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    WAYLAND ACADEMY ONLINE

    EXTENDED VERSION SYLLABI

    2024-2025 Academic Year

  • ENGLISH

    Humanities

    • This course is divided into Parts A & B
    • Description:

      As one of its most unique courses, Humanities at Wayland combines an English 9 and World History curriculum to create a single course for their Freshman. In Part A, students will address readings and the study of literature, reading informational text, writing, speaking and listening, and language study, which includes word knowledge and grammar skills. Topics are presented in ways that help young adolescents relate literacy skills to other aspects of their lives. Writing assignments include narrative, expository, and persuasive/argumentative modes and emphasize the use of and details and reasoning to support ideas. Speaking and listening lessons in Part A emphasize collaborative discussion skills and peer review. Vocabulary development instruction is integrated into literature and informational text lessons. Each unit ends with an authentic assessment that presents students with a real-world scenario requiring some of the skills they learned in the unit. Part B begins with a focus on the skills needed to read, understand, and analyze history, also demonstrating how historians and social scientists arrive at their conclusions about human history. Students will cover the history of civilization from hunter-gatherer societies through the characteristics of the earliest civilizations to the Enlightenment period in Western Europe. The second half of Humanities explores the early intellectual, spiritual, and political movements and their impact on interactions among world cultures.

    • Required Materials: The Old Man and the Sea (free digital versions are made available to students)
    • Difficulty Level: 3/5

    Modern & Contemporary Literature & Composition (English 10/English II)

    • This course is divided into Parts A & B
    • Description: English for grade 10 is an integrated curriculum, with each unit consisting of thematically related lessons in five domains: analyzing literature, analyzing informational text, writing, speaking and listening, and language study, which includes word knowledge and grammar skills. The skills that students practice for this course are similar to the skills in English 9 but require more independence and depth of thought. An introductory lesson at the start of each unit helps students identify any areas of weakness and review those topics before starting the more challenging grade 10 lessons. Writing assignments required in Part A of this course include fiction, expository, and persuasive, and analytical modeses, emphasizing the use of details, evidence, and reasoning to support ideas. Speaking and listening lessons in Part A cover collaborative discussion skills, the peer review process, and how to plan and deliver informative speeches and presentations. Vocabulary development instruction is integrated into literature and informational text lessons. Each unit ends with an authentic assessment that presents students with a real-world scenario requiring some of the skills they learned in the unit. Like Part A, Part B consists of integrated units focused on a theme or mode of study. Literature study in Part B focuses on the analysis of different forms of literature and as well as the evaluation of various modes and forms of writing. Writing and informational text lessons guide students through the stages of a rigorous research process and demonstrate how to evaluate, integrate, and share the information gathered during research. Students are required to share their ideas and analysis using several different modes, including oral and multimedia presentations.
    • Required Materials: Animal Farm & Lord of the Flies (free digital versions are made available to students)
    • Difficulty Level: 4/5

    American Literature & Composition (English 11/English III)

    • This course is divided into Parts A & B
    • Description: English for grade 11 is an American Literature course, with units organized chronologically according to periods in literary history. As students read foundation works of literature and other historical documents written between 1600 and 1900, they’ll review and extend skills in five domains: analyzing literature, analyzing informational text, writing, speaking and listening, and language study, which includes word knowledge and grammar skills. Each module or unit begins with a lesson that provides historical context for the era and introduces themes that emerged in the literature of that era. Each lesson provides students with an opportunity to review basic analysis skills before applying those skills to works of literature or key historical documents. Lessons focused on more difficult historical documents include activities that help students comprehend the complex ideas in these works. Writing modes addressed in Part A of this course include narrative, reflective, persuasive, and analytical modes. Assignments emphasize the use of details, evidence, and reasoning to support ideas; writing lessons include model essays that demonstrate key features of each mode. The speaking and listening lessons in Part A cover rhetoric, the peer review or writing workshop process, and performance skills. Vocabulary development instruction is integrated into literature and informational text lessons. Each unit ends with an authentic assessment that presents students with a real-world scenario requiring some of the skills they learned in the unit. Part B of English 11 consists of units focused on historical eras and literary movements of the 20th and 21st century, such as Naturalism, Imagism, the Harlem Renaissance, and Post-Modernism. Literature analysis lessons in Part B focus on the forms of literature that were most commonly written during the Twentieth Century and how the forms, styles, and techniques of that century inform literature written today. Students will also evaluate various modes and forms of language expression, including single media and multimedia messages. Writing and informational text lessons guide students through the stages of a rigorous research process and demonstrate how to evaluate, integrate, and share the information gathered during research. Students are required to share their ideas and analysis using several different modes, including oral and multimedia presentations.
    • Required Materials: The Scarlet Letter & The Great Gatsby (free digital versions are made available to students)
    • Difficulty Level: 5/5

    British Literature & Composition (English 12/English IV)

    • This course is divided into Parts A & B
    • Description: Students examine major works of literature organized into thematic units. Each unit contains poetry, short stories, and a novel that revolve around the theme for the unit. Themes include the self, relationships, alienation, choice, and death. As students read these works, they have the opportunity to reflect on these important themes by writing in multiple modes and creating cross-disciplinary projects.  In this course, students will also experience the novels, short stories, poetry, and non-fiction from countries around the world. You will discover that the writers in this course have ideas and lives as interesting as their work. You will discover many writers have unique writing styles, unique ideas, unique lives, and unique approaches to their art. You will also have the chance to do some unique work of your own. By reading contemporary work and some work of the 20th century you will also discover that “no matter what a writer’s origins, certain themes and events have been hard to run away from in the 20th and early 21st centuries.” As you read, it is my hope that you will come to an understanding that, “. . .reading literature from around the world is unlikely to teach you everything there is to know about a culture. But it may help. . .” Along this journey you will use technology, writing, reflection, vocabulary, research, and other academic and personal skills to help you learn to enter the world of your community, your country, and your world. As the poet Gwendolyn Brooks said, “I believe that we should all know each other, we human carriers of so many pleasurable differences. To not know is to doubt, to shrink from, sidestep or destroy.” So begin your own journey through the world, and do this by reading, writing about what you read, and experiencing the work of writers.
    • Required Materials: Jane Eyre, 1984, The Grapes of Wrath, Frankenstein, & Hamlet (free digital versions are made available to students)
    • Difficulty Level: 5/5

    Creative Writing

    • Description: Students will focus on longer works of fiction: short stories, plays, and novels. Students learn basic techniques of plot and character development along with strategies for creating suspense and building a theme, and they have opportunities to write in several different genres. Lessons cover a few special topics as well, including graphic novels, animation, comedy, and improvisation. Students apply what they have learned about writing workshops and revising to the longer pieces of writing they create for this course.
    • Required Materials: none
    • Difficulty Level: 4/5

  • SOCIAL STUDIES

    U.S. History

    • This course is divided into Parts A & B
    • Description: This course explores the inception, evolution, and maturation of the United States, covering pivotal topics such as American Indian cultures, European colonization, and the American Revolution's causes and effects. Geographical, economic, and political factors are scrutinized as critical elements in the nation's growth. US History surveys the struggle to build the U.S. from the colonial era to the early 20th century, fostering an understanding of the historical forces shaping American identity. Students not only engage with American history but also learn research methods and assess historical sources for accuracy. This US History course then delves into life pre-1929, exploring the Roaring Twenties' influence, the Great Depression's causes, a detailed study of World War II, the Cold War, Civil Rights, Women's Rights, environmental issues, and domestic and foreign policies. The course concludes with a contemporary overview, analyzing the nation's economic, social, and political trends from pre-World War I to the conflicts of the new millennium, placing the U.S. development as a superpower within a global context.
    • Required Materials: none
    • Difficulty Level: 4/5

    World Geography

    • This course is divided into Parts A & B
    • Description: In the initial semester, students will acquire proficiency in fundamental map reading, development, and geographic technology skills. The course emphasizes the recognition of geographic themes as a means to comprehend the world, with a specific examination of nations, people, and cultures in the Americas and Western Europe. Continuing into the second semester, this course maintains a focus on imparting essential map reading and development skills, utilization of geographic technology, and the understanding of geographic themes. The exploration expands to cover diverse world regions, including Central Europe, Northern Eurasia, Central and Southwest Asia, South Asia, Africa, East Asia, and the Pacific, delving into the nations, people, and cultures within these areas.
    • Required Materials: none
    • Difficulty Level: 3/5

    Psychology

    • This course is divided into Parts A & B
    • Description: In Psychology A, students commence with a concise history of psychologists and their experimental methods, followed by an exploration of personality theories. The course then delves into human development, spanning from infancy to adulthood, and concludes with an examination of consciousness, encompassing sleep, dreams, and substances altering consciousness. Throughout, students are encouraged to enhance their self-awareness. Semester B continues the psychological journey, with a focus on intelligence in both humans and animals, exploring its origins and measurement. The curriculum emphasizes learning, particularly classical and operant conditioning. Social psychology and psychological disorders are also investigated. To demonstrate their comprehension, students engage in projects, assuming roles such as teacher, parent, and psychologist.
    • Required Materials: none
    • Difficulty Level: 3/5

    Sociology

    • Description: This Sociology course delves into the fundamentals of the sociological field, encompassing the study of society, individuals, human groups, and organizations. The course is structured around four key areas: the sociological perspective, social structures, societal inequality, and social institutions and change. Students will critically examine controversies related to social change, inequality, gender, and race. The course centers on providing an overview of the discipline, with projects that afford students the opportunity to explore topics through the lens of a sociologist.
    • Required Materials: none
    • Difficulty Level: 3/5

  • SCIENCE

    Chemistry

    • This course is divided into Parts A & B
    • Description: In this course, students will discover what chemistry is, and how it is used and found all around us. The importance of the scientific method to solve real world problems will be investigated. Knowledge will be gained in the following areas: types of matter, atomic structure, chemical periodicity, chemical formula writing and naming, chemical equations. This course will also stress the important relationship between math and science while studying measurement, metric system and stoichiometry. Students will use higher order thinking throughout the entire course. An algebra background is recommended because of the amount and type of math involved. Students will also investigate chemical bonding, thermochemistry, and acids and bases. The importance of the scientific method to solve real world problems will be investigated. Knowledge will be gained in the following areas: organic chemistry, biochemistry, and nuclear chemistry. This course will also stress the important relationship between math and science. Students will use higher order thinking throughout the entire course. An algebra background is recommended because of the amount and type of math involved.
    • Required Materials: none
    • Difficulty Level: 3/5

    Biology

    • This course is divided into Parts A & B
    • Description: Biology A provides students with an introduction to the scientific method and key biology concepts from a historical and practical perspective. Focused on the cell, molecular heredity, and organism interdependence, the course enhances students' appreciation for the intricacies of living organisms. Exploring life's complexities on molecular and planetary levels, the course highlights the organized structure that distinguishes life on Earth. The multimedia format, featuring interactive modules, labs, animation, text, and videos, engages students in the study of life. As part of the evolving challenges in the 21st century, Biology A addresses ecological crises, global warming, and viral diseases, emphasizing the importance of basic biological understanding for informed decision-making. Biology B continues the exploration, covering population dynamics and evolution. The course delves into mutualism, predation, parasitism, and competition, examining evolution as a fundamental concept in modern biology. Both courses incorporate self-check activities, quizzes, unit exams, and projects, with ongoing teacher feedback throughout.
    • Required Materials: none
    • Difficulty Level: 3/5

    Physics

    • This course is divided into Parts A & B
    • Description:   Students begin their exploration of physics by reviewing the International System of Units (SI), scientific notation, and significant digits. They then learn to describe and analyze motion in one and two dimensions. Students learn about gravity and Newton’s laws of motion before concluding the course with an examination of circular motion. Students apply mathematical concepts such as graphing and trigonometry in order to solve physics problems. Throughout the course, students apply their understanding of physics by playing roles like science museum curator and elementary teacher. Physics, part B continues the student’s exploration of mechanics while also guiding them through some other important topics of physics.  Students begin by exploring simple harmonic motion, wave properties, and optics. Students then learn the basics of thermodynamics and fluids. Afterwards, the students explore the principles of electricity and magnetism. Finally, students explore the area of physics known as Modern Physics, which includes topics such as the photoelectric effect, nuclear science, and relativity. This is a trig based course. It is assumed you know and can use trigonometry.
    • Required Materials: Graphing Calculator
    • Difficulty Level: 4/5

    Anatomy and Physiology

    • This course is divided into Parts A & B
    • Description: This course builds upon your Biology knowledge, focusing on its application to human biology. Starting at the microscopic level, we delve into various organ systems, emphasizing practical application through tests, quizzes, projects, and collaboration. Part B explores the intricate relationship between structure and function in the human body, covering cellular to organ system levels, along with biochemistry, cell biology, histology, biotechnology, bioethics, and pathology.
    • Required Materials: None
    • Difficulty Level: 3/5

    Marine Science

    • Description: Explore the captivating world of marine science with this course! Delve into the fascinating realms of marine ecosystems, aquatic organisms, and the intricate balance within marine environments. Engaging lessons will guide students through a comprehensive understanding of marine life, exploring their distinct adaptations, and examining the impact of human activities on the health of our oceans. Immerse yourself in the wonders of marine existence, cultivating a deep appreciation for the enchanting realm beneath the ocean's surface.
    • Required Materials: None
    • Difficulty Level: 3/5

    Earth Science

    • Description: This course spans two semesters, with Semester A focusing on scientific inquiry, the structure and composition of the universe, and solar system features. Students learn the importance of scientific inquiry and communication of investigative results, progressing to topics such as the Big Bang Theory, celestial object motions, and solar system dynamics. The latter part of Semester A covers weather, climate, and Earth's water cycle, exploring the atmosphere, weather patterns, and the water cycle's components. Semester B delves into Earth's physical structure, tectonic system, and rock cycle, followed by discussions on systems, Earth's nutrient cycles, geologic history, natural resources, and the impact of human activities. The course concludes with a focus on the interconnectedness of human society with the Earth's environment, emphasizing the collaboration between science, technology, and the technological design process in earth science applications.
    • Required Materials: Various items around your home
    • Difficulty Level: 3/5

  • Mathematics

    Algebra I

    • This course is divided into Parts A & B
    • Description: Algebra 1 (Part A) introduces students to the world of Algebra through expressions and equations. Students will evaluate algebraic expressions, solve linear equations and graph them. This course also steers students through various real-world scenarios with the emphasis on using basic statistics to interpret the information given and found. Students learn through online lesson materials, videos and interactive activities. The end of each unit tests students’ understanding with a self-check quiz with feedback. Also included is a unit exam and project for students to apply what they have learned. Students will interact with course materials through online lessons, videos, interactive questions and real-world applications. Each unit ends with a self-check quiz to confirm knowledge of the concepts learned. There is also a unit exam and project. Teacher feedback is given throughout the course. Algebra 1 (Part B) builds on the concepts learned in the first part of the course by providing a strong foundation in solving problems. Students will work with problems and applications that involve exponents, quadratic equations, polynomials and factoring methods, rational and radical equations, data analysis and probability.
    • Difficulty Level: 3/5

    Geometry

    • This course is divided into Parts A & B
    • Description: Geometry is the study of the measurement of the world. What makes Geometry so engaging is the relationship of figures and measures to each other, and how these relationships can predict results in the world around us. Through practical applications, the student sees how geometric reasoning provides insight into everyday life. The course begins with the tools needed in Geometry. From these foundations, the student explores the measure of line segments, angles, and two-dimensional figures. Students will learn about similarity, triangles, and trigonometric ratios. Geometry A consists of six modules. Each module comprises ten lessons for a total of 60 lessons in the course. This course builds on the foundation of the first terms in Geometry. As in previous courses, deductive and inductive reasoning are emphasized, while applying problem-solving techniques to real-world problems. Students explore quadrilaterals and circles and learn how an object is transformed, as well as how to represent that transformation algebraically and geometrically. Students calculate the area and volume of 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional objects.
    • Required Materials: none
    • Difficulty Level: 3/5

    Algebra II

    • This course is divided into Parts A & B
    • Description: Algebra 2 (Part A) further extends the learner’s understanding of major algebra concepts such as expressions, equations, functions, and inequalities. An emphasis will be placed on the use of appropriate functions to model real world situations and solve problems that arise from those situations. A focus is also on graphing functions by hand and understanding and identifying the parts of a graph. Algebra 2 (Part B) builds on the concepts learned in Part A and prepares the learners with the building blocks needed to dive deeper into trigonometry, pre-calculus and advanced probability and statistics.
    • Required Materials: Graphing calculator
    • Difficulty Level: 4/5

    Pre-Calculus

    • This course is divided into Parts A & B
    • Description: In this course, students will understand and apply concepts, graphs, and applications of a variety of families of functions, including polynomial, exponential, logarithmic, logistic, and trigonometric. An emphasis will be placed on use of appropriate functions to model real-world situations and solve problems that arise from those situations. A focus is also on graphing functions by hand and understanding and identifying the parts of a graph. A scientific and/or graphics calculator is recommended for work on assignments and on examinations. Pre-Calculus Part B covers the major units of Introductory Trigonometry and Graphs, Trigonometric Equations and Identities, Analytical Trigonometry, Sequences and Series, Conic Sections, and an Introduction to Calculus. A focus is also on graphing functions by hand and understanding and identifying the parts of a graph.
    • Required Materials: none
    • Difficulty Level: 4/5

    Business Math & Accounting

    • This course is divided into Parts A & B
    • Description: The first two modules of this course focus on Financial Management and how it relates to starting, owning, and/or operating a business. You will then explore accounting, including investigating accounting careers. You will learn basic accounting skills and procedures both with and without a computer for general journals, general ledgers, cash payments journals, cash receipts journals, sales journals, accounts payable ledgers, and accounts receivable ledgers. You will also learn how to reconcile a bank statement and to prepare payroll records. This course covers the basic principles of financial accounting for individuals and for companies with attention to both the mathematical formulas and to the ethical side of accounting. Each unit has practical exercises including a project at the end of the unit.  
    • Required Materials: none
    • Difficulty Level: 3/5

    Consumer Math

    • This course is divided into Parts A & B
    • Description: This course centers on the application of mathematics in making informed consumer choices. Students delve into the diverse ways mathematics influences their everyday routines. In the initial semester, the curriculum encompasses paychecks, wages, taxes, insurance, budgeting, bank transactions, credit cards, interest computation, and strategies for comparison shopping. The second semester extends the exploration to topics such as purchasing vehicles and homes, investing, and the principles of business and employee management.
    • Required Materials: none
    • Difficulty Level: 2/5

  • ART

    Graphic Arts & Media

    • Description: Graphic Arts & Media is a project-based survey of different forms of digital media, such as digital audio, imaging and illustration, movie editing, and animation. It’s oriented toward teaching broad, flexible tools and concepts that are not tied to any one platform or program. Each module ends with a culminating task (like a podcast or short film), and students will be able to draft and develop their projects as they build their skills over each lesson.
    • Required Materials: 

      Download For Free:

      Audacity GIMP. Inkscape DaVinci Resolve (free version) Pencil2D Blender GDevelop Piskel

    • Difficulty Level: 3/5

    Art I: Music and Art Apprecication

    • This course is divided into Parts A & B
    • Description: Students will develop a comprehensive understanding of both fine art and music. In the semester coving music, students will explore music elements, musical instruments, music history, and music advocacy. The curriculum introduces students to global orchestras and composers, requiring them to take on roles as composers, performers, instrument inventors, and advocates. Additionally, the course emphasizes art appreciation, prompting students to ponder the qualities that define a masterpiece and the motivations behind artists' creations. Throughout the program, students investigate the elements of art and principles of design, analyzing how artists have incorporated these elements and principles in their artistic creations over centuries.
    • Required Materials: none
    • Difficulty Level: 2/5

  • IT

    Robotics & Design 1

    • Description: It seems like many elementary to high school robotics courses are focused on simply coding a Lego robot to move its mechanical arm up and down. This course, in contrast, teaches students what a robot is and how it relates to other key technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning. Then the course examines 10 applications of robots and how they will change and impact various aspects of our lives and the economy. Will robots simply steal our jobs, or will they be a tool that will create new opportunities and even free humans to use our creativity and curiosity to their full potential? Students will grapple with this and many other questions as they explore this vital, future-focused subject.
    • Required Materials: None
    • Difficulty Level: 3/5

    Web Design & Digital Imagery

    • Description: In this course, students will learn how to design a beautiful and functional website. Students will learn how to take their design and translate it into a live website using Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) and Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) programing languages. HTML5 and CSS3 will be the standard versions used in the class. Students will understand the design components of websites, including the use of color, layout and when to use different techniques, typography rules, and the importance of imagery. At the conclusion of the course, students will present a website to the class. Upon completion of this course, each student will have hands-on experience creating a fully functioning website. Students do not need to have previous technical background with HTML or CSS prior to taking this course.
    • Required Materials:
      • HTML Text Editor (choose one):
        • TextEdit – For use on Mac – comes with OS
        • Notepad – For use on Windows – comes with OS
        • Text – For use on Chromebook – free app download from the Google Store
      • Image Editing Software (choose one):
        • Pixlr – https://pixlr.com/editor/
          (in-browser)
        • GIMP – http://www.gimp.org/downloads/
          (downloadable program)
      • Webhosting and basic in-browser FTP:
        • Neocities – https://www.neocities.org
    • Difficulty Level: 3/5

  • Foreign Language

    Spanish I

    • This course is divided into Parts A & B
    • Description: Spanish 1, Part A, is an introduction to Spanish language and culture.  Students learn to start with the basics of greetings and basic conversation, working to incorporate ideas from their life and experiences in Spanish conversation.  This will be accomplished through written and verbal expression of the Spanish language.

      Spanish 1, Part B expands to asking questions and conversational Spanish throughout one’s neighborhood and daily life. Through real-life scenarios and learning examples, students will describe situations, in Spanish, both verbally and written.

    • Required Materials: None
    • Difficulty Level: 3/5

    Spanish II

    • Description:  Students build upon the foundation developed in Spanish 1. They continue to build vocabulary, learn new verb tenses and other grammar concepts, and they increase their ability to communicate with others. They learn new concepts, like reflexive verbs, infinitive expressions, commands, the imperfect tense. Part B will continue building on vocabulary, grammar concepts and communicating effectively in the target language. You will explore new countries where Spanish is spoken and continue to keep abreast of current events in the Spanish-speaking world.
    • Required Materials: None
    • Difficulty Level: 3/5

    German I - IS

    • This course is divided into Parts A & B
    • Description: This independent study German course is an introductory course teaching basic comprehension and communication in German. It coordinates the study of language with culture through the use of video, audio and mass media production. This course assumes prior or no knowledge of the German language. It introduces the fundamentals of conversational and grammatical patterns of the German language with presentations to present the material. Students who complete the course successfully will begin to develop a functional competency in the four primary language areas: speaking, reading, listening and writing, while establishing a solid grammatical base and exploration into German culture. The second part course will expand on the knowledge gained from German 1A and further develop their skills in pronunciation, grammar skills, grammar structures and vocabulary. Oral practice (via Voice Tools), homework assignments, games, songs, watching videos, quizzes, tests, projects and other activities such as writing wikis and journal entries, will be emphasized to accomplish this goal. The different cultures of the German-speaking world are emphasized through readings, videos and other activities. Taking the time to learn another language is a mind-expanding activity that can open up a world of opportunities and advantages.
    • Required Materials: None
    • Difficulty Level: 3/5

    German II

    • This course is divided into Parts A & B
    • Description: In this independent study course, students build on grammar and language skills that they acquired during their G1A and G1B courses. While reviewing basic grammar skills, (present and past tenses), students learn and study stem-changing verb conjugation and explore cultural themes regarding current events, famous German people, music and famous festivals. In Part B of this course, students increase their proficiency in being able to communicate by forming more complex German sentences in a variety of tenses using all four cases (Nominative, Accusative, Dative and Genitive). The variety of topics increases also, from exploring different careers to discussing relationships. Cultural themes are entwined throughout this course related to going shopping, to going to the zoo and also to travel throughout the German-speaking world.
    • Required Materials: None
    • Difficulty Level: 3/5
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