Download World Geography! Course Overview

WORLD HISTORY
WORLD GEOGRAPHY
US HISTORY
HEALTH
GOVERNMENT
ECONOMICS
World History!
Course Overview:
Welcome to World History! I strongly believe the study of history should be a relevant and
meaningful experience. As a result, this course will highlight people, events, issues, and
themes and how they relate to the world around us instead of the mere memorization of
trivial detail. We will study the struggles of humanity and their triumphs. Throughout the
school year I hope that we all expand our understanding of the human story and begin to
examine our role as global citizens and what impact we may have on the future history of the
world.
You will be reading, writing, researching, thinking critically and analyzing historical information
and primary sources, presenting, working in groups, collaborating, building skills and so much
more! I expect you to work hard, challenge yourself, and show integrity in your work. I am
truly passionate about teaching history, and I look forward to sharing my enthusiasm with
you!
Curriculum:
Textbook: Modern World History
Fall Semester
Renaissance & Reformation, World Exploration, Scientific Revolution & Enlightenment, French
Revolution, Industrialization & Imperialism.
Spring Semester
WWI, WWII, Cold War, Independence Movements of India & South Africa.
US History!
Course Overview:
Welcome to U.S. History! I strongly believe the study of history should be a relevant and
meaningful experience. As a result, this course will highlight people, events, issues, and themes
and how they relate to the world around us instead of the mere memorization of trivial detail.
You will be reading, writing, researching, thinking critically and analyzing historical information
and primary sources, presenting, working in groups, collaborating, building skills and so much
more! I expect you to work hard, challenge yourself, and show integrity in your work. I am truly
passionate about teaching history, and I look forward to sharing my enthusiasm with you!
Curriculum:
Textbook: United States History
Fall Semester
Review of Colonial America, American Revolution & the 19th Century, Civil War &
Reconstruction, American Industrialization & Immigration, the Progressive Era and US
Expansionism.
Spring Semester
WWI, the 1920’s and the Great Depression, WWII, 1950s & 60’s, Cold War Politics and Culture,
Civil Rights & Social Movements, and the Vietnam War.
American Government!
Course Overview:
Welcome to American Government! This class will examine the foundations, structure,
functions, and evolution of the political and legal system of the United States. Students will
examine the process of decision-making and the concept of political participation. A primary
goal of the course is to gain a deeper understanding of how political and legal institutions
impact American society and their ability to define and meet the major challenges and problems
facing the nation.
You will be reading, writing, researching, thinking critically and analyzing historical information
and primary sources, presenting, working in groups, collaborating, building skills and so much
more! I expect you to work hard, challenge yourself, and show integrity in your work. I am truly
passionate about teaching government, and I look forward to sharing my enthusiasm with you!
Curriculum:
Textbook: American Government
•Democracy and the Origins of the U.S. Government
•Roles and Powers of Congress (Legislative Branch)
•The Presidency (Executive Branch)
•Federal Court System (Judicial Branch)
•Fundamental Freedoms and Individual Rights
Economics!
Course Overview:
Welcome to Economics! This class will examine both micro and macro economic principles. Students will
examine various concepts of economics on both a national and international level. Students will also
spend time learning about personal finance in order to better prepare them for life after high school. All
students will also complete a Post Grad Plan (Senior Project), which is a requirement for graduation. A
primary goal of the course is to gain a deeper understanding of how economics impacts American
society, the major challenges and problems facing the nation today as well as how economics effects
people on an individual level.
You will be reading, writing, thinking critically and analyzing information and primary sources,
presenting, working in groups, collaborating, building skills and so much more! We expect you to work
hard, challenge yourself, and show integrity in your work. We are both truly passionate about teaching
economics and we look forward to sharing our enthusiasm with you!
Curriculum:
Textbook: Economics
•Basics of Economics
•Stock Market Game
•Supply and Demand
•Personal Finance Portfolio Project
•Ethics, Morality and Globalization
•Post Grad Plan / Senior Project
Health!
Course Overview:
Welcome to Health and Psychology! The purpose of this course is to provide every student with
a base of knowledge about relevant social, health and psychological issues. Throughout this
semester you will gain an understanding of your rights and responsibilities as you enter young
adulthood. You will also acquire knowledge and skills that will enable you to make informed and
healthy decisions in a world that is both complex and diverse.
This semester also provides a great opportunity to focus on skills such as writing and public
speaking, which are crucial to your success as a high school student and beyond. The course will
also work on building critical thinking skills, cooperative learning with others and self-discipline.
Health and Psychology will provide you with an opportunity to explore your roles as responsible
members of the community, and to acquire strategies to cultivate and maintain physical and
emotional wellness.
Curriculum:
Textbook: Health
•Mental Health: Personality & Psychology
•Social Health and Relationships
•Nutrition, Fitness and Healthy Living
•Alcohol, Tobacco & Drug Awareness
•Human Development & Disease
World Geography!
Course Overview:
Welcome to World Geography! The purpose of this course is to provide every student with a
base knowledge of the 5 themes of geography: location, place, human environment
interaction, movement and region. In addition, we will be covering each of the seven
continents, which are: Asia, Africa, Antarctica, Australia, North America, South America and
Europe. You will learn about geographical terms and concepts and demonstrate
comprehension through various assessments and hands on projects. Furthermore, you will
be completing a geographical terms booklet and a final test on the last day of summer
school.
This summer session also provides a great opportunity to focus on skills such as writing and
public speaking, which are crucial to your success as a high school student and beyond. The
course will also work on building critical thinking skills, cooperative learning and selfdiscipline. Geography will provide you with the opportunity to explore your roles as
responsible members of your community and as global citizens.
Textbook:
Students will each receive a textbook (which is to stay in the classroom and WILL NOT be
allowed to be taken home): Geography Alive! Regions and People (Teachers Curriculum
Institute). Educational videos and student activities will reinforce the reading material.
Classroom Policies and Expectations:
You will be expected to attend classes daily and arrive on time. Further, you will be expected
to come prepared with a writing utensil. You will be expected to complete all assignments and
show respect to peers and school staff at all times. Everyone is capable of succeeding in this
class, but in order to do so, you must take responsibility for your own learning and behavior.
Decisions lead to consequences: your decisions, your consequences. It is my goal to create a
respectful, safe and enjoyable learning environment in my classroom. Follow all school rules,
as well as those listed below:
Be Respectful and Polite: Show respect to your peers, the teacher, and yourself by
taking this class seriously. Raise your hand when you want to speak, and do not
interrupt others or the teacher. Find appropriate times to sharpen pencils and go to
the bathroom, which means not attending to those activities when the teacher or
your classmates are speaking. Turn off and put away all cell phones, iPods, and
other electronics before entering the room and keep them out of sight. No
profanity!
Be on Time: Be in your seat and ready to work when the bell rings. If you are tardy,
you will need to make up the time you missed. If you do not make up that time,
other consequences will follow (i.e. time given up at lunch, attending after school
detention or Friday School, etc.). Also, be on time with your assignments.
Be Prepared: Have all of your materials and assignments ready each day and stay
organized. Get your notebook as you walk in each day and have a pencil ready
BEFORE class begins. You will be expected to interact and participate in daily
classroom activities so be ready.
Be Neat: Please keep our room environment clean by refraining from eating or
drinking (water is allowed). Pick up all trash and return supplies to appropriate
locations. Put your notebook away each day as you walk out of class.
NO HEADS DOWN! One of my most important classroom rules is that you can never,
for any reason, put your head down during my class. Consequences will follow.
You will receive grades on all assignments according to a point scale. All points are
equal of all other points with major assignments simply being worth more points.
Those points will be added up and compared to the percentage scale to find the grade
the student has earned at the end of each quarter or term.
100-93% A 5 credits
92-90% A 5 credits
89-87% B+ 5 credits
86-83% B 5 credits
82-80% B- 5 credits
79-77% C+ 5 credits
76-73% C 5 credits
72-70% C- 5 credits
69-67% D+ 4 credits
66-65% D 4 credits
64-60% D- 3 credits
59%
F
NO CREDIT
John McCandless believes that all students are able to master the course subject matter
at a 70% or better with the level of support we provide and the opportunities for
assistance that we offer.
Absences: It is your responsibility to check the absent binder before you check in with me
when assignments are missed due to absences. You must copy down your assignment
information and gather any handouts in order to complete your missed assignments on
your own time. Making up assignments due to unexcused absences will be treated as late
work with point deduction. Regardless of whether or not the absence was excused or
unexcused, the assignment is due the day after you return to class (If you are absent
Monday and return Tuesday, Monday’s assignment is due at the beginning of class on
Wednesday).
Late Work: Late work will be accepted, but points will be deducted. The amount of late
points deducted will depend on the assignment and the number of days that the
assignment is late. Late work will only be accepted during the unit of study that we are
covering. Once the unit is over, late assignments will no longer accepted.
Homework: My goal is to complete a majority of all assignments during class, but we will
occasionally have homework assignments. The homework assignments given will be due
the following class day, no exceptions. I will collect it, done or not done, and assign points
based on how much is completed. Homework assignments will often be discussed at the
beginning of class periods as warm-ups, so you will not have additional time to finish it in
class. Also, if you need more time to complete an assignment or if you waste classroom
time and are unable to finish, then you give yourself homework.
Cheating/Plagiarism: (Please refer to the Honor Code on the Parent/Student Signature
page).
Homework: My goal is to complete a majority of all
assignments during class, but we will occasionally have
homework assignments. The homework assignments
given will be due the following class day, no exceptions.
I will collect it, done or not done, and assign points
based on how much is completed. Homework
assignments will often be discussed at the beginning of
class periods as warm-ups, so you will not have
additional time to finish it in class. Also, if you need
more time to complete an assignment or if you waste
classroom time and are unable to finish, then you give
yourself homework.
History Notebooks: I will provide each student
with a notebook that will be kept for use in
and for my classroom only. A majority of all
classwork will be done within your notebook.
I will grade all warm-ups and assignments
completed inside the notebook weekly.
You get TWO Potty
Passes each quarter. If
you do not use your
pass you will receive
10 extra credit points
for each pass. If you
use both passes… no
more potty. 
World:
World History can at times seem depressing and sad, especially as we study some of the
darkest times in history. But think not of the worst, but the best. Always, we need to
look at how people overcame dreadful times to create something better. We will work
to understand history on a more global level and also understand our roles as global
citizens. You’re going to work hard, we are going to have some fun, and at the end of
the year, you will be proud of yourself!
US:
US History is a wonderful story. We will explore it. We will start with the earliest
Americans and race up to the Civil War, at which point we will slow down and spend
most of our time in the Twentieth Century. You will love it! You are going to work hard,
we are going to have some fun, and at the end of the year, you will be proud of yourself!
American Government:
Government is the backbone of our society. It is my goal to not only prepare you with
knowledge about our government, but also help you build life skills and an understanding
of how to be informed citizens. I am here to challenge you and to help you as you all
embark on adulthood. I expect you to work hard, to participate and at the end of the
semester be proud of yourself and all that you have accomplished!
Economics:
It is our goal to not only prepare you with knowledge about economic principles, but also
help you build life skills and an understanding of how to be informed citizens. We are here
to challenge you and to help you as you all embark on adulthood. We expect you to work
hard, to participate, and at the end of the semester be proud of yourself and all that you
have accomplished!
Health:
At times, we will discuss sensitive issues. You may feel uncomfortable and that is okay.
You are not required to share your views or feelings about certain subjects, but if you or
one of your classmates decide to do so, please be understanding and respectful. You will
not be allowed to make degrading comments, laugh at your classmates, or make others
feel uncomfortable. We will build and maintain a safe and respectful atmosphere within
the classroom throughout the semester. You are going to work hard, we are going to have
some fun, and at the end of the year, you will be proud of yourself!