American Studies
(Not Offered 2008-2009)

8 credits
4 in English
4 in Social Studies

American Studies is an eight credit interdisciplinary course that fulfills both the American History and American Literature requirements for the junior year at Lexington High School. The course exists in two formats: honors and level 1.

030 – Hon – English
(Not Offered 2008-2009)
(paired with Social Studies 130)

The honors course (030) is interdisciplinary in focus and team taught. Students participate in a transhistorical investigation of themes in American culture and society. Students investigate how the lives of Americans continue to be defined, expressed, and shaped in literature, history, politics and the arts. Moreover, an essential focus of the course is how the past shapes and informs the present.

Students’ work will involve conceptual and critical thinking in examining primary and secondary sources to present conflicting viewpoints to stimulate discussion and debate. Students learn to explain the ways in which literature both reflects and illuminates our history and culture. They identify some of the distinguishing features that have been traditionally considered traits of the American character, explore the pervasive theme of the American Dream with an eye for separating myth from reality, and investigate the ways in which literature has both affirmed and challenged the assumptions and values of American society. Additionally students recognize examples of propaganda and ideology and explain the uses and subsequent effects of both in shaping ideas. Disparate voices representing racial, class, gender and ethnic diversity that orchestrate American literature are discussed in order to broaden and deepen our study.

Previously, students have read The Catcher in the Rye by Salinger, Ragged Dick by Alger, The Scarlet Letter by Hawthorne, Their Eyes Were Watching God by Hurston, and Babbitt by Lewis as summer reading for this course. The new summer reading list will be available in the Main Office and online by June 1.

130 – Hon – Social Studies
(Not Offered 2008-2009)
(Paired with English 030)

Prerequisite: Minimum grade of B+ in 109, 110 or 111 or permission of the Social Studies Coordinator and recommendation of current history instructor
Summer reading: To be announced

American Studies
(Not Offered 2008-2009)

8 credits
4 in English
4 in Social Studies

031 – Lv 1 – English
(Not Offered 2008-2009)
(paired with Social Studies 131)

This course is interdisciplinary in focus and team taught. Students explore the recurring themes and issues that pervade American thought and language through both fiction and nonfiction readings. Units are thematically focused. While studying the factual history of America's Puritans, students will read The Crucible by Arthur Miller and examine the relationship between the witch hunts in Salem and the witch hunts of the 1950s.

Students will examine the institutions and beliefs which mold American identity. The will apply critical thinking and close reading skills to many different sources. Over the course of the year, students will examine the diverse voices in American literature and further their understanding of how the pluralism of American society is expressed or muffled depending on the place and time and point of view generating a literary work. Class, race, gender and ethnic diversity are important focal points in our reading and discussion.

Previously, students have read from among the following: Ragged Dick by Alger, The Bread Givers by Yezierska, The Crucible by Miller, Huckleberry Finn by Twain, The Autobiography of an Excoloured Man by Johnson, Their Eyes Were Watching God by Hurston, The Great Gatsby by Fitzgerald, Death of a Salesman by Miller, Catcher in the Rye by Salinger, Caucasia by Senna.

131 – Lv 1 – American Studies
(Not Offered 2008-2009)
(Paired with English 031)

American Studies is not a survey course in United States History. Instead, it is a course in which students will study several significant issues or time periods in U.S. History in great depth and detail. Students are expected to engage in a number of individual and small group research projects. There will be a number of essay assignments and several major writing assignments each quarter rather than shorter daily assignments. Students who elect this course should be prepared to engage in research on their own and be able to budget their time according to the requirements of longer range assignments. The same group of students will be enrolled in both courses.
Summer Reading: There are No Children Here by Alex Kotlowitz

674 – Modern/Ballet I
Dance courses may be taken for Physical Education or Fine and Performing Arts credit. Students must inform teacher by the end of the quarter how to assign credit.

1/2 credit – quarter

Prerequisite: No previous dance experience necessary
Ballet is a rigorous dance style. Modern/Ballet I will build on a combination of techniques from both styles. Students will learn the distinct language of balletic movement – the positions, stretches, balances, and combinations – using the expression of Modem Dance. Ballet technique can be easily incorporated into workouts for a variety of sports. Classes will focus on dance/movement principles for Moden/Ballet through Dance History, Stretch/Strength, Choreography, Injury Prevention, and Stress Reduction.

670 – Modern/Jazz I
Dance courses may be taken for Physical Education or Fine and Performing Arts credit. Students must inform teacher by the end of the quarter how to assign credit.

1/2 credit – quarter

Prerequisite: No previous dance experience necessary
This dance class will combine the expression of Modern and the syncopation of Jazz. Students will learn to move through the positions, balances, combinations, and rhythms that make Jazz. From the heartbeat of its West African roots, through its development in Swing, to the wide variety of studio and street dance styles, Modern/Jazz can move students through history, physical fitness and performance.

671 – Dance for Musical Theater
Dance courses may be taken for Physical Education or Fine and Performing Arts credit. Students must inform teacher by the end of the quarter how to assign credit.

1/2 credit – quarter

Prerequisite: Interest in Dance and Theater needed
From Isadora Duncan's reminder that dance is expressive to Bob Fosse's experimentation with shape and form, dance has helped change the direction of musical theater. From being decorative/mobil scenery to an essential means of storytelling, dance in musical theater has changed the idea of popular expression. Students will experience the development of ideas by learning original musical theater choreography. They will also have a chance to create their own musical theater dances. Exercise mind, body and imagination.

676 – Dance Choreography and Performance I
Dance courses may be taken for Physical Education or Fine and Performing Arts credit. Students must inform teacher by the end of the quarter how to assign credit.

1/2 credit – quarter

This course will provide an opportunity for students interested dance technique to experiment with movement. Students will create and evaluate dances in a positive, open forum. The course will expose students to choreography through various musical forms, spoken word, kinesthetic elements such as shape, space, force, flow and sheer imagination. The course will be highly focused and require previous dance experience and/or the willingness to experiment.

677 – Partner Dance, Swing, Latin
Dance courses may be taken for Physical Education or Fine and Performing Arts credit. Students must inform teacher by the end of the quarter how to assign credit.

1/2 credit – quarter

Prerequisite: No previous experience necessary
Dance is a great way to "feel" the ideas of a time or place. Lindy/Jitterbug/Swing or Flainenco/Salsa can lead to a new way to communicate that is universal. Learn the historical progression of dance in popular culture. Move through the ideas of time and place. Exercise through partner work and combinations.

The goal of these classes is the use of dance/movement as a connection to History. Through kinesthetic means, students can become familiar with dance as an international means of expression and communication. In addition, the strenuous demands of partner work is an excellent way to experiment with the physics of dance: balance, weight, motion. The course will incorporate strength and stretching dance techniques, along with combinations to practice working together, and enjoying the movement on music of different times and places.

672 – Dance for Stress Reduction/Relaxation

Dance courses may be taken for Physical Education or Fine and Performing Arts credit. Students must inform teacher by the end of the quarter how to assign credit.

1/2 credit – quarter

Prerequisite: No previous experience necessary.
Human beings need to re-learn and practice how to relax! Lack of oxygen, build-up muscular stress, repetitive injuries, and the ever-popular "back pack syndrome" are wearing humans down. The goals of Relaxation through Dance would seek to focus energy from inside the body, through stress points, and out. Use of Yoga techniques, Pilates principles, Visual Imagery and modern dance will help students move more efficiently, safely and productively. We forget our brain is part of the body and that dance can help balance the body.

673 – Stretch and Strength for Dancers
Dance courses may be taken for Physical Education or Fine and Performing Arts credit. Students must inform teacher by the end of the quarter how to assign credit.

1/2 credit – quarter

Prerequisite: No previous experience necessary.
Strength/Stretch for Dancers will focus on dance techniques combined with principles of safe weight training to help avoid injury, to balance muscle groups and focus energy.

Web Design

589 (Fine and Performing Arts)
         (Academic Expectation 7: Technology)
289 (Math)

4 credits
2 in Math
2 in Fine and Performing Arts
Year-long course

Prerequisite:
Foundations of Art
This course is for students interested in developing web-design and leadership skills. Students develop their organizational and presentation skills through a series of web-design projects ranging from the creation of a personal web page to complete site design for outside clients. Additionally, students will apply universal design strategies to promote access for everyone. Through project-based learning, students develop skills in problem solving, presentation, research and critical thinking.

Students will learn basic HTML and CSS skills, as they design web pages utilizing web standards. Throughout the course students will work in various teams to develop their sites, including interactive web sites for school and community clients. Each group will take their clients through the entire web-development process, including project plan, design mock-up, development, test and launch.

Integrated Math and Physics

257 (Math)
357 (Science)

9 credits
4 in Math
5 in Science

Prerequisite: Algebra 2 or Department Head approval
This unleveled course, intended for seniors, is multidisciplinary in content and approach, integrating mathematics, physics and technology. The course is designed to allow students to investigate and understand physical and mathematical concepts using computers, calculators, and other technology. It will focus on essential topics of physics: including mechanics, waves and electricity and the focus in mathematics will include the algebra of functions and relations with an emphasis on trigonometric and circular functions. Critical thinking, problem solving, data analysis and organization will be stressed in context. The integration of mathematics and physics will provide motivation for enhanced skill development and conceptual understanding in both disciplines. This course is taught collaboratively with mathematics and physics teachers. This course satisfies the mathematics and physics requirements for seniors.