Communication Arts

Instructor: Sue Quist

Subject Area: English

Learn how to write, right. This is an essay writing and reading strategies class! This class is for everyone at Four Directions, but is especially appropriate and important for students who have not yet passed the writing Grad test or the reading test. The strategies that you learn in this class + your effort will = success.

Healthy Choices

Instructor: Sue Quist

Subject Area: Health

Health class is all about you!! Take this class and learn how every day choices affect you today, tomorrow and the rest of your life. We will learn about nutrition, talk about healthy relationships and dating, find out about sexual and chemical health and more. You will learn how to be proactive in the pursuit of your own health and wellness. If you don’t have the two health credits you need to graduate, sign up today!

Science Portfolio

Instructor: Julie Greene

Subject Area: Science
In this class we will explore different science topics on an independent study type basis. Students will be given credit for each unit they complete. There will be investigations, experiments and research components in this course. We will focus on how science fields overlap in the process of observation, problem solving, experimentation and discovery. Once completed, each unit will be included in a portfolio. Students can incorporate different media including power point, photography and video.

Unit Topics
Problem solving
Scientific Method
Forensics
Microscope Investigations
Biology
Chemistry
Physical Science
Current Events
Genetics
Earth Science

MN State Standards
The Nature of Science and Engineering—Students will be able to:
-Understand that scientists conduct investigations for a wide variety of reasons: to discover new
aspects of the natural world, to explain recently observed phenomena, to test the conclusions of
prior investigations or to test the predictions of current theories.
-Scientific inquiry is a set of interrelated processes used to pose questions about the natural world and
investigate phenomena. There are multiple sequences that may be used for the process of
inquiry. It requires identification of assumptions, use of critical and logical thinking, and consideration of alternative explanations based on scientifically acceptable evidence.
-Formulate testable hypotheses and demonstrate the logical connections between the scientific concepts guiding a hypothesis and the design of an experiment.
-Design and conduct scientific investigations using various approaches such as field studies, observational studies and experimental procedures.

Field Ecology

Instructors: Sue Quist & Julie Greene

Field Ecology will focus on the interactions between plants, animals and their environment. We will spend a lot of time in the field—parks, rivers and natural areas close to school—examining how humans impact water quality, animal and plant diversity and other resources. Students will do field investigations, testing, recording and analyzing data collected throughout the trimester.

Class topics
Impact of natural resources availability and human activities on the environment
-Examine how human activities can change climate
-Evaluate natural resource availability
-Interpret recent scientific evidence on global warming
-Determine what this evidence means for future generations of humans, plants and animals
-Evaluate solutions and consequences

Cycling of matter and flow of energy through an ecosystem
-Define how nutrients cycle and diagram
-Explain biotic and abiotic effects on ecosystems.
-Create diagrams to define cycle of matter

Current issues and their impact on the environment. What can we do?
-Make connections between the concepts studies and their own environment
-Research current policies for improving the environment
-Determine some ways we can change our lifestyles to help prevent the deterioration of our environment


MN state standards
The student will discuss the impact of the use of natural resources and other human activities on the environment.

The student will identify and research an environmental issue and evaluate its impact

The student will be able to describe and explain the cycling of matter and flow of energy through an ecosystem’s living and non-living components

Sociology of Juvenile Justice Delinquency

Introduction to Sociology of Juvenile Justice Delinquency
Instructor: Ron Buckanaga
2009 Fall Trimester
1st Hour 10:05-10:55 a.m.

The text that we will be using, INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY, by David Musick is used in colleges as an undergraduate text. The readings will help the student to understand juvenile delinquency through the basic concepts that are taught in a sociology course. This course will help the student when they take a sociology class in college.

The student will look at what is happening to the juvenile justice nationally and locally in the Twin Cities area. We will be examining at the micro level for instance, the family, and at the macro level at how laws have affected the juvenile justice system.

Instructor: Ronald Buckanaga

Subject Area: Social Studies

This course meets the following Minnesota State Standard:
IV. Historical Skills. The student will analyze historical evidence and draw conclusions.

The student will be able to:
➢ Define the sociological terms that social scientists use;
➢ Describe the theories in behaviorism and labeling;
➢ Interpret historical literature in early juvenile court movement;
➢ Discuss juvenile law and recent developments in juvenile law;
➢ Discuss what are causes of juvenile delinquency;
➢ Understand the theories applied to juvenile delinquency, cultural influences, intra-family factors;
➢ Discuss incarceration and parole of juveniles.

Grading:

Attendance is highly recommended. All written assignments are worth 10 points each.
25% Midterm
25% Final
50% Work Points

Music Literature

Instructor: Diana Consuegra

Subject Area: English

This course will allow students to view a history of music through lyrics. Students will learn poetic devices and apply these devices to modern lyrics. Different types of music will be analyzed: Rock, Rap, R&B, Country, Folk, etc. Students will propose create their own final project based on the lyrics and teachings in the trimester.

This course will meet the following Minnesota State Standards:

I. Reading and Literature
B. Vocabulary Expansion
C. Comprehension
D. Literature

II. Writing
B. Elements of Composition
C. Spelling, Grammar, and Usage
D. Research
E. Handwriting and Word Processing

III. Speaking, Listening, and Viewing
A. Speaking and Listening
C. Media Literacy

Upon course completion, students will be able to:

- Identify poetic devices in modern music
- Compare modern lyrics to poetry
- Describe the effect society has on music and music on society
- Evaluate music and poetry

Grading: The student will be expected to attend class and complete assignments.

25% Final Project
25% Midterm
50% Attendance and Assignments

Yearbook

Instructor: Diana Consuegra

Subject Area: English

This is part of a yearlong course analyzing photography, graphic design, and how they relate to the world around us. This trimester will analyze photography and photojournalism. Students will learn how to use a camera to capture poignant images. They will also learn how to edit these digital photos in Photoshop. Finally, the students will prepare these images for a gallery showing.

Resources:
- worldsfamousphotos.com
- deviantart.com
- magnumphotos.com
- psdtuts.com
Photographers:
- Philip-Lorca diCorcia
- Alec Soth (Minnesota native)
- Yasumasa Morimura


This course will meet the following Minnesota State Standards:

I. Reading and Literature
B. Vocabulary Expansion
C. Comprehension
D. Literature

II. Writing
C. Spelling, Grammar, and Usage
D. Research
E. Handwriting and Word Processing

III. Speaking, Listening, and Viewing
C. Media Literacy

Upon course completion, the student will be able to:
- Compare and Contrast different types of photography
- Utilize photo editing software
- Utilize a camera
- Identify photographic techniques
- Evaluate the impact of society on photography

Grading: The student will be expected to attend class and complete assignments.
25% Final Project
25% Midterm
50% Attendance and Assignments