ELECTIVES DESCRIPTIONS

20th Century History 

(Semester)  High school students gain a solid comprehension of America’s dynamic century of change, conflict, and growth. A six-unit elective for grades 9-12, this multimedia-enriched course examines nation-shaping events like the industrial age, progressivism, equal rights, the Roaring ’20s, the Depression, the two World Wars, and the cold war conflicts. Hands-on history projects and lessons make learning fun and interactive! Back to Top

Advanced Composition

Description soon!  Back to Top

Accounting

Today, it is more important than ever for young people to learn to manage their money for personal or business needs.  Principles of money management and accounting are presented in this Accounting elective, which includes an overview of accounting, debits and credits, journalizing and posting transactions, financial statements, payroll accounting, taxes, and a business simulation activity.  Appropriate for grades 7-12. Back to Top

American Literature

As a supplement to the LIFEPAC Language Arts curriculum, this one semester course introduces students to works by prominent American writers.  Periods covered include Early American Literature (1600-1800), The Romantic Period (1800-1855), War and Reconciliation (1855-1915), The Modern Age (1915-1946), and From Modern to Post-modern (1946-present).  Appropriate for grades 7-12. Back to Top

Art

A basic art curriculum with a practical, hands-on format.  A broad scope of topics is studied, from principles of color, styles of art, and perspective, to portraiture, carving, and cartooning.  Previous experience in art is not required.  Appropriate for grades 7-12. Back to Top

British Literature

As a supplement to the LIFEPAC Language Arts curriculum, this one semester course introduces students to important British authors.  Periods covered include The Middle Ages (to 1485), Reformation and Renaissance (1660-1798), The Neoclassical and Romantic Periods (1798-1832), The Victorian Age (1832-1901), and The Modern Era (20th Century).  Appropriate for grades 7-12. Back to Top

Civics

(Semester) - Instills in students an understanding of the roles and relationships of citizens and their governments. Students can use the course to better understand the nature of citizenship, the relationship between an individual and various forms of government to which he must answer. Emphasis is also placed on the foundations and structure of American government, the roles and responsibilities of individual citizens, and Americans' role abroad. Civics is a one semester course designed for either the high school student or the advanced junior high student. Back to Top

Civil War

(Semester) - Civil War is a five-unit high-school course that gives students an in-depth look at the events surrounding a major turning point in American history. Beginning with the events leading up to the war, this course allows students to see how what began as major points of contention between the North and the South gradually intensified, resulting in the South's secession and the start of the Civil War. Students will study the lives and choices of key figures, including Abraham Lincoln and the generals of the Northern and Southern armies, as well as gain a glimpse into the daily life of a soldier. By examining decisive battles and troop movements on interactive maps, students will be able to gain an understanding of the importance of strategy in the war. The course also considers the aftermath of the war, including the time of Reconstruction. The central goal of this course is to help students gain a more in-depth understanding of the Civil War, including its effect on the people directly involved, as well as its lasting impact on the United States politically and culturally.

Possible Assignment(s) to Use During Presentations
Unit 2: Chapter 1: Lesson 3 - The First Battle of Bull Run
Unit 3: Chapter 1: Lesson 2 - Gettysburg  

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College Planner

Switched-On College Planer, a five-unit course, helps soon-to-be graduates evaluate and select options for their future. Students are guided in finding the right college, preparing for college entrance exams and applications, paying for college, and considering non-college options. Filled with step-by-step instructions and reminders to seek God’s will, this interactive course is great prep course for high school students.   Back to Top

Computer Literacy

Finally, a computer course with the convenience of the LIFEPAC curriculum! Alpha Omega Publications offers unique and educational computer courses to teach your students the basics of nine computer software programs.  These courses include a tutorial CD-ROM with step-by-step instructions, practical exercises, and helpful narration.  As students progress through the tutorial, the two LIFEPAC worktexts test their knowledge of the material presented. 

System Requirements:
Pentium® PC or higher
Microsoft Windows® 2000, 98, 95, or NT
Double-speed CD-ROM drive
16 MB RAM available
2 MB Hard Drive space available
256 Color VGA or higher display
Sound card with speakers or headphones Back to Top

Consumer Math

(2 two semesters) - This supplementary math course trains the student in mathematical applications for daily use.  Topics include family finances, occupations, business, and transportation.  Appropriate for high school students who have completed Algebra I and Geometry.  Appropriate for grades 7-12. Back to Top

Drawing Basics with Thomas Kinkade®

LIFEPAC's elective Drawing Basics with Thomas Kinkade is an activity-based beginning art course that budding artists will love.  This 5-unit elective covers key elements of art, principles of design, and fascinating facts about art history.  Featuring the video-based instruction of renowned artist Thomas Kinkade, this course will guide students, step-by-step, to illustrating the world around them.  From simple lines, to final details, students will learn how to draw things as they appear.  Although primarily intended for students in grades 3 through 5, this course also includes activities for students from beginner levels to intermediate levels, up to grade 8. Back to Top

Drivers Ed

Description soon!  Back to Top

Earth Science

Digging into interactive lessons, students learn about Earth’s formation, structure, interacting systems, and its place within the universe with this 12-unit elective. Made for grades 8-12, this hands-on elective is packed with fun-to-study topics like volcanoes, rocks, minerals, weather, the water cycles, the atmosphere, and the solar system! The lessons include knowledge-building projects and fun learning activities. Back to Top

Essentials of Communication: A Guide to Interacting Effectively in Today's World™ (LIFEPAC)

This course is designed to show students how to successfully interact with others in personal, professional, and public settings.  Students will learn about communication theories, characteristics of language, interpersonal relationships, group dynamics, and public speaking.  Units contain practical application exercises that allow students to practice new skills learned.  For example, students may write a speech and present it, conduct interviews, or attend local community meetings to practice and observe effective communication.  Designed for students at the high school level, this course aims to equip students with knowledge that enables them to reach personal and professional goals, develop relationships, fulfill social obligations, and strengthen their sense of self worth.  Appropriate for grades 9-12.  Back to Top

Essentials of Communication (Online and CD)

(Semester) - Essentials of Communication: A Guide to Interacting Effectively in Today's WorldT is a five-unit elective course for high school students. The materials cover fundamentals of the communication process important for successful interaction in a variety of social and professional settings. Students can use the course to gain and apply knowledge about communication theories, characteristics of language and language use, interpersonal relationships, group dynamics, and public speaking in order to interact more effectively with others. The course seeks to help students expand their knowledge and skills as communicators so that they may achieve the following goals:

• Know and understand aspects of communication theories and processes appropriate to both social and professional settings.
• Use interpersonal communication strategies appropriately in social and professional settings.
• Effectively communicate in social and professional group settings.
• Plan, prepare, deliver, and evaluate formal and informal personal and professional presentations.

In attaining these goals, students will be better equipped to use communication to hone other life skills, including exchanging information, fulfilling social obligations, developing relationships, and understanding and meeting the needs of others.

Possible Assignments to Use During Presentations
Unit 1: Chapter 1: Lesson 1 - Introduction to Communication
Unit 1: Chapter 3: Lesson 14 - Self Concept and Competent Communication 

Of Special Interest:
Specially designed to meet TEKS Communication Applications course requirements
Its cross-disciplinary nature allows the course to be used to meet LA speech requirements (esp. Unit 5) and/or Workplace Skills requirements.  Back to Top

Essentials Of Math

(Semester) Brush up on your student’s basic math skills. An all-around refresher course, this seven-unit math elective is perfect for reinforcing fundamental mathematic concepts. The course’s lessons cover topics like algebra, geometry, statistics, measurements, and number review! Ensuring a solid math foundation, this elective for grades 8-12 offers additional practice that can be used for remedial work or advanced learners. Fun learning games and interactive lessons are included to build comprehension!  Back to Top

French- Elementary and Secondary

ELEMENTARY FRENCH-   A beginner’s course, captivates students with fun-filled lessons. Students become part of a jungle island adventure where they learn to speak and write French. Created for students in grades 3-6, this five-unit course uses engaging learning formats to keep lessons fresh and appealing for all types of learners. Vocabulary, pronunciation, and listening and reading comprehension all are used in this flexible and self-paced program to aid in speaking the language.

SECONDARY FRENCH- A 12-unit introductory program for grades 7-12, is an exciting foreign language study. In this course, students become secret agents who must accomplish a mission by learning how to read, write, listen, and speak in French. This course includes numerous fun and interactive exercises to help students with pronunciation. Filled with adventures, this in-depth course teaches verb tense, pronouns, locations, plurals, action and auxiliary verbs, conjugations, irregular verbs, and listening comprehension.  Back to Top

Foundations for Living: Studies in the Christian World View®

This elective will help students realize how all that they learn should be used to glorify God in order to live productive lives as Christian servants and leaders. It will demonstrate to the high school student that God's Word directly addresses them, and has practical instructions for virtually every situation they will encounter after graduation.  Some topics discussed include man's purpose in the world, the Christian family and roles of family members, dating and courtship, education, art, and politics.  Appropriate for grades 9-12. Back to Top

Foundations for Living LIFEPAC

Studies in the Christian Worldview is the perfect supplemental course to teach students practical Christian living. This ten-unit course for grades 9-12 shows students that God’s Word has practical instructions for every situation in life. Students also learn to apply what the Bible teaches to their lives, so they can be Christian servants and leaders. LIFEPAC Foundations for Living has ten work texts and a teacher’s guide.   Back to Top

General Science III

Refresh your student’s understanding of basic science topics. Offering a comprehensive overview, this ten-unit elective lets students tap deeper into the world of physics with fun interactive lessons. Students learn key scientific concepts in a fresh, new approach that fine-tunes their grasp of physics and body health. Additional topics include oceanography, astronomy, and the future of science! Fun-to-learn lessons include multimedia tools, experiments, and colorful graphics!  Back to Top

Health

This one-semester high school elective carefully considers the Christian view of health.  The practice of good health starts with knowledge of the physical systems of the body.  When the function of the body is understood, a person recognizes the importance of good nutrition, healthy exercise, and personal hygiene.  Your overall health is also affected by your spiritual, emotional, social, and environmental well-being. Appropriate for grades 7-12. Back to Top

Health Quest

This upper elementary health course has been developed to help students gain an awareness of health as it applies personally to their own bodies, minds, and emotions, as well as generally in their living environment, community, and world.  Students will learn to identify the components of a healthy lifestyle and set reasonable goals to achieve total wellness. Back to Top

Home Economics

From soup to nuts, pattern to finished outfit-it's all here in our Home Economics course! Knowledge of Christian home life as well as financial freedom and character qualities are emphasized in this extensive program.  Appropriate for grades 7-12. Back to Top

Integrated Physics and Chemistry 

aka Physical Science (2 two semesters) - MAY 2008 Description soon!    Back to Top  

LIFEPAC Select

The semester courses in this series have been compiled by schools using Alpha Omega's LIFEPAC® curriculum.  The unique design of the worktext format has allowed instructors to mix and match LIFEPACs from four core subjects (Bible, Language Arts, History & Geography, and Science) to create alternative semester courses for junior high and high school students.  These courses work particularly well as unit studies, as supplementary electives, or for meeting various school and state requirements.  Another benefit of these courses-and of any LIFEPAC for that matter-is the ability to use them with any curriculum, at any time during the year, for any of several purposes!  Back to Top

Math- Optional Courses

Paper-based courses: Fractions, Decimals, Percents, Measurements, Algebra, Geometry  Back to Top

Physical Science 

Description soon!  aka Integrated Physics and Chemistry (2 two semesters) - MAY 2008   Back to Top

Spanish- Elementary and Secondary 

Switched-On Elementary Spanish, an innovative course for grade 3-6, provides learning exercises and proven strategies to help beginner students learn Spanish easily. Filled with eye-catching visuals, fun exercises, and cultural insights, this five-unit course will keep young students engaged. Vocabulary, pronunciation, and listening and reading comprehension are effective learning techniques used to aid in speaking and to provide a solid groundwork for future lessons. No extra materials required.  Back to Top

Spanish I and II 

This course establishes appreciation of Spanish as well as basic confidence and skills in reading, writing, and speaking the Spanish language. Students learn vocabulary and basic word order though typical Spanish conversations in various settings, such as the home, school, and town. Printed materials emphasize reading comprehension and writing. Audio tapes are required for listening and comprehension activities. Grades 9-12.  Back to Top

Spanish I LIFEPAC

A ten-unit course for grades 9-12. Is filled with fun, creative lessons, to teach students how to read, write, and speak the Spanish language. Through dialogue practice, students learn Spanish vocabulary and basic word order. Printed materials emphasize reading comprehension and allow for writing practice. Audio CD’s are required for listening and comprehension activities. These CD’s are available separately or in a complete set for units 1-5 and 6-10.  Back to Top

Spanish II LIFEPAC

Students receive an intense review and an in-depth study of the Spanish language. Designed for grades 9-12, this ten-unit course focuses on dialogue practice and is packed with engaging, interactive lessons. This course also provides extensive practice in writing, listening, reading, and writing comprehension. Audio CD’s are required for listening and comprehension activities. These CD’s are available separately or in a complete set for units 1-5 and 6-10.  Back to Top

State Histories

Switched-On State History is filled with interesting facts about each state’s history, birth, and growth within the United States. Filled with informative exercises, Ideal for grades 7-12, these courses teach the unique and various differences of the individual fifty states. Because each State History is presented separately, students can gain an exclusive, focused look at every state in detail. This course is excellent at enhancing writing skills, applying math skills, and learning about businesses and resources!
**We also have the following State History in Lifepac format: California    Back to Top

Story of the Constitution

Students will follow the exciting steps that led to the birth and development of the U.S. Constitution, the supreme law of the United States. Students discover the events and people who influenced the writing of the country’s most important document. This course for grades 7-12 is ideal for students who want to understand the principles of the Constitution and how those principles apply to everyday life. Also presented is an in-depth look at the amendments.  Back to Top

Trigonometry 

(Semester) Give your student a head start on college math with Trigonometry! For grades 9-12, this six-unit elective teaches students to develop trigonometric formulas and use them in “real world” applications. The course’s topics include right angle trigonometry, graphing, trigonometric identities, the laws of sine and cosine, and polar coordinates. Making advanced math appealing, this computer-based elective includes engaging multimedia like graphics and games. Appropriate for those who have completed Algebra II.   Back to Top 

Vietnam Era History 

(Semester) Help your student understand America’s past. This interesting six-unit elective for grades 9-12 examines the long, difficult conflict of the Vietnam War. The course’s topics include the Vietnamese country and people, the United States’ involvement and military strategy, the role of the cold war, the loss of civilian and soldier lives, and the war’s influence and aftermath. Informative lessons include games and off-computer activities!  Back to Top

World Geography

(2 two semesters) Fun and interesting, this 12-unit elective for grades 8-12 offers an in-depth study of the world’s seven continents, along with a look at geography tools and physical geography characteristics. Enriching projects and eye-catching, interactive lessons cover North and South America, Australia, Antarctica, Europe, Africa, and Asia. Each region’s settlement, culture, politics, economics, and environment also are discussed. Back to Top