COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

9-12 Grade

 WITH BOOK AND SUPPLY LIST

(updated 5/09/2023)

Textbooks are subject to change. To order books, please select the link(s), if applicable, that are underlined and blue under the individual course description. Grace Academy recommends ordering books no earlier than 7/10/2023.

Fees will be totaled per family and included in your Family Folder at Orientation. Fees will be due the first week of school payable to Grace Academy.

9-12 Classes:

The following courses are 9th – 12th grade level unless otherwise noted. Click on the image or Class Title to read more about the class.

Advanced Functions/Modeling Honors (11-12) (4 Days)

(Prerequisite: Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, and Grace Academy Issued Placement Test)- This course is to lay the groundwork for further study of mathematics at a college level. Standard Pre-calculus topics (Algebra III and Trigonometry) are presented.  The difference with this course is that the basic concepts of Algebra II are reviewed at a slower pace and more depth in order to achieve the firm foundation in Algebra that is necessary for success in college-level mathematics.

Algebra I (9-10) (4 Days)

This is a concentrated course which will involve the mastery of various math concepts including operations with real numbers, solving equations and inequalities, polynomials, exponential operations, factoring, functions, systems of equations and more.

Algebra II (10-12) (4 Days)

(Prerequisite: Algebra I & Geometry) – This course includes a review and expansion of Algebra I concepts, irrational and complex numbers, quadratic equations, functions, and problem solving.

Algebra II Honors (10-12) (4 Days)

(Prerequisite: Algebra I & Geometry. Grace Academy teacher or director will determine placement for this course.) – This course is a more in depth study of the Algebra II curriculum with a faster pace and comprehensive understanding of the concepts.

American Government/Economics (Grades 11-12)

Students will develop an understanding of government through a study of our founding documents, the Constitution of the United States, the government of other countries and our government at a national, state and local levels.

American Government/Economics Honors (11-12)

 (Prerequisite: American History) – Students will develop an understanding of government through a study of our founding documents, the Constitution of the United States, the government of other countries and our government at a national, state and local levels. Through additional reading, term papers and oral presentations, these students will learn the structure and importance of our government and economy.

American History I (9-10)

Students will study the story of America from a Christian world-view beginning the pre-colonization period and ending with the Civil War Era. Using primary sources, discussion, and research, they will analyze historical themes, compare and contrast historical events, and learn to think critically about the past.

American History I Honors (9-10)

Students will study the story of America from a Christian world-view beginning the pre-colonization period and ending with the Civil War Era. This honors course is fast-paced, participation-enriched, and focused on understanding the historical happenings and their impact then and now.

American History II (10-11)

Students will continue the story of America from a Christian world-view beginning with the Reconstruction era.  This course will cover the historical facts of our history as well as how God has moved in our nation. We will start our journey with Reconstruction and end with Desert Storm and the Middle East exploring how the past has forged the America of today.

Art 3D

This is a studio course emphasizing experimentation of form and space in three dimensions. The elements and principles of design will be stressed in all projects. Projects will focus on creating sculptures using different types of materials such as: clay, wire, paper mache, plaster and recyclables. We will discuss well-known artists with each project.

Art Foundations

This is a studio course emphasizing improvement on perception skills as well as drawing and painting skills used in two dimensional art. The elements and principles of design will be stressed in various projects. The projects are structured around drawing, painting, and printmaking and mixed media units.

Biology (9-10)

This course provides a detailed introduction to the concepts, methods, and application of general biology. Emphasis is placed on practical understanding of the vocabulary of biology. This course includes laboratories and dissections.

Biology Honors (9-10)

This class is a college-prep introductory study of life according to God’s wonderful creation. In this honors course, students will study the five kingdoms of organisms, cellular structure and functions, Mendelian genetics, evolution, and molecular biology.

Calculus Honors (11-12) (4 Days)

(Prerequisite: Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II & Pre-Calculus) – This course introduces the basic concepts of calculus, including the definition and application of derivative to polynomial, trigonometric, exponential, and logarithmic functions.

Chemistry (11-12)

(Prerequisite: Algebra I, Biology & Earth Science)  – This physical science course gives high school students a foundation in Chemistry.

Chemistry Honors (11-12)

(Prerequisite: Biology, Earth Science and have taken or currently taken Algebra II) – This physical science course gives high school students a foundation in Chemistry. This course will benefit students who are interested in pursuing a career in the math/science field, as it is a more extensive coverage of the Chemistry curriculum.

Christian Growth (Boys)

Christian Growth/Discipleship is specifically designed to help young men understand the teachings of the faith, as well as encouraging and assisting them to grow closer to Christ.

Christian Growth (Girls)

In Christian Growth for Girls, students will discover who they are in Christ and discover the radiant beauty and power of God in their lives.

Community Relations/Missions

How can we, as Christians, share our faith in the diverse, fast-paced culture of today’s world? In a nation where people are becoming increasingly skeptical of religion and hostile toward Christianity, how can we fulfill our mission of being the salt of the earth?

Computer

Students will further their knowledge of managing budgets, creating visual aids for presentations, and formatting documents used for real world situations in Microsoft Office.

Computer Graphic Arts

Students will learn design techniques, how to find creativity, and express themselves through the use of Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, & Indesign.

Earth/Physical Science (9-10)

Students will discover and explore topics such as the atmosphere, the hydrosphere, weather, and structure of the earth, environmentalism, the physics of motion, Newton’s Laws, gravity and astrophysics through a lab and project approach.

English I (9-10)

This course focuses on both grammar and literature. Students will review capitalization and punctuation rules, as well as, grammatical structures that are necessary for composing sentences, paragraphs, and essays.

English I Honors (9-10)

Students will study great poets and authors in order to learn effective literary devices that will be useful in their own writing.

English II (9-10)

This course consists of an extension of grammar learned in English I and a literature series. A reading and comprehension component to this course will aid students in interpreting literary devices used by great writers.

English II Honors (9-10)

In this course there will be a study of 7 works of literature to examine not only literal content, but the figurative meaning and literary devices used by poets and authors. This course is designed for students who enjoy reading. Teacher recommendation is required.

English III (10-12)

During the first semester, students will complete a research paper using the MLA (Modern Language Association) format. This will include choosing a topic, forming a thesis statement, researching the topic, creating an outline, and writing a research paper using in-text citation. In the second semester, students will analyze four literary works covering various genres.

English IV (11-12)

This course focuses on literature and composition. Students will analyze four literary works including an epic, an American play and European works. Students will learn about various types of composition.

English IV Honors (11-12)

This course focuses on advanced literature and composition topics. Students will analyze four literary works. Students will learn about various types of composition including position papers and responses to literature. In an effort to prepare students for college, students will also improve their grammar and vocabulary skills, as well as develop a writing portfolio.

Essentials of College Math (Grades 11-12) (4 Days)

(Prerequisite: Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, and Grace Academy Issued Placement Test) – This course emphasizes understanding of math concepts rather than just memorizing procedures. This equips them with higher-order thinking to apply math skills, functions and concepts in different situations.

Fashion Merchandising

In the course, students will explore the business side of fashion by covering these four important components, visual merchandising, trend forecasting, marketing and fashion design.

Geometry (9-11) (4 Days)

(Prerequisite: Algebra I) – This course is an organized and logical study of the use of undefined terms, definitions, postulates, and theorems and will be an in-depth study of the concepts of geometry.

Music/Worship Team (8-12)

This is an introduction to worship class with emphasis on developing creative and technical skills in the musical production of contemporary worship. Students will learn to perform worship songs in a band format.

Photography I

This class is designed for students who have no prior photography experience. Students will learn the basic function of the camera such as camera parts, digital and film terminology, composition and framing.

Pre-Calculus Honors (11-12) (4 days)

(Prerequisite: Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, and Grace Academy Issued Placement Test) – This course is designed to help students develop their proficiency in Algebra III and Trigonometry. Every opportunity to show how Algebra is a modern modeling language for real life problems will be explored.

Psychology

This is an introductory psychology course. The goal for this study of psychology is to better understand God’s creation. Students will develop an understanding of psychology’s history and worldview from a Christian perspective.

Spanish I (9-10)

Basic vocabulary, pronunciation, reading, and writing are implemented throughout this course. Quarterly projects will be assigned to enhance geographical and cultural aspects of Spanish speaking countries.

Spanish II (10-12)

(Prerequisite: Spanish I) – This course will expand on the listening, speaking, reading and writing skills developed in Spanish I. This course will introduce more vocabulary and grammar, and immerse Spanish students into the language.

Understanding Your Faith

As believers in Jesus Christ, we live in a culture that is increasingly misinformed about our faith. It is important for every young follower of Jesus Christ to understand the Gospel message and the basics of our faith in Christ, that relates to the world we live in and works in every day life.

Video/Media Editing

This is an introductory to video editing class with an emphasis on developing technical skills within computer software to express student creativity in application.

Web Design I

(Prerequisite: Prior computer experience required) – Students will learn what makes a visually appealing and functional website using HTML and CSS.

Wise Finance

This course is designed to give the students a solid foundation in many topics of personal finance. The topics that will be covered include saving, budgeting, debt, insurance, consumer awareness, investing, giving, careers, taxes, and money and relationships.

World History

This course is a thematic study of the history of the world from the Garden of Eden to the present day. History is “His story” and the unfolding of God’s plan is so very evident in the progression of human events.