Curriculum

Renew the Zoo: Students try to improve an old, outdated zoo while learning to research and learn more about animals along the way. 

Agricultural Biotechnology "Food Safety": Many people want to know more about how their food is produced so they can make the right choices for themselves. This unit aims to empower students to make those choices. It incorporates key scientific knowledge and education resources to help students understand how biotechnology is used to produce food for humans and animals. 

Up in the Air: Through the testing of models, students explore how the forces of thrust, drag, lift, and gravity act on living things or devices that fly through the air. They learn how specific adaptations or modifications can alter lift or drag. Students also examine the history of the development of air travel and identify its impact on the way people work and live.

Traveling Through Time: Students will brainstorm and investigate the different philosophies of time travel, paradoxes, and problems. They will study the physics behind time travel so that they can debate the possibility, probability, and ethics of time travel being used in the future. The students will design their own time machine and present them to the class. 

Destination Moon: Knowledge about the solar system is more important than ever. It helps us appreciate the Earth. It gives us incentives to preserve and respect our natural resources. Through exploration and the engineering design process, students will experience what many engineers experience when working in a field of outer space. 

Economics of Life: Throughout life, students will interact with money and make choices that can affect their daily needs and wants. This unit will help build financial responsibility as well as continue to improve the use of strategic problem-solving skills. This unit also gives students the opportunity to be creative with their choices within their life and be as successful as they can be.

House Design: House Design will give students insights into the problems and pleasures of designing a house and will introduce the practical skills they will need to design a home of their own. Students will play the role of architect, interior designer, and contractor. With a budget, students will also be required to make real-life decisions such as house style, house grade, furnishings, and extra costs.

Code Blue: Students will improve critical thinking skills as well as problem-solving skills with real-world situations. Also, will gain knowledge of how the body systems work and how to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Shark Tank: Students of all ages are very aware of the hard economic times that many are experiencing in the country, in their neighborhoods, and even in their own homes.  This unit allows students to see that with creativity, ingenuity, organization, hard work, dedication, mathematical skills, and teamwork they can create a product to solve a problem and make MONEY! At the conclusion of this unit of study, students will present their innovative product to a team of "Sharks". 

Neurology:  Students will understand how their brain functions are affected by their sleep, and eating habits. Students will explore brain functions related to all aspects of their life.

Creating Your Own Country:  Students will research how countries have been formed and the process necessary to create and run their own country. Students create their own country all the way down to the government, weather, flag, food, and even sporting events. 

How to Effect Change in the Community and the World: In this unit, students will research famous activists and humanitarians and the various talents used to effect change in the world. Students will study photojournalism, and solutions journalism and consider ways to use their talents to solve real-world problems they find in their own communities. Students will work with the mayor and/or city members to come up with solutions to solve various problems.

Make Up Your Mind: Philosophy,  Psychology, Ethics, and Debate: The class will discuss, argue, and try to convince each other of their positions over the course of this unit. Students will be introduced to ideas that inspired and burdened some of the greatest thinkers of all time. Each generation should have the freedom, if not the obligation, to explore Western culture’s many debates. Students will sharpen their minds, gain a greater comprehension of what they read, and develop their abilities to engage in civil discussion and create their own manifesto.