concepts, How Markets Work, Market Structures, Market Failures, Labor, Aggregate
Economy, Economic Challenges, Money and Banking, the Federal Reserve,
Taxes and Spending, Fiscal Policy, Global Economy, and Foreign Exchange. Students will gain a thorough understanding of scarcity and choice, opportunity costs
and comparative advantage, the production possibilities model, externalities, labor
markets, gross domestic product, markets and circular flow, unemployment and
inflation, the Federal Reserve and its policies, forms of taxation, balance of payments, and foreign exchange markets. This course consists of readings, lessons,
assignments, and assessments.
Social Science
Global Action
Grade Level – 9, 10, 11, 12
Length – 2 Semesters
Course Type – Required for Graduation
Prerequisite – None
Global Action is taken annually and is intended to lead students from an understanding of an issue to action or service. Topics of investigation might include:
House, Homes & Homelessness; Wealth, Privilege and Poverty; Race & Ethnicity;
Prejudice and Respect; Sexism, Racism, Homophobia, Ageism; population and
overpopulation; children’s rights; global distribution of wealth; animals, cruelty and
the environment; food, water, energy, housing, personal and household chemicals
and products; recycling at Orion; purchasing responsibly for the school and home;
waste and garbage; redesigned power systems for the school; ecological audits of
home, of school; cities of the future; issues of overpopulation; International Human
Rights; health issues.
To graduate from Orion International Academy, students must complete the Global
Action courses each year and the Community Service Learning requirement of 15
hours of approved community service each year. A failing grade in a Global Action
course requires an additional 15 hours of community service.
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Social Science
Government and Politics
Scout US Government and Politics is designed to develop a clear and concise
understanding of US government policies and procedures. Throughout this
course, students will develop a clear understanding of political issues, learn to
interpret court cases and bills, learn to write and persuade with evidence, develop
essay responses that include a clear, defensible thesis statement and supporting
evidence, explore questions about policies, institutions, beliefs, and actions in a
political science context, evaluate scholarly works and statistical analyses, explain
the foundations and underpinnings of democratic government, demonstrate comprehension of documents essential to American government and politics, evaluate
the importance of federalism in the political operation of the nation, describe the
nature of American political parties and their role in the election process, analyze
the patterns of voter behavior, describe the functions and workings of policy
making institutions, analyze major developments in the history of civil rights and
civil liberties in America. This course consists of readings, lessons, assignments,
and assessments.
Social Science
Human Development
Grade Level – 9, 10, 11, 12
Length – 2 Semesters
Course Type –Mandatory
Prerequisite – None
The high school grades are dynamic and developmentally-active. This course
helps students sort through the personal, social and moral challenges and
enhancing their sense of character, well-being and personal responsibility. Human
Development classes are designed to enhance self-esteem and to teach a variety
of techniques that enable students to cope effectively with life's changes and to
make healthy, life affirming and responsible choices in their own lives. In the process of understanding the ethical nature of their own values and choices, students
begin to accept responsibility for making decisions regarding family, friendship,
personal privacy and safety, school, sexuality, drugs, alcohol and tobacco use and
the variety of other choices which confront them at this time in their lives.
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In addition to teaching techniques for focused listening and speaking, working
cooperatively and behaving with respect toward themselves and others, Connections and Mysteries ask young people for their honest attention to the deeper
questions and seemingly unfathomable mysteries in their lives in the context of a
safe and confidential environment.
Social Science
United States History A/B
Grade Level – 11
Length – 2 Semesters
Course Type – Optional
Prerequisite – B or better in World History and recommendation from teacher
Scout US History is designed to develop a broad body of US historical knowledge.
Upon successful completion of the course, students will have learned to work with
other classmates to research and compile data from original documents, interpret
and apply data into clearly written ideas and theses, critique and evaluate an array
of historical documents and narratives, effectively argue a position on historical
issues, raise and explore questions about policies, institutions, beliefs, and actions
in an historical context, and properly assess the historical significance and cultural
impact of key literary works. This course consists of readings, lessons, assignments, and assessments. The first half of the course covers the time period from
the exploration of colonial America in the mid-1700’s to America’s growing pains in
the early 1820’s. The second half of the course covers the time period of the new
frontiers from the mid-1800’s to the new century and millennium.
Social Science
World History A/B
Grade Level – 9
Length – 2 Semesters
Course Type – Optional
Prerequisite – None
World History A
World History A examines major turning points that have shaped the modern
world, from the late eighteenth century through the age of imperialism. This online
world history course traces the rise of democratic ideas and develops an understanding of the historical roots of current world issues, especially as they pertain
to international relations.
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Students develop an understanding of current world issues and relate them to
their historical, geographic, political, economic, and cultural contexts. Students
consider multiple accounts of events in order to understand international relations
from a variety of perspectives.
World History B
This World History B course examines the major turning points that have shaped
the modern world, from World War I through the present, including the cause and
course of the two world wars. This online world history course traces the infusion
of democratic ideas into the modern world and develops an understanding of the
historical roots of current world issues, especially as they pertain to international
relations. Students develop an understanding of current world issues and relate
them to their historical, geographic, political, economic, and cultural contexts. Students consider multiple accounts of events in order to understand international
relations from a variety of perspectives.
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We thank you for your interest in
Orion International Academy
Vielka McFarlane
CEO
www.orionschools.org