New Directions Electives

ART APPRECIATION (0113)
Grade Level: 9-12
Prerequisite: None
Art Appreciation is a course designed to enable students to learn the basic elements of design.  Students will be able to judge a work of art on its worth as an aesthetic and visual statement, on composition, use of color, and craftsmanship.  They will gain a meaningful aesthetic understanding of art.  Students will explore a variety of material and discover their properties and limitations. (This course may be used to meet the PUSD Fine Arts requirement.)

 

ART EXPLORATION (0105)
Grade Level: 9-12
Prerequisite: None
Art Exploration introduces students to the principles of design and to the various materials used in contemporary art.  The purposes of the course are to develop an awareness and appreciation of art, to provide opportunities for creative expression using a variety of media, and to help students discover a specific area of interest for further study in art.  (This course may be used to meet the PUSD Fine Arts requirement.)

 

BASIC SCIENCE 1 & 2 (1205 – 1206)
Grade Level: 9-12
Prerequisite: None
Basic Science 1 & 2 offers a basic introduction to the principles of science.  Basic Science 1 covers a wide variety of the earth science area, and Basic Science 2 covers a wide variety of the physical science area.  (These courses DO NOT meet the PUSD “Physical Science” diploma requirement.)

 

CHILD DEVELOPMENT (0605)
Grade Level: 9-12
Prerequisite: None
Child Development begins with a comprehensive study of reproduction, pregnancy, prenatal care and childbirth.  The course continues with the development of the child up to age six.  Emphasis is given to understanding the child’s needs (physically, emotionally, socially, and intellectually).  Special topics of study include: Health and Safety, Skills for Effective Parenting, Problem Situations for Children, and Careers Relating to Children.  (This course may be used to meet the PUSD Practical Arts requirement.)

 

CLOTHING 1 & 2 (0608 – 0609)
Grade Level: 9-12
Prerequisite: None
Clothing 1 prepares students to construct ready-to-ware garments and accessories from commercial patterns.  Students engage in “hands-on” learning experiences from selecting sewing tools and fabrics, laying out the pattern on fabric, cutting, sewing on standard sewing machines, and the use of various hand stitches and pressing techniques.  Measuring, fitting, seam finishing, fabric and clothing care, and decision-making are included.  (These courses may be used to meet the PUSD Practical Arts requirement.)

 

CONSUMER MATH 1 & 2 (1088 – 1089)
Grade Level: 9-12
Prerequisite: None
Consumer Math is a class designed to help students with basic mathematical operations.  Students will correctly perform the written calculations of the basic operations; solve percentage problems; solve practical problems encountered by the consumer, wage earner, & taxpayer; demonstrate knowledge of an income tax form & deductions; do calculations related to savings accounts & installment loans, and be able to do the balancing calculations of a check books.

 

DESIGN AND MIXED MEDIA 1 & 2 (0125 – 0126)
Grade Level: 9-12
Prerequisite: None
Meets the UC/CSU “f or g” requirement
Students enrolled in Design and Mixed Media 1-2 will be introduced to the basic elements and principles of art through exploration in various design assignments. This course will provide opportunities for the student through guided experiences, discussion, and explorations that emphasize art criticism, art history and art philosophy, as well as art production. (This course may be used to meet the UC/CSU “f or g” requirement and PUSD Fine Arts requirement.)

 

ENGLISH REVIEW 1 & 2 (0324 – 0325)
Grade Level: 9-12
Prerequisite: None
English Review 1 is designed to review the basic survival skills regarding grammar, composition, literature, spelling, and vocabulary.  English Review 2 continues to emphasize practical writing activities along with practice in grammar, mechanics, and usage.

 

EXPLORING LITERATURE 1 (0380)
Grade Level: 9-12
Prerequisite: None
Exploring Literature 1 is a study of science fiction, fantasy, mystery, and the supernatural.  Through the literature of authors whose specialty has been the mysterious, strange, and unknown, students will examine the development and growth of this genre.  Students will explore the warnings of science fiction and the imaginative potential of fantasy, the supernatural, and the mysterious.

 

EXPLORING LITERATURE 2 (0381)
Grade Level: 9-12
Prerequisite: None
Exploring Literature 2 is a study of the theme, adventure, and survival.  This is a theme in literature that often shows the most powerful and creative side of human nature.  Students will examine this theme through the fiction and nonfiction narratives of authors who have themselves experienced great adventures or extreme situations of survival.  Through discussions, short stories, and novels the students will explore the motivating forces and the emotional and physical struggles of the spirit of adventure and survival.

 

EXPLORING LITERATURE 3 (0391)
Grade Level: 9-12
Prerequisite: None
Exploring Literature 3 is a study of tales of mystery and suspense.  In this course students will be reading and analyzing some of the classical detective stories including tales of the strange and mysterious.  The development of these tales will be studied as well as the unique structure of the stories themselves.  Students will be responding to the literature through special projects and attempts at writing short mysteries of their own.  

 

FOODS & NUTRITION 1 (0620)
Grade Level: 9-12
Prerequisite: None
Foods 1 is designed to introduce the knowledge and skills related to healthy food selection and preparation.  Students develop personal responsibility for their wellness and consumer choices as they actively take part in food selection, planning, preparation, and evaluation.  (This course may be used to meet the PUSD Practical Arts requirement.)

 

FOODS FOR TWO (0625)
Grade Level: 9-12
Prerequisite: None
Foods for Two is designed for the junior or senior students who will be living on their own after graduation.  Students analyze their own daily diet and nutritional needs; learn to prepare nutritious meals on a limited budget of time, money, and energy; study shopping and marketing skills; evaluate convenience foods; and learn to use small appliances that will enhance the quality of their food preparation.

 

HISTORY & APPRECIATION OF MUSIC (1150)
Grade Level: 9-12
Prerequisite: None
Music Appreciation is a course designed to help students understand the development of music as a part of the development of the mainstream of history and life, understand basic concepts of theory and structure of music, become intelligent listeners to a variety of musical styles and forms, and select and evaluate music which is heard. 

 

INTERVENTION ENGLISH 1 & 2 (0320 – 0321)
Grade Level: 9-12
Prerequisite: None
Intervention English is designed to improve students reading skills in the following ways:  1. Derive the meaning of unknown words from context clues and learn new vocabulary words, 2. Locate and understand unfamiliar words in a dictionary, 3. Identify main ideas and details in various reading materials, 4. Demonstrate the ability to distinguish between fact and opinion, and 5. Identify the literary elements of setting, plot, theme, conflict, and characterization.

 

INTERVENTION MATH 1 & 2 (1001 – 1002)
Grade Level: 9-12
Prerequisite: None
Intervention Math 1 & 2 are courses that help students improve their basic math skills.  They will perform basic operations; analyze numbers through number line representation, algebraic evaluation, simplification of exponential expressions, identification of properties, simplification of expressions, operations on real numbers, prime factorization and reduction to lowest terms; find square roots; solve linear equations; understand basic ideas in geometry and solve problems with angles, plane and solid figures; solve word problems.

 

LAW IN ACTION (1350)
Grade Level: 9-12
Prerequisite: None
Meets the UC/CSU “a or g” requirement
Law in Action is a practical, participatory education about law, democracy, and human rights. The curriculum promotes knowledge of legal rights and responsibilities, engagement in the democratic process, and belief in the rule of law. This course’s approach to law related education is to provide practical information and problem solving opportunities that develop in student’s knowledge and skills necessary for survival in our law-saturated society.  (This course may be used to meet the UC/CSU "a or g" requirement at Westview High School only.)

 

LIFE MANAGEMENT SKILLS 1 & 2 (0640 – 0641)
Grade Level: 9-12
Prerequisite: None
Life Management Skills 1 focuses on preparing students for personal and life management as well as providing a strong foundation for pursuing Home Economic-related careers.  Life Management Skills 2 emphasizes the relationship of a well-ordered personal and family life to a productive and satisfying work life.

 

LIFE SCIENCE 1 & 2 (1201 – 1202)
Grade Level: 9-12
Prerequisite: None
Life Science 1 & 2 offers an overview of the characteristics of plants & animals, basic plant & animal reproduction, functional systems of the major invertebrate phyla, functional systems of the major vertebrate classes, and basic chemistry.  (These courses do not meet the PUSD “Biological Science” diploma requirement.)

PSYCHOLOGY (1325)
Grade Level: 9-12
Prerequisite: None
Meets the UC/CSU “a or g” requirement
Psychology is a course that deals with the factors that help to shape an individual’s personality and behavior.  Included are biological bases of behavior, physical maturation, the psychological development of the individual through various stages from infancy to adulthood, and perception.  Other topics included are motivation, intelligence, and behavior disorders.  Various strategies are discussed which can help people attain healthy, normal relationships and solutions to frustrations and conflicts.  (This course may be used to meet the UC/CSU "a or g" requirement at Mt. Carmel HS, Rancho Bernardo HS, & Westview HS only.)

 

SINGLE SURVIVAL/ON YOUR OWN (0616)
Grade Level: 9-12
Prerequisite: None
On Your Own is a course designed to help prepare students to know how to live effectively as independent adults.  Interdisciplinary learning will focus on the development of meaningful life skills related to becoming a responsible, confident adult.  Participation will involve problem solving, practical research, and communication. 

    

SOCIOLOGY (1360)
Grade Level: 9-12
Prerequisite: None
Meets the UC/CSU “a or g” requirement
Sociology is the study of human relationships through analysis of the types, structures, dynamics, and functions of groups.  In particular, students will study why groups form, how groups are organized, in what way groups fulfill the needs of individual members and of society as a whole, and how groups are affected by outside influences.  The commonality of human behavior in groups and the similarity of groups throughout the world will be stressed.  (This course may be used to meet the UC/CSU "a or g" requirement at Mt. Carmel HS, & Westview HS only.)

WORLD GEOGRAPHY AND CULTURES (1309)
Grade Level: 9-12
Prerequisite: None
Meets the UC/CSU “a or g” requirement
World Geography and Cultures will serve as an introduction for 9th graders to gain knowledge of social science concepts and develop skills that will prepare students to be successful in the required social science courses.  The first part of the course will be devoted to world and U.S. geography: physical, political, and cultural. This will be followed with a comparative world-religions unit and the development of western civilization to 1400 A.D., with emphasis on Judeo-Christian heritage and classical civilizations. (This course may be used to meet the UC/CSU "a or g" requirement at Mt. Carmel HS, & Rancho Bernardo HS only.)  

 

YOU AND THE LAW (1363)

Grade Level: 9-10
Prerequisite: None
You and the Law covers the nature, functions, and limits of the law in operation within the United States.  The course helps the student to be an involved citizen who is comfortable within the framework of our legal system.