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KULA HIGH SCHOOL CURRICULUM

ASIAN HISTORY AND RELIGIONS

Asian History students will explore the geographical themes in relation to the Asian countries. They will also explore both past and current history, culture and spiritual beliefs of India, China, Japan and Southeast Asia. They will also view the effects of these beliefs on art, architecture and culture practices. Students will examine points of view, perceptions and bias in order to recognize that preconceived ideas often shape opinions and attitudes.

ASIAN LITERATURE AND LANGUAGE ARTS

The study of Asian Literature provides a framework for students to study the methods and meanings of literature. Emphasis is placed on discussion and analysis of texts that provide students a survey of ancient through contemporary works of India (1st quarter), China (2nd quarter), Japan (3rd quarter), and Southeast Asia (4th quarter). Famous Asian authors including Kamala Markandaya, Yasunari Kawabata, Amy Tan and Bao Ninh will be read. Composition and writing skills, grammar, and vocabulary are also heavily emphasized. Students produce final, error-free pieces of written composition on a regular basis.

PHYSICAL SCIENCE

The central theme of Physical Science is the study of matter leading to the development of the atomic model as well as the examination of different forms of energy and the ways in which one form of energy can be transformed into another. While preparing themselves for higher-level science classes, students learn how concepts in Physics and Chemistry directly and indirectly affect the world around them. Scientific tools are used frequently in a laboratory setting. Students also collaborate with others in order to organize, analyze and form conclusions from organized data. This class also covers the multifaceted origins of science since the dawn of mankind.

GEOMETRY

Completion of Algebra 1B / 1C is a prerequisite for this course. This one year course begins with the basic concepts of geometry: point, line, plane, angles, triangles, postulates, theorems and deductive reasoning. We then explore complementary, supplementary and vertical angles; perpendicular lines; properties of parallel lines and transversals; angle sum theorems for triangles and polygons; congruent triangles and congruence postulates; applying theorems about isosceles triangles; properties of parallelograms; similarity, ratios and proportions; right triangle relationships, with an emphasis on the Pythagorean Theorem; trigonometric ratios; concepts rated to circles; and areas of polygons. We will use hands-on activities to provide an intuitive meaning of the concepts, create journals to help define concepts, and use word problem solving skills to apply the concepts to the real world.

SPANISH I

The purpose of learning Spanish is to communicate with the people who speak the language and to understand their cultures. In the beginning classes students will learn basic conversation and grammar in a dynamic, interactive manner through written and oral practice, individual and group projects, songs and games. Students are introduced to the Spanish culture and various Latin American cultures, including their stories, their heroes and heroines, and their holidays through selected texts and movies.

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COURSE DESCRIPTIONS - GRADE 10

ALGEBRA II/TRIGONOMETRY

Completion of Algebra 1B / 1C and Geometry are prerequisites for this course. This one year course begins with a review of factoring polynomials and rational expressions and equations. We then explore powers, roots and complex numbers; quadratic equations; equations and word problem solving of direct, inverse and joint quadratic variation; quadratic functions and graphing transformations; analyzing second degree equations for circles, ellipses and hyperbolas; and exponential and logarithmic functions. In the last quarter, we explore trigonometry functions, using the graphing calculator, hands-on activities, and applied word problem solving. Students will be prepared for Pre-Calculus. Graphing calculators are required for this course.

ASIAN LITERATURE AND LANGUAGE ARTS

The study of Asian Literature provides a framework for students to study the methods and meanings of literature. Emphasis is placed on discussion and analysis of texts that provide students a survey of ancient through contemporary works of India (1^st quarter), China (2^nd quarter), Japan (3^rd quarter), and Southeast Asia (4^th quarter). Asian authors including Kamala Markandaya, Yasunari Kawabata, Amy Tan and Bao Ninh will be read. Composition and writing skills, grammar, and vocabulary are also heavily emphasized. Students produce final, error-free pieces of written composition on a regular basis.

ASIAN HISTORY AND RELIGIONS

Asian History students will explore the geographical themes in relation to the Asian countries. They will also explore both past and current history, culture and spiritual beliefs of India, China, Japan and Southeast Asia. They will also view the effects of these beliefs on art, architecture and culture practices. Students will examine points of view, perceptions and bias in order to recognize that preconceived ideas often shape opinions and attitudes.

PHYSICAL SCIENCE

The central theme of Physical Science is the study of matter leading to the development of the atomic model as well as the examination of different forms of energy and the ways in which one form of energy can be transformed into another. While preparing themselves for higher-level science classes, students learn how concepts in Physics and Chemistry directly and indirectly affect the world around them. Scientific tools are used frequently in a laboratory setting. Students also collaborate with others in order to organize, analyze and form conclusions from organized data. This class also covers the multifaceted origins of science since the dawn of mankind.

SPANISH II

Students further develop their oral and writing skills through topics of current interest to them, such as environment, health, the future and many other topics relevant to teenagers. Activities are designed with visual cues and repetition to facilitate the success of all students. Conversation is stressed and grammar studied in order to understand how language "works".

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COURSE DESCRIPTIONS - GRADE 11

CHEMISTRY

Chemistry studies the composition, structure, and properties of matter and the changes it undergoes. Atomic structure, periodic law, chemical bonding, equations and reactions, acids and bases, nuclear chemistry, and organic compounds will be investigated. A strong foundation in manipulating algebraic expressions is required.

COLLEGE COUNSELING (SEMESTER 2)

In the spring semester Juniors embark on a journey of exploration into the world of colleges. Juniors meet three hours a week to begin preparing for the spring SAT, examine college profiles and admission requirements, contact several schools of their interest, and complete a sample college application.

GOVERNMENT AND ECONOMICS

Students will examine the basic principles of economics and the social issues resulting from U.S. policies designed to maintain economic hegemony. Who gains? Who loses? Topics to be covered include: capitalism, socialism, communism, anarchism, agrarian reform, the market system, propaganda and the role of the media, the federal balance of power between the President, the Congress and the Judiciary, the federal bureaucracy, the political party system, campaign finance reform legislation, globalization, international corporate conglomerates, the world banks, global money markets, free trade arguments, international money laundering, and finally, American foreign relations policies (including our role in the United Nations). In short, we will try to comprehend the role America will play in the 21st century world based on both current and historical trends and perspectives.

LITERATURE OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION & LANGUAGE ARTS

Continuing with Kula’s in-depth program in the Language Arts, 11th grade students will be studying various themes from the Western Canon in addition to expanding their skills as critical readers, writers, and thinkers. Concomitant with Kula’s History of Western Civilization class, and an important counterpoint to the school’s curriculum in Eastern studies in the 10th grade, the 11th grade students will explore the rich and varied traditions of Western moral and philosophical thought as seen through its expansive literary tradition. Classical authors such as Sophocles, Homer and Shakespeare are studied. This is a critical year in the development of the students’ understanding of the Language Arts and, as such, there will be a strong emphasis on the college preparatory skills and standards essential for promoting success as students look towards their Senior year, their immediate future, and their prospective college plans.

PRE-CALCULUS

This course covers solving equations algebraically and graphically (using a graphing calculator), solving exponential and logarithmic functions, extending trigonometric functions, advanced trigonometric graphs, applications of fundamental identities, parametric equations, conics, Law of Sines, Law of Cosines, vectors, historical perspectives, hands-on projects, applied problem solving, and preparation for the S.A.T. (I and II).

SPANISH III

All effective learning is rooted in meaningful context. Vocabulary and grammar are thus taught in the context of the situations in which students will be communicating. They are encouraged to express their own opinions and to think critically. Real life situations are re-created in order to allow students to apply the knowledge gained in the previous years and to move students to communicative competence.

HAWAIIAN HISTORY

Students will explore the evolution of Hawai‘i’s history from the arrival of the Polynesian navigators to 20th Century Hawai‘i. They will navigate the sea of change in cultural, social, economical, political, and ahupua‘a issues, and engage in critical inquiry and analysis of key historical events and the various historical representations. Topics will include: Hawaiian customs, beliefs, values and language; the arrival and impact of foreign ideals and institutions, imperialism and colonialism; the overthrow of the Hawaiian Monarchy; the formation of an American Hawai‘i from 1898 to present; immigrants, ethnic separatism, and cultural diversity; economic dependency and the pro’s/con’s of tourism, the military & agriculture; and forms of native self-determination.

WESTERN CIVILIZATION AND PHILOSOPHY

This course is an examination of the development of Western civilizations with an emphasis on the evolution of modern political and democratic thought. This course will also examine Western philosophers and their impact on Western civilization. Topics include ancient Greece, Rome, and Christian institutions of the Middle Ages and the emergence of national monarchies in Western Europe. The second half of this course introduces Western civilization from the early modern era to the present. Topics include the religious wars, the Industrial Revolution, World Wars I and II, and the Cold War. Upon completion, students should be able to analyze significant political, socioeconomic, and cultural developments in early Western civilization.

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS - GRADE 12

CALCULUS

Students will investigate tangent lines, derivatives, limits of function values, limits involving infinity and continuous functions. Rules of differentiation will be utilized to analyze velocity and other rates of change. Students will take derivatives of trigonometric functions and will use the chain rule and implicit differentiation. Applications of derivatives will include related rates of change and optimization. Integration, definite integrals and applications of definite integrals are also explored.

COLLEGE COUNSELING (SEMESTER I)

In the fall semester, seniors meet twice a week to finalize their selection of Colleges. Students are assisted in completing the application process, and in preparing for the SAT I and the SAT II as required by different colleges and universities. Financial aid information, scholarship opportunities, housing and other college preparations are also explored.

GOVERNMENT AND ECONOMICS

Students will examine the basic principles of economics and the social issues resulting from U.S. policies designed to maintain economic hegemony. Who gains? Who loses? Topics to be covered include: capitalism, socialism, communism, anarchism, agrarian reform, the market system, propaganda and the role of the media, the federal balance of power between the President, the Congress and the Judiciary, the federal bureaucracy, the political party system, campaign finance reform legislation, globalization, international corporate conglomerates, the world banks, global money markets, free trade arguments, international money laundering, and finally, American foreign relations policies (including our role in the United Nations). In short, we will try to comprehend the role America will play in the 21st century world based on both current and historical trends and perspectives.

PHYSICS

Physics is a qualitative study of the central concepts of physics with an emphasis on mental imagery that relates to things and events that are familiar in the everyday environment. The course encompasses the fundamental mechanics of Newtonian and modern physics, as well as the properties of matter, heat, sound, electricity and magnetism, light, atomic and nuclear physics, and relativity.

WORLD LITERATURE AND LANGUAGE ARTS

As students move into their senior year here at Kula, the emphasis in the Language Arts will turn more toward their future as potential college students, grooming and enhancing those skills necessary for achieving success in the competitive environment of a multi-cultural, fast paced cosmopolitan world at large. We will be synthesizing the various elements of the entire program into a cohesive whole as we study modern and contemporary issues within the context of the Language Arts classroom. Students will at times be choosing themes, topics, research projects, and some of the literature we have available, as they broaden their horizons and expand their scope of vision beyond their experiences at the secondary level.

ART HISTORY (FALL SEMESTER)

Art History is designed to guide 12^th grade students through a chronological representation of Western art beginning in Medieval times and ending with Modernism. The course is taught through visual presentation with lecture. Students will gain the ability to articulate fifty prevalent artists, their work, and art movements relating to the evolution of art. The class will explore artists’ techniques, theories, personalities, historical pertinence, intent and influences. The semester is divided into four sections, placing emphasis on the Italian Renaissance, French Impressionism and American Modernism. Students are assessed through section tests that include slide identification, multiple choice questions and essays. During the last section, the class environment changes from lecture to studio. Students produce a work of art paying homage to the artist of their choice. In conclusion, students will display works as a group exhibit.

MUSIC HISTORY (SPRING SEMESTER)

Music History will cover the development of Western Classical Music, starting with its origins in the church music of 1000 A.D., all the way through the classical music of the present. No musical expertise is required, although students will be expected to have some knowledge of music when the course is completed. Topics covered will include famous composers, not-so-famous composers, styles of music, and the development of classical instruments and technology, as well as world history. Students will develop their knowledge through listening, writing, and reading.

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AP COURSES

Advanced Placement English Literature and Composition

This course is designed to teach introductory college level reading and writing following the curricular requirements as described in the AP English Course Description. Students explore writing in depth, focusing the discussion and analysis on invention and artistry, structure, and style (diction, syntax, imagery, tone and organization) through a varied collection of readings including novels, plays, poems, essays, and short stories. Reading in AP includes British and American writing from the 16th century to contemporary literature. Through a careful study of texts, students will increase their ability to read for purpose and meaning. Writing will be varied but will include writing to understand, writing to explain, and writing to evaluate. Vocabulary instruction will accompany all major texts and grammar instruction will also be provided as the need arises. Composition assignments will include paragraphs, close readings of poems or passages, analytical essays, journaling, interpretive papers, and reaction papers. Formal papers will be examined for effective word choice, inventive sentence structure, organization, excellence of argument, use of evidence, and personal voice.

Kula High School Graduation Requirements

To graduate with a diploma from Kula High and Intermediate, a student must earn a minimum of twenty-six (26) credits and provide an average of thirty (20) hours of community service per year while attending Kula High.

Students must complete a designated written Senior Project in order to graduate.

One (1) credit is given to a student who satisfactorily completes a year of work in a course which meets five (5) times a week. One half (.50) a credit is given for one (1) semester of work. Credit for elective courses is determined by the number of hours the course meets each week. A course which meets one (1) class period per week earns .10 credits. A course which meets two (2) class periods per week will earn .20 credits. A course which meets three (3) class periods per week will earn .30 credits. A course which meets four (4) class periods will earn .40 credits.

Required units for graduation include the following:

KULA HIGH SCHOOL SEQUENCE OF COURSES

9th Grade
American Literature and Language Arts
Asmerican History
Biology
Geometry
Spanish I
SEMESTER 1: 3 Sections (Health) , 7 Elective Classes
SEMESTER 2: 2 Sections (Health) , 8 Elective Classes

10th Grade
Asian Literature and Language Arts
Asian History
Marine Science
Algebra II/Trigonometry
Spanish II
SEMESTER 1: 5 Sections (Visual/Performing Arts), 5 Elective Classes
SEMESTER 2: 5 Sections (Visual/Performaing Arts), 5 Elective Classes

11th Grade
Literature of Western Civilization
Western Civilization and Philosophy
Chemistry
Pre-Calculus
Spanish III
SEMESTER 1: 3 Sections (Hawaiian History ) 7 Elective Classes
SEMESTER 2: 2 Sections (Hawaiian History ) 3 College Counseling Classes
5 Elective Classes.

12th Grade
World Literature
Government and Economics
Physics
Calculus or Business Math
College Counseling/Art History:Music History
Spring: Music History
SEMESTER 1: 3 Sections (Art History ), 2 Sections (College Counseling)
SEMESTER 2: 2 Sections (Music History ), 3 Sections (Financial Planning

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POSSIBLE ELECTIVES BY STUDENT CHOICE (A minimum of 6 students required to offer a course, and some elective are subject to a fee)

Agriculture
Body Conditioning
Computer Keyboarding
Digital Video Production
Digital Photography
Drama Improvisation
Drama Production
Glass Mosaic
Golf (Beginning & Intermediate)
Hawaiian Crafts
Instrumental Music (Afro/Latin Drumming, Guitar, Piano)
Internships
Landscape Painting
Mural Art
Robotics
Sewing
SilkScreen
Stained Glass
Student Council
Studio Art (Beginning & Intermediate)
Studio Art (Advanced Placement)
Study Hall
Surfboard Shaping
Swimming
Team Sports
Tennis (Beginning & Intermediate)
Water Aerobics
Watercolor Painting
Yearbook Production
Yoga

REQUIRED ELECTIVES FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

Agriculture
Art History
Financial Planning
Health
Hawaiian History
Music History
Physical Education/KIF Sports Participation
Technology
Visual and Performing Arts
11th & 12th Grade College Counseling

Kauai Interscholastic Federation (KIF) Sports

Cross Country
Golf
Swimming
Girls’ Volleyball (JV Exhibition)

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