Course Offerings 2009-2010

English

The English department offers a four-year sequential program that is designed to develop students' abilities in reading, writing, speaking and listening to the English language. At all four grade levels (9 through 12) the students read fiction, non-fiction, drama and poetry of an appropriately increasing sophistication and intellectual challenge. Likewise, the integrated writing program leads students through the stages of the writing process (pre-writing, drafting, revising and editing) in a manner commensurate with their maturity and potential, exploring a wide range of genres.

Regular Courses	Honors Courses	AP Courses
English 9
English 10	English 10 H
English 11		English Language
English 12		English Literature

Non-Native English
Creative Writing (elective)

History/Social Science

The main goal of the history department is to close the gap between the work of historians and what takes place in the history classroom. Teachers engage students in historical inquiry, rather than the memorization of names, dates, and events. Through examination and interpretation of primary source materials students see history as a process, rather than a set of agreed upon facts. Writing plays a critical role in helping students to both critique and construct historical narratives. This approach to history helps students develop a greater understanding of the issues and arguments of history, giving them a better sense of their place in the world and their ability to affect change.

Regular Courses	Honors Courses	AP Courses
History 9 (World Cultures)
History 10 (Modern World History)		AP World History
History 11 (U.S. History)	Honors U.S. History	AP U.S. History
Social Movements in American History (elective)		AP U.S. Government
Micro/Macroeconomics (elective)

Science

The Science Department is divided along the traditional lines of physical science and life science, reflecting the organization of subject matter at a college-preparatory level. All science courses are laboratory qualified and the numerous experiments emulate scientific discovery and aim at firing a student's imagination and curiosity. Emphasis is placed on lab report writing, problem solving, logical deduction and the group approach to scientific analysis.

Regular Courses	AP Courses
Conceptual Physics
Chemistry	AP Chemistry*
Biology	AP Biology*
Environmental Science	AP Environmental Science
Physics
Anatomy & Physiology*
Earth Science*
*these courses are offered in alternating years:	AP Biology and AP Chemistry	Anatomy & Physiology and Earth Science

Mathematics

The goal of the mathematics department is to provide a curriculum that meets the needs of all students, recognizing that they will spend their adult lives in a society increasingly dominated by technology and quantitative methods. The department will provide experiences that encourage and enable students to value mathematics, gain confidence, become proficient at solving mathematical problems, communicate mathematically and reason mathematically. An integrated approach is offered at two distinct levels of study: Honors and Integrated.

Comprehensive Honors Math Sequence:
Course 1 - Geometry & Algebra with Transformations
Course 2 - Data, Models, & Predictions
Course 3 - The Mathematical Analysis
Course 4 - AP Calculus

For students who are not enrolled in the Honors Program, we offer an Integrated Math program leading up to the equivalent of pre-calculus.

Traditional Sequence:
Algebra 1
Geometry
Algebra 2
Advanced Mathematics
AP Statistics

Foreign Languages

The foreign language department favors a communicative approach, with an emphasis on listening comprehension and speaking. The goal is to make students independent users of foreign language and, at the same time, heighten their understanding of cultural differences. The honors classes place an additional emphasis on reading and writing in order to guide interested students towards the Advanced Placement Exam. While completion of two years of the same foreign language is required, study of foriegn language through the fourth year is strongly recommended.

Regular Courses		Honors Courses	AP Courses
Spanish 1	French 1
Spanish 2	French 2	Spanish 2
Spanish 3	French 3	Spanish 3
Spanish 4	French 4	Spanish 4	AP Spanish* AP French*

* these classes are offered in select years depending on enrollment demands

Fine and Performing Arts

All Dunn students are encouraged to discover and develop their interests and talents in music, art, and drama. To ensure that each student has an opportunity to explore this aspect of their education, the Fine and Performing Arts Program at Dunn offers students a broad spectrum of artistic experiences and opportunities from saxophone to ceramics to multimedia. A selection of beginning, intermediate, and AP courses are offered in each discipline to accommodate and encourage all levels. Classroom instruction is designed to build intellectual, perceptual, and technical skills through inquiry, observation, problem solving, performance, and analysis. Courses are structured to create a deeper understanding of the visual and performing arts and to develop critical thinking skills. Students may take electives in the arts every year. One year of fine arts, music or visual, is required for graduation.

Regular Courses	AP Courses
Studio Art 1	Studio Art
Studio Art 2
Photography
Ceramics
Multimedia Design
Applied Music (piano, guitar, brass, woodwind, and string instruments)
Band (teacher permission)
Vocal Ensemble* (teacher permission)