BLOCK 1	BLOCK 2	BLOCK 3	BLOCK 4	BLOCK 5	BLOCK 6
American Lit.	AP Lit./Comp.		American Lit.	American Lit. AP Lang./Comp.
US History AP US History	AP US History	AP World
Algebra II/Trig	Algebra II/Trig Algebra II	Pre Calculus	AP Calculus		Honors Pre Calculus
		Trigonometry	Statistics		AP Biology
		AP Environ/Biology	AP Environ/Biology	Biology	Advanced Chemistry
Spanish5 French 5	French 4	Spanish 3	Spanish 4	Spanish 3 French 3	Spanish 4
				AP Art Studio	Percussion Ensemble

 

 

 

Graduation Requirements
English 4   History 4   Foreign Language 2
Math 4      Science 4   Fine Arts 1
Practical Art 1   Physical Education 1

One semester of a college class and 41/2 additional credits for a total of 25

 

Math Flow Chart

Art In Perspective

Students will:

• Understand historic human actions through art.
• Explore western and non-western artistic traditions.
• Create works resulting from academic exploration.
• Experience the joy of creating works in a variety of media.
• Enjoy exposure to cultural institutions and off-campus experiences.

 

In French III, students refine their language skills as they are introduced to more verb tenses-such as past conditional and passe-simple, a literary tense, and the subjunctive voice. They also learn intricate grammar structures and complex vocabulary. This is an intensive grammar course. 

 

French IV: During this advanced language course, students will continue to build and hone their written, verbal, and reading skills in French. Building on the foundation students developed in the preceding years of French, we study thematic units that span French history from the prehistoric era, the Middle Ages, the Enlightenment, to the French Revolution. Each unit will focus on a grammar topic and present the theme of the unit with a historical background, a literary selection, and examples of art from the time period. The course is conducted entirely in French.

 

Students in Spanish III will review some of last year's material and learn new grammar. The students will also work on interpretations of Latin American art and write a research paper in Spanish on a Latin American painter and his/her works. The students will learn vocabulary that includes commenting on television programs, vocabulary describing the characteristics and contributions of the Mayan civilization as well as other cultures, vocabulary discussing jobs and technology, and vocabulary regarding violence in society, historical and architectural vocabulary. The students will also prepare and sample authentic dishes from a variety of Spanish speaking countries.

 

11th grade American Literature examines seminal texts from the earliest settlers of the continent through to contemporary novelists. We rely on students' close analytical reading and develop their ability to be precise, sophisticated, and cogent in their analytical writing. A core project is the examination of a single American poet in depth.

 

Pre-Calculus completes the formal study of the elementary functions begun in Algebra 1 and Algebra 2. Students focus on the use of technology (graphing calculators will be used daily in class and on homework), modeling, and problem solving. Functions studied include polynomial, exponential, logarithmic, rational, radical, piece-wise, and trigonometric and circular functions and their inverses. Students will continue to work with these functions represented in a variety of ways. Near the end of the course the concept of limit is applied to functions and to infinite sequences and series.

 

Algebra II is a continuation of first-year algebra interwoven with some geometric applications and concluding with a basic introduction to trigonometry.  Students are asked to address topics from first-year algebra in greater depth and with a higher degree of sophistication.  These topics include polynomials, systems of equations, lines and linear equations, parabolas and quadratic equations, powers and roots, an introduction to complex numbers, and logarithmic and exponential equations.  Students are also introduced to graphing calculators and their applications.

 

Algebra II/Trig covers all the topics in Algebra II from a functions approach. Linear, polynomial, root, rational and trigonometric functions will be studied in great depth, while other types of functions, including exponential and logarithmic, will be introduced. Students will work with functions represented in a variety of ways--graphically, numerically, verbally, and analytically- and understand and explain the implications of these representations. Graphing calculators will be used extensively.

 

Trigonometry continues with concepts including algebraic expressions, polynomials, graphs of equations with two variables, linear functions and graphs, and imaginary and complex numbers. This is followed by an introduction to trigonometric and circular functions, radian measure, special and reference angles, trigonometric identities, Law of Sines and Law of Cosines, and vectors in a plane. Graphing calculators are used in class.

Honors Pre-Calculus covers all topics covered in Pre-Calculus at an accelerated pace. In addition, this course covers several topics in Calculus, including the concept of limit applied to functions and to infinite sequences and series.

 

AP Environmental Science/Biology is an interdisciplinary course focusing on the natural environment, human population growth and urban development, resource and energy use, pollution, and global change. It is a laboratory-based course with fieldwork as a major component. We will also integrate core biological principals such as heredity, evolution, and human physiology throughout the year. Successful completion of this course will prepare the student for the AP Environmental Science exam.

AP US History is a college level survey of United States History from the period of exploration through the modern era. Students will be expected to do a significant amount of independent study throughout the year and should be prepared for a workload a bit greater than their previous history courses. Successful performance on the AP exam in May allows the student to potentially earn three hours of college credit for the course. The course involves textual study, research, discussion, and primary source analysis.

United States History will be chronologically/thematically based. We will look throughout the course of United States History for the ideology and motivations that have driven the decisions of men and women alike. In doing so, we will attempt to understand the ideas and events not only from our perspective, but also from the perspective of those who lived during these times.

In Spanish IV and Spanish V conversation class we will focus greatly on practical Spanish vocabulary that pertains directly to current events and day-to day vocabulary. We will continue to learn and review some grammar; however, conversation is the main focus of the class. We will practice Spanish in the context of a panoramic approach to Spanish cultures throughout the world, discussing controversial issues such as nuclear weapons and energy, terrorism, human cloning, immigration regulations, health, tourism, and the environment. These are also topics that will spawn projects, presentations, and writing assignments based on more specific issues that relate to these more general concepts. Spanish IV students will also write scripts and record a short film, sketch, or documentary in Spanish in groups of three to four, write a research project and give a presentation on a Spanish-speaking country, and we will continue cooking Latin American dishes.

  

AP Literature and Composition approximates a college level English class that also prepares students for the AP Literature and Composition exam in May. We will practice close, critical reading of all literary genres and become conversant with the terminology one is expected to know as a student of literature. We write many types of analytical essays, but students also write informally and creatively as we work on sharpening the student's general writing skills all year long. Finally, in preparation for college literature classes, we will discuss how to incorporate the readings of literary critics as students develop their own interpretations and evaluations of texts.

 

AP Language and Composition approximates a college level English class that also prepares students for the AP Language and Composition exam in May. Students will read a variety of types of writing: essays from various academic disciplines, articles, biography, political writing, and works of literature. This class focuses on preparing students to 'write effectively and confidently in their courses across the college curriculum,' writing the expository, analytical, and argumentative essays that are at the heart of college courses. We will work intensively on organizing, drafting, and editing skills as well as on timed writing.

 

AP Calculus AB is a college level course requiring departmental approval. Students bring together all the skills learned in Algebra through Pre-Calculus and apply them to the study of limits. Students will engage in a complete analysis of limits of ratios (derivatives and perform the same analysis on limits of sums (integrals). In mastering the derivative and integral, students will continue to work with functions represented in a variety of ways--graphically, numerically, verbally, and analytically- and understand and explain the implications of these representations. Students will find themselves in a course traditionally taken by first and second semester college students. The recommended advanced placement calculus curriculum is followed throughout the year.

 

The Statistics course is an introduction to statistics.  Both descriptive and inferential statistics will be explored.  Students will also study probability and counting, as well as probability distributions.  The class will then investigate the normal distribution and its confidence intervals and learn how this relates to hypothesis testing with one and two samples.  There will be two to three projects and presentations by students in the class. These projects will enable the student to use their knowledge of statistics to explore the world around us and share these findings with the class and school.

AP Biology is a laboratory-based survey course comparable in depth and scope to an introductory level college biology course. Successful completion of this course will prepare the student for the AP Biology exam. Students will study cell biology, heredity, molecular biology, evolution, ecology, and plant/animal function.

Advanced Chemistry will take an investigative approach to understanding the nature of matter and how it interacts in our environment. The curriculum will include those areas of chemistry necessary in order to successfully make the transition to college level chemistry. Laboratory safety and techniques will be stressed as scientific strategies and concepts are developed. This will be taught as an advanced level chemistry course, but not as an Advanced Placement Chemistry level requirement.

In French V, students continue to study major periods in French history and civilization. They review and reinforce previously learned grammar, as well as learn new vocabulary. They resume the historic journey they began in French IV and continue through the Grandes Decouvertes of the 15th century, the Reform, the Renaissance, the Classical Age, the foundation of L'Academie Francaise, and end with modern France in the 20th century. They also study various literary authors (Rabelais, Voltaire, Rousseau, and Moliere).  French V provides an excellent foundation for either AP French Literature or Language. 

 

Biology is a laboratory-based course that will explore cell biology, genetics, human physiology, plant function, and ecology. Throughout the year, the students will conduct independent research and work on several individual and collaborative projects.

Full Year Electives

AP Psychology can be used to fulfill either a science or a social studies credit.  It is open to all 11th and 12th graders.  The class is very challenging, moving quickly through all areas of Psychology typically taught in a university survey course - basic neurobiology through social psychology. Students should choose this class if they have high intrinsic motivation or if they are interested in further developing their intrinsic motivation with the added benefit of AP level extrinsic motivators (like grades and gold stars)!

AP World History is open to all 12 grade students.  The course covers everything that ever happened anywhere - stone-age to the present.  Class success depends very minimally upon rote memory and very much upon the ability/energy to read, synthesize and evaluate primary and secondary texts.  This history of the world focuses largely on overarching themes of change - we love the Mongols! Plagues! Inventions! Religious/Philosophical Exchange!

AP Studio Art (by permission of instructor)

Students will:

• Attain a level of workmanship similar to a first year college course.
• Develop artistic skills by the commitment to an extended exploration of artistic methods.
• Work with dedication to create an excellent artistic product and a portfolio to be submitted to the College Board.
• Explore themes of personal interest to inform work.
• Discover a passion for a particular media or technique and act upon that passion to produce art with profound meaning and expression.

 

Jazz Ensemble

This course focuses on performing jazz standards and improvisation. Students play instruments and study various jazz techniques. Students compete in area jazz festivals and perform throughout the St. Louis area.

 

Symphonic Orchestra

This course is designed for students who wish to explore the world of Classical music. Students will learn the art of entertainment and performance etiquette independently and in a group setting.

Throughout the semester we will perform and have instructional workshops. The course will focus on:

• Instrumental Techniques
• Musicianship
• Critical Thinking and Listening Skills
• Cultural Heritage and Musical Genres
• Composition and Arranging
• Music Theory

 

Semester Electives

 

Creative Writing (Fall) pursues the joy of writing in new and varied forms, exposing us to new, beautiful examples of language as well as developing our own skills with the written word. Students are exposed to a wide variety of successful writers and asked to ascertain what differentiates them and what lends them value. This class individualizes students' goals to assure that each student may challenge himself appropriately and assesses according to the ability of each to demonstrate growth as well as depth and breadth as a writer. Editing and mechanics are an aspect of assessment as well.

 

Philosophy (Fall and/or Spring)

 

Literature and Film (Spring)-Literature and Film is an elective that looks at how a few literary works from different time periods have been transformed into visual works of art. At the same time we are reading each work of literature, we will look at how different directors have either based films on them or derived interpretive films from those works.

 

The Africa to America Experience is a single semester study of African people and their journey, oppression, challenges, and contributions to American history, starting in 1619 and moving to contemporary America. The course will involve readings and class discussions in addition to several essays and examinations. There is no prerequisite for this course.

 

US Government and Politics is designed to give students a critical perspective on American politics and government. It will focus on the contemporary nature and function of the American national political system. It begins with a brief study of the framework of American political values and traditions. Much of the course will cover the basic political institutions (Executive, Legislative, Judicial) and processes (political parties, campaigning, voting, media, lobbying) through which public policy (civil rights, economics, foreign policy) is adopted and implemented.

 

The Transformation of America: History of the 1960s and 1970s   The twenty years between the election of John Kennedy in 1960 and the election of Ronald Reagan in 1980 mark one of the most turbulent periods in American history. Radical changes occurred during these two decades in the political, social, and cultural life of Americans, changes which have shaped so much of our lives today and so many of the problems we face as a society. This course will examine this turbulent period that in many ways helps define our world today.

 

Introduction to Computer Applications- This one semester course is designed to help students acquire skills in word processing, the Internet, research, web page design, and computer use. Internet etiquette, computer terminology, and hardware will also be examined. All students must demonstrate a minimum-keyboarding competency of 25 words per minute. Some students may need practice in order to attain this skill. The course will allow for individual progress through these skills for students at vastly different levels of computer comfort and familiarity. The overall goal of the course is for all students to acquire computer confidence and the skills necessary for the academic work at Crossroads College Preparatory School and beyond.

 

Computer Programming and Topics in Technology- In this class, students will acquire a vocabulary of technical terms in order to speak and think accurately about programming. They will learn to write logically structured, well-documented, and readable computer programs. Students will increase their critical thinking skills as they increase their ability to write programs and will learn about control structures and programming techniques in Karel and C++. Students will also learn advanced topics in graphics, animation, multimedia, and web design.

 

Drawing Fundamentals

Students will:

• Discover fundamental drawing skills through observation and practice.
• Explore perspective, contour line, value and composition.
• Increase powers of observation and learn 'how to see'.
• Understand visual relationships.
• Develop technique with various drawing methods and media.

 

Ceramics

Students will:

• Develop building techniques in clay and explore basic construction methods.
• Discover additive and subtractive processes and positive and negative space.
• Create sculptural and functional ceramics using hand-built and wheel thrown techniques.
• Become proficient in glazing.
• Solve a variety of problems relating to structure and material.

 

Sculpture

Students will:

• Explore structure at many levels, relief through three dimensions.
• Discover various materials and tools, and master numerous methods of sculpting.
• Develop special perception.
• Explore three dimensional aesthetic judgment.
• Address methods of presentation.

 

Contemporary Art

Students will:

• Become familiar with current art forms and the ideas that drive them.
• Explore contemporary reasons for making art, and what constitutes good taste and 'kitsch'.
• Update traditional subjects- still life, portrait, landscape.
• Discover environmental and performance art, graffiti, installation art and media arts.
• Create works that express both personal and interactive experience.

 

Photography

Students will:

• Become familiar with the field of fine art photography
• Learn to use a 35mm manual camera and understand its mechanics
• Develop a working comfort with the darkroom
• Discover and refine techniques in composition and framing
• Learn to operate a digital camera and transfer images to computer
• Be introduced to and/or gain familiarity with Adobe Photoshop

 

Multi-Media Painting

Students will:

• Expand painting materials and surfaces and incorporate three dimensional effects into visual imagery.
• Elevate creativity by juxtaposing ideas and playing with wit in compositions.
• Explore conceptual styles.
• Enjoy a 'free rein' approach within a structured framework.
• Examine the work of contemporary multi-media artists.

 

Advanced Drawing(with permission of instructor)

Students will:

• Discover further subtleties in drawing applications.
• Apply expanded skills to challenging subjects and drawing problems.
• Sustain work for extended periods, creating a more finished product.
• Challenge themselves with more in-depth investigation and observation as well as complex compositional effects.
• Work with deeper understanding and sensitivity for both drawing media and technique.

 

3- Dimensional Design

Students will:

• Explore three dimensional design concepts.
• Apply the elements of art to construction based assignments, and solve building problems.
• Develop an awareness of various structural foundations
• Observe the qualities of balance, harmony and good composition in three dimensional and spatial applications

 

Medley Dance

Students will be exposed to various aspects of dance and various dance techniques. Using performance, critiquing and choreography, the student will explore different aspects of ballet, jazz, Broadway, and modern, be able to recreate or design various types of dance and deepen his/her knowledge of dance terminology, and heighten his/her appreciation for the art of dance.

 

Choreography

Students will be expected to choreograph a dance using any style or techniques and then teach it to the rest of the class. Along with teaching a dance, each student will study and understand a famous choreographer and then present his/her knowledge to the class in a creative presentation. Using performance, critiquing and design, the students will explore different aspects of various types of dance together and will be able to identify the styles of various choreographers, be able to recreate or design various types of dance and deepen their knowledge of dance terminology, and heighten their appreciation for the art of dance.

 

Acting Studio

Students will be exposed to the talents and skills used on stage by the actor. Students will learn the basic skills needed to perform as a character in a play on the theatrical stage. They will learn basic voice and movement skills, how to conceptualize a character, practice and rehearse monologues, scenes and one-acts.  Students will also attain a working knowledge of theatre terminology, stage conventions, and practical, artistic, and historical elements of the theatre. 

 

Directing Studio
This course will be focused on the art of stage directing -- a brief history of its development, functions of the director, and components of the art. Specific areas to be studied are script analysis, composition, working with actors, and organizing a production. The student will direct monologues, scenes, and one-acts.

Percussion Ensemble

Applied percussion studies and percussion ensemble activities are designed to develop the highest level of musicianship, performance, and education for each student. Musical performance skills and concepts will be acquired through preparation and performance in a cross-section of music in all areas of percussion, and technique required for artistic expression on all percussion instruments will be developed. Eco-Act is a science elective open to all up-beat, motivated 11th and 12th graders as accepted by program directors. Eco-Act is, likely, the coolest program ever designed for high school students. It is run cooperatively through the Missouri Botanical Gardens. High school participants spend three weeks of their summer exploring Missouri and studying environmental science. They then teach weekly environmental science classes in St. Louis Public Elementary Schools, organize field trips, and meet with program participants from other local area high schools.

BLURBS FOR FUTURE ELECTIVES:

Holocaust and other Genocide-What is the difference between a joke and an offensive statement? Where did Hitler get his ideas? How does a Nazi Germany develop? These are a few of the questions that we will attempt to tackle for the sake of understanding the 'us versus them' mentality. Though the Holocaust will be main concentration, other genocides such as Rwanda, Darfur, and Armenia will be discussed. The primary focus will be on the society and personal stories during and around the time of societal upheaval as well as the actions of perpetrators and heroes.

 

African American Literature is an elective class open to upper school students.  By reading carefully selected excerpts from major works by authors including Olaudah Equiano, Frederick Douglass, W.E.B. DuBois, Zora Neale Hurston, Richard Wright, Alice Walker, Toni Morrison, and Henry Louis Gates, Jr., we will explore the rich history of African American literature and rhetoric with an emphasis on understanding the quest for equality and freedom while dealing with the horror of slavery, the difficulty of self-authentication, and the question of "hybrid" culture.

 

Visions of the Future is an elective English class open to 9th through 12^th graders. We read texts that portray authors' visions about the world of the future. The texts include: The Giver, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, A Brave New World, and Ender's Game. The course focuses on the discussion of these futuristic worlds and asks students to create and refine their own vision.

 

History of Civil Rights Movements- This course investigates the traditional debate over the sources of human--'inalienable'--rights. That debate traditionally rests on the notion that these rights stem from God's law for people who consider themselves religious, and nature's law for the founding fathers, many of whom were deists. In effect, though, our fundamental sense of rights stems from society's reactions against historic wrongs. Movements examined will include the black civil rights movement, the women’s movement, the Native American movement, the gay rights movement, and the disability rights movement. Also examined will be religious freedom including the Holocaust.

 

I and Thou: A Facing History and Ourselves Course
This is a journey of discovery--about oneself and others. It delves into some of the most terrible atrocities in human history and our world today, but it is also a journey into some of the most extraordinary examples of human courage and compassion.  Using the Holocaust as an opening case study, students think about the relationships between individuals and their society.  Who are we and how is our identity formed?  How does one acquire citizenship?  Who belongs?  Who does not?  How do nations define their identity?  The Facing History approach promotes critical thinking and avoids simplistic answers to complex questions as students move from questions of identity and membership to ones of judgment and action.  Ultimately, this is a course about citizenship, ethics, identity, and trying to make the world a better place. --excerpted from the Facing History website

 

Multi Media

This course focuses on promoting music through research and journalism. Students review, interview and promote various artists through the internet. (www.stlbeat.net) Students design and maintain website.