English
Upper School English is a heavily literature based program based on the premise that avid readers become lifelong readers and stronger writers than they might have been had they not been exposed to various voices of a certain caliber. Students are divided into 5 levels: seventh graders, regular and advanced eighth and ninth graders, regular level tenth, eleventh, and twelfth graders, and Advanced Placement.
Each level has a tailor-made syllabus of appropriately challenging titles. Classic titles are accompanied by popular adolescent fiction for all levels except Advanced Placement who, per the College Board, have a prescribed college level reading list suitable to their skill level.
Writing assignments, projects, and tests as well as discussion and live readings provide a variety of tools for measurement of student achievement. Writing will focus on the expression of insights, the use of quoted material in MLA format to prove assertions, and the development of style without compromising clarity.
Basic grammar concepts are drilled and reinforced, both in the editing of one’s writing and with appropriate handouts.
A great deal of emphasis is placed on the recognition of literary elements and devices and analysis of author’s purpose. It is the main objective of all classes that students mature as readers, writers, and thinkers. Curriculum is constructed in a stepping stone pattern of progressive stages. The ultimate goal is to create not simply literate graduates, but literary ones ready to move on to a university.
Science
Integrated Science
This course, which integrates Earth Science, Physical Science and Life Science, is typically introduced in 7th Grade and completed in 8th Grade. Commonalities such as measurement and The Scientific Method are stressed. The courses emphasize laboratory experience, classroom lecture, and field experiences. Students learn to organize information, think critically, and to represent and apply data.
Physical Science
This is a high school level laboratory science class designed for students grades 9-12. The course content covers the study of the physical world, including: Electricity and Magnetism, Atoms and Molecules, Work and Force and the well known theories of physical science. Students focus on laboratory experiences, organizing data, thinking critically, practicing scientific methods, and representing and applying data.
Biology
This is a high school level laboratory science class designed for students grades 10-12, with inclusion of those 9th grade students showing exceptional science prowess. Biology is an all-encompassing study of the science of life. The course emphasizes: biology as process, biotechnology, laboratory investigations, writing about biology, and intra science. Students focus on organizing information, thinking critically, practicing scientific methods, and representing, interpreting, and applying data.
Earth/Environmental
This is an upper level laboratory course designed for students in grades 10-12. Throughout the course, students study the social implications of environmental science. For example, they examine the issue of resources, look at a variety of solutions, and see how they play out on a local, national and global scale. The goal of the course is not to tell students what to think but to provide them with the tools to drawn their own conclusions.
Chemistry
This is an upper level laboratory course designed for students in grades 11-12. Course prerequisites include: completion of Biology and at least 2 high school level math courses. Chemistry is an advanced Physical Science discipline focusing on the atom and its makeup, stoichiometrical and quantitative relationships between atoms and molecules, kinetic theory and gas laws. Students focus on organizing information, thinking critically, practicing scientific methods and representing, interpreting and applying data.
Anatomy & Physiology
This is an upper level honors laboratory course designed for students in grades 11-12. Course prerequisites include: completion of Biology, and at least one other high school science course. Students study the structure and function of the human body. The theme of homeostasis is referenced throughout. To succeed in the course students must do more than develop a large technical vocabulary. They must be able to correlate the information they learn and use it to describe accurately and in detail overall body functions.
Physics
This is an upper level honors laboratory course. The prerequisites include Chemistry and all of Chemistry’s prerequisites. The course focuses largely on an algebra-based look at Newtonian mechanics, including the study of motion, forces, the impulse-momemtum mechanical view, the work-energy mechanical view and a study of oscillations. Electromagnetism, light and thermodynamics are also touched upon.
Social Studies
Current Events (7th & 8th grade class)
This course provides a broad overview of the social studies disciplines of history, politics, economics, and geography through the lens of current events topics. The goal of the course is to provide a strong base of knowledge in these disciplines to prepare students for the rest of their upper school social studies coursework.
Civics
In civics students will learn about the institutions and processes of government at the local, state, and national level, with a particular emphasis on the role of the citizen in a democratic society. Class discussion and debate as well as real-world campaign and advocacy work will provide students with hands-on experience in civic involvement.
U.S. History
This survey course in American history covers topics ranging from Southeastern Indian tribes before European colonization up through the present day. Most class reading consists of primary source documents that expose students to the voices of the people who have both driven and witnessed historical events. Students will learn that history is an active process of interpreting evidence and drawing conclusions, skills that will not only make them historians in their own right, but competent citizens as well.
World History
World History focuses on selected topics in human history including the Ancient Greeks and Romans, the Byzantine and Islamic empires of the Middle Ages, the Enlightenment, the Scientific Revolution, industrialization, imperialism, and major developments of the 20th century such as democratization and economic globalization. Primary source documents make up the majority of reading for the class, as students will approach history as a living process of interpretation rather than a static body of knowledge.
History Elective - Fall
The history elective for this semester will be Radical Islam and the War on Terror. The course will begin with a general overview the history of Islam and the distinction between mainstream Islam and its more radical sects. Students will then shift to an examination of the development of al-Qaeda and the role of figures such as Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri in driving international terrorism. The course will wrap up with analysis of the War on Terror post-September 11. As their final project, students will synthesize their knowledge into a policy proposal for how the U.S. should proceed in preventing further terror attacks.
Social Studies Elective - Spring
The psychology elective will be a basic introduction to the study of the mind and its relationship to human behavior. Topics covered will include developmental psychology, behavior and learning, intelligence, mental illnesses and their treatment, and forensic psychology. Class format will include lectures, readings, class discussion, and experiential activities.
Mathematics
Math is the most individualized of all the subjects taught at Camelot.
We begin by pretesting students (also known as diagnostic testing) to determine where mastery ends. When the instructor establishes the appropriate starting point for a student, the course material is covered using a mastery-based approach. Students progress through the material at an individualized pace and test after obtaining teacher approval. Students are required to score 80% or better to demonstrate mastery. If less than 80% is achieved, the student must retest before he/she can move on to new material.
Camelot has minimum school year pace requirements in all of its math.
General Math
Requires mastery of such foundational concepts as: fractions, decimals, measurement, number theory and equations, ratio and proportion, and percent. Provides an introduction to: geometry, consumer math, computing with rational numbers, probability and statistics, real numbers and the coordinate plane and similarity.
(General Math: 9 chapters).
Algebra
Algebra continues the study of algebraic concepts including operations with real numbers and polynomials, relations and functions, creation and application of linear functions and relations, and an introduction to nonlinear functions. Prerequisites: demonstrated mastery of General Math and speed memory of all math fact tables.
(Algebra 1a: - 15 chapters. Algebra 1b: 16 chapters).
Geometry
Geometry continues students’ study of geometric concepts building upon algebra topics. Students move from an inductive approach to deductive methods of proof in their study of geometric figures. Two and three dimentional reasoning skills are emphasized and students broaden their use of the coordinate plane to include transformations of geometric figures. Prerequisites: Successful completion of Algebra I.
Geometry: 14 chapters; Honors: 18 chapters).
Algebra II
Algebra II continues students’ study of advanced algebraic concepts including functions, polynomials, rational expressions, complex numbers, systems of equations and inequalities, and matrices. Emphasis is placed on practical applications and modeling.
Prerequisites: Algebra I and Geometry (Algebra II: 9 chapters; Honors: 16 chapters).
Pre-Calculus
Pre-Calculus provides students a complete study of trigonometry, as well as advanced algebra topics, analytic geometry, sequences and series, and data analysis. Applications and modeling are included throughout the course of study. Prerequisites: Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II (Pre-Calculus: 7 chapters; Honors: 10 chapters).
Calculus
Calculus develops the student’s understanding of the concepts of calculus (functions, graphs, limits, derivatives and integrals) and provides experience with its methods and applications. The course encourages the geometric, numerical, analytical, and verbal expression of concepts, results and problems. Prerequisites: Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, Pre-Calculus (Calculus: 10 chapters; AP: covers all material necessary for AP exam).
Statistics
Statistics topics include: descriptive statistics, graphic presentation of data, probability and probability distributions, sampling and sampling distributions, hypothesis testing (large and small samples) analysis of variance and chi-square distributions. Prerequisites: Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, Pre-Calculus.
(Statistics: 10 chapters; AP: will cover all material necessary for AP exam).
Foreign Language (Spanish)
Spanish I
This course is designed for students in grades 8-12. Students must demonstrate grade level ability in language arts before beginning this class. Students will learn basic written and spoken Spanish, including the vocabulary for greetings, time, days, months, dates as well as grammar concepts such as noun and article genders and verb conjugation. They will learn to effectively communicate through written and oral expression. Students will begin to develop an appreciation of Hispanic culture.
Spanish II
This course is designed for students in grades 9-12. In order to take this course, the student must have successfully completed Spanish I or demonstrated mastery of the Spanish I skills and concepts. Students will learn more sophisticated vocabulary and grammar concepts such as the conjugation of irregular verbs and the use of subjunctive phrases. Students will demonstrate mastery of basic written and spoken Spanish. They will effectively communicate through written and oral expression. Students will develop an understanding of Hispanic culture.
Conversational Spanish
Spanish I & II are the required prerequisites for this course which focuses on “acquiring an ear” for the Spanish language. Emphasis will be placed on: 1) oral communication through oral presentations, 2) reading Spanish material and discussing it, 3) cultural projects, and 4) skits and other activities. In addition to a general review of the grammar and vocabulary covered in Spanish I & II, students will be introduced to the geography and culture of the 21 Spanish-speaking countries.
Spanish III
This course is designed for students in grades 10-12. In order to take this course, the student must have successfully completed Spanish I & II or demonstrated mastery on Spanish I & II skills and concepts.
Students will demonstrate an understanding of intermediate written and spoken Spanish. They will be able to recognize and use vocabulary from various activities (ie shopping, travel, introductions, household chores, etc) as well as idiomatic expressions. They will be able to recognize and use various grammar and verb-related concepts such as:
Por/Para, Pluperfect Tense, and the four Subjunctive tenses. Students will continue to develop their understanding of Hispanic culture.
Spanish IV
This course is designed for students in grades 11-12. In order to take this course, the student must have successfully completed Spanish I-III skills and concepts. This course could be a class or an independent study, depending on the schedule of the teacher and student(s) involved. A unique program will be developed to meet the needs and interests of the student(s) involved. Emphasis will be placed on advanced spoken and written Spanich and culture. Possible study themes include: history, fine art, or literature.
Performing Arts
7th & 8th Grades Music
Students begin the year by discovering music on the computer: composing and recording with several different programs (GarageBand, Audacity, Finale NotePad). They are introduced to music theory, and using the website musictheory.net, students learn the basics interactively.
Students also explore basic song structure with the 12-bar blues, and link this to their studies of South America in a performance of Brazilian samba on percussion instruments. Students learn songs about immigration, the fundamentals of jazz, and explore music from Africa.
The aim at this level is to expand musical horizons in a hands-on way while looking at the origins of different styles and making social-historical connections.
Jazz Combo (9th-12th Grades)
The Jazz Combo is primarily a performance-based course. The students meet twice per week as an ensemble to play, and once per week to develop their theoretical and historical understanding of the subject. Playing together frequently and exploring a variety of pieces within the Jazz genre is the best way to develop fluency on an instrument. There are several opportunities to perform throughout the year, including our Academic Fair and the Evening of the Arts.
Physical Education
7th & 8th Grades
PE for 7th and 8th grade students follows the same subject schedule as the Lower School but due to the higher skill level, these students spend less time practicing skill development and more time engaged in games. The units covered during the school year are: Cooperative Games, Invasion Games, Target Games, Net/Wall Games, Fielding Games, Health Education, Educational Gymnastics, Research/Theory and Dance.
Upper School PE
Upper School students will experience a Physical Education class that uses skills established during their elementary and middle school years to compete in games/sports from each of the five categories of games (Invasion, Net/Wall, Fielding, Target and Gymnastics. This class is a great opportunity for students to fine tune old skills and practice new skills.
