Global Student Network Virtual Curriculum

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS - Electives

FOREIGN LANGUAGE COURSES
French I   2 Semesters, 36 Lessons
Students in French I develop knowledge and skills to begin communicating in the target language. They speak, listen, read, and write the language in short sentences and paragraphs that contain the learned vocabulary words and phrases. Students also gain insight into the target culture by examining literature, music, laws, foods, values, traditions, and behaviors. (back)

French II   2 Semesters, 36 Lessons
Students in French II participate in simple conversational situations using sentences and groups of sentences. They create with the target language by combining and recombining learned phrases and words. Students write simple messages, read texts dealing with familiar topics, and understand main ideas when listening to conversations dealing with familiar topics or themes. Students also gain an awareness and understanding of, and appreciation for, cultural contributions made by people of the target language. (back)

French III   2 Semesters, 36 Lessons
Students in French III initiate and sustain conversations by making statements, asking questions, and giving appropriate responses. They communicate using correct time frames on everyday topics, both orally and in writing. When writing, students compose cohesive paragraphs related to familiar topics and personal experiences. Students develop understanding of main ideas and significant details in extended discussions and presentations, both live and recorded. They acquire new knowledge and information from texts including short literary texts and media. Students continue to expand their knowledge and understanding of the cultural significance of the target language. (back)

French IV   2 Semesters, 36 Lessons
Students in French IV speak and write the target language using coherent paragraphs. They learn to initiate, sustain, and bring to closure a wide variety of communicative tasks using appropriate time frames. They expand comprehension skills that allow them to acquire knowledge and information from comprehensive, authentic texts including literary texts and media. Students continue to develop insight into the nature of the target language and culture. (back)

Spanish I   2 Semesters, 36 Lessons
Students in Spanish I develop knowledge and skills to begin communicating in the target language. They speak, listen, read and write the language in short sentences and paragraphs that contain the learned vocabulary words and phrases. Students also gain insight into the target culture by examining literature, music, laws, foods, values, traditions, and behaviors. (back)

Spanish II   2 Semesters, 36 Lessons
Students in Spanish II participate in simple conversational situations using sentences and groups of sentences. They create with the target language by combining and recombining learned phrases and words. Students write simple messages, read texts dealing with familiar topics, and understand main ideas when listening to conversations dealing with familiar topics or themes. Students also gain an awareness, understanding of, and appreciation for cultural contributions made by people of the target language. (back)

Spanish III   2 Semesters, 36 Lessons
Spanish III is offered to students interested in pursuing greater fluency in reading, writing, speaking and understanding the target language. The students will be required to recall previously learned words and phrases and build upon them as they learn to create more native-like writing and conversation. This course also continues with a more intense study of grammar and appreciation for cultural contributions made by people of the target language. (back)

Spanish IV   2 Semesters, 36 Lessons
Spanish IV is offered to those students interested in becoming proficient in reading, writing, speaking and understanding the target language. The students will be required to review all grammatical structure and recall previously learned vocabulary to strive for a native-like proficiency level as well as continue a more intense study of cultural aspects including art and literature. The student will be responsible for comprehension and discussion of these works in the target language as well as public presentation including
personal opinion. (back)

Latin I   2 Semesters, 36 Lessons
A student in Latin I will see the influences of the Latin language on modern English. This first-level course, consisting of thirty-six units, covers vocabulary, basic grammar, reading, word derivation and the influence of Roman civilization on the modern world. With some sincere effort, at the conclusion of this course, the student will be able to say just as Julius Caesar once did, "Veni, vidi, vici (I came, I saw, I conquered)."(back)

 

TECHNOLOGY COURSES
Computer Applications   1 Semester, 18 Lessons
Students in Computer Applications learn the basic ins and outs of a computer, beginning with the basics of who invented the computer and leading into more advanced study of computer networking. At the end of the course, students will be able to define all internal and external components of the computer. This course is a great beginning for the future computer programmer! (back)

Introduction To The Internet   1 Semester, 18 Lessons
Students in Introduction to the Internet learn to use the Internet for school and personal reasons. They learn where the Internet came from and become experts at finding just what they are looking for. They use online study tools, find people, download useful software, and use the Internet to help plan for their futures. When students are finished with this course, they will have visited many websites and know how to organize those sites so they can use them in the future. Students learn to avoid viruses and hoaxes and how to stay safe while they are online. Students spend time becoming web experts! (back)

Microsoft Excel  2007 1 Semester, 18 Lessons
Students in Microsoft Excel build, edit, and format worksheets and charts; work with formulas and functions; and manage workbooks using a hands-on approach. They walk through the process of starting, reviewing, and practicing each concept. The textbook for the course, serves as an excellent reference for future use.
***This course requires a $35.00 lab fee. (back)

Microsoft PowerPoint 2007  1 Semester, 18 Lessons
Students in Microsoft PowerPoint create 35-mm slides, overheads, speaker's notes, handouts, outlines, and visual presentations. They enter and edit data, change the appearance of information, organize and arrange information, and run presentations. The textbook for the course, serves as an excellent reference for future use.
***This course requires a $35.00 lab fee. (back)

Microsoft Word 2007  1 Semester, 18 Lessons
Students in Microsoft Word create documents that communicate ideas clearly and effectively. They enter and revise text; copy and move text; locate and correct spelling; format text and design pages; align text in rows and columns using tables; enhance the appearance of a document using images, lines, and shapes; and use mail merge to personalize form letters and mailing labels. The textbook for the course, serves as an excellent reference for future use.
***This course requires a $35.00 lab fee. (back)

HEALTH COURSES
Health   1 Semester, 18 Lessons
The Health course focuses on helping students become responsible for their own personal health. Students develop a basic knowledge and understanding of body systems, body functions, and body needs. They practice and implement healthy habits and routines that properly support and care for theses systems, functions and needs. (back)

Physical Education   1 Semester, 18 Lessons
In this course, students will learn about being active and improving physical fitness.  Being active is the key to a better physical YOU, now and in the future.

The minimum requirement for this course is to participate in a physical activity, chosen by each student, for fifty minutes, three days a week. These fifty minutes include ten minutes of warm-up, thirty minutes of activities, and ten minutes of cool down. The warm-up and cool-down activities will be further explained in the course. Students may also decide to increase the number of days and minutes of each activity.  They will keep track of their daily activity on a weekly activity *log that will be attached to the question section in each unit once a week.  Students will also be required to take Pre and Post physical fitness tests (push-ups, curl-ups, the one mile walk/run, shuttle run, and the V-sit reach) Body Mass Index (BMI) and body measurements.

In addition to improving physical activity, students will be learning about various aspects of fitness and a healthy lifestyle.  Students will learn to set goals, both in the level of personal fitness and other areas of life.  They will learn about proper clothing for working out, how to stay hydrated, and how the new food pyramid can help them make better choices.  Besides learning to properly warm-up before and cool-down when exercising, they will test their own fitness levels throughout the course and hopefully see improvement in their own abilities as they strive to achieve a more active lifestyle. (back)

PE II Extreme Sports  1 Semester, 18 Lessons
In this course, students will be learning and studying about extreme sports from all over the world.  Students will also learn about being active and improving physical fitness levels.  Some of the sports included in the course are mountain climbing, backpacking, snowboarding, cheese rolling, barrel riding over the Niagra Falls and many more exciting extreme sports!  To learn about staying active and improving physical fitness levels, units will include tips on proper clothing for working out, how to stay hydrated, and how to eat properly by using the MyPyramid Food Guide and the new Myplate Food Guidelines unvieled June 2, 2011.

Students will learn to properly warm-up before and cool-down when exercising.  They will test their own fitness levels throughout the course and hopefully see improvement in their own abilities as the strive to achieve a more active lifestyle

The minimum requirement for this course is to participate in a physical activity, chosen by each student, for fifty minutes, three days a week. These fifty minutes include ten minutes of warm-ups, thirty minutes of activities, and ten minutes of cool down. The warm-up and cool-down activities will be further explained in the course. Students may also decide to increase the number of days and minutes of each activity. They will keep track of their daily activity on a weekly activity *log that will be attached to the question section in each unit once a week.  Students will also be required to take Pre and Post physical fitness tests (push-ups, curl-ups, the one mile walk/run, shuttle run, and the V-sit reach) Body Mass Index (BMI) and body measurements. Each unit will also review some main points of the Physical Education I course. (back)

 

OTHER COURSES
ACT Preparation   2 Semesters, 36 Lessons
The ACT course will prepare students to take the ACT test. Each student will recieve the Cambridge Six-Step ApproachTM. “ Cambridge ACT 10th Edition textbook to accompany this course. The text includes powerful TestPrepTM strategies, admissions advice, quizzes, upper quartile problems, complete tests with explained answers, and math, reading, science, English, and writing basic skills review. An official ACT supplement test booklet and additional follow-up questions in each of the 36 lessons is also included. The instructions within each lesson will direct the student to the section of the book that they need to reference. ****This course requires a $45.00 lab fee. (back)

Family Living   1 Semester, 18 Lessons
Are you eager to be independent? Family Living will help prepare you for life after high school. You will explore housing choices as well as advantages of renting an apartment versus buying a home. You will look at "setting up" a house and turning it into a home. You will learn about food preparation and practice cooking skills as you complete a couple lab activities and prepare simple recipes. Washing clothes will be a breeze after you examine laundry basics. Learning about budgeting, writing checks, and examining consumer issues will prepare you for working with finances. Practicing decision making and good communication skills will become part of your everyday life. (back)

Integrated Family Living   1 Semester, 18 Lessons
Do you want to live on your own someday? Get a good job? Earn money? This Integrated Family Living course will help you get ready for life after high school. Students enrolled in thiscourse study the same topics presented in Family Living to assure alignment with the Academic Content Standards. However, content and assessment has been adapted to a more appropriate format and level of difficulty. Students will learn how to make good decisions and solve problems, become an informed consumer, manage money, communicate and resolve conflicts, balance work and family, and choose a career that is right for them. They will also learn to be a good citizen and leader, choose a place to live, learn how to furnish and take care of a home, learn how to go green and take care of the environment. In addition, they will learn to make good clothing choices and learn how to care for clothing, make choices for strong social, mental, and physical health, make healthy decisions about the food they eat, plan and prepare meals, and get along with others. The information learned in this course will help students right now and all of their life.(back)

Child Development   1 Semester, 18 Lessons
Parenting involves many years of a person’s life, but often people are not prepared for the challenge. This course will encourage students to think about skills involved in parenting, explore if or when they would like to become parents, and the development and changes which occur during a pregnancy. Child Development, in addition, will explore the growth a child experiences through physical, emotional, moral, social, and intellectual development. Many careers available today touch on some facet of child development. This course will briefly touch on some of these professions, looking at what is involved and the training necessary.(back)

Student Leadership   1 Semester, 18 Lessons
The course is designed to prepare students for leadership roles and responsibilities. Students should be able to apply leadership principles and skills in their everyday lives. (back)

ART COURSES
Art History   1 Semester, 18 Lessons
In Art History, students use the elements of art and the principles of design. Although many elements and principles were never recorded nor even acknowledged throughout history, students may still use the ideas to study the rich diversity of art work. The elements of art are line, shape, color, value, shape, form, texture, and space. The principles of design are balance, emphasis, movement, harmony, contrast, pattern, proportion, and unity. In each lesson, students examine an element and a principle using several masters of the Renaissance, Claude Monet, Picasso and Matisse. (back)

Renaissance Art   1 Semester, 18 Lessons
In Renaissance Art, students learn about the rebirth of ideas and art from the classical period of the Greeks and Romans. They study the lives and works of Michelangelo, Da Vinci, and Raphael, three primary artists featured in this course, and learn that versatility was a key to the greatness of Renaissance artists who were also writers, scientists, and mathematicians. Students learn how the arts flourished during the Renaissance period and about artists who were often individuals of great social stature, wealth and influence. (back)

Introduction To Theatre I   1 Semester, 18 Lessons
Throughout this course, students will learn about the Theatre from its origins to a modern day opening night.  Students will also have the opportunity to develop their own skills in Lighting, Set and Costume Design; as well as Acting, Directing, Producing and Script Development.  Various forms of plays will be discussed; covering a large span of time periods, targeting the relationship Theatre has with society.  Students will also learn to develop an appreciation for Theatre and skills for critical evaluation of theatrical productions. (back)

Music Appreciation   1 Semester, 18 Lessons
Music history is a reflection of the history of our world and/or country.  Each country has developed a specific music giving it its own humanistic value.  With extensive world travel music has grown to encompass many cultures and venues resulting in many blended styles.  Music Appreciation gives us a chance to understand and appreciate each period of history: how it has influenced the past, present, and how it will affect the future.  This course is designed to give students a taste of the music and culture from each designated period in the timeline of music history.  The topics will be covered with the use of video to help comprehend the era in which each style of music was incorporated.  Many audio pieces will give students a feel for the spectrum of music history, its composers, and/or their repertoires.  Music Appreciation will help students gain a better understanding of and a new appreciation for the world of music. (back)