History and English classes come alive with the Humanities Center approach
The Colonial Food Festival (above) is a Level III favorite, long with the Colonial Life projects (right)
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Course Descriptions
All Center courses emphasize the reading and analysis of primary sources, writing across disciplines, and an interdisciplinary approach to the study of the humanities. All English, social studies, and humanities courses are connected through the themes outlined below for each grade level; therefore, the English and social studies courses may contain additional or varied readings and assignments while still allowing students to meet all the state and county requirements. Students also take Advanced Placement (AP) courses as part of the Humanities Center curriculum, including AP English Language and Composition, AP English Literature and Composition, AP U.S. History, AP Human Geography, and AP Government & Politics.
9th Grade/Level I Classes
English 9 Honors, World History II*, & Foundations of Civilization elective (Course # 2715)
Humanities elective: 36 weeks (1 credit.) Honors; required for Grade 9/Level I
• Explores the human condition through literary, historical, cultural, and artistic expression with an emphasis on the foundations in the humanities.
• Topics may include: pre-history, African folk and oral traditions, Ancient Egypt, Classical Greece and Rome, Greek philosophy, world religions, theater, sculpture, and architecture.
• Develop skills in expository, analytical and creative writing, research, creativity, logic and reasoning, use of contextual evidence, presentations with the appropriate use of technology, communication in a team environment, the Socratic Method, and service learning.
• Examines the themes:
Myth and Global Tradition
Pursuit of the Ideal
The Faces of Love
Heroes and Heroines
10th Grade/Level II Classes
English 10 Honors*, AP Human Geography, Development of World Cultures elective (Course #2716)
Humanities elective: 36 weeks (1 credit.) Honors; required for Grade 10/Level II
• Explores the human condition through literary, historical, cultural, and artistic expression with an emphasis on the advancements in the humanities.
• Topics may include: Renaissance art and thought, classical and traditional music, European architecture, East Asian art and philosophy, and the Western “Great Works.”
• Develop additional skills in critical thinking, inter-disciplinary learning, oral expression, analytical reading, research and writing, the Socratic Method, and service-learning.
• Examines the themes:
Influence and Innovation
Power and Authority
Mixed Messages
Challenge and Growth
11th Grade/Level III Classes
AP English Language & Composition*, AP US History*, Age of Discovery and the New World elective (Course #2719)
Humanities elective: 36 weeks (1 credit.) Honors; required for Grade 11/Level III
• Explores the human condition through literary, historical, cultural, and artistic expression with an emphasis on the humanities of America.
• Topics may include: Native American cultures, development of American art and music, progression of American philosophy, reflections of the American Dream, Jazz and Blues, and American theater.
• Develop additional skills in descriptive writing, persuasive argument, inter-disciplinary thinking, self-directed learning, the Socratic Method, and service-learning.
• Examines the themes:
Identity: A Clash of Cultures and Ideas
Character: Defining America
Convergence: A New Way of Life
Self-Discovery and Responsibility
12th Grade/Level IV Classes
AP English Literature & Composition, AP Government & Politics, Modernity and Global Cultures elective (Course #2720)
Humanities elective: 36 weeks (1 credit.) Honors; required for Grade 12/Level IV
• Explores the human condition through literary, historical, cultural and artistic expression with an emphasis on the contemporary humanities.
• Topics may include: modernism and post-modernism, genocide, social justice, gender, environmental and conceptual art, contemporary architecture, world film, globalization of cultures.
•Master skills in research, the Socratic Method, presentation with the use of technology, use of contextual evidence, formulation of argument and reasoning.
• Develop additional skills in written and oral communication, aesthetic analysis and appreciation, cross-cultural awareness, self-guided learning, and community service leadership.
• Examines the themes:
Freedom: Human Rights and Human Experience
Truth: Perception and Culture
Earth: World and Environment
Future: Past, Present and Possibility
*SOL end of year test
All classes designated "AP" have a AP exam in May
The Humanities Center courses are student-centered and offer students an academically rigorous, inter-disciplinary curriculum that focuses on reading, writing, and thinking deeply. Because of our thematic links, students are able to make connections between their English, history, and humanities courses and thrive on lively discussion and thoughtful writing. Our students do incredibly well in college and beyond because of this.
All Center courses emphasize the reading and analysis of primary sources, writing across disciplines, and an interdisciplinary approach to the study of the humanities. All English, social studies, and humanities courses are connected through the themes outlined below for each grade level; therefore, the English and social studies courses may contain additional or varied readings and assignments while still allowing students to meet all the state and county requirements. Students also take Advanced Placement (AP) courses as part of the Humanities Center curriculum, including AP English Language and Composition, AP English Literature and Composition, AP U.S. History, AP Human Geography, and AP Government & Politics.
9th Grade/Level I Classes
English 9 Honors, World History II*, & Foundations of Civilization elective (Course # 2715)
Humanities elective: 36 weeks (1 credit.) Honors; required for Grade 9/Level I
• Explores the human condition through literary, historical, cultural, and artistic expression with an emphasis on the foundations in the humanities.
• Topics may include: pre-history, African folk and oral traditions, Ancient Egypt, Classical Greece and Rome, Greek philosophy, world religions, theater, sculpture, and architecture.
• Develop skills in expository, analytical and creative writing, research, creativity, logic and reasoning, use of contextual evidence, presentations with the appropriate use of technology, communication in a team environment, the Socratic Method, and service learning.
• Examines the themes:
Myth and Global Tradition
Pursuit of the Ideal
The Faces of Love
Heroes and Heroines
10th Grade/Level II Classes
English 10 Honors*, AP Human Geography, Development of World Cultures elective (Course #2716)
Humanities elective: 36 weeks (1 credit.) Honors; required for Grade 10/Level II
• Explores the human condition through literary, historical, cultural, and artistic expression with an emphasis on the advancements in the humanities.
• Topics may include: Renaissance art and thought, classical and traditional music, European architecture, East Asian art and philosophy, and the Western “Great Works.”
• Develop additional skills in critical thinking, inter-disciplinary learning, oral expression, analytical reading, research and writing, the Socratic Method, and service-learning.
• Examines the themes:
Influence and Innovation
Power and Authority
Mixed Messages
Challenge and Growth
11th Grade/Level III Classes
AP English Language & Composition*, AP US History*, Age of Discovery and the New World elective (Course #2719)
Humanities elective: 36 weeks (1 credit.) Honors; required for Grade 11/Level III
• Explores the human condition through literary, historical, cultural, and artistic expression with an emphasis on the humanities of America.
• Topics may include: Native American cultures, development of American art and music, progression of American philosophy, reflections of the American Dream, Jazz and Blues, and American theater.
• Develop additional skills in descriptive writing, persuasive argument, inter-disciplinary thinking, self-directed learning, the Socratic Method, and service-learning.
• Examines the themes:
Identity: A Clash of Cultures and Ideas
Character: Defining America
Convergence: A New Way of Life
Self-Discovery and Responsibility
12th Grade/Level IV Classes
AP English Literature & Composition, AP Government & Politics, Modernity and Global Cultures elective (Course #2720)
Humanities elective: 36 weeks (1 credit.) Honors; required for Grade 12/Level IV
• Explores the human condition through literary, historical, cultural and artistic expression with an emphasis on the contemporary humanities.
• Topics may include: modernism and post-modernism, genocide, social justice, gender, environmental and conceptual art, contemporary architecture, world film, globalization of cultures.
•Master skills in research, the Socratic Method, presentation with the use of technology, use of contextual evidence, formulation of argument and reasoning.
• Develop additional skills in written and oral communication, aesthetic analysis and appreciation, cross-cultural awareness, self-guided learning, and community service leadership.
• Examines the themes:
Freedom: Human Rights and Human Experience
Truth: Perception and Culture
Earth: World and Environment
Future: Past, Present and Possibility
*SOL end of year test
All classes designated "AP" have a AP exam in May
The Humanities Center courses are student-centered and offer students an academically rigorous, inter-disciplinary curriculum that focuses on reading, writing, and thinking deeply. Because of our thematic links, students are able to make connections between their English, history, and humanities courses and thrive on lively discussion and thoughtful writing. Our students do incredibly well in college and beyond because of this.
