Home
Horizons' News
Elementary
Secondary
Testing Services
Calendar
About Horizons

Secondary

Course Descriptions and Schedule
 2010 - 2011
       

   Horizons offers a curriculum designed for small college preparatory classes.  Students will read widely,
    reflect on their reading, and then write, responding in a grammatically accurate, interesting, informative,
    and persuasive manner; explore science from a Christian viewpoint; learn college preparatory math by
    receiving strong instruction coupled with diligent student practice of 120 math problems weekly; and
    study and engage in discussion about the world and their United States heritage from a traditional
    Christian perspective.  Taken collectively, this grouping of core courses comprises the Horizons
    Academy.  Students will be expected to complete additional requirements, including but not limited to
    at least two years of foreign language at the high school level, a computer applications course, and a
    fine arts elective.  For families desiring their students to complete a Horizons transcript, students will
    receive not only a quarterly grade report, but also a working transcript, incorporating Horizons semester
    grades, community college grades, and approved outsourced course grades.

    For families desiring their students to complete a homeschool transcript, students may complete any
    individual course or combination of courses at Horizons and receive a quarterly grade report for those
    courses completed.  Horizons welcomes students under the Horizons umbrella as well as students
    under their own homeschool umbrella.
        

       
Life Science - lab and lecture science course for seventh and eighth graders;
        covers foundations of life science, heredity and the origins of life from a creationist
        perspective, a survey of microbiology and plant biology, the animal kingdom, the
        nature of the environment, and the structure and function of the human body.
        Each student receives a specimen for the worm and frog dissections.
       
        Physical Science - lab and lecture science course for students who have completed
        Life Science or for new eighth grade students.  This course introduces meteorology
        and oceanography, the atmosphere and weather, chemistry in action, geology,
        rocks and minerals, erosion, and the physics of motion.  
       
        Integrated Physics and Chemistry - high school lecture and lab science course; a
        survey of chemistry and physics; covers concepts of matter, atomic theory and
        structure, chemical applications, energy and momentum, and wave and particle
        motion.

        3D Digital Art - This course introduces students to fundamental concepts,
        principles, and practices of 2D and 3D art. Students are given instruction in 3D
        modeling techniques, including making geometric and basic organic surfaces.
        Other topics in 2D graphics include vector art and raster art. The primary 3D
        modeling and rendering software used in this course will be Blender; 2D software
        includes Inkscape and Gimp. Due to the complexity of 3D art, students will be
        required to install the free software and complete projects at home.
       
        French - basic language skills; speaking, listening comprehension, reading and
        writing, with an emphasis on effective functioning in real life situations.  Academic
        portfolio includes culture units, research papers, and creative projects.
       
        Pre-algebra - a two-year, two-course sequence, using Saxon Math 8/7 and Saxon
        Algebra 1/2;
pre-algebra development necessary for entry into the Algebra I-II
        sequence.  Students should enter the class with a strong understanding of
        numeration, place value, fractions, and fundamental geometry concepts presented
        in Math 7/6.  Students should also enter the class confident with addition and
        multiplication facts memorized through the 12's.  New students to the Horizons
        program will be informally evaluated and tutored, if needed, to bring the skill level
        up to the required entry level.
       
        Algebra I - part one of a two-year, two-course sequence, using Saxon Algebra I
       
and Saxon Algebra II.   
       
           
        Algebra II (honors) - part two of a two-year, two-course sequence, using Saxon
        Algebra I
and Saxon Algebra II. 
                       
        English 7th-8th - Students at this level will strengthen their understanding of
        sentence patterns.  Chapter books will serve as the core of the literature program. 
        Students will summarize their reading each week, and will improve their
        comprehension, editing, and summarizing skills with this activity.  Vocabulary will
        be taken from the novels and from selected word lists.  Students will engage in
        selected learning activities that will improve comprehension, vocabulary, grammar,
        and writing skills.   
       
        American Literature - (honors) This reading intensive course will cover American
        Literature from the colonial period to the present.  Students will gain an
        appreciation for the historical place and time in which selected works were written,
        engage in discussion about how a literary work speaks to the present time, and
        creatively develop independent responses to the literature, such as exploring a
        similar theme, comparing the film version, or reading  and writing poetry parallel
        to the theme or time period.  Lecture and class discussion will comprise the core of
        the time spent in class.  Students will develop written responses to the literature,
        giving careful attention to the audience and to voice.  A stage process model will
        be used for writing, guiding the student through prewriting, planning, drafting,
        revising, editing, presenting, and finally reflecting.  British Literature (honors,
        2011-2012) and World Literature (honors, 2012-2013) will be offered during a
        three-year rotation of honors level English curriculum at Horizons. 
      
        US History / Speech - (honors) 9th-12th. This reading intensive course will cover
        US History from colonization to the present.  Class time will be used for lecture,
        discussion and project/speech presentation.  Text (A Beka, NEW Edition) -
        US History: Heritage of Freedom (1 credit for US History)(1/2 credit for Speech);
        Communications Applications
text will be available to rent.

        US History - 8th - Students will read Johnny Tremain in addition to lecture, textbook
        activities and class discussion.  Students will have several opportunities to present brief
        reports to the class, and will complete and present a small research project in an area of
        historical interest.

        SAT Prep - Strategies for Critical Reading and Writing.  Students will
        learn and apply strategies to strengthen performance on the SAT and PSAT.        

Schedule for 2010 - 2011 (Subject to additions, changes, or deletions)

Monday
10:30 - 11:30      Tutorial Scheduled; closed
11:30 - 12:30      Tutoring; parent conferences on request - available

Tuesday
8:00 - 10:00        Pre-algebra (Rohe) 
10:00 - 12:00      English 7th-8th (Rohe)
12:30 - 2:15        US History-8th (Rohe)
2:30 - 4:30         Algebra II / Algebra I (honors) (Rohe)
4:30 - 5:30         SAT Strategies: Writing and Critical Reading (Rohe)

Thursday
8:00 - 10:00        IPC/Integrated Physics and Chemistry (Beall)
8:30 - 9:45          French I-II (III-IV independent study) (Atton)
10:00 - 12:00       Life Science 7th - 8th (Beall)
11:15 - 12:15       3D Digital Art (Atton)
12:15 - 2:15        Physical Science (Beall)         
2:30 - 4:00          US History / Speech (honors, 10th and up) (Rohe)
4:00 - 5:30          American Literature (honors, 10th and up) (Rohe) 

High School students may earn a Horizons Education Center High School transcript by successfully completing the following required courses (12 credits) at Horizons:  English I, II, III, IV, Algebra I, Algebra II, Advanced Math (includes Geometry-2 credits), World Geography, World History, US History, and American Government / Economics.  Transcript students may outsource additional college preparatory required courses but will need to provide evidence of satisfactory completion of such courses subject to approval by Horizons.  

Students must wear a Horizons polo shirt (fee required) as part of the dress code. (Horizons polo optional for students enrolled in tutorials or SAT Prep only.) 

For more information, please email Marsha Rohe at horizonseducationcenter@hotmail.com
, or call 281-320-8444.

Updated 8/29/10