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