Inderkum High School 9 th Grade Course Descriptions 2015-2016
Special Programs Descriptions CECA - California Early College Academy California Early College Academy is a college readiness pathway that affords students the opportunity to enroll in college level classes at American River College as early as their 11 th grade year. CECA Students will be immersed in an environment that is driven by the AVID College Readiness System. If students are accepted into the program they will be enrolled into a scripted set of CECA 9 th grade CP courses: CECA English 9 CP AVID 9 CECA Algebra or Geometry CECA Spanish 1 or 2 Human Biology PE 9 The curriculum of the CECA course is similar to the CP course listed unless otherwise noted in that subject area. Online Application: www.caearlycollegeacademy.org Priority Application Deadline: February 13 th Regular Application Deadline: February 28 th IB Scholars Program The IB Diploma Programme is a rigorous but rewarding course of study during the student s junior and senior years. Success in the classes and on the culminating exams will require a high level of motivation, a significant time commitment, and family members who support the student s efforts. IB Scholars is an honors program to prepare students in grades 9 and 10 for the rigors, breadth and depth of the IB Diploma Programme. Students are scheduled in accelerated classes taught by IB-trained teachers, preparing them for success in the IB Diploma Programme. If students are accepted into the Scholars Program, they will be automatically enrolled into a scripted set of Scholars Advanced courses: Scholars English 9 Advanced AP Human Geography Scholars Geometry, Algebra 2 or Trig Advanced Human Biology Scholars Spanish, French or Mandarin PE 9. The curriculum of each Scholars courses is similar to the Advanced course listed unless otherwise noted in that subject area. Online Application: http://classjump.com/i/ihsib Priority Application Deadline: February 13 th Regular Application Deadline: February 28 th
Natomas Unified School District Graduation Requirements 1. Pass the following classes: English (4 years/ 40 credits) Mathematics (2 years/ 20 credits) must pass at least Algebra 1 Physical Education (2 years/20 credits) Physical Science (1 year/ 10 credits) Life Science (1 year/ 10 credits) World Geography (1 semester/ 5 credits) Health (1 semester/ 5 credits) World History (1 year/ 10 credits) U.S. History (1 year/ 10 credits) American Government (1 semester/ 5 credits) Economics (1 semester/ 5 credits) Visual and Performing Arts (1 year/ 10 credits) World Language (1 year/ 10 credits) Technology (1 year/ 10 credits) 2. Complete a total of 220 credits. 3. Pass the California High School Exit Examinations in Language Arts and Mathematics.
College Entrance Requirements Community Colleges (2-Year Degree) Admission requirements: 1. Be eighteen years old, or 2. Earn a high school diploma, or 3. Pass the California High School Proficiency Examination. Placement tests are required in math and English. Some local campuses: Folsom Lake, Sierra, American River, Sacramento City and Cosumnes River. California State Universities and Colleges (4-Year Degree) Admission is determined by 1. Being a High School graduate, 2. Meeting the eligibility index of grade point average and scores on either the ACT or SAT college entrance tests and 3. Having completed the 15 unit subject requirements listed below with a grade of C or better. Placement tests are required in math and English. Campuses include Sacramento, Chico, Humboldt, Fresno, San Francisco, Monterey Bay, San Diego and 16 other locations. University of California (4-Year Degree) Admission requirements: 1. Complete the 15 unit ag subject requirements. 2. Attain a 3.0 grade point average or above in the a-g subjects and meet the eligibility index, which includes SAT Reasoning test (or ACT) and SAT subject tests scores and 3. Submit test scores from the SAT Reasoning test (or ACT) and any scores from the SAT Subject Tests. UC/CSU Subject Requirements a. History/Social Science 2 Years - Includes one year U.S. History b. English 4 Years c. Mathematics 3 Years (4 Recommended) Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2 d. Laboratory Science 2 Years (3 Recommended) Biology, Chemistry, Physics e. Language other than English 2 Years -same language (3 Recommended) f. Visual Performing Arts 1 Year g. College Preparatory Electives 1 Year - additional year from an a-f category or chosen from approved course list Private and Out-of-State Schools Students meeting the University of California entrance requirements generally will meet requirements of private and out-of-state schools. Refer to an individual school s catalog and web site for specifics.
ENGLISH All English classes are UC/CSU approved. Only one year of ELD meets the b requirement. ENGLISH 9 Grade Level: 9 Alternate title: CECA English 9 Requirement: Meets HS graduation requirement, UC/CSU b requirement This class introduces students to literary terms, genres, including work place documents and research methods with MLA formatting. Students receive instruction in the composition process and write all of the following CAHSEE options: expository essays responding to texts and practicing different modes, especially comparison and contrast, as well as business letter, persuasive essay, narrative essay (short story), literary analysis in essays of 1,500 words and up. Vocabulary, grammar and mechanics are systematically taught. Students develop an aesthetic critical approach to interpreting literature, orally and in writing. An emphasis on works from the oral traditions and World Literature, with special attention to the contributions of women and minorities are the focus of this introductory year. ENGLISH 9, ADVANCED Grade Level: 9 Alternate title: Scholars English 9 Advanced Requirement: Meets HS graduation requirement, UC/CSU b requirement This course develops writing skills and interpretive skills by exploring more complex works with more depth of inquiry, both oral and written than the College Preparatory English 9 course. Shared inquiries, panel discussions and book circles introduce students to literary terms and genres, including work place documents. Students learn MLA research methods with MLA formatting. As they do in English 9, students receive instruction in the composition process and write all of the following CAHSEE options: expository essays responding to texts and practicing different modes, especially comparison and contrast, as well as a business letter, persuasive essay, narrative essay (short story), literary analysis in essays of 1,500 words and up. An accelerated pace, complexity of works and of writing prompts are substantial. These features, not necessarily the volume of work, are the primary difference from English 9. Vocabulary, grammar and mechanics are systematically taught, but there is less explicit instruction than in the standard class. Students in the advanced course should not need remediation. Students develop an aesthetic critical approach to interpreting literature, orally and in writing. Other critical approaches, including formalist, archetypal, and historical may be taught as appropriate. An emphasis on works from the oral tradition and world literature, with special attention to groups historically underrepresented in the canon, are the focus of this introductory year.
MATHEMATICS Note: Student must pass a minimum of 20 credits of math which include 10 credits of Algebra 1 to graduate from high school. 8-11 grade students must earn a C or higher in order to move to the next math level. ALGEBRA 1 CP Grade Level: 9-12 Requirement: Meets HS graduation requirement, UC/CSU c requirement This is a rigorous first year college preparatory course in Algebra 1. Conceptual development through group problem solving investigations and participation is emphasized while studying the structure of the real number system and the algebraic operations and includes functions; graphs; ratios, proportions and similarity; rational and irrational numbers; equations in one and two variables; polynomials; exponents; systems of equations; quadratic equations. Major goals and objectives are aligned with the grades 8 through 12 California State Mathematics Content Standards for Algebra. This course meets the "C" requirement for University of California admission. GEOMETRY CP Grade Level: 9-12 Requirement: Meets HS graduation requirement, UC/CSU c requirement A logical system of thought and the nature of proof are developed in this class. Geometry begins with a few basic premises (line, point, and plane) and from these; other statements (or theorems) are developed and proven. Using angles, triangles, parallel lines, and other plane figures, a working knowledge of geometry as a mathematical tool is developed to recognize relationships in solving problems. Major goals and objectives are aligned with the grades 8 through 12 California State Mathematics Content Standards for Geometry
ALGEBRA 2 CP Grade Level: 9-12 Requirement: Meets HS graduation requirement, UC/CSU c requirement This is an intermediate course in Algebra. In this course students will use problem-solving strategies to analyze functions and relations, primarily within the real number system. Emphasis is on problem solving, thinking and communication skills. Topics include functions, systems of quadratic equations, logarithmic and exponential functions, binomial theorem, sequences, complex numbers, matrices and probability. Students will use the tools of mathematics in solving everyday problems. Major goals and objectives are aligned with the grades 8 through 12 California State Mathematics Content Standards for Algebra II situations. ALGEBRA 2, ADVANCED Grade Level: 9-12 Alternate Title: Scholars Algebra 2 Advanced Requirement: Meets HS graduation requirement, UC/CSU c requirement This is an intermediate course in Algebra. In this course students will use problem-solving strategies to analyze functions and relations, primarily within the real number system. Emphasis is on problem solving, thinking and communication skills. Topics include functions, systems of quadratic equations, logarithmic and exponential functions, binomial theorem, sequences, complex numbers, matrices and probability. Students will use the tools of mathematics in solving everyday problems. Students will be covering all topics in more depth and doing projects that help with the conceptual development of the course. Major goals and objectives are aligned with the grades 8 through 12 California State Mathematics Content Standards for Algebra II situations.
SOCIAL SCIENCE WORLD GEOGRAPHY Grade Level: 9 This course is required for all Freshman Requirement: Meets HS graduation requirement, UC/CSU a requirement One of the realities of the contemporary world is the increasing influence of other nations in the daily life of the American citizen. This course is designed to provide understanding the characteristics of the world s major cultures using the five themes of geography as a basis for discovery. Students will also be learning about the basis themes of physical geography through study of climate and weather, human movement, environmental issues, and place-name geography per National Standards for Geography. Students will complete a research report. HEALTH Grade Level: 9 This course is required for all Freshman Credits: 5 Requirement: Meets HS graduation requirement. Health is a state-mandated one-semester course which must be taken during the 1st or 2nd semester of the freshman year. This course covers various topics such as family life and sexuality, nutrition principles, decision-making, mental health, alcohol, drugs and tobacco use, diseases and disorders, and safety and emergency care. All health state standards are covered. Health is a 1 semester class. It is paired with World Geography to create a yearlong course. AP HUMAN GEOGRAPHY Grade Level: 9 This course is required only for IB Scholars Freshmen Requirement: Meets HS graduation requirement, UC/CSU a requirement The purpose of the AP Human Geography course is to introduce students to the systematic study of patterns and processes that have shaped human understanding, use, and alteration of Earth s surface. Students learn to employ spatial concepts and landscape analysis to examine human socioeconomic organization and its environmental consequences. They also learn about the methods and tools geographers use in their research and applications. Students will learn to interpret maps and analyze geospatial data, understand and explain the implications of associations and networks among phenomena in places, recognize and interpret the relationships among patterns and processes at different scales of analysis, define regions and evaluate the regionalization process, and characterize and analyze changing interconnections among places.
SCIENCE CONCEPTUAL PHYSICS Grade Level: 9-12 Requirement: Meets HS graduation requirement, UC/CSU d requirement Students will gain foundational and conceptual knowledge in this Physics lab course. Students will take this course to satisfy the a-g d requirement of one year of physical science. This course will also satisfy an NUSD requirement to complete a one-year physical science lab course. Emphasis is on the development of an intuitive understanding of physics principles, as well as problem solving with the use of mathematics. The laboratory work helps students develop reasoning power and the ability to apply physics principles, as well as acquaint students with sound laboratory techniques. BIOLOGY CP Grade Level: 9-12 Requirement: Meets HS graduation requirement, UC/CSU d requirement The course covers biochemistry, cell structure and function, genetics, evolution, comparative anatomy and physiology, and ecology. Lab activities, writing, scientific method and critical thinking skills are emphasized. The course meets the UC d requirement.
BIOLOGY ADVANCED Grade Level: 9-10 Requirement: Meets HS graduation requirement, CSU/UC d requirement. The course covers the nature of life, the diversity of individual species, and how species interrelate with each other. The scientific method and science processes will be used in the study of biochemistry, cell structure, bioenergetics, molecular genetics and heredity, the process of evolution, comparative anatomy and physiology, and ecological interactions. Advanced Biology differentiates from the regular Biology course not in its course content but in its instructional delivery: topics covered within the course are taught at an accelerated pace and in more depth than a regular Biology course. Also, current trends in biological studies are emphasized, such as biochemistry, microbiology, and biotechnology. Because of this acceleration, more of the burden of learning will occur outside of the classroom, in the form of homework and research projects, than the advanced student may have experienced before. Finally, advanced students will be required to complete an original biology experiment which culminates in a scientific paper and oral presentation thereof once per semester. HUMAN BIOLOGY Grade Level: 9 This course is designated for CECA students Requirement: Meets HS graduation requirement for life science and Health, UC/CSU d requirement This course is intended for freshmen that are enrolled in the California Early College Academy (CECA) program. It will satisfy the health semester graduation requirement and the Biology year graduation requirement. Students study the basic concepts and principles of biology from a human health perspective. Students learn about the nature of science, the structure and function of human systems in health and disease, human inheritance and change over time, and the role of humans in ecological systems. Topics include cell biology, human support and locomotion, the impact of substance abuse on body systems, fluid transport and immunity, nutrition, the human brain, development and reproduction, genetics, evolution and ecology, and matter and energy in living systems. Laboratory activities are integrated to foster student discovery and develop key skills. Laboratory activities include dissection, investigation, and experimentation. Students develop problem-solving skills as they design and conduct their own experiments and cultivate critical-thinking skills through research and discussion about modern science issues related to biotechnology.
ADVANCED HUMAN BIOLOGY Grade Level: 9 This course is designated for Scholars students Requirement: Meets HS graduation requirement for life science and Health, UC/CSU d requirement This course is intended for freshmen that are enrolled in the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme (DP). It will satisfy the health semester graduation requirement and the Biology year graduation requirement. Students study the basic concepts and principles of biology from a human health perspective. Students learn about the nature of science, the structure and function of human systems in health and disease, human inheritance and change over time, and the role of humans in ecological systems. Topics include cell biology, human support and locomotion, the impact of substance abuse on body systems, fluid transport and immunity, nutrition, the human brain, development and reproduction, genetics, evolution and ecology, and matter and energy in living systems. Laboratory activities are integrated to foster student discovery and develop key skills. Laboratory activities include dissection, investigation, and experimentation. Students develop problem-solving skills as they design and conduct their own experiments and cultivate critical-thinking skills through research and discussion about modern science issues related to biotechnology. Advanced Human Biology differentiates from the regular Biology course through the addition of Health topics as well as its instructional delivery: topics covered within the course are taught at an accelerated pace and in more depth than a regular Biology or Health course. Because of this acceleration, more of the burden of learning will occur outside of the classroom, in the form of homework and research projects, than the advanced student may have experienced before.
FOREIGN LANGUAGE FRENCH 1 Grade Level: 9-12 Requirement: Meets HS graduation requirement, UC/CSU e requirement This is a yearlong introductory course in speaking, comprehending, reading, and writing French. Elementary grammar and vocabulary for daily situations and basic language concepts are a part of the curriculum. This course will also include some history, culture, and the geography of various French-speaking countries. SPANISH 1 Grade Level: 9-12 Requirement: Meets HS graduation requirement, UC/CSU e requirement In this one-year course, students will learn to communicate in Spanish, information about daily schedules, activities, likes and dislikes. Students will also learn to describe appearance, personality, family, teachers, and friends. Finally, they will learn fundamental similarities and differences in life style between the United States and Hispanic cultures. Native speakers of Spanish are encouraged to enroll in Spanish 2 or a higher level of Spanish as appropriate. SPANISH 2 Grade Level: 9-12 Requirement: Meets HS graduation requirement, UC/CSU e requirement In this one-year course, students will learn to communicate in Spanish in present, past, and future tense, information about appearance, personality, family, teachers, friends, daily schedule, activities, likes, and dislikes. They will learn to express opinions, various degrees of probability, doubt and certainty, and will learn to persuade and command others. Finally, they will further their understanding of similarities and differences in values and life styles between the United States and Hispanic cultures. Native speakers of Spanish are encouraged to enroll in Spanish 2 or higher level of Spanish as appropriate.
SPANISH FOR NATIVE SPEAKERS 1 Grade Level: 9-12 Requirement: Meets HS graduation requirement, UC/CSU e requirement In this year long class, fluent or near fluent Spanish speaking students will refine and strengthen their ability to express themselves in Spanish, both orally and in writing. Using an expanded vocabulary, they will learn to organize, write, and revise critical essays based on class discussions and readings. This course, which may be taken before or after Spanish Language for Native Speakers B will prepare students to take the Spanish Language AP exam for advanced placement in college. MANDARIN 1 Grade Level: 9-12 Requirement: Meets HS graduation requirement, UC/CSU e requirement Using an audio-lingual approach, this course teaches pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar fundamentals as essential elements in speaking and understanding Mandarin Chinese. The course also covers necessary culture, customs, philosophy, and history which serve as keys to studying the Mandarin Chinese language. Students will engage in role playing, language rich environment, technology assisted learning, and Total Physical Response and presentations. PHYSICAL EDUCATION PHYSICAL EDUCATION Grade Level: 9 Requirement: Meets the High School 9th grade PE requirement The physical education program will provide emphasis on the development of conditioning techniques, health-related fitness and physical fitness including agility, strength, flexibility, and cardiovascular endurance. The physical education program will also provide emphasis on the value of lifetime fitness and lifetime activity. Fitness will be assessed and the value of lifetime fitness will be stressed. In addition, the physical education should further the student s knowledge of safety and health and promote leadership and good sportsmanship attitudes. The students will participate in court sports, field sports, and physical fitness activities.
VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS SYMPHONIC BAND Grade Level: 9-12 Requirement: Meets HS graduation requirement for VAPA; UC/CSU Approved f The Symphonic Band is designated to advance the musical skills and instrumental techniques of all 9 th, 10 th, 11 th and 12 th grade students. This course will prepare students with intermediate musical skills to become advanced level band students. The band performs at concerts, contests, and festivals. Participation in performances and concurrent enrollment in the Tiger Marching Band is required as part of this course. Symphonic Band members must concurrently enroll in the Tiger Marching Band, which meets one night per week for the first semester.