Middle and High School Curriculum2021-04-21T14:16:10-04:00

Middle and High School Curriculum

 

ENGLISH

Quarter 1 – Introduction to online platforms and The Writer’s Workshop model. Students  will explore short stories that delve into theme, comprehension, and figurative language. 

Quarter 2 – Continue to develop our Writer’s Notebooks, with a focus on the Personal Narrative. Students will practice short reading comprehension exercises. Students will read and analyze various short stories.

Quarter 3 – Continue to build grammar skills while learning about research-based information writing. Students will continue working on vocabulary & focusing on their speaking and listening standards preparing for their International Day performance. 

Quarter 4 – Continue varied writing practice, vocabulary development, preparation of research project, and beginning the literary essay.

Quarter 1 – Introduction to online platforms and The Writer’s Workshop model. Students will explore novels/short stories  in class, delving into theme, comprehension, and figurative language. 

Quarter 2 – Continue to develop our Writer’s Notebooks, with a focus on the art of argument. Students will practice reading comprehension exercises.

Quarter 3 – Continue to build grammar skills while writing realistic fiction. Students will continue work on vocabulary & focusing on their speaking and listening standards while preparing for their International Day performance. 

Quarter 4 – Continue varied writing practice, vocabulary development and close reading.

Quarter 1 – Introduction to online resources and The Writer’s Workshop model. Students will explore a novel in class, delving into theme, comprehension, and figurative language. We will also set up Book Clubs for students where they can choose a book or theme to discuss every other week after vocabulary tests. 

Quarter 2 – Continue to develop our Writer’s Notebooks, with a focus on investigative journalism. Students explore the morality and symbolism in various short stories and novels.

Quarter 3 – Continue practice with sentencing, paragraphing, and analyzing craft and theme when writing literary essays in our Writer’s Workshop. We will work on writing realistic fiction. Students will continue to work on vocabulary focusing on reading. 

Quarter 4 – Continue varied writing practice including learning how to write position papers in our Writer’s Workshop, vocabulary development, and finishing the novel study. 

In this course students will practice the language arts of reading, writing, listening, and speaking in English.

Quarter 1 – Introduction to short story analysis, characterization, and comprehension. Students will create writer’s notebooks and focus on narrative writing.

Quarter 2 – Continue with independent novel unit as well as class novel. Writer’s notebooks focus on evidence-based writing and writer’s workshop.  

Quarter 3Continue novel analysis as well as a focus on themes and characterization. Continue with writer’s notebooks with the focus on evidence based writing, vocabulary, grammar and comprehension. 

Quarter 4 – Continue with novel and short story analysis, vocabulary, and comprehension.  The writing focus is on persuasive writing, writer’s workshop, and different aspects of comprehensive writing.

In this course, students will practice the language arts of reading, writing, listening, and speaking in English.

Quarter 1 – Introduction to short stories and poetry. Focus for writing is on narrative writing notebooks to develop as writers. 

Quarter 2 –  Students will continue analysis of the written work and begin novel study. Extensive on narrative writing with focus on literary analysis. 

Quarter 3 – Continue novel study and analysis. Writer’s notebooks focus on vocabulary and evidence based writing.  

Quarter 4 – Continue novel study and comprehension with a focus on theme and writer’s craft. Writing is focused on persuasive writing.

Grade 11 students study one year of Pre-AP English with the purpose of preparation for senior study and examination of the Advanced Placement English Literature and Composition class. The course requires close reading of major works of fiction in English (long and short), poetry, and plays. Reading practice includes reading for understanding and reading for deeper meanings.  Writing practice includes analysis of setting, plot, character, narrator, and construction of substantive claims.

Grade 12 students study the course Advanced Placement English Literature and Composition. The readings include major literary works in English of fiction, poetry, and plays. Writing is a rigorous approach of analyzing primary texts and making substantive claims about literature. The AP exam is administered and assessed by AP in May.

MATHEMATICS

This course has  four (4) Critical Content Areas:

  • Connecting ratio and rate to whole number multiplication and division and using concepts of ratio and rate to solve problems.
  • Completing understanding of division of fractions and extending the notion of number to the system of rational numbers, which includes negative numbers.
  • Writing, interpreting, and using expressions and equations.
  • Developing understanding of statistical thinking.

Quarter 1: Expressions and Variables. Integer Operations. Powers and Exponents. Variable Expressions. Distributive Property. One Step Equations.

Quarter 2: Multi-Step Equations. Factors. Prime Factorization. GCF. LCM. Rules of Exponents. 

Quarter 3: Rational Numbers. Operations with Fractions. Equations/Inequalities with Rational Numbers. Ratios/Proportions. Similarity/Measurement. Probability and Odds. Counting Principle.

Quarter 4: Percent-Fractions-Decimals. Percent Change. Simple/Compound Interest. Relations/Functions. Slope-Intercept Form. Function Notation. System of Linear Equations

Quarter 1: Solving Puzzles in Teams. Investigating Growth Patterns/Quadratic Functions. Cube Root/Absolute Value Functions. Domain and Range. Slope. Rate of Change. Finding an Equation Given a Slope and a Point/Two points. 

Quarter 2: Exponential Expressions. Multiplying Binomials. Multi-Variable Equations. Systems of Equations: Substitution, Elimination. 

Quarter 3: Representing Exponential Growth, Exponential Decay, Investigating Sequencing, Arithmetic/Recursive Sequences. Sequences vs. Functions. Line of Best Fit. Residuals. Upper/Lower Bounds. Correlation. Association/Causation. 

Quarter 4: Multiple Representations of Exponential Functions. More Applications of Exponential Growth/Decay. Fractional Exponents. Solving Systems of Equations Graphically. Factoring Quadratics. Factoring with Special Cases. Multiple Representations of Quadratics.

This course builds on students’ existing knowledge of Geometry, as well as the skills learned in Algebra for determining unknowns, using the Cartesian coordinate system, and solving equations.

Students will:

·       Develop and use formulas for calculating useful concepts such as distance along a line and the arc length of a circle.

·       Learn multiple properties of triangles, circles, and quadrilaterals that have numerous real-world applications.

·      Introduce trigonometric ratios and explore their use in real-world applications: Sine, Cosine, and Tangent.

·       Explore the concepts of volume and surface area of 3D figures.

This course is designed to build on Algebraic and Geometric concepts covered in previous courses. It develops advanced Algebra skills such as:

  •       Solving Systems of Equations
  •       Factoring
  •       Performing and Analyzing Transformations of Functions
  •       Working with Advanced Polynomials
  •       Using and Understanding Imaginary Numbers

Students will improve these skills through the exploration of linear, quadratic, piece-wise, polynomial, and rational functions.  By the end of the year, students will be able to make connections between algebraic structures and real world situations.  They will be able to communicate effectively using algebraic models, graphical models, numeric models, and verbal models.

This course is designed to prepare students for the challenge of Calculus.  It seeks to reinforce concepts learned in Algebra 2, and introduce students to new content needed in Calculus, such as:

·       Conic Sections

·       Exponential and Logarithmic Functions

·       The Unit Circle

·       Trigonometric Functions and Identities

·       Polynomial and Radical Functions

This course is the capstone mathematics course offered at CIPLC. It will draw upon all of the mathematics courses taken in the students’ education up to this point. The goal of the course is to prepare students to be able to enter university enrolled in Calculus 1 before moving on to more advanced mathematics if necessary. Some of the content we will cover includes: 

      Foundations and Introduction to Calculus–What is Calculus?

          Analytic development of Limits and Derivatives

          Applications of Derivatives 

          Second Derivatives and Function Analysis 

          Integration and its Applications

SPANISH

El objetivo primordial es reforzar las competencias comunicativas, tanto orales como escritas en Español, haciendo énfasis en la identificación y producción de las distintas tipologías textuales y géneros literarios. Así mismo, motivarlos a realizar investigaciones detalladas acerca de un tema.

El objetivo primordial es reforzar las competencias comunicativas, tanto orales como escritas en Español, haciendo énfasis en la identificación y producción de las distintas tipologías textuales y géneros literarios. Así mismo, motivarlos a realizar lecturas reflexivas de un texto. 

The Spanish 8 course will aim to reinforce oral and written communication skills, grammatical competence, and analysis of the Spanish language. In addition to producing effective communicators in the language, this course will expose students to modern and contemporary Spanish literature with the vision that students develop a greater appreciation for it, expanding their understanding and appreciation for perspectives and products of Spanish and Hispanic culture.

The Pre-AP Spanish Language and Culture course is intended to serve as the foundation for the AP Spanish Language and Culture course. For this, it will introduce students to the reading and comprehension of original literary texts of the Spanish language, emphasizing the identification of linguistic models for the revision of grammatical concepts. It is important to note that the classes are taught exclusively in Spanish. Likewise, students are expected to use the Spanish language orally and in writing during all activities.

El curso AP Spanish Language tiene como objetivo preparar a los estudiantes de forma efectiva para la prueba de AP. Se cubren en él los temas obligatorios de la prueba:

1. Las familias en diferentes sociedades.

2. La influencia de la lengua y la cultura en la identidad.

3. La influencias de la belleza y el arte.

4. Cómo la ciencia y la tecnología afectan nuestras vidas.

5. Factores que impactan en la calidad de vida.

6. Retos medioambientales, sociales y políticos.

El abordaje de estos temas se hace desde la lectura, la oralidad y la escritura haciendo énfasis en la cultura hispana, su comparación con otras culturas y la reflexión crítica escrita expresada en la escritura de ensayos.

El curso Pre-AP Spanish Literature inicia como un curso de introducción general a los estudios literarios para avanzar hacia un curso de fundamentos de literatura universal e hispánica que sirva como referencia para el abordaje de los temas obligatorios de la prueba de AP Spanish Literature. Los temas son:

1. La lectura literaria

2. Los géneros literarios

3. Los mitos clásicos

4. La literatura caballeresca

5. El Quijote

6. Cuentos universales

Se hace énfasis en la producción escrita de modelos textuales y de ensayos de interpretación literaria.

El curso AP Spanish Literature tiene como objetivo preparar a los estudiantes de forma efectiva para la prueba de AP. Se cubren en él los temas obligatorios de la prueba:

1. La época medieval

2. EL siglo XVI

3. EL siglo XVII

4. La literatura romántica, realista y naturalista

5. La generación del 98 y el Modernismo

6. Teatro y poesía del siglo XX

7. El Boom latinoamericano

8. Escritores contemporáneos de Estados Unidos y España

El abordaje de estos temas se hace desde la lectura, la oralidad y la escritura haciendo énfasis en la reflexión crítica escrita expresada en la escritura de ensayos de interpretación literaria.

ART & MUSIC

This course is designed to develop students’ creativity and understanding of art. The abilities learned or improved in this course are:

  • Symbolic thinking through the analysis and creation of art
  • Critical thinking skills applied to works of art in different areas (painting, poetry, fiction, etc.)
  • Connecting students’ knowledge and abilities in other areas (literature, music, language, etc.) to create art
  • Application of formal steps for analysis

Students should start to understand how art works thematically and organically, so their own works can have meaning and consistency beyond mere craft. Students should also understand how arts can connect and represent basically every area of human knowledge.

This course is meant to further develop students’ creativity and understanding of art. The abilities learned or improved in this course are:

  • Objective thinking over subjective thinking
  • Creation of art pieces using themes and topics from other artists
  • Using art to convey narrative combining both prose and art (comics)
  • Connecting students’ knowledge and abilities in other areas (literature, music, language, etc.) to create art

Students should understand that art, as any other discipline, can also be seen objectively. Students should develop their objective thinking in order to make their pieces have an effect and meaning on other viewers.

Middle School Music is a way for students to continue their musical growth. In this class students will study music theory. The main goal is preparing students to become literate in music notation, ear training, vocal, and rhythmic skills.

Quarter 1: Unit 1: Basics of Music Theory. Unit 2. Measuring Music. Time Signatures. Unit 3. Music Terms. The Elements of Music. 

Quarter 2: Composition Project (Students will use the elements of Music studied at the beginning of the semester to create an original song using an online music software).

High School Music is a way for students to continue their musical growth. In this class students will study music theory and music history. The main goal is preparing students to become literate in music notation, ear training, vocal, and rhythmic skills.

Quarter 1: Unit 1: Basics of Music Theory – Baroque Music. Unit 2. Measuring Music. Time Signatures – Classical Music. Unit 3. Music Terms. The Elements of Music. 

Quarter 2: Composition Project (Students will use the elements of Music studied at the beginning of the semester to create an original song using an online music software). Romantic Music. Modern and Postmodern Music.

SCIENCE

In Science 6, we will learn to think and behave like real scientists. Beginning with an overview of the scientific method, we will delve into the practices of inquiry as we make predictions, hypothesize, research, investigate, experiment, observe, collect and analyze data, and draw conclusions. We will learn the rules of lab safety and work collaboratively, responsibly, and respectfully as a whole class and in small groups to conduct experiments and communicate ideas. Students will gain confidence in their ability to synthesize new information with prior knowledge in order to solve novel problems.

Units include: Scientific Method. Exploring the Earth. Geologic Changes. Geologic Time. Exploring the Universe.

Science 7 is an inquiry based class, where we investigate the world around us through scientific experiments. The goal of the class is to experience learning in as many “hands on” and creative ways as possible. Labs and in-class activities will occur weekly as well as a few major projects. Tests are by design quite difficult, so studyIng is a must. Students will conduct experiments and communicate ideas. Students will gain confidence in their ability to synthesize new information with prior knowledge in order to solve novel problems.

Units Include: Motion and Forces. Electricity and Magnetism. Life Structure and Function. Genetics. The Environment and Change Over Time.

8th grade students will be expected to create and use models, conduct research, and analyze data. They will also gather, study, and explain different scientific concepts. Over the course of the year, students will need to work on design projects that assess their understanding of what they’re studying.

The students will then learn what matter is and will review its phases. They will learn about elements and atoms, including the structure of and organization of atoms. The students will then learn about how and why atoms join together to form compounds and molecules. They will learn the differences between mixtures and solutions and how a solution can be described. The students will also learn about the different types of energy and how energy can be transformed from one type to another.. Students will learn about the nature of light and why some materials absorb light while others do not. They will review the process of photosynthesis, including how the process came to be understood by scientists.

Biology is the study of the living world, including microscopic organisms, fungi, plants, and animals. This course includes laboratory work, study of specimens, projects, and a thorough understanding of scientific inquiry. Course content encompasses interrelationships of living things, levels of biological organization, cellular biology, biochemistry, genetics, and evolution. Students should be prepared to conduct projects and write a formal lab report. Instruction centers around inquiry based learning that is incorporated into class activities. Learning activities include teacher-lead instruction, group work, student seatwork, project-based learning, and lab exercises with both student-choice and teacher-choice grouping. 

Chemistry is a course designed to focus on the basic principles of matter. In this course we will explore atomic structure, the periodic table, ionic, covalent and metallic bonding, naming conventions, stoichiometry, states of matter, the behavior of gasses, solutions, and thermochemistry. 

Because experimentation is the basis of science, laboratory demonstrations and investigations are an integral part of this course. Students should be prepared to conduct projects each quarter and write a formal lab report. Instruction centers around inquiry based learning that is incorporated into class activities. Learning activities include teacher-led instruction, group work, student seatwork, project-based learning, and lab exercises with both student-choice and teacher-choice grouping. 

Physical Science is designed to serve as a foundation for other high school courses, especially Chemistry and Physics. Physics units include Newton’s 3 laws of motion, forces, scientific definitions of work and power, momentum, conservation and conversions of energy, relationships between electricity and magnetism, and wave phenomena and behavior (both characteristics and calculations).  Chemistry units include composition and classification of matter, history of atomic structure up to the present day model, and learning the periodic table to include, but not limited to: all chemical symbols, patterns, trends and isotopes, chemical bonding, compound naming, and chemical reactions.  

Because experimentation is the basis of science, laboratory demonstrations and investigations are an integral part of this course. Students should be prepared to conduct projects each quarter and write a formal lab report. Instruction centers around inquiry based learning that is incorporated into class activities.  Learning activities include teacher-lead instruction, group work, student seatwork, project-based learning, and lab exercises with both student-choice and teacher-choice grouping.

This upper level science course is designed to provide students with a thorough understanding of how the organ systems within the human body work together to maintain homeostasis, and how a failure in homeostasis results in a disease or health issue. The course was designed with a focus on hands-on and creative assessments that cultivate students’ critical thinking, research, and communication skills – both orally in class discussions as well as in written forms. Each unit includes laboratory work in the form of traditional labs and/or simulation activities, the study of specimens, and research-based projects.

SOCIAL STUDIES

Quarter 1 – Students will explore Geography and  then move on to studying Prehistory and Ancient Mesopotamia.

Quarter 2 – Students will continue to study Ancient Mesopotamia, laying the foundation for comparing and contrasting other Ancient Civilizations. This quarter will then wrap up by studying Ancient Egypt and/or Ancient China. 

Quarter 3 – This quarter will focus on Ancient Greece, which will culminate in our International Day performance. 

Quarter 4 – Students will investigate Ancient Rome, drawing on the foundation from previous units in order to highlight comparisons and differences.

Quarter 1 – Students will explore Chapters 1 and 2 in the  Europe and Russia Textbook. We will use the content as a means to discuss and learn about how Geography, Economics, Culture, and History are connected.

Quarter 2 – Students will continue to study Europe and Russia, laying the foundation for comparing and contrasting other areas of the globe and how they are shaped by their history. This quarter will then wrap up by studying the first three chapters of the Latin America Text. 

Quarter 3 – This quarter will focus on completing the Latin America text and beginning the Modern History Unit, studying the Atomic Age and how current issues/conflicts have ancient roots. 

Quarter 4 – Students continue to explore how modern history, the present, and the future have been impacted by historical events, as well as studying important historical matters, such as the advent of the Atomic Age.

Quarter 1 – Introduction to events happening around the world and how news is reported. 

Quarter 2 – Study of American history and the Civil War. 

Quarter 3 – Continue the study on the history of America, and then broaden out to encompass more of the world. Discuss the impact of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. 

Quarter 4 – Continue exploring the world and focus on pre-1950 inventions and their impact on the world around us. 

Se estudia de forma general a Venezuela, su cultura, geografía, gente, símbolos y su origen a través del estudio de la Venezuela prehispánica y su descubrimiento. Nos paseamos por la vida colonial y por los movimientos independentistas. Posteriormente iniciamos el recorrido por los distintos mandatos desde la Venezuela agropecuaria, la era moderna, el Boom petrolero hasta nuestros días.

Quarter 1 – Introductory unit on current events around the world with a focus on the big events on each continent. 

Quarter 2 – Continued study on current events with a look at the history and understanding of why events seem to happen and how they are playing out around the world.  

Quarter 3 – Continued study on worldwide events and how one event in one place has an impact on another event in a different country. Also focused on different types of governments and their impact on their specific people. 

Quarter 4 – A project based quarter focused on all continents and their  leadership, as well as economies and their impact.

In this course students will be learning about the constant interaction between the physical and human elements on earth.  Furthermore, they will be learning about how and why humans occupy space on earth in the variety they do.

In this course students will be learning about biological, social/cultural, and cognitive explanations for the wide variety of human behavior and thinking. During this time they will focus not only on updated scientific research in the field of psychology, but on the history of it as well.

This course is designed to introduce students to economic models and the tools economists use to make sense of people and societies.  We focus mainly on Microeconomics, but as class discussion and current events warrant, the course also explores aspects of Macroeconomics, Personal Finance, and Financial Markets. Some of the topics covered include: Scarcity, Opportunity Cost, Supply and Demand Model, Elasticities, and the role of various personal finance tools including Credit Cards, Mortgages, and Investing for Retirement.

This course surveys Latin America history from prehistory and early America, colonization, independence, dictatorship and democracy, and recent history (current events). Topics include extraction of resources (minerals, energy, agriculture) and extraction of labor (servitude, slavery, immigration, land reform), as well as culture, education, and health. The approach is to learn of regional histories: Andean, Southern Cone, Brazil, Caribbean, and Central America and Mexico.

World History in high school is a survey course of human events across history. Students examine human development from the earliest days to the present by exploring socioeconomic conditions, environmental conditions, political institutions, and ideological positions that have imprinted various times. Regions and centers of human activity include Europe, the Mediterranean, Middle East, Africa, Asia/Pacific, as well as the Western Hemisphere. Students study history as well as recent happenings (current events), making connections between the past and today. Learning is student-centered and project-based. The skills of reading, writing, speaking, and collaboration are practiced continually. 

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

The central areas of physical education are relevant to all movement-oriented experiences, which include cooperative activities, team-building games, fitness, lead-up games, dancing, and individual and team sports. Every individual needs sufficient physical skills for effective use of their body. Most motor movements are learned except for the basic reflexes. The physical education program seeks to enhance motor movement skills in the individual. 

Depending on the class level,  we make some adaptations and adjustments to increase the level of difficulties of the activities we do in class for the benefit and improvement of our students.

This course offers scientific knowledge in the areas of personal health, emotional health, social health, human development, substance abuse, and first aid.  The objective is to provide the students with basic knowledge in preparing them for the difficult situations that arise in their adolescent, teenage, adult, and parenting years.

ADDITIONAL COURSES

This is a complementary class with Language Arts 6. Through technology tools students reinforce grammar, vocabulary, mechanics, and other English language skills. They work online with two programs.

IXL ELA: Students are requested to complete 75 minutes per week in any skill within the 6th grade level. There are 150 skills for them to choose from.

RAZ KIDS: Students are requested to complete the reading of 5 books per week and their corresponding comprehension quizzes. Additionally, every four weeks students are requested to apply their skills by writing an essay related to one of the books recently read in Raz Kids.

This is a complementary class with Language Arts 7. Through technology tools students reinforce grammar, vocabulary, mechanics, and other English language skills. They work online with two programs.

IXL ELA: Students are requested to complete 75 minutes per week in any skill within the 7th grade level. There are 150 skills for them to choose from.

RAZ KIDS: Students are requested to complete the reading of 5 books per week and their corresponding comprehension quizzes. Additionally, every four weeks students are requested to apply their skills by writing an essay related to one of the books recently read in Raz Kids.

This is a complementary class with Language Arts 8. Through technology tools students reinforce grammar, vocabulary, mechanics, and other English language skills. They work online with two programs.

IXL ELA: Students are requested to complete 75 minutes per week in any skill within the 8th grade level. There are 163 skills for them to choose from.

RAZ KIDS: Students are requested to complete the reading of 5 books per week and their corresponding comprehension quizzes. Additionally, every two weeks students are requested to apply their skills by writing an essay related to one of the books recently read in Raz Kids.

This Grade 9 semester class provides the opportunity for students to study and perform speeches, debates, readers’ theater, impromptu speeches, monologues and dialogues, and plays.

This Grade 9 semester class directs students in the exploration of topics of student interest. The class approaches this in two ways: 1) with the study of learning processes with the online course at Coursera “Learning How To Learn,” and 2) with the preparation and performance of speeches which include Found, Personal Growth, Information, Demonstration, and Persuasive Speeches.

This course is primarily focused on allowing students to use technology to explore a topic of their choosing online. Students select one or more courses per semester on Coursera. The selection is based on the student’s interest, should be available with no additional cost  (unless parents agree to pay for it), and should require between 25 to 30 hours to complete.

 As part of the evaluation for this course, journal entries are required on a weekly basis, and a written reflection about what they are learning is to be done every two weeks. At the end of each semester students are required to make a culminating Final Presentation.

Students are also given weekly assignments via the online learning platform IXL to work on their English language abilities in a differentiated manner to target each student’s current weaknesses.