WORLD GEOGRAPHY (Grades 9-10)

Levels: 2, 3-Honors

• Study the world's peoples, places and environments, with emphasis on the world regions
• Center on the world's population and cultural characteristics, landforms and climates, economic development, and migration and settlement patterns
• Spatial concepts used to study interactions between humans and their environments
• Emphasis on application of geographic concepts and skills in daily life and application of geographic information to decision making
  
  

WORLD HISTORY I (Grades 9-10)
World History & Geography to 1500

Levels: 2, 3-Honors

• Explore the historical development of people, places and patterns of life from ancient times until 1500 AD
• Investigate the origins, beliefs, traditions, customs, spread and effects of major world religions
• Compare selected civilizations in Asia, Africa, and the Americas in terms of chronology, location, geography, social structures, forms of government, economy, and contributions
• Study the origins of our heritage using inquiry, research and technology skills
• Challenge students to think like historians using primary and secondary sources
  
  

WORLD HISTORY II (Grades 9-10)
World History & Geography, 1500 - Present

Levels: 2, 3-Honors

• Explore the historical development of people, places and patterns of life from ancient times from 1500 AD to present
• Compare the locations and culture of empires in Western Europe, India, China, Japan, sub-Saharan African and Central America
• Analyze patterns of social, economic, and political change in the late Medieval period, including the emergence of nation-states
• Analyze the historical developments of the Renaissance and the Reformation
• Analyze the impact of European expansion into the Americas, Africa, and Asia
• Analyze scientific, political and economic changes since 1500 AD
• Study the origins of our heritage using inquiry, research, and technology skills
• Challenge students to think like historians using primary and secondary sources
  
  

VIRGINIA AND U.S. HISTORY (Grade 11)

Levels: 2, 3-Honors

• Learn political, economic, social, and cultural development of the United States
• Trace historical development of American ideas and institutions from the Age of Exploration to the present
• Examine American culture through a chronological survey of major issues, movements, people (individuals and groups), and events in the United States and Virginia history
• Emphasis on recent United States history
• Challenge students to think like historians using primary and secondary sources
  
  

VIRGINIA AND U.S. GOVERNMENT (Grade 12)

Levels: 2, 3-Honors

• Examine fundamental constitutional principles, rights and responsibilities of citizenship, political culture, policy-making process at each level of government, and operation of the United States market economy
• Identify personal character traits that facilitate thoughtful and effective participation in the civic life of an increasingly diverse democratic society
• Discuss constitutional issues of governmental power and guarantees of civil liberties
• Engage in structured debates and simulations
• Apply critical thinking skills to evaluate news reports, advertisements, and election campaigns
  
  

AP HUMAN GEOGRAPHY (Grades 9-12)

• Students must take the SOL end-of-course test for World Geography
• This course can substitute for World Geography
• Systematic study of patterns and processes that have shaped human understanding, use and alterations of Earth
• Apply special concepts and analysis to understand social organization and environmental consequences
• Identify and evaluate regions and the changing interactions between them
• Prepare for Advance Placement examination
• Use advanced writing skills to analyze readings, maps, and spatial data
• Students must take the AP Human Geography exam

AP UNITED STATES HISTORY (Grade 11)

• Students must take the SOL end-of-course test for Virginia and United States History
• This course can substitute for Virginia and United States History, which is required for graduation
• Trace historical development of American ideas and institutions from colonization to the present
• Read historical material critically, weigh historical evidence, and arrive at conclusions
• Prepare for Advance Placement examination
• Use advanced wrioting skills to analyze readings
• Students must take the AP American History exam

PSYCHOLOGY (Grades 10-12)

• 2 semester course (1/2 credit each semester)
• Explore basic theories and principles of psychology
• Gain understanding about personal capacities for growth
• Study individual and group behavior, the effect of internal and external stimuli, and the interactions of individuals
• Increase critical thinking and improve communication through demonstrations, experiments, and simulations
• Emphasis on principles of learning, conditioning, memory and thought and stages of human development