HOMESCHOOL HIGH SCHOOL BLOCK COURSES

The aridity of the western United States, especially the Colorado Plateau, drives a fierce battle over water, and who gets it. Major rivers, such as the Colorado and Rio Grande, have been wrestled under control through dams, reservoirs and release schedules. In this course, students will gain a basic geology and geography of the West. They will understand the indigenous view of water alongside the extractive view of those who control it, as well as present-day policy. We will use the foothills behind our school to understand the Boulder watershed and flood zones, in order to create a microcosm of this larger picture.

This course will be an experience-based exploration of basic chemical principles. In this course, students explore fundamental chemical principles through lectures, discussions, demonstrations, labs, and investigations. Key topics include an introduction to the elements and the periodic table, chemical reactions, and the properties of solutions. Students study the characteristics of acids, bases, and salts, the pH scale, and neutralization reactions, developing a solid understanding of these basic chemical concepts.

Americans know little about the Middle East, currently or historically, yet much of today's world events are tied directly into the region. This course, offered every 4 years, strives to shed light on how the Middle East came onto the world stage, at first through the manipulations of colonial, and other powers, but then as independent nations and coalitions in their own right. Knowledge of Islam, Coptic Christianity and Judaism also play vastly important roles. Students will come away with a means to interpret what lies behind current headlines, and come to conclusions based on their newfound knowledge.

In this course, students dive into the essential task of the mathematician– the search for truth through mathematical proof. To answer the question, "What constitutes a proof?", we use a historical lens and examine types of proofs from ancient cultures. This leads us to further questions: What makes a good proof? What is a beautiful proof? What role do assumptions play? As we walk through the logic of proofs, students stretch their conception of what it means to do mathematics by experiencing the thought process of some of the most brilliant mathematicians.

Delve into the study of motion through observation, experimentation, measurement, and calculation. Students explore the connection between physics and mathematics by solving algebraic equations and investigating concepts like momentum, impulse, and kinetic and potential energy. By replicating Galileo’s experiments with pendulums and rolling marbles, students explore speed, acceleration, inertia, and gravity. Newton’s Three Laws of Motion are introduced, leading to new insights into falling bodies, projectiles, drag, lift, and uniform circular motion, as observed in planetary movements.

Delve into the study of motion through observation, experimentation, measurement, and calculation. Students explore the connection between physics and mathematics by solving algebraic equations and investigating concepts like momentum, impulse, and kinetic and potential energy. By replicating Galileo’s experiments with pendulums and rolling marbles, students explore speed, acceleration, inertia, and gravity. Newton’s Three Laws of Motion are introduced, leading to new insights into falling bodies, projectiles, drag, lift, and uniform circular motion, as observed in planetary movements.

Embryology offers students an in-depth exploration of the origins of human life and the stages of prenatal development. Focusing on the core of embryology, the course begins with the union of male and female gametes, examining the question: How do two cells become one? Students trace the intricate process of human embryonic development, following the transformation of the zygote through its various stages.

This hands-on course provides students with the opportunity to participate in the production of an all-student high school play, culminating in a performance for the school community. Students can contribute as performers, technicians, or set crew members. The course covers essential theatrical skills such as character study, line memorization, speech, movement, and performance techniques. Emphasizing collaboration, students work together to bring the play to life, gaining an appreciation for theater as a collective art form that thrives on teamwork and mutual support.

This course introduces students to the study of animals, focusing on their classification, behaviors, and evolutionary relationships. Students gain an understanding of the diversity of animal life through the principles of evolution, exploring the vast array of species and the adaptations that have shaped their development.

This important course examines the trends and impulses that led the world toward its first global conflict, followed by a difficult and undisciplined interwar period. The world then descended into catastrophic intersections of international decisions, resulting in, among other events, the Holocaust and use of atomic weapons. How does this happen so quickly, and what is at play? We examine biographies, prejudices, influences and manipulations. The goals of this history course are many, but most importantly it is to gain a consciousness around when things are sliding in all directions, and be able to name what is happening.

This course explores the history of life on Earth through the lens of fossil records, focusing on descriptive, physical, and observational aspects of paleontology. The primary goal is to encourage students to "think about time" and early life processes, analyzing how fossils provide insights into the evolution of organisms. Students investigate how organisms interact and evolve based on phylogenetic evidence and how fossils reveal evolutionary relationships. The course also examines how changing environments and the extinction of species have impacted other organisms throughout Earth's history.

Models are fundamental to modern decision-making. This is perhaps no more true than in the context of our planet's climate, which has become a focus of not only environmental but also social and political debate particularly because of how prominent modeling is in climate science. Using climate as a case study, this course explores statistical inference and prediction. It covers everything from simple frequentist estimates of probabilistic outcomes all the way to complex Bayesian counterfactuals and models aiming for Artificial General Intelligence. This progression in complexity is contextualized with historical breakthroughs and the people behind them that have made modeling such an indispensable part of the scientific method.

Offered every two years, this course gives students the opportunity to align their studies with the current American election cycle. Whether it is the midterms, or the Presidential elections, there are myriad fascinating observations to be made about our government. We will examine how our country's founding principles line up with reality, assess campaign financing, follow the campaign circuit and watch debates. We will volunteer in the election process, as well as write to, and visit, our elected officials wherever possible. We will deeply absorb the idea that the government serves the People.

Optics has played a key role in the development of math, science, and philosophy throughout history. This course connects students' visual experiences with the scientific understanding of light and color, and the functioning of the human eye. Students will study and explain principles of reflection, refraction, and diffraction, and learn how these principles apply to different lenses and mirrors, deepening their understanding of the nature of light.

This course examines the history of the United States through the lens of architecture, focusing on how immigration and migration have shaped the nation’s built environment from the colonial period to the present. Students will explore how American history is embedded not just in events, but in the buildings and spaces that shape everyday life. They will gain a deeper understanding of how architecture reflects cultural identity, adaptation, and historical change—and how space holds history.

This hands-on course provides students with the opportunity to participate in the production of an all-student high school play, culminating in a performance for the school community. Students can contribute as performers, technicians, or set crew members. The course covers essential theatrical skills such as character study, line memorization, speech, movement, and performance techniques. Emphasizing collaboration, students work together to bring the play to life, gaining an appreciation for theater as a collective art form that thrives on teamwork and mutual support.

This course builds skills to use data in the context of scientific research. It covers different kinds of data, from basic ways computers store numbers and text all the way to complex relational databases that are the backbone of modern technology. It also covers how to interact with these kinds of data, even when they are on remote servers requiring terminal access. Collaborative tools are emphasized using Git to track and share work throughout the course. And, an historical context of these computing tools is explored to build an understanding of the ways we interact with all the data around us.

This unique STEAM course brings students together as if they were in a new startup to integrate science, technology, engineering, and math toward the goal of building something of their own design. STEAM is as much about communication and collaboration as it is about technical skills, which is why the goal of this course is to learn useful real-world technical skills in the context of a shared creative vision. Students also build scientific literacy through a survey of computational and theoretical tools used in everything from biotech to environmental research, while relying on peer-reviewed journal articles to research and develop their own inventions.

Creating visual art using digital tools and techniques.

This course builds off of Data & Databases by applying those computing skills to the genetics of disease and drug discovery. Focusing on a disease of interest, students use publically available genetic and proteomic data to answer questions about cellular mechanisms and how candidate small molecules could help slow or reverse diseased cell behaviors. Skills around experimental analysis are developed focusing on the statistics of genetic expression, phylogenetic distance, protein folding, CRISPR knockouts, and gene ontology. This course also covers the history of bioinformatics research with an emphasis on biotech startups.

This foundational course introduces students to the essential principles of drawing, painting, and composition. Students develop their skills in key techniques such as line, shape, form, and shading while learning about perspective, proportion, and visual structure. Emphasizing observational drawing, the course challenges students to understand and render form, depth, shadows, and light. The final project allows students to showcase their creativity through an original artwork, incorporating the skills they've acquired to create dynamic and visually compelling pieces.

In this course, students explore the science behind color mixing and the relationship between different hues. They experiment with various media, including pencils, pastels, watercolors, and acrylic paints, to develop a deep understanding of color's role in creating form, depth, and light. Through exercises and projects, students learn to use color to convey shadows, reflections, and three-dimensionality on a two-dimensional surface. The final project involves creating a painting that incorporates these techniques to render lifelike depth and light.

Traditional and contemporary printmaking techniques.

Hand-building ceramic techniques.

Wheel-throwing ceramic techniques.

This non-auditioned ensemble course brings together musicians from Grades 9-10 to explore and develop their musical talents in a supportive group setting. Students work on vocal and instrumental skills, music literacy, rhythm, and performance techniques. The repertoire includes two-, three-, and four-part harmonies, as well as exploration of guitar, bass guitar, ukulele, and various percussion instruments. Through regular practice and performances, students deepen their understanding of music theory, enhance their musicianship, and experience the dynamics of playing in an ensemble.

This non-auditioned ensemble course brings together musicians from Grades 11-12 to explore and develop their musical talents in a supportive group setting. Students work on vocal and instrumental skills, music literacy, rhythm, and performance techniques. The repertoire includes two-, three-, and four-part harmonies, as well as exploration of guitar, bass guitar, ukulele, and various percussion instruments. Through regular practice and performances, students deepen their understanding of music theory, enhance their musicianship, and experience the dynamics of playing in an ensemble.

This course introduces students to the art of sculpting a three-dimensional human bust from low-fired clay. Using their classmates and mirrors as references, students learn to observe and capture the proportions and relationships of facial features. The course emphasizes the importance of observation, precision, and the unique qualities of each individual's facial structure. By the end of the course, students create a hollow human bust that reflects their artistic skill and understanding of facial anatomy.

This course focuses on the techniques of portrait painting, emphasizing the study of the head's structure and the expressive potential of facial features. Students examine portraits from various historical periods, including contemporary works, to understand what makes a compelling portrait. They learn and practice key painting techniques, including color theory, brushwork, and composition, applying them to create their own portraits. The final project requires students to produce a portrait that showcases their understanding of these techniques.

Join our masterful woodworking teacher in this hands-on course where students will explore the art and craft of working with wood. A variety of techniques—both traditional and contemporary—will be introduced, with a focus on precision, creativity, and skill-building. While the specific project and technique for this session are still being finalized, students can expect an engaging and rewarding experience that will challenge and inspire. Whether you're refining your skills or discovering woodworking for the first time, this course promises to be unforgettable.