This is an introductory course to the art program at California Aerospace Academy. It includes the study of the elements of art, master artists, techniques, style, and art history. Art production is woven in and around these studies. Students build basic drawing, painting, and ceramic working skills as well as learning to apply the fundamentals of the elements and principles of fine art and design and color theory. Students will also research how various artists got their start, what type of art they do, and how they fi       t into the aviation world. 

 

 

Advanced art builds upon the Art I foundation of artists and art elements. This course uses master artists and their works in the study of techniques, media, and approaches to art. Developing techniques of their own and opinions of their own is one of the goals for students, as well as the production of art. Students analyze and make critical assessments about artworks as well as showing their individual creativity and problem solving ability within their own art production.

 

A limited number of opportunities are available in the classrooms or office for students to work with and assist staff in specialized areas. These opportunities must have the permission of the teacher or staff member in charge.

 

Grade Level: 12

 

This course focuses on the development of the student as a well rounded contributing citizen. Through this course students will learn and develop through active participation in service that is conducted in and meets the needs of the community. Students will be supported in finding internships or volunteer opportunities that will help build their skills and knowledge to enter the workforce and/or college of their choice. Students will be expected to spend 25 hours as a volunteer or intern as well as work with their teacher to create a project that includes life skills, job skills, career exploration, and a focus on what was learned through their community service.. Students will also coordinate a workshop in which they present their project reflect upon the significance of the work that they accomplished.

 

English 9 is a heterogeneous, literature-based program aligned with the state content standards. The course emphasizes the development of the following skills: acquisition of SAT and CAHSEE vocabulary words and etymology, improvement of reading comprehension, response to and analysis of literature, development of formal writing skills including essay structure and development of speaking and listening strategies.

Instructional Materials: Homer’s Odyssey, William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Mythology materials, Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, Arthur C. Clarke’s Childhood’s End, and McDougal Littell’s Literature 9.

 

 

 

English 10 is a literature-based program aligned with the state content standards. This class is aligned with the history curriculum. The course emphasizes the development of the following skills: acquisition of SAT and CAHSEE vocabulary words, improvement of reading comprehension, response to an analysis of literature, development of formal writing skills including essay structure and development of speaking and listening strategies.

Instructional Materials: William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Erich Maria Remarque’s All Quiet on the Western Front, Sophocles’ Antigone, and Elie Wiesel’s Night, and McDougal Littell’s Literature 10.

 

 

English 11 is a rigorous survey course of American literature from the 15th century to the

present. Students read genre literature from Puritanism through Post-modernism and practice a variety of reading strategies and critical thinking exercises to build literacy. Students also develop vocabulary skills by studying SAT words, writing skills through analytical and expository essays, and articulation skills through formal and informal presentations and discussion.

Instructional Materials: Ralph Waldo Ellison’s Invisible Man, J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, Alice Walker’s The Color Purple, John Steinbeck’s East of Eden, and McDougal Littel's American Literature

 

 

English 12 has a multi-cultural literature focus on archetypal characters and plots, a writing focus on personal and reflective essays suitable for use for college or job applications, and a speech, debate or media studies unit. Students will recognize and manipulate logical fallacies and styles of argumentation. The course aims to help students become more analytical and critical readers, writers, debaters, and viewers.  

Instructional Materials: Amy Tan’s The Joy Luck Club, Ray Bradbury’s Illustrated Man, Julia Alvarez’s In the Time of the Butterflies, College Application Essay compilation, newspaper text, miscellaneous essays, articles, and short stories.  

 

This course is designed to support students who are low-performing in English 9, English 10, English 11, and English 12. This course provides supplemental instruction aligned concurrently with the units of instruction in English 9, English 10, English 11, and English 12.

 

In this two semester course, students develop the ability to communicate about themselves and their immediate environment using simple sentences containing basic language structures. This communication is evidenced in all four language skills - listening, speaking, reading and writing - with emphasis on the ability to communicate orally and in writing. Students begin to explore and study the themes of Personal and Family Life, School Life, Social Life, and Community Life. Students demonstrate an understanding of traditions, customs, beliefs, and cultural contributions from Spanish speaking nations and how these elements relate to language

 

 

 

Students will further develop the ability to communicate in Spanish, focusing on the present, past, and future tenses, information about appearance, personality, family, teachers, friends, daily schedule, activities, likes and dislikes. They will learn to express opinions, various degrees of probability, doubt and certainty, and will learn to persuade and direct others. This communication is evidenced in all four language skills - listening, speaking, reading and writing - with emphasis on the ability to communicate orally and in writing. Students begin an introduction to short stories. Students demonstrate an understanding of traditions, customs, beliefs, and cultural contributions from Spanish speaking nations, compare to U.S. experience and show these elements relate to language.

 

Algebra 1 is a two-semester course, devoted to the acquisition and reinforcement of algebraic, graphical and technological skills. The student will develop the understanding of the real number system and of simplifying and evaluating mathematical expressions. Determining the solutions to equations and inequalities and the development of graphing are all used in the context of applications to real world situations. The steps leading to solutions of linear and quadratic equations and of inequalities are geared to problem solving while graphing on the coordinate system will aid in the basic understanding of functions. Students will also perform the four basic operations on polynomial, rational and radical expressions. There will be constant emphasis on arithmetic skills and their applications to real world problems. A graphing calculator or scientific calculator is recommended.

 

Geometry is a two-semester course, devoted to the study of figures and their properties. Using definitions, basic postulates and theorems, students will learn to solve problems involving polygons, circles and solids. Using these basic concepts will enable the student to discover the properties of geometric figures and angle pair relationships, congruent and similar figures, perform geometric constructions and transformations, use the basic elements of coordinate geometry and trigonometry, and discovery the properties of perimeter, area, volume. Students will also learn the principles of deductive and inductive reasoning and apply them to problem-solving and proofs. A graphing calculator or scientific calculator is recommended.

 

 

Algebra 2 is designed to prepare students for college mathematics courses. Students will build algebraic manipulation skills, analytical skills, and problem solving skills necessary to be successful in Pre-Calculus. The topics that will be emphasized include systems of equations and inequalities; polynomials and polynomial functions; quadratic functions; complex numbers; properties of radicals and rational exponents; operations on functions; exponential and logarithmic functions; rational functions; sequences and series; probability and statistics; and conic sections. A graphing calculator is recommended.  

 

Trigonometry is presented as the study of properties and applications of functions and graphs. There will be an emphasis on graphing trigonometric functions, discovering identities for right triangles, solving trigonometric equations and solving problems involving the sides and angles of triangles and their applications to real life situations. This course includes the in-depth study of the properties and graphs of lines, conic sections, quadratic, polynomial and rational functions with an emphasis on the equation of each figure and modeling of all functions in a real world application. Polar coordinates, vector algebra, limits of elementary functions and beginning calculus are also introduced. A graphing calculator is recommended.

 

 

This course is designed to support those students having difficulty in Algebra 1. Instruction is individualized through the use of Renaissance Learning Accelerated Math and allows students to work at their own pace until they master the mathematical concepts.  

 

The content of this course articulates the knowledge, skills and confidence students need to maintain meaningful physical activity throughout their lifetime.  The course sequence provides a blueprint for delivering the content in a manner that equips students to make a successful transition from the physical education instructional program to participation in physical activity during adulthood.  The adult lifestyle demands that individuals initiate and monitor their own participation in physical activity.  Family responsibilities, career demands, and individual choices influence physical activity patterns.  Students will have the ability to set challenging, obtainable, specific, and timely goals that will help them manage their time efficiently.

 

This one semester course is usually taken during the freshmen year. Subjects currently taught include:   injury prevention and safety; personal health; drugs (including steroids alcohol, and tobacco); nutrition; physical fitness and lifelong activity; communicable diseases (including STDs, HIV and AIDS); family living; and environmental health.

 

This required two semester course for freshmen is intended to develop understanding of the scientific method of inquiry and build on knowledge of oceanography, geology, meteorology, astronomy, and aeronautics.  Students will conduct, report on and evaluate independent and group investigations.  Students will learn about different Earth processes including: volcanoes, earthquakes, and plate tectonics; map reading; planet formation; and weather systems through student lead projects.

 

All sophomores are required to take this two semester course. The purpose of biology is to deepen your understanding of the scientific method of inquiry and expand your knowledge of living things and what we/they need to sustain life and health.  You will explore human and other organic structures, the processes that regulate life functions, the effects of living and nonliving factors on biological systems, and how organisms have changed over time.  Aviation topics explored include how space travel affects your body, the biomechanics of organisms of flight, the spread of disease through travel, and the environmental impact of aviation. You will develop questions, conduct experiments, collect and analyze data, and make conclusions throughout the course.

 

 

All juniors are required to take this two semester course. The purpose of this course is to introduce you to the fundamentals of physics.  The physics topics will include speed and acceleration, kinematics, projectile motion, electromagnetism, circuits, and thermodynamics.  You will be able to determine the path of projectiles, why things move, and figure out the intricacies of daily life, all through the scope of math and science. You will also explore the physics of flight and the environments in which flight takes place, including investigating how things fly, and how weather affects flight. 

 

In this course, you will study the history and geography of the world around you and understand the impact aviation has had on people and cultures. You will develop thinking skills enabling you to evaluate evidence, develop comparative and causal analyses, interpret historical record, and construct sound arguments to support their conclusions. You will have an awareness of the diverse physical and cultural environments on earth and an understanding of the concepts of place, region, and human-environment interactions. To do this, you will organize your work logically and create and sustain arguments based on readings, research, and personal experience within an aviation context.

 

 

 

In this course, students examine major turning points in the shaping of the modern world, from the late eighteenth century to the present. The year begins with a focus on study skills, and methodology used at the high school level. It continues with a connecting phase to the rise of democratic ideals and reviews past learning (ancient civilization, Middle Ages, etc.) The major thrust of the course, however, is world history, culture and geography from 1789 to the present (with emphasis on the 20th century). Close attention will be paid to the expansion of the west and the growing interdependence of people and cultures throughout the world.

 

This two semester course begins with a major review of past learning including the American Revolution, the Constitution, the Civil War, and Reconstruction. The major thrust of the course, however, begins with the Progressive era at the turn of the twentieth century. It will focus on the changing role of the United States in the global community, on the impact the twentieth century had upon American institutions and attitudes as well as the impact of the United State’s growth as a super power in the world. The study of the twentieth century includes an integration of history and geography, literature, and cultural diversity.

 

In this semester course for all Seniors, students will pursue a deeper understanding of fundamental economic concepts, applying the tools (graphs, statistics, equations) from other subject areas to the understanding of operations and institutions of economic systems. Studied in a historic context are the basic economic principles of micro- and macroeconomics, international economics, comparative economic systems, measurement, and methods. In addition, various topics of aviation/aerospace will be covered where appropriate.

 

 

In this semester course for all Seniors, students pursue a deeper understanding of the institutions of American government. They compare systems of government in the world today and analyze the history and changing interpretations of the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the current state of the legislative, executive, and judiciary branches of government. An emphasis is placed on analyzing the relationship among federal, state, and local governments, with particular attention paid to important historical documents such as the Federalist Papers. These standards represent the culmination of civic literacy as students prepare to vote, participate in community activities, and assume the responsibilities of citizenship. In addition, various topics of aviation/aerospace will be covered where appropriate.