12th Grade Curriculum: Integrating Advanced Studies in Literature, Chemistry, and Contemporary Philosophy

Language Arts:

• Focus: Final study of classical literature, synthesis of previous learning, and advanced writing.
• Key Texts:
  • Milton: Paradise Lost, Samson Agonistes
  • Shakespeare: Sonnets
  • Cervantes: Don Quixote (continued)
• Activities:
  • Capstone projects analyzing themes of morality, power, and human nature.
  • Creative writing inspired by Milton and Shakespeare.
  • Oral presentations on the enduring impact of these texts.

Mathematics:

• Focus: Calculus
• Key Topics:
  • Limits and continuity
  • Derivatives and their applications
  • Integrals and the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus
  • Differential equations
• Activities:
  • Problem sets focused on real-world applications
  • Collaborative group projects on calculus concepts
  • Regular assessments and a final cumulative exam

Science:

• Focus: Chemistry
• Key Topics:
  • Atomic structure and periodic trends
  • Chemical bonding and molecular geometry
  • Stoichiometry and chemical reactions
  • Thermodynamics and kinetics
• Activities:
  • Home-based experiments (e.g., acid-base reactions)
  • Field observations (e.g., everyday chemical reactions)
  • Data analysis projects on reaction rates
  • Virtual guest lectures on advanced chemistry topics

History:

• Focus: U.S. Government and Economics
  
• Key Texts:
  
  • Democracy in America" by Alexis de Tocqueville (selections)
    
  • Adam Smith’s "The Wealth of Nations
    
  • John Maynard Keynes’s "The General Theory of Employment, Interest, and Money"
    
  •  Milton Friedman’s "Capitalism and Freedom
• Key Topics:
  • The Constitution and American political system
  • Branches of government and their functions
  • Economic principles: Supply and demand, market structures
  • The role of government in the economy
• Activities:
  • Mock government simulations
  • Research papers on constitutional issues
  • Economic case studies and analysis of current events

Philosophy:

• Focus: Contemporary Philosophy and Ethics
• Key Texts: 
  • Ethics: A Contemporary Introduction" by Harry J. Gensler
    
  • After Virtue: A Study in Moral Theory" by Alasdair MacIntyre
    
  • Moral Philosophy: A Reader" edited by Louis P. Pojman and Peter Tramel
    
• Key Topics:
  • 20th-century philosophical movements
  • Existentialism, pragmatism, and postmodernism