| COURSES |
Aurora Public Schools have devloped a curriculum based on a proficiency and benchmark system that aligns with the Colorado State Model Content Standards. The course units, critical content, and standards are designed to be taught during specific timeframes. Instruction is focused on essential questions and performance outcomes. |
| GEOGRAPHY |
This course will provide students with a basis for understanding the world we live in, its physical environment, its peoples, and the way people interact with the environment. Understanding and valuing other cultures is important to increasingly diverse societies, and students will need to understand global patterns of landforms, climate, populations, transportation, communication, economic linkages, and cultural patterns. Students will do extensive reading, research, writing, and critical thinking. |
| HONORS GEOGRAPHY |
This course is designed to be an advanced 9th grade course and requires students to use advanced reading and writing skills. This course will provide students with a basis for understanding the world we live in, its physical environment, its peoples, and the way people interact with the environment. Understanding and valuing other cultures in important to increasingly diverse socieities, and students will need to understand global patterns of landforms, climate, population, transportation, communication, economic linkages, and cultural patterns. Students will do extensive reading, research, writing, and critical thinking. |
| UNITED STATES HISTORY |
| The study of history provides people with a common memory of where they have been and what decisionsn of the past account for present circumstances. Through exploration of recurring American issues and significant themes, students will examine contacts and exchanges among groups and cultures and how these have influenced American perspectives. Using important events, students will formulate historical questions, evaluate sources and data using diverse viewpoints, hypothesis, draw conclusions, and analyze issues of the American experience. |
| HONORS UNITED STATES HISTORY |
| The content of this course will be the same as that of U.S. History but the expectations for student performance will be significantly different. Reading will be in greater quantity and complexity, requiring advanced skills. The ability to produce well developed and organized papers is a prerequsisite, as is the desire to engage in meaningful discussion, complex thinking, interpretation and analysis. |
| CIVICS |
| All students will be future members of a democracy that can only exist with citizen participation. A strong foundation in the principles of American civics, including the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, is necessary to produce informed citizens capapble of making responsible decisions and voting. A knowledge of the rules, rights, and responsibilities of citizens helps to create a common political culture that furthers American ideals of democracy and equality. Successfull completeion of this course satisfies the civil government graduation requirement. |
| AP WORLD HISTORY |
| This yearlong AP World History course emphasizes non-Western history, tracing human development from the emergence of cities to the present. The course focuses on analytical and writing skills necessary for success in a college-level history course. Considerable time is devoted to the use and analysis of primary and secondary source documents, class discussions and debates, short essays, objective exams, and document-based questions. Students taking an Advanced Placement course will be expected to take the Advanced Placment examination in that subject, and, depending on the test score, may receive college credit. |
| AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDIES |
| In this class, students will be able to trace the development of African-American culture from its complex origins in Africa to the new forms that it took as it blended with European and Native American cultural elements in the Americas. Students will receive a strong grasp of the many wonderful and compelling achievements that persons of African decent have made. |
| LAW AND GOVERNMENT |
| Through this course, students will gain an understanding of the United States' legal system, its relationship to democratic values and the Constitution, and how legal issues can affect a student's daily life in America. Issues related to criminal and civil law, Supreme Court decision, and international affairs will be investigated. Successful completion of this course satisfies the civil government graduation requirement. |
| AP UNITED STATES HISTORY |
| AP United States History is a challenging class designed to the equivalent of a college freshmen level course. This two-semester survey of American history begins with the Age of Exploration and ends with present day events and issues. Advanced reading and writing skills are a necessity, as is a willingness to devote considerable time to homework and study. Emphasis is placed on critical and evaluative thinking skills and interpretation of original documents. Students taking an Advanced Placement ecourse will be expected to take the Advanced Placement examination in that subject and, depending on the test score, may recieve college credit. |
| ANCIENT WORLD 3000BC - 500AD |
| This course is designed to examine the beginnings of human civilization, the transformation from a culture of hunting and gathering to a soceity that could produce its own food; the evolution of civilization; and the creation of the world's first empires. The student will look at how belief systems affect civilizations and how they negatively impact societies. |
| EXPANSION AND INTERACTION OF CIVILIZATION 500AD - 1600AD |
| This course is designed to look at how the major religioius systems and philosophical belief systems of the different civilizations interacted. The student will examine the various political and economic systems that were developed during this era and how they interacted. The student will understand the impact religion has on a society and how the differences in religion can lead to conflict. The student will understand how different socieites expanded on civiizations and made improvements in technology, and how those improvements were adapted to other socieites through contact and interaction. |
| HISTORY OF THE AMERICAS (excluding U.S. and Canada) |
| Major topics to be covered are pre-Columbian America (including Native Americans), colonization, revolutions, politics and governments, and the cultural aspects of Latin America. Students will identify and explain histoical relationships for significant events and people for the history of the Americas. Students will know and be able to describe the interactions and contributions of the various peoples and cultures that have lived in or migrated, immigrated, or were brought to the Americans. The political, ideological, social, and economic aspects that have impacted and changed the diversity of the Americas over time will be studied. |
| HISTORY OF WORLD RELIGIONS |
| Students will understand the historical development of six major religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Daoism) and their powerful forces throughout history. Students will learn how various forms of artistic literacy expressions relfect religious beliefs and philosophies; explain how, throughout history, the power of the state has been both derived from religious authority without and/or in comflict with religious authority; and how religion has influenced various aspects of society throughout history. |
| TWENTIETH CENTURY CONFLICT |
| Major topics to be covered are conflicts--WWI, WWII, regional wars (Balkans, Japan in China, Korea, Vietnam); genocide--Armenian, Holocaust, Rwanda, Cambodia, Darfur; terrorism--Russians to Islamic. Students analyze the most violent century in human history from multiple historically objective perspectives: why humans and socieites fight; the political, ideological, social, and economic factors leading to conflicts; and the impacts of wars and diplomacy. Students will use historical information to evaluate and interpret decisions and policies regarding genocide, terrorism, and wars past and present. |
| WESTERN CIVILIZATION 1300AD - 1900AD |
| This course is designed to teach how new ideas were assimilated and defused, and how European expansion through nationalism and imperialism affected world societies. The student will understand how Europe became a major influence on the world through its growth in economic, religious, and governmental changes. The student will understand how the industrial revolution impacted the world, not only be economics but by new ways of studing methods of governing. |
| PSYCHOLOGY |
| Due to the complexity of modern society and the many options facing each individual, students can use knowledge of psychology to better understand themselves and their relationship to others. Through a study of psychology, students will learn to maximize their full potential, make appropriate decisions based on self-awareness, and better cope with life situations. |
| AP PSYCHOLOGY |
| This course introduces students to various methods of psychological inquiry. AP Psychology is a challenging course designed to be the equivalent of a college freshmen level course. Advanced reading and writing skills are necessary, as is the willingness to devote considerable time to homework and study. Emphasis is placed on critical and evaulative thinking skills and i nterpretation of information. Students will have an increased understanding of the nature of human beings, both as individuals and as members of social groups. Students will develop an appreciation of psychology both as an academic discipline and as a body of knowledge, which is relevant to the student's own life. Students taking an Advanced Placement course will be expected to take the Advanced Placement examination in that subject and, depending on the test score, may receive college credit. |
| ECONOMICS |
| Economics is a one-semester course designed to familarize students with the basic principles of economics, and encourages students to apply economics when analyzing everyday situations. Students will be able to demonstrate practical skills in economic decision-making, and they will be able to function more effectively as consumers, producers and investors in today's society. |
| AP GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS: COMPARATIVE |
| This is a challenging class designed to the equivalent of a college freshmen level course. This two-semester survey of political theories and everyday practices that direct the daily operation of governments around the world and shape our global policies. Students will develop critical understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of global political systems. Advanced reading and writing skills are a necessity, as is a willingness to devote considerable time to homework and study. Students taking an Advanced Placement ecourse will be expected to take the Advanced Placement examination in that subject and, depending on the test score, may recieve college credit. |