Class Descriptions - School Year 2007-2008

Art-Drawing only: 7 - 12

In this 1 hour class, students will focus on developing skills in realistic drawing. Multiple mediums, aesthetics, and techniques are supportive elements. Lessons include compositional lines, negative shapes, spheres, cylinders, drawing animals, faces, anatomy, floral studies, still life, and much, much more.

Prerequisite:

Art-General K-12

General Art is an introduction to a wide range of age appropriate materials and techniques. Depending on the level, there will be additional materials, techniques art history and ample opportunity for creative studio work. Elementary Art: grades K-2; 3-5 (1 hour class) Middle School Art: grades 6-8 (2 hour class once a week) High School Art: grades 9-12 (2 hour class once a week)

Prerequisite:

Drama

In this course we will be exploring many different components of the theatre. There will be a heavy emphasis on performance, but we will also look at other aspects of theatre including theatre history, costuming, stage tech, and directing. This course is designed to help students from varying theatre backgrounds to become familiar with the art of drama. This course will also include a strong ministry component in which students will learn how to take biblical truths and communicate them through varying styles of drama. Course work will take the form of: preparing stage performances, play readings, and various other hands on projects.

Prerequisite:

English I

English I explores the foundations of effective written communication through an integrated study of grammar, composition, and literature. Daily reading and language exercises are required. Grammar studies cover all components of the simple sentence. Composition includes paragraph and multi-paragraph development, beginning essays, introduction to research, practice in using literary forms, and proofreading. Study of classic literature in a variety of genres including fiction, nonfiction, and poetry give the student familiarity with fundamentals of literary elements such as theme, character, setting, and conflict.

Prerequisite:

English II

English II aims to increase the student’s communication skills through an integrated study of grammar, composition and literature. Daily reading and language exercises are required. In-depth study of classic literature in a variety of genres trains the student’s eye and ear to help develop his own language skills. World Literature is a particular focus in this course. Grammar studies cover complex sentence structure, phrases, clauses, and word usage. Composition includes multi-paragraph development, word selection, use of literary devices, proofreading, and a final research paper.

Prerequisite: English I, or Placement Test

English III

Prerequisite: English I, II, or Placement Test

English IV-Senior-Grade 12

This class is a senior level course. It covers British Literature and Writing for College.

Prerequisite: English I, II, III or Placement Test

Speech

Students will be instructed in the skills necessary to become effective, persuasive public speakers. Emphasis will be placed on learning how to research, write and present effective speeches. Students will be responsible for presenting various styles of speeches (persuasive, informative, sermomic, etc.). Class will be instructed in effectively and confidently expressing themselves both verbally and non-verbally.

Prerequisite: Grade 10 - 12

Study Skills

Students learn methods and techniques to help them study and take tests more effectively. This is a two semester course meeting twice a week.

Prerequisite: Grades 7-12

French I, II, III

Grammar, pronunciation and effective communication are emphasized. Practicing their French in some creative ways will increase learning and ease of usage.

Prerequisite: Previous level proficiency or placement test

Spanish I, II, and III

All Foreign Language classes are high school level courses and count as high school credit. They are open to all YMV high school students as well as middle school students whose parents fell they are capable of doing high school level study. They need to be sure their students are mature enough to make the commitment for the whole year. Three years are offered in each foreign language. At the upper levels, they will be able to master the mechanics of Grammar, pronunciation and effective communication. The goal is to be able to fluently communicate and use their knowledge to share the Gospel.

Prerequisite: Previous level proficiency or placement test

Spanish-Elementary: Grades 3 - 5, Grades 6 - 8

By beginning language at an earlier age, the student will have a better command of vocabulary. At the upper levels, they will be able to master the mechanics of Grammar, pronunciation and effective communication. The goal is to be able to fluently communicate and use their knowledge to share the Gospel. (Elementary Spanish meets once a week.)

Prerequisite:

Christian Worldview and Apologetics

This is set up as a book discussion club. There is no charge. Students and facilitator will meet and discuss the book. Understanding who you are as a believer and follower of Christ in the philosophical battles of the world is vital to survival. You as leaders of tomorrow are facing tough challenges but they are by no means new. You WILL be challenged. The question is “What is your Battle Cry?” “How will you defend your faith?”

Prerequisite:

Fundamentals of Leadership

The foundation of Godly leadership is not what a person does, but who he is. We will examine the call of leadership, our response to that call and the heart qualifications of leadership. Leadership is a gift. A look at a leader’s preparation and tests will help to mature the gifting that God has given. This course is required for all Student Leadership Council Members.

Prerequisite:

Government, United States History and World History

History and Government will be presented in relationship to 2 tracks per subject. The student/parent will choose the track they wish to achieve: General, College Prep and Research Studies. These are designed to accommodate different levels of interest as well as previous background in the subjects.

Prerequisite: Grades 9 - 12

U. S. Government

This course is a study applicable to interpreting the pertinent information needed to form an understanding of who we are as U.S. Citizens and the rights we possess under the guidelines of the U. S. Constitution. This class will give the student an above average foundation to be leaders in today’s society. God has given us a heritage to be proud of. Course will include: study of the English Constitution, Magna Carta, forming of the U. S. Constitution, federalism, capitalism, democracy, review of major cases over past 100 years, current constitutional issues before the Supreme Court, (Prerequisite: U. S. History and World History)

Prerequisite: U. S. History and World History

United States History

Explore events in America’s history, from the explorers to the present, develop a solid foundation of knowledge about America’s heritage in light of God’s providence. Throughout this course students will discuss the consequences of choices people made, learning from the past to make the future better. Students will share current events and discuss them, memorize American documents and work on assigned special projects.

Prerequisite: Grades 9 - 12

World History

God’s providence is evident throughout history. It is the goal of this class to illustrate this providence in a snap shot fashion from Creation to the European Industrial Revolution of the 1800’s. This is over eight periods of time. We will look at the rise and fall of leaders in relation to his/her relationship to Christianity and God’s plan.

Prerequisite: Grades 9 - 12

Math-Algebra I

Rational numbers and their applications; equations and inequalities; polynomials; factoring; rational expressions; functions and graphs; systems of equations; basic quadratics Students must have a scientific calculator. Rental books provided.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of pre-algebra. Conference and/or pretest with instructor may be advised. Students must have a scientific calculator.

Math-Algebra II

Advanced equations and inequalities; linear relations and functions; systems of equations and inequalities; polynomials; irrational and complex numbers; quadratic equations; quadratic relations and functions; polynomial functions, rational polynomial expressions; exponential and logarithmic functions ((if time permits) Students must have a scientific calculator. Rental books provided.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Algebra I. Conference and/or pretest with instructor may be advised.

Math-Geometry

Inductive an deductive reasoning; parallels; triangle congruency; quadrilaterals; similarity; basic trigonometry as apples to triangle measurement; circles; polygons; surface area and volume; coordinate linear equations Rental books provided.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Algebra I. Conference and/or pretest with instructor may be advised for new students. Students must have a scientific calculator.

Math-Pre-Algebra

Review of basics; conversions of measurement, basic geometry of plane figures and volume; exponents and roots, proportions; operation of signed numbers; basic equations; probability

Prerequisite: Must be able to add subtract, multiply and divide fractions, decimals and percents with precision.

General Science

This course is designed to be a student’s first systematic introduction to the sciences. The course covers such topics as the scientific method, designing experiments, simple machines, archaeology, geology, paleontology, biology, and human anatomy and physiology. Its scope, therefore, is quite wide. There are many hands-on experiments to do. Students who do not have a lot of experience taking tests which require them to truly master the course material might have trouble with this course at first. However, the study skills required for this course are absolutely essential for high school and beyond. It is prudent, therefore, for the student to learn these skills now rather than put them off until later.

Prerequisite: Grades 7 - 8

Science-Biology

This course is designed to be the student’s first high school science course. Typically, we recommend that the student take this course during the same year that he or she is taking Algebra 1. Exploring Creation With Biology is a college-prep biology course that provides a detailed introduction to the methods and concepts of general biology. Heavily emphasizing the vocabulary of biology, it provides the student with a strong background in the scientific method, the five-kingdom classification scheme, microscopy, biochemistry, cellular biology, molecular and Mendelian genetics, evolution, dissection, and ecosystems. It also provides a complete survey of the five kingdoms in Creation. Please note that this course contains only a small discussion of human anatomy and physiology. Most college biology professors do not consider it to be a part of a solid, college-prep biology course. Human anatomy and physiology is such a detailed subject that it merits an entire high school course (see our advanced biology course). Students who take and understand this course will be very well-prepared for a tough university biology course.; Labs include microscope work, experiments and dissection.

Prerequisite: Physical Science

Science-Biology/Anatomy & Physiology

Advanced Biology: Anatomy & Physiology This is our advanced biology course. Combined with Exploring Creation With Biology , it gives the student the equivalent of a university biology course. In other words, these two courses together cover the entire "advanced placement" (AP) curriculum. In order to take this course, the student MUST have completed a first-year biology course. It covers both the anatomy and the physiology of the human body’s 11 organ systems in detail. Please note : the reproductive system is covered in detail, including frank (not pornographic) illustrations and descriptions. Prerequisites: Students need to have completed one year of high school biology before taking this advanced biology course.

Prerequisite: Biology

Science-Chemistry

In order to be able to understand this text, the student needs to have completed Algebra I. This course is designed to be a high school course and give the student a rigorous foundation in chemistry, in order to prepare him or her for a college-level course. It covers significant figures, units, classification, the mole concept, stoichiometry, thermo chemistry, thermodynamics, kinetics, acids and bases, redox reactions, solutions, atomic structure, Lewis structures, molecular geometry, the gas laws, and equilibrium. Students who take and understand this course will be very well-prepared for a tough university chemistry course.

Prerequisite: Algebra I; Physical Science, Biology

Science-Physical Science

Physical Science gives a student a good foundation to tackle the upper level sciences. There is an introduction to biology, chemistry and physics. Covers metrics, heat, atoms, states of matter, acids & bases, forces & motion, Newton’s laws, electricity, waves. This course is designed to be the last science course the student takes before high school biology. The course discusses such topics as the atmosphere, the hydrosphere, weather, the structure of the earth, environmentalism, the physics of motion, Newton’s Laws, gravity, and astrophysics. There are many hands-on experiments to do. It is an excellent course for preparing the student to take a college-prep high school science curriculum.

Prerequisite:

Science-Physics

This college-prep physics course is designed for the student who has some experience with trigonometry. Exploring Creation With Physics provides a detailed introduction to the methods and concepts of general physics. Heavily emphasizing vector analysis, this text is ideal preparation for a university-level physics course. It provides the student with a strong background in units, measurement, one-dimensional and two-dimensional motion, Newton’s laws and their application, gravity, work and energy, momentum, periodic motion, waves, optics, electrostatics, electrodynamics, electrical circuits, and magnetism. In order to be able to understand this text, the student needs to be comfortable with the sin, cos, and tangent functions along with their inverses.

Prerequisite: Algebra II, Geometry or Trigonometry; Chemistry