Courses

Sky Islands’ academic program:

All students take teacher-taught courses in math, science, social studies, language arts, and fine arts.  Our classes are aligned with AZ State standards, and integrated across the program by environmental and community-based projects.

Science Courses:

  • SC-1a  Earth Science— intro to the structure, forces, and cycles of the Earth, biogeochemical cycles, oceans, weather and climate/change, plate tectonics, pollution, risk and human health
  • SC-1b  Earth Science—geology;  apply SC-1a to gem and mineral formation, the periodic table and the nature of chemical reactions, environmental and social issues of mining  [With the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show]
  • SC-2a   Ecology—intro to ecological relationships, the diversity and complexity of life forms, conservation and sustainable use, and Sonoran desert ecology
  • SC-2b   Ecology—garden ecology; apply SC-2a to the ecology and management of food, soil and pest ecology and management at the school garden and the Tucson Village Farm
  • SC-3a   Astronomy—intro to the structure and characteristics of the universe, stars, the solar system, and the basic physical laws of motion and energy, electricity, magnetism, and atomic forces
  • SC-3b   Astronomy — astrobiology; the search for life on other planets using planetary geology, theories of evolutionary biology, and organic chemistry on the Earth [SC-2a and Sc-2b required]
  • SC-4a   Cell biology— health, nutrition, and metabolism in humans as they relate to global food production, current agricultural practices and farming methods worldwide
  • SC-4b   Cell Biology— ethnobotany, plant cell biology, photosynthesis, and genetics, and relationships between people and plants generally and in the Sonoran Desert   [Sc-2a and Sc-4a required]

Math courses:

Math courses are taught through the Interactive Math Program® series (IMP).   This four-year integrated high-school mathematics curriculum, designed and field-tested with support from the National Science Foundation, helps students succeed in mathematics. Students learn all the essential concepts of Algebra, Geometry, Trig and Calculus, including statistics and probability, through group collaboration, practical application, and communication.

  • MA-1a/b      IMP 1—develop the foundations for working with variables—learn to work with patterns, functions, fractions, chance and strategy, probability, variables, graphs and tables, statistics, equations
  • MA-2a/b      IMP 2—learn how to solve linear equations algebraically—advances the work in IMP1 and develops higher level skills using graphing calculators and computers
  • MA-3a/b      IMP 3—use quadratic function and equations in complex problem-solving—applied binomial distribution and graphs, ellipses, and independent problem-solving
  • MA-4 a/b     IMP 4—use trig and the quadratic formula to explore three-dimensional space—modeling, geometric transformations, circular functions and statistical sampling
  • MA-5a    Alternative energies—intro to technologies of renewable power sources such as solar, wind, hydro, biofuel, geothermal, and automotive energy alternatives
  • MA-5b    Alternative energies—use math, science, critical thinking, and language arts skills to study, analyze, and present informed viewpoints on critical environmental issues

Social studies courses:

  • SS-1a/b    Government—study of founding documents, rights and responsibilities, structures of governmental policy
  • SS-2 a    World History –intro to historical influences of geography, natural and cultural processes of people and societies, interactions with environment on world scale
  • SS-2b    World History— social history of land use, urban growth and industrialism, organized labor, immigration on a world scale
  • SS-3    Economics—basic concepts of policy and choice-making, consumerism
  • SS-4a    US History—major themes in the early history of the Americas leading to current events
  • SS-4b   US History –major themes in the later history of the Americas leading to current events
  • SS-5    Environmental History—interactions between economic, geographical, political, and public interests
  • SS-6a   Cultural History— special topics in the diversity of physical geography and global cultures leading to current issues
  • SS-6b    Cultural History— special topics in the diversity of physical geography and indigenous cultures leading to current issues

Language arts courses:

  • LA-1a/b    Balanced Literacy—development of speech, grammar, writing, and reading skills in different formats [required for all LA courses]
  • LA-2    Critical thinking—application of language skills to analysis and presentation, reasoning, and argument
  • LA-3      Journalism—applying the craft of conveying news, descriptive material and comment via media including newspapers, magazines, radio, television, mobile phone and the internet
  • LA-4a     Southwest Stories—regional fiction and non-fiction
  • LA-4b    World Literature— cultures and ethnicities through comparative literature
  • LA-4c    Mythology— traditional stories of myths, folklore and legends
  • LA-5a    Detective and mystery stories— genre literature of suspense and probability
  • LA-5b    Science fiction— genre literature of scientifically-based ideas about alternative possibilities
  • LA-5c    Poetry –genre literature of rhythm, rhyme, forms, and choice of words to invoke feelings
  • LA-6a    Media Communications—rhetoric and advertising to influence or persuade, use of logos and brands and repetition of an idea or image; includes PowerPoint technology
  • LA-6b    Media communications—storytelling through images, words, and sense-of-place in the creation of characters and events that give life to a script, communication to an audience; includes PowerPoint technology

Fine Arts Courses:

[all arts courses are semester course and combine study with hands-on activities]

  • FA-1a   Art History 1— arts in Pre-Columbian Americas; Aztec temples, Mayan hieroglyphics
  • FA-1b   Design 1— critical thinking and study about design as material culture; story of stuff
  • FA-1c   Pottery 1—intro to pottery; study geology and dig your own clay, create and fire dishes
  • FA-2a   Art History 2— environmental/eco-arts; ecology of nature and art; aesthetics and ephemeral art
  • FA-2b   Design 2— critical thinking and study about design as visual culture; street art, graffiti, stencils
  • FA-2c   Pottery 2—3-D ceramics, art history, develop a body of work
  • FA-3a   Art History 3—sequential art drawing and writing; comics and graphic stories
  • FA-3b   Design 3—color theory and painting; ethnobotany and art
  • FA-3c   Pottery 3—figurative sculpture and raku techniques

Elective courses:

[not offered every semester]

Technologies:

  • TE-1    Technologies—intro to history of technologies; social, ethical and human issues
  • TE-2    Research—locate, collect, and analyze information specific to a project
  • TE-3    Publish—technology-enhanced models and presentations
  • TE-4    Web design—applied computer systems and networking

Independent Studies:

  • IS-1    Languages—Spanish, French [two semesters required]
  • IS-2    Special topics—with advisor’s approval