Undercover Economics:Thinking at the Margin
Grades: Upper School
Trimester Course Elective
Rather than looking at economics as a “dismal science” of static cost-benefit analysis, this course uses economic thinking to investigate a myriad of interesting and unconventional questions, and to uncover economic logic in the everyday world. Economic thinking is modeled by asking and answering questions such as, What do schoolteachers and sumo wrestlers have in common?, Do first names determine economic success?, and Who pays for your coffee? Additional attention is dedicated to exploring everyday economic questions that many Americans are unable to answer such as, What does it mean when the Fed raises rates?, How do mortgages and student loans work?, What are inflation and deflation?, How does the stock market work?, and Is recycling an economically efficient practice?
Global Literature Contemporary Grades: 11, 12 Trimester Course Elective South African Literature and Film How does a country come together, forgive, and move forward after 50 years devoted to a system designed to keep races and classes apart? Through modern South African literature and film, students examine the complexities of the issues facing South Africa from the end of apartheid (1994) to today-racial inequities, xenophobia, class polarization, urbanization, and the tension between traditional African values and the birth of a new society. Texts for the course include Smell of Apples by Mark Behr, Disgrace by J. M. Coetzee, Coconut by Kopano Matlwa, Jewels and Other Stories by Dawn Promislow, and A Human Being Died that Night: A South African Woman Confronts the Legacy of Apartheid by Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela.
Mathematics Number Contemplation And Infinity (Math Beyond Numbers)
Grades: 10, 11, 12
Trimester Course
Elective
Coursework investigates numerical patterns in nature, the significance of prime numbers, the mathematics of error correcting codes such as those in bar codes and methods of encryption. This course then delves deeper into irrational and real numbers finishing with an in-depth look at the concept of infinity and determining whether there are different sizes of infinities. Pre-Requisite: Algebra 2 or Discipline Faculty Approval
Geometric Gems and Contortions of Space (Math Beyond Numbers)
Grades: 10, 11, 12
Trimester Course
Elective
Coursework investigates the relationship of geometry to nature, architecture and aesthetics through the golden rectangle, Fibonacci series, and the platonic solids. Explorations of the fourth dimension and topics in topology, such as rubber sheets, knots and mobius strips, complete the course. Pre-Requisite: Algebra 2 or Discipline Faculty Approval
Spanish Literature & Film Literature Studies: Grades: 10, 11, 12 The Short Novel
Trimester Course
Elective
This course provides the opportunity to analyze one literary text (a short novel) in detail. The text is selected by the current instructor. Small sections are read and discussed in class. Activities include: answering comprehension questions, keeping a reading journal, small group and class discussions, and analysis of secondary sources (articles, film, etc.). Special attention is placed on conversational skills used in discussion of the text. The class is conducted in Spanish. Pre-requisite: Spanish 3
Conversation through Cinema
Grades: 10, 11, 12
Trimester Course
Elective
This course introduces students to Spanish and Latin American film. Film provides opportunity for in-depth exploration of realities as well as contextualized settings for the stories they present, and it is in these contexts that most culture-focused information is revealed. Students analyze, critique, and engage in discussions about the films they watch. Emphasis is placed on further developing listening and speaking skills. Reading and writing, and a study of some formal aspects of the language also are addressed. Areas of study include but are not limited to: globalization, history, immigration and exile, a geographical regions. A final project designed by the students provides a capstone to the course. The class is conducted in Spanish. Pre-requisite: Spanish 3
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