Mathematics

Wright Dunbar Math Course

The Wright Dunbar Math Unit was developed via collaboration with DECA, University of Dayton, and Wright State University. This inquiry driven unit provides reinforcement of critical middle school Ohio recommended curriculum as well as introduces many of the mathematical strands tested on the OGT. This is an engaging course of study for the students as they design and build a model home. The students go through all phases of the building process from engineering to accounting.

Geometrical Optics and Algebra

This course is designed to cover the remaining critical algebra I standards from their first year of study and the critical geometry content standards. Students learn the curriculum in the real world setting of geometrical optics. This course was developed with a partnership between the Engineering Department of the University of Dayton (UD) and the Sensors Directorate of the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). This inquiry based course introduces the students to light and optics and includes the topics optical illusions, simple lenses, light waves, diffraction, and natural optical phenomena such as rainbows, shadows, and mirages. Many laboratory activities are embedded in this course and are completed in DECA’s optical laboratory comprising equipment donated by UD and AFRL.

Algebra II

This course provides instruction and assessment in the critical algebra indicators mandated by the Ohio Department of Education for grades ten and eleven as well as those recommended by The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Students also are introduced to basic trigonometry during this course. Students significantly utilize graphing calculators and the teacher aligns the curriculum to the chemistry course. This course is also designed to improve ACT and SAT performance as well as begin the transition from secondary class setting to a more college setting.

Precalculus

This is an advanced course of study to prepare students for a college calculus course. It encompasses the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics suggested curriculum including an intense study of trigonometry, with additional topics of complex numbers, vectors, polar coordinates, higher-order polynomial functions, and a brief introduction to limits. This is the last math course for most of our current DECA students and is aligned with the physics class. However, once the 7th grade students matriculate they will all have the opportunity to take calculus. Students who were placed in the Geometrical Optics and Algebra Class during their 9th grade year will complete calculus in addition to this course.

Calculus

This course provides an introduction to differential and integral calculus. Topics include limits, derivatives, related rates, Newton’s method, the Mean-Value Theorem, Max-Min problems, the integral, the Fundamental Theorem of Integral Calculus, areas, volumes, and average values. This course is coordinated with the physics course.

Science

FYA Science

First year academy science is a yearlong course that covers a semester of physical science including measurement, forces, energy and introductory chemistry. The second semester covers introductory biology including cell theory, genetics, life processes, and introductory botany. Students apply their science skills in these areas by studying the river system of Dayton using a variety of modern sensor equipment.

Earth Science

This course is an introduction to earth science and addresses the earth science curriculum recommended by the Ohio Department of Education including earth processes, rocks, earth changes, and weather. Students also learn about the ecology of the earth including adaptation, competition, predation, tropic structure and energy cycles, populations, and ecosystems. This course is taken simultaneously with Forces and Motion and Genetics, DECA students enroll in two sciences second year.

Forces and Motion

This semester long course is designed to equip the students with problem solving skills and analytical reasoning skills as well as Newtonian mechanics. The students learn about motion, energy, forces, vectors, equilibrium torque, rotating systems, uniform acceleration, work and simple machines.

Genetics

This semester long course covers the topics of DNA, transcription, translation, protein synthesis, mutations, sex linked gene, heredity, and associated laboratory techniques. The course follows the recommended curriculum put forth by the National Science Foundation for a course in genetic studies as well as that recommend by the Ohio Department of Education for the tenth and twelfth grade years. This course follows FYA science and completes the life science requirement for DECA students.

Chemistry

This is a rigorous laboratory course covering the chemistry content recommended by the NSTA and the American Chemical Society. Topics include atomic structure, the periodic table, chemical reactions, stoichiometry, aqueous solutions, the gas laws, thermochemistry, chemical bonding theory, intermolecular forces, and kinetics. The students learn the content in four real world settings including Alchemy, material science, consumer chemistry, and energy. This course was developed with the help of the Materials and Engineering Department at the University of Dayton.

Physics

This mathematical based course covers the critical academic content standards recommended by the NSTA and the American Physics Association and includes Newtonian mechanics, electricity and magnetism, thermal physics, light and optics, the Theory of Relativity, and astronomy. This is a laboratory based course and is coordinated with the precalculus and calculus courses. All DECA students conclude their study of science with the completion of this course.

Social Studies

World History

This introductory course studies world history from the Age of Enlightenment to present day. This course is coordinated with the first year language arts course with thematic units covering the Enlightenment, the Industrial Revolution, Imperialism, World War I, World War II, the Cold War, and Current Events.

American History

Using the variable method TCI approach that brings history alive, students learn their American history from the Reconstruction to the present. Students work in cooperative learning groups to utilize primary source material to focus on the five founding ideals in our history. Students study in depth the Declaration of Independence, equality, rights, liberty, opportunity, and democracy.

Government

This course will explore the basic foundations of US government and how they are still applied today. We will take an in-depth look at the US Constitution in almost every unit that is covered. Major topics that will be covered during this course include: 1 st Amendment, origins of US government, the Constitution and individual rights, legislative branch, executive branch, judicial branch, federalism, economic policy, foreign policy, and elections.

Mock Trial

This course is designed to prepare students to compete at a high level in the Ohio Mock Trial Competition. The competition is a state wide educational program created by the Ohio Center for Law-Related Education. The program teaches students about their constitutional rights as they learn about court proceedings and the judicial system. Most importantly, students greatly enhance their critical thinking and public speaking skills.

Language Arts

Language Arts I

This course provides introductory instruction to the writing process and writing conventions at the high school. The course also studies and practices reading comprehension skills including critical thinking, literary analysis, and genre comparisons. Students will also study genres of literature including fiction, nonfiction, poetry and drama.

Language Arts II

This course’s primary goal is to reinforce the reading and writing skills learned in Language Arts I. Being able to draw meaning from texts of diverse genres and cultural and historical origins is a vital academic and life skill. Of equal importance is being able to create meaning through various forms of writing.
To those ends, students will be examining a wide variety of literature in complete or excerpted form. Students will be writing analytical essays of many sorts, developing themselves as writers. Students will begin with the standard five paragraph essay, but expand into writing comparative, persuasive, literary analysis, cultural/historical pieces, and beyond. Students will frequently be given the opportunity to workshop their writing in class, fine-tuning their work in conjunction with their peers and their teacher.

Language Arts III/IV

Junior and Senior Literature is a two-year sequence that helps to transition students from high school-level to college-level reading and writing. The intention of this course is to encourage critical-thinking, improve analytical writing and extended response skills, as well as familiarize students with college-level literature and the historical significance of certain texts. Units include African American Literature, Gothic Literature, Norse Mythology, Protest Fiction, Greek Mythology, and Shakespeare's Tragedies.