English/Language Arts

This course seeks to expand a student's personal, social, literary, historical and spiritual vision. Freshman Survey will provide students with activities which highlight many types of vision, including: foresight, tunnel vision, double vision, blurred vision, x-ray vision, and insight. The idea of vision will control each activity and also extend into the community, as students participate in GLOBAL VIEW, a cultural community arts project, and plan a short term missions trip. The course will look at how internal ("I") and external ("other") visions connect to create the "real world" all people share, and how ultimately God's Word is the standard by which we measure all truth and reality.

English II is typically considered a sophomore English course that includes reading selections from world literature. The motif, or theme, of the course revolves around the idea of dreams-the unobtainable and the obtainable. Accordingly, the readings relate to themes of fantasy, dreams, and goal setting. For instance, the Shakespeare selection you will study is A Midsummer Night's Dream. This course is built on National Standards-the guiding document for state standards and a state's curriculum. Some topics included in this course are drama and Shakespeare, I-search research, mythology, analysis of fiction and nonfiction as related to the theme of dreams and goal setting, and analysis of literature within the context of a biblical worldview. As a member of this class, you will study various means of communication: oral, visual, electronic, and textual as you hone your language arts skills.

Using the theme of the newspaper, this Junior-level course covers American literature written between the Early American period up to the present. The selection of literature ranges from fiction and poetry to speeches, sermons, letters, and journals. Students will see where this literature fits in relation to the events and culture of the time period and how the Word of God is present in all subjects and is the foundation of all literature.

Doors and Choices is the motif for English IV allowing students to explore the various "doors of knowledge and opportunity" awaiting them as they transition from high school to college and work. Students will study a variety of literature representing a broad spectrum of genres including poetry, short stories, drama, fiction and nonfiction and complete assignments which allow students to choose from different types of assessments to demonstrate their knowledge.

*All English courses include an honors track that students can choose to complete

Math

Travel around the world and discover the applications of algebra by experiencing field trips, web searches, and labs. The course is a foundation mathematics course for all future mathematics courses! This course meets all NCTM (National Council of Teachers of Mathematics) standards. The emphasis in this course is on honoring God in all we do, learning more about Him through mathematics, and student success by way of varied learning styles using applications, hands- on activities, group interactions, discoveries, and, of course, technology.

Experience Algebra II as an employee of a fictitious Functional Consulting Company. A combination of business trips with the application of learned concepts will ensure your rise from Junior Associate to Senior Staff Member. Algebra II is an advanced Algebra course, required for college entry, which meets all the NCTM (National Council of Teachers of Mathematics) Standards. The emphasis in this Algebra II course is on student success by way of varied learning styles using applications, hands-on activities, group interactions, discoveries, and, of course, technology. An integration of faith and mathematical study is embedded throughout the course with the purpose of helping students grow stronger in their Christian faith. Students are challenged to see how mathematic principles reflect God’s qualities, are useful in developing Biblical character, and form the structure of God’s creation.

Observe the principles of geometry at work in God’s world. Investigate and discover why the Tacoma Narrows Bridge collapsed and the Great Pyramids of Giza did not. Throughout this course, students will actively use their study of geometry to discover more about God, their Christian faith, the mathematical designs God has placed in creation, and the legacy of famous Christian mathematicians. This course will also help students develop geometric relationships and deductive strategies that can be used to solve real-world and mathematical problems. The connection between Geometry and Architecture will be established through active participation and observation of the presence of Geometry in architecture, in both the modern and ancient world. Geometry is a required course for college entry, which meets all NCTM (National Council of Teachers of Mathematics) standards.

Students, as mathematic analysts, will investigate advanced mathematics concepts and use them to solve problems encountered in operating national parks. Throughout the course, students will be exploring the mathematical design of God’s creation and how their lives should reflect His glory. The core components of the course include the study of functions and the development of skills necessary for future success in calculus. In addition, a detailed examination of trigonometry and elements of analytical geometry are incorporated in the curriculum.

Science

The Biology course is designed as a Travel Agency experience. Students experience biology concepts and ideas through their travels and adventures.


There are two purposes for this course:
1) To provide exploratory and laboratory experiences with real-life applications in the biological sciences
2) To enable students to marvel in God’s creation and defend the doctrine of creation through the Bible and scientific evidence

Put on your safety goggles and tour this chemistry course by applying concepts to industrial environments. Students will learn about God’s wonderful Creation through the Nuclear Power Plant module to study the atom, travel through the Water Treatment Plant to study properties of matter, and move through several other industrial buildings to complete their study of chemistry. The purpose of this course is to study the composition, properties, and changes associated with matter. Laboratory investigations of selected topics in the content, which also include the use of scientific method, measurement, laboratory apparatus, and safety procedures, are an integral part of this course. You will not only learn new things about God’s creation, but you will grow in your knowledge of how the Bible relates to chemistry and life. The primary purpose of this course is to use the industrial applications of chemistry to study the composition, properties, and changes associated with matter. This course will include hands-on laboratory investigations. 

The regular and honors physics course is presented as a challenging, but fun experience. Using the motif of an amusement park, Physics World students explore physics concepts using laboratory activities, videos, software, and web sites. Get in line. Tickets are going fast! The purpose of this course is to provide opportunities to study the concepts, theories, and laws governing the interaction of matter, energy, and forces, and their applications to the real world through exploratory investigations and activities. The course will also reveal many truths about Jesus Christ, our Creator and Sustainer. God, at creation, established the natural laws studied here. His designs in Nature teach us many truths about our all-powerful God.

Exploration is the key to success in this course. As a member of an exploration team, students investigate the atmosphere, freshwater hydrology, ocean floor features, plate tectonics, geologic principles, the rock cycle, geologic time, and space. Students will have the opportunity to do hands on activities in each module and they will interact with the course content in a variety of ways.
Four perspectives taken during explorations will provide the backdrop for the development of course concepts, activities, and web adventures: Global, Regional, Local, and Personal. This will be a full year, 1 credit course. Note: The honors component is built into the course, so every student who successfully completes the course as written will receive honors credit.

Set sail on a research expedition to explore the marine environment. Our virtual expedition will leave from Tampa Bay and travel around the Earth investigating the many habitats and organisms of the oceans. As a crew member, you will be conducting research, performing experiments, gathering and analyzing data, and discovering man's interrelationship with the marine environment. The purpose of the course is to provide an overview of the marine environment. The content includes the nature of science, the origins of the oceans, the chemical and physical structure of the marine environment, ecology of the various sea zones, marine communities, and the interrelationship between man and the ocean.  We will learn about God’s Creation and how to better fulfill his charge to care for and rule over the earth.

Social Studies

In this course students will investigate the literature and history of the United States from the era of slavery to the present. The course is a survey of American history and literature in which students will investigate each era in American history as defined by scholars in the field and documented in the State Standards. The purpose of the course is threefold. First, the course aims to provide students with the opportunity to gain broad knowledge of the American nation by focusing on political, cultural and economic factors that have influenced the course of events over the past 500 years in North America. Second, the course seeks to offer students the opportunity to acquire investigative skills necessary to evaluate a wide range of circumstances, synthesize effective solutions to problems, and evaluate outcomes. Third, the course offers the student-believer who covets the mind of Jesus Christ an opportunity to study and analyze the American past as a prophet who seeks the truth, a priest who honors the eternal in everyday life, and a king who refuses submission to the mindset of any god other than He who is identified as “Everlasting Father.” Each era of history will be revealed through simulated court cases. Each case will present a problem, controversy or significant issue in American history. The student will be given the responsibility to investigate the historical era and examine and use evidence of her/his research to build cases from various perspectives. These perspectives include, but are not limited to, the prosecution and defense (secondary sources), the witnesses (primary sources), and judge and jury (instructor and student views). Students will investigate and build arguments on all sides of the cases with the aim of understanding the complexity of the American story in a comprehensive and objective manner.

Learn economic concepts by taking a tour of Econ City—a virtual city in which you will explore how government, businesses, and even your decisions impact the economy. You will learn what it means to make "values- led" economic decisions and how to make smart economic decisions about your future. This course utilizes a Biblical Christian worldview to survey basic theories and concepts related to the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services.

Presented through a "Windows of the World Museum," World History gives students the opportunity to become the "curator" of a museum and visit the past, connect with the present, and look to the future. This course will also look at the world from the viewpoint of a Christian museum curator. Join others in the exploration of ancient and modern civilizations, their impact, and their contributions to today's global society. Become a member of the global community as you open the windows and see the world. The purpose of this course is to enable students to understand their connections to the development of civilizations by examining the past to prepare for their future as participating members of a global community. Students will use knowledge pertaining to history, geography, economics, political processes, religion, ethics, diverse cultures, and humanities to solve problems in academic, civic, social, and employment settings.

Students will learn about the role of citizens in a democracy, and how they can be active citizens who can influence government. Internet Web sites, discussions, and the use of various multimedia materials will provide students with opportunities to interact with the instructor, fellow classmates, and the community.

What does it take to live in a complex and increasingly interdependent global society? It takes knowledge and skills that help you understand the people in this world God has created, their environments and issues. As a cub-reporter for God’s News Network, your assignment is to learn about and participate in global decisions that affect us and missionaries throughout the world through problem-based learning from a Biblical worldview.

Foreign Languages

This first Spanish course provides an introduction to the Spanish language and to the culture of Hispanic countries, with the primary focus being on Spain. By encouraging sensitivity to, and understanding of, the cultures, life styles, and philosophies of Spanish-speaking peoples, the program of study develops language skills. Communicating authentically and excellently enables us to participate in God’s redemptive plan for all cultures. These language skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing will enable the student to communicate and participate in Spanish communities at home and around the world. You will make connections to other areas of study by examining the way in which the Spanish language and culture has influenced their way of life and their own native culture. These connections, and the comparisons the students make with their own culture and language, will help to prepare the students for their role in a multi-lingual, global society, as well as for fruitful Christian service.  With a primary goal of communication, this course will provide ways for the students to exchange ideas on a variety of topics by speaking and writing in Spanish. They will be able to provide and obtain information about themselves, their schools, homes, churches, family, and friends. Through the use of language tool software, the virtual student will listen to the conversations of fellow students and the online instructor and will be able to respond in like manner. This Spanish I course is the first step in using a basic Spanish vocabulary. Acquiring the language skills and understanding of Hispanic way of life will be the beginning of a life-enriching experience.

This Spanish II course provides a more in depth look at the Spanish language and to the culture of Hispanic countries. By encouraging sensitivity to, and understanding of, the cultures, life styles, and philosophies and worldviews of Spanish-speaking peoples, the program of study develops language skills. These language skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing will enable the student to communicate and participate in Spanish communities at home and around the world. You will make connections to other areas of study by examining the way in which the Spanish language and culture has influenced their way of life and their own native culture. These connections, and the comparisons the students make with their own culture and language, will help to prepare the students for their role in a multi-lingual, global society. With a primary goal of communication, this course will provide ways for the students to exchange ideas on a variety of topics by speaking and writing in Spanish. They will be able to provide and obtain information about themselves, their schools, homes, family, friends, and faith. Through the use of language tool software, the virtual student will listen to the conversations of fellow students and the on-line instructor and will be able to respond in like manner. This Spanish II course is the second step in using a basic Spanish vocabulary. Acquiring the language skills and understanding of Hispanic way of life will be the beginning of a life-enriching experience.

Building the Via Latina: You are about to build a Roman road, the Via Latina. This road will be the foundation for your study of Latin and the culture of ancient Rome. Famous Romans from the past have agreed to be your supervisors. They will invite you to dinner, regale you with stories from mythology, introduce you to other Romans, show you around their homes, entertain you at the chariot races or the gladiatorial fights, and give you a look at what it meant to be a Roman: politically, socially, and economically. They will also be interested in hearing about your life as a Believer and how your worldview influences how you see Roman life and culture. Your task is to learn Latin, the language of the Romans. So let’s start the building process and find out how different, and yet how similar, our worlds really are.

Welcome, movie star! You will continue your journey to the time of the ancient Romans, but this time you will be the star in our movie, An Epic of Great Proportion. With your director, your script will include visits with some of the men who made Rome great. From them, you will learn about the Roman government and how Rome grew to rule most of the known world. Your epic movie will also take you back to the Trojan War where you will accompany the Greeks on a great adventure. Study your lines and get ready for "lights, camera, action!"

Welcome to our world of Latin authors. In our library, you will sample some of the brightest minds of the Classical World. Through the literature of these authors you will learn more about the culture and history of the fabulous Romans. You will meet the great Julius Caesar and learn first hand about his Gallic campaigns. Through the letters of Pliny the Younger, you will get a firsthand account of the eruption of Vesuvius. You will also meet the great orator, Cicero. The poets Martial, Catullus and Ovid will also share their works with you. Our special guest author will be the greatest of the Roman authors, Publius Vergilus Naso.

Electives

Signposts are everywhere in life, sending us in either positive or negative directions. Join us as we follow the signposts in Life Management Skills, and learn to use a biblical worldview to develop the skills for healthy, effective, and godly living. In this course you will have an opportunity to develop or enhance life management skills important in making godly decisions for healthy and effective living. Through the study of real life issues, the goal is for you to form healthy attitudes and behaviors that promote personal development, health and well being, so you can glorify God with your lives and experience His pleasure when you live according to His Word.

Tired of the old workbook-based SAT Prep courses? Grab your duffel bag or backpack and prepare for a trip through test tips and strategies necessary for the SAT. Join the quest for higher scores with the Florida Virtual School SAT Prep course. This course is designed to strengthen the student's test-taking skills so as to enhance his/her scores on the Scholastic Assessment Test. Students will practice thinking strategies, become thoroughly familiar with the structure of standardized exams, and build verbal competence and mathematics reasoning. Each student can contact an instructor to receive personalized lessons and guidance as he/she pursues higher test score goals.

This course will prepare students to succeed on reading, math and writing assessments. Through reading, writing, and math activities, students will develop their critical thinking skills and test-taking strategies. The objectives of this course go beyond mere test preparation. In addition to becoming familiar with the common test formats, question-types, and rubrics, students will develop the critical thinking skills they will need to succeed in the 21st century.  Since we believe God has designed each student with special gifts and talents, the course is set up with motivational quotes from a biblical world view.  It is common in today’s world for a student to be faced with worldly advice concerning self-esteem.  We, however, offer a fresh view of God-esteem, one which will help the student see beyond themselves and look to godly advice from the Bible and other Christians. Students will use a variety of learning methods in this course including scoring rubrics, self-assessments, practice tests, and learning log entries. While most of the course will be based upon independent practice, students will have opportunities to interact with their classmates through synchronous chats and discussion board activities.         

In this Personal Fitness course, students are required to participate in weekly cardiovascular, flexibility and strength and endurance activities. Spiritual application to the physical exercises will be made, along with relationships to biblical character qualities to be developed. Students who are unable to participate in such physical exercises will be unable to complete the requirements of this course. Students who have an Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) or some other physical limitation that prevents them from participating in physical activity should seek to enroll in an Adaptive Physical Education course. 

This course is designed to provide a basic overview of current business and information systems and trends and to introduce students to the basic skills required for today's business environment. Emphasis is placed on developing proficiency with the fundamental computer applications of keyboarding and word processing so they may be used as communication tools for enhancing personal and workplace proficiency in an information based society. Students will be introduced on a very basic level to the Microsoft Office suite and will have practical experience with Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

8th Grade Classes

Math 3 uses the connection between mathematics and music to develop and reinforce mathematical skills and processes. Students build a strong mathematical foundation as they explore the evolution of music in America. The focus of the course is learning with understanding to enable students to solve real-world and mathematical problems. The mode of instruction will vary as students interact with instructional software, practice skills on the web, participate in hands-on activities, and view instructional videos. The mathematical content addresses the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) principals and standards and is organized by Number and Operation, Algebra, Geometry, Measurement, and Data Analysis and Probability.

The purpose of this course is to provide opportunities to study concepts of the life, Earth/space, and physical sciences, from a Christian perspective, and to make applications to everyday life. Students will gain an understanding of how Jesus Christ is revealed by studying His Creation. The Bible will help the student examine the order of the universe and the physical laws God has established to govern it. In addition, each student will be encouraged to provide for and protect his/her body, which is the “temple of God.” Several character qualities will be encouraged and developed as the course progresses. Using the International Space Station as the focal point for all course content, students act as Mission Specialists in Training. Topics such as the history of space exploration, light, remote sensing, plate tectonics, how gravity affects the human body, research being done in space, the periodic table of elements, and a bit of chemistry are but a few of the topics to be covered in this course.

Who am I? How do I fit into the world? How do I make sense of these changing times? This interdisciplinary eighth grade language arts course will answer those questions and many more from a Christian perspective. In this course, students will develop their reading, writing, speaking, listening and viewing skills—with Biblical principles as the standard—as they explore and enjoy a variety of materials (novels, short stories, poetry, biographies, articles, drama, essays and media). In addition, Language Arts 3 focuses on effective communication strategies that students need in order to establish a Biblical worldview in this changing and challenging society. Students will explore the eighth grade theme of The American Quest: Past, Present and Future while developing reading, writing, speaking, listening and viewing skills through a variety of materials (novels, short stories, poetry, biographies, articles, drama, essays and media).

7th Grade Classes

The purpose of this course is to show students how to relate math to real life situations through a Christian Worldview.

Attention all students: Adventures await you on CORAL, Colony of Research and Learning. As a member of an elite group of aquanauts in an underwater research facility, you will live and conduct research in and around the coral reefs of Virtual Key. Your tasks include investigating the problems causing the decline of tourism on Virtual Key and proposing a solution to the problems. Skills developed and concepts learned in life, earth and space, and physical sciences along with Biblical principles and application will be used in completing your tasks. It is the expectation of the government of Virtual Key that you and the other aquanauts will gather data, analyze the data, and propose a workable solution to the identified problems of Virtual Key and the surrounding areas.

In Language Arts 2, students enhance their reading, writing, speaking, listening, and viewing skills through exploration and investigation of fiction, nonfiction, short stories, cultural studies, self discovery, and character education. Through a varied list of learning experiences, students will have the opportunity to explore a wide range of literary, informational, and Biblical texts. Using the theme of "A Time for Discovery," Language Arts 2 students will learn and use the writing process to communicate ideas and respond critically to visual, oral, and written texts. Biblical principles shed new meaning on text, focusing on the impact of Christianity on daily life.

Attention Special Agents! Help decide where to build an international theme park devoted to world evangelism and cultural understanding. Typically a seventh grade course, World Geography uses discovery-based learning activities to help you explore various cultural and natural landscapes of the world in order to develop a multicultural understanding of all of the people groups on the earth. You will be encouraged to use geographic concepts and skills to actively seek information that can be applied to real-life decisions. As a special agent on a simulated journey of discovery, you will apply a Biblical worldview as you collect and critically analyze social, political, and economic facts about how cultures interact with each other and their physical world.

6th Grade Classes

This course continues the development of mathematical concepts and processes students can apply to solve real-world mathematical problems. A zoo, a wonderful home to interesting and exotic animals from around the world, provides the focal point for all course content. In this environment, students act as zookeepers who must master the math skills needed to develop and maintain a zoo. This course challenges students to explore concepts such as operations and problem solving with rational numbers, measurement techniques, number theory, geometric properties and relationships, and algebraic thinking. This course also includes the use of mathematical models that give students a visual way to explore quantitative relationships.