Reach New Heights: 10th Grade at Pennsylvania's Premier Online Cyber Charter High School
Welcome to the 10th Grade at PA Virtual High School! This pivotal year of high school offers a diverse range of courses designed to deepen your understanding of core subjects and explore new areas of interest. Our curriculum is designed to challenge you academically, foster your intellectual curiosity, and prepare you for the Keystone Exams. Whether you're delving into the complexities of U.S. History, exploring the world of Forensic Science, or advancing your language skills in Spanish, French, or German, our 10th-grade curriculum is designed to provide a comprehensive and engaging learning experience.
Cyber Charter High School Grade 10 Curriculum
English Language Arts 10
Prerequisite: English Language Arts 9
In English Language Arts 10 students will read and write on a variety of topics and styles. This yearlong course enhances students' literary analysis skills through engaging literature and nonfiction texts. The course integrates media literacy, career skills, grammar, and vocabulary within thematic units. Under the guidance of the eWriting software, students compose descriptive, persuasive, expository, literary analysis, research, narrative, and compare-contrast essays. This course culminates in students taking the required state Keystone exam in English Language Arts.
Honors English Language Arts 10
Prerequisite: English Language Arts 9 (90% or Higher) or Teacher Recommendation
Our Honors English Language Arts 10 course invites students to delve deeper into a diverse range of complex texts. This rigorous yearlong course promotes academic inquiry through comprehensive reading lessons and advanced writing projects. Students analyze classic and contemporary literary texts, including works by Ibsen, Orwell, and Satrapi. They will write argumentative, analytical, and research essays. The course culminates in the state-required Keystone exam in English Language Arts.
Geometry
Prerequisite: Algebra I
Geometry is a yearlong course deepens students' understanding of geometry, emphasizing reasoning and mathematical arguments. Key topics include triangle congruence, similarity, right triangle trigonometry, formulas for circumference, area, volume, connections between geometry and algebra, and set theory and probability. The course culminates with data-informed decision making.
Geometry Honors
Prerequisite: Algebra I (90% or Higher) or Algebra I Honors, or Teacher Recommendation
Honors Geometry is an advanced yearlong course explores Euclidean Geometry, transformations, tessellations, and in-depth study of triangles. Students delve into set theory, probability, quadrilaterals, and circle units. The course also covers parabolas, ellipses, hyperbolas, and modeling and computing two- and three-dimensional figures.
Financial Math
This practical yearlong course connects mathematical concepts to personal and business settings. It covers a range of topics including personal financial planning, budgeting, banking, taxes, insurance, long-term investing, buying a house, consumer loans, economic principles, traveling abroad, starting a business, and business data analysis. The course encourages mastery of math skill sets, including percentages, proportions, data analysis, linear systems, and exponential functions.
U.S. History
Prerequisite: Geography
Our yearlong U.S. History course delves into the significant events, people, and places that shaped early U.S. history. From the Era of Exploration to the Industrial Revolution, students explore the colonization of the New World, the constitutional foundations of the U.S. government, and the themes of territorial expansion, industrialization, and slavery through critical thinking and examination. The course culminates with a unit on the Civil War and Reconstruction.
U.S. History Honors
Prerequisite: Geography (90% or Higher) or Geography Honors, or Teacher Recommendation
U.S. History Honors is an advanced yearlong course covers U.S. history from the first colonial settlements to the Gilded Age and industrialization. Students study the American Revolution, the creation of the Constitution, the beginnings of the U.S. government, manifest destiny, slavery, and the Civil War and its implications. The course incorporates primary and secondary source analysis and interdisciplinary activities, encouraging students to connect history to other subjects.
Environmental Science
Our year long Environmental Science course surveys key topics, including the application of the scientific process to environmental analysis, ecology, energy flow, ecological structures, biochemistry, and biogeochemical cycles. Students explore these topics and conduct hands-on, unit-long research projects. They accurately apply the scientific method and process, including the creation of hypotheses. The course is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the environment and the impact of human activities on it.
Biology
Our year long Biology course immerses students in the study of life and living organisms, integrating traditional concepts with real-world applications. The course covers a broad range of topics, including biochemistry, cell biology, cell processes, heredity and reproduction, the evolution of life, taxonomy, human body systems, and ecology. Students engage in both hands-on wet labs and virtual lab options, providing a comprehensive and interactive learning experience. The course culminates in students taking the required state Keystone exam in Biology, ensuring they have mastered the key concepts and are ready for advanced studies.
Physical Science
Prerequisite: Biology
Biology is a yearlong course delves into the fundamental concepts of chemistry and physics. Students explore the chemical building blocks of our physical world, the composition of matter, and the properties affecting motion, forces, and energy on Earth. The course also covers the properties of electricity and magnetism. Interactive virtual labs and hands-on wet lab options enhance students' understanding of physical science.
Chemistry
Prerequisite: Biology or Honors Biology
This rigorous yearlong course engages students in the study of the composition, properties, changes, and interactions of matter. The course includes eighteen virtual laboratory experiments and covers topics such as electrochemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, nuclear chemistry, and real-world applications of chemistry. Wet lab options are also available for a more hands-on experience.
Chemistry Honors
Prerequisite: Biology (90% or Higher) OR Biology Honors, Teacher Recommendation
This advanced course provides an in-depth study of chemistry, emphasizing mathematical problem-solving and practical applications. Topics include atomic theory and structure, chemical bonding, states and changes of matter, chemical and redox reactions, stoichiometry, gas laws, solutions, acids and bases, and nuclear and organic chemistry. The course includes interactive and hands-on laboratory activities that enhance concept knowledge and develop scientific process skills like research and technical writing.
Read More In Our High School Course Guide
Spanish I
Our yearlong Spanish I course provides a comprehensive introduction to high school Spanish, focusing on four key areas of foreign language study: listening comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing. Each unit is structured around an ongoing adventure story, a new vocabulary theme, and a grammar concept. Students engage in interactive games that reinforce vocabulary and grammar, reading and listening comprehension activities, and speaking and writing exercises. The course also includes multimedia cultural presentations that cover major Spanish-speaking regions in Europe and the Americas.
Spanish II
Prerequisite: Spanish I
Spanish II is a yearlong course continues the introduction to Spanish, focusing on four key areas: listening comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing. Each unit features an ongoing adventure story, a new vocabulary theme, grammar concept, interactive games, reading and listening comprehension activities, speaking and writing activities, and cultural presentations. The course covers major Spanish-speaking areas in Europe and the Americas, providing a comprehensive understanding of the language and culture.
French I
Our yearlong French I course offers a thorough introduction to high school French, emphasizing four key areas of foreign language study: listening comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing. Each unit is centered around an ongoing adventure story, a new vocabulary theme, and a grammar concept. Students participate in interactive games that reinforce vocabulary and grammar, reading and listening comprehension activities, and speaking and writing exercises. The course also features multimedia cultural presentations that cover major French-speaking areas in Europe and across the globe.
French II
Prerequisite: French I
French II is a yearlong course, students continue their introduction to French, reviewing and building upon the fundamental aspects of the language: listening comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing. Each unit includes an ongoing adventure story, a new vocabulary theme, grammar concept, interactive games, reading and listening comprehension activities, speaking and writing activities, and cultural presentations. The course covers major French-speaking areas across the globe, offering a broad understanding of the language and culture.
German I
Our yearlong German I course provides a comprehensive introduction to high school German, focusing on four key areas of foreign language study: listening comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing. Each unit is structured around an ongoing adventure story, a new vocabulary theme, and a grammar concept. Students engage in interactive games that reinforce vocabulary and grammar, reading and listening comprehension activities, and speaking and writing exercises. The course also includes multimedia cultural presentations that cover major German-speaking regions in Europe.
German II
Prerequisite: German I
German II is a yearlong course continues the introduction to German, focusing on four key areas: listening comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing. Each unit features an ongoing adventure story, a new vocabulary theme, grammar concept, interactive games, reading and listening comprehension activities, speaking and writing activities, and cultural presentations. The course covers major German-speaking areas in Europe, providing a comprehensive understanding of the language and culture.
Art History I
Our year long Art History I course provides high school students with a comprehensive overview of art history. The course is organized chronologically and by world regions, covering a broad range of topics. These include early medieval and Romanesque art, art from the twelfth to the fourteenth centuries, fifteenth-century European art, sixteenth-century Italian art, the master artists, High Renaissance and Baroque art, and world art from Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Pacific cultures. The course also delves into eighteenth and nineteenth-century art in Europe and the Americas, as well as modern art from these regions.
Music Appreciation
Our year long Music Appreciation course introduces students to the history, theory, and various genres of music. The course takes students on a journey through music history, from the earliest forms of music to contemporary pieces from around the world. The first section of the course covers early musical forms, classical music, and American jazz. The second section explores modern traditions, including gospel, folk, soul, blues, Latin rhythms, rock and roll, and hip hop. The course also examines the relationship between music and social movements, and how the emergence of a global society and the prominence of the Internet are making music more accessible worldwide.
Lifetime Fitness II
This quarter-long course explores safe exercise and injury prevention, nutrition, and weight management. Additional topics include product evaluation and healthy stress management techniques. The goal is to equip high school students with the skills they need to achieve and maintain lifetime fitness. We split our fitness assessments into the five categories: Cardiovascular health, muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, and body composition. Students are encouraged to design their own personal fitness plan to meet their goals.
Healthy Living
This one-semester course invites students to make responsible and informed decisions in important aspects of life, as well as consider healthy attitudes and behavior patterns.
Contemporary Health
This one-semester course examines and analyzes various health topics. It places alcohol use, drug use, physical fitness, healthy relationships, disease prevention, and mental health in the context of creating a healthy lifestyle. Students examine practices and plans they can implement to carry out a healthy lifestyle and the consequences they can face if they do not follow safe practices.
Digital Citizenship and Career Exploration
This 1-quarter, pass/fail course provides students with a comprehensive overview of online learning, independent work, safety, and effective study habits. A mixture of direct-instruction videos, interactive tasks, authentic projects, and rigorous assessments prepares students for high school by teaching them critical study skills.
Reaching Your Academic Potential
Required for all 10th-grade Students
This 1-quarter, pass/fail course provides students with a comprehensive overview of online learning, independent work, safety, and effective study habits. A mixture of direct-instruction videos, interactive tasks, authentic projects, and rigorous assessments prepares students for high school by teaching them critical study skills.
As well as Electives including:
Astronomy
Civics & Government
Child Development
Computer Applications: Office 2016
Creative Writing
Culinary Arts I
Drawing & Design
Economics
Intro to Coding
Intro to Family and Consumer Science
Literacy Skills
Personal Finance
Psychology
Principles of Business, Marketing, and Finance
Principles of Information Technology
Sports & Entertainment Marketing
Veterinary Science
And Keystone Exam Prep Courses Including:
- Keystone Algebra I Prep
- Keystone Biology Prep
A Safe & Supportive Online Learning Environment
Parents as Learning Partners
In our online tenth-grade, we view education as a collaboration between school and home. We actively involve parents in their child's cyber schooling, providing regular updates, resources, and support. Together, we can illuminate a bright future for your child.
Shape Your Future with 10th Grade at PA Virtual High School
As you progress through 10th grade at PA Virtual High School, you'll gain a deeper understanding of the world around you, develop critical thinking skills, and prepare for future academic endeavors. Our range of courses, from core subjects to electives, are designed to cater to your unique interests and career goals. With the support of our dedicated faculty and the flexibility of our online learning environment, you'll be well-equipped to succeed in your 10th-grade year and beyond.
Ready to Enroll?
