High School Grade 10 Curriculum
English & Language Arts
In this course, we build on the skills developed in English 9 to prepare students for college-level reading, writing, and discussion. Students will become more perceptive readers, analyzing the language used by poets, playwrights, novelists, and nonfiction authors from different time periods. As writers, students will learn to create advanced analytical essays, focusing on well-crafted sentences and coherence. The course will also help students develop comprehensive writing skills, from initial planning to final revision, with a strong emphasis on academic writing. Additionally, students will enhance their research skills as they work on planning and writing a synthesis essay.
Our comprehensive standards-based LA curriculum follows The Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts (ELA) and Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects.
Math – Geometry
The course provides a comprehensive overview of Euclidean 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional geometry. It integrates algebra and geometry by exploring parallel concepts in analytic geometry. Moreover, it uses a visual approach to mathematical and spatial reasoning and formal proof. The course covers various topics, including geometric terminology, reasoning and proofs, parallel and perpendicular lines concepts, transformations, congruent triangles, relationships within triangles, quadrilaterals and other polygons, similarity, right triangles properties, trigonometry, circles, perimeter/circumference/area of 2D shapes, surface area/volume of 3D figures, coordinate geometry, probability, and statistics. The course makes use of both traditional tools and modern geometry software for construction, problem-solving, and modeling real-world situations. Additionally, emphasis will be placed on geometry-related vocabulary and developing critical thinking through writing conditional logic statements and formal geometric proofs.
Our comprehensive standards-based math curriculum is aligned with the Common core Math Standards
Chemistry
Chemistry is the study of the structure and composition of matter that makes up living things and their environment. Chemistry also deals with the study of the changes of matter and the mechanisms by which changes occur. This class covers topics such as matter, atoms and elements, compounds and mixtures, chemical reactions, reaction rates and equilibrium, solutions, and nuclear chemistry. Labs and/or virtual labs are conducted for most chapters.
Our comprehensive standards-based Science curriculum is aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).
World History
This History course is centered around World History. Included with the history and geography are cultural development, political and economic systems, and social structures. The student will be challenged to think critically about international relations, human commonalities and differences, and their impact on the student’s own life. It provides students with a comprehensive, intensive study of significant events and themes in world history designed to prepare students for the academic rigors of college, AP, and Dual Enrollment courses. This course is a survey of world history starting in circa 1500 with the Renaissance through the post-Cold War of the early 21st century. The course helps students form connections between diverse areas of the world using the themes of trade, migration, and centers of world power. The course emphasizes the development of reading, writing, analytical, and research skills necessary for understanding historical materials. Students encounter a variety of learning activities and materials, including maps, college-level readings, document-based question essays, analysis of primary and secondary historical documents, free response essays, research papers, and library sources.
Technology- Computer Science
Our high school students study computer science skills that prepare them for introductory college-level programming. They explore object-oriented programming languages and software, with a focus on Java for a wide range of applications. The course introduces software engineering and design as students learn Java in preparation for AP® Computer Science A (AP® CSA). Students also learn the fundamentals of object-oriented programming (OOP) as they consider the overall design of their programs. As an AP testing center, our school offers students the opportunity to take the AP Computer Science A exam.
Additionally, students acquire skills in design technology. They learn to create solutions in the form of models, prototypes, products, or systems. Using 3D printers and design software, they bring creative ideas to life. Students can further explore these topics in our DP Design Technology course as part of the IBDP high school diploma program.
Physical Education
Working in groups, being leaders and followers, rights of others, fairness, rule compliance, speed accuracy, skill development, baseball, volleyball, soccer, track, swimming, tennis, and surfing.
Second Language
Hebrew, French, Spanish, German, Russian, Arabic – depending on the number of sign-ups.
Third Language – Mandarin (Mandatory)
This course introduces students to standard Mandarin Chinese language and is designed for students with little to no prior knowledge of spoken or written Mandarin. Students in this course focus on learning essential vocabulary, practicing pronunciation, and understanding simple grammatical structures. This knowledge prepares students to effectively communicate in Mandarin on a limited range of topics related to everyday situations. Students practice listening and speaking in real-life situations, learn to read and write Chinese characters, and examine how culture and language interact in China. In-class activities and course assignments aim to assist students as they develop the oral proficiency and confidence necessary to initiate simple conversations.
Music History
This course is designed to teach about the history of music; its evolution and impact throughout the years. Emphasis is also placed on developing a keen understanding of music through speaking, reading, and listening to music. Students learn musical terms, definitions, and other musical concepts. Music is then presented from a historical perspective with an emphasis on prominent composers and musical periods/styles. Ideas, customs, and political climates in relation to each musical period are examined. Students are introduced to famous artists and study each time period of music history by reading, listening to recordings, watching films, concerts, etc. Offering specific inputs on diverse music genres like opera, famous classical artists and their music, the history of soul, blues and rock, etc., helps gather an understanding of the global cultural and historical music history context. Music history projects are often finalized with different, varied presentations.
Art History
Art History is a course that studies the history of art from 8000 B.C.E. to the present. This course involves a study of how art has impacted society and world history. The central and key enduring questions that are addressed in this course include the following: What is art, and how is it made? Why and how does art change? How do we describe our thinking about art? Through these essential questions, students uniquely explore the big ideas of Art History, effectively and precisely articulating an artwork’s meaning and function, its maker’s methodology, and the ways it reflects and affects its historical and cultural context. With these enduring questions as the foundation, the Art History course is organized into ten cultural and chronological units, emphasizing daily practice of questioning techniques, methods of discussion, analytical paradigms, guided discovery, and independent learning. These strategies and techniques enable students to develop critical thinking and visual literacy skills with which they can deeply extract meaning from any artwork they encounter throughout their lives.
Economics (Microeconomics & Macroeconomics)
Microeconomics is an introductory course that focuses on the principles of economics that apply to the functions of individual economic decision-makers. The course also develops students’ familiarity with the operation of product and factor markets, distributions of income, market failure, and the role of government in promoting greater efficiency and equity in the economy. Students learn to use graphs, charts, and data to analyze, describe, and explain economic concepts.
Macroeconomics is an introductory course that focuses on the principles that apply to an economic system as a whole. The course places particular emphasis on the study of national income and price-level determination; it also develops students’ familiarity with economic performance measures, the financial sector, stabilization policies, economic growth, and international economics. Students learn to use graphs, charts, and data to analyze, describe, and explain economic concepts.
Psychology
The purpose of this course is to investigate why human beings think and act the way they do. This is an introductory course and will cover a wide range of topics. Students will be expected to expand on and explore various topics. The course introduces students to the systematic and scientific study of human behavior and mental processes. While considering the psychologists and studies that have shaped the field, students explore and apply psychological theories, key concepts, and phenomena associated with such topics as the biological bases of behavior, sensation and perception, learning and cognition, motivation, developmental psychology, testing and individual differences, treatments of psychological disorders, and social psychology. Throughout the course, students employ psychological research methods, including ethical considerations, as they use the scientific method, evaluate claims and evidence, and effectively communicate ideas.
Politics
Students will study the purposes, principles, and practices of American government as established by the Constitution. Students are expected to understand their rights and responsibilities as citizens and how to exercise these rights and responsibilities in local, state, and national government. Students will learn the structure and processes of the government of the state of Tennessee and various local governments. The reading of primary source documents is a key feature of the United States Government and Civics standards.
SAT®
An integrated system of tests including the SAT. T.H.I.S provides prep courses and serves as a test center for the examination.
Advanced Placement® (AP®)
An undergraduate university-level curricula and examinations for high school students. Colleges and universities in the US and elsewhere worldwide may grant placement and course credit to students who obtain qualifying scores on the examinations. THIS offers AP courses and tests.
