The Stonehaven School – Upper School Curriculum

The scope and sequence to Stonehaven's curriculum follows a distinct classical Christian model. The primary goals to this curriculum design include integration of disciplines, a liberal arts focus, and alignment with the developmental phases of the Trivium. The Upper School Curriculum seeks to engage the student's capacity for logical thinking and persuasive communication.

7th Grade

8th Grade

9th Grade

10th Grade

11th Grade

12th Grade

Formal Logic - Students learn to evaluate arguments and determine whether they are valid or invalid. Students begin with a brief overview of the foundations of Western philosophical thought and progress to explore the grammar of logic: terms, categorical statements, and syllogisms.
History - This course focuses on the foundations of the modern world, from the Renaissance and Reformation through the French Revolution and Age of Napoleon. Students will learn basic research skills and use primary sources to better understand the people, events, and conflicts of the early modern era.
Literature - Students read plays, novels, and poetry in conversation with their study of history while also reviewing fundamentals of grammar and composition. In their study of literature, students evaluate character development and major themes in a text. Sample Texts: Tartuffe, Frankenstein, Much Ado About Nothing, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Earth Science - Earth Science is designed to foster a sense of wonder and responsibility for God’s amazing world. Within the context of the fascinating study of landforms, minerals, and planetary phenomena, many other timely and important topics are covered including conservation of natural resources, pollution, and environmental justice.
Pre-Algebra - The goal of Pre-Algebra is to develop fluency with rational numbers and proportional relationships. Students will extend their grammar-level skills and begin to learn algebra concepts that serve as a transition into formal Algebra and Geometry.
Old Testament I - This class will survey the Old Testament books of Genesis-2 Kings with a Christ-centered focus. The goal is to explore God’s revelation to his people of the promised redemption in Jesus Christ as seen in creation, the patriarchs, the exodus, the settling of the promised land, the Davidic kingdom, and the exile to Babylon. Students will read and discuss scripture, explore connections with other parts of the Old and New Testaments, and seek to apply the Biblical worldview to their lives.
Latin: Students continue their study of Latin using Hans Oerberg’s classic Latin novel, Lingua Latina. Through this novel, students learn Latin vocabulary and grammar through the context of story - making connections in context rather than by rote memorization.

Informal Logic - Students learn to look for logical mistakes that are made in the content of the argument, a step farther than examining the arrangement of the argument in traditional formal logic. Logic 8 students train their eyes to spot the ways fallacies creep into the cultural conversation.
History - Relying on primary sources, this course focuses on the history of the United States and the modern world. Careful attention is paid to the foundations of American government, the Civil War and Reconstruction, and the changes in society through the twentieth century.
Literature - In eighth grade literature, students read novels, poetry, and drama paying careful attention to questions of justice, duty, and responsibility while also considering literature's role as social commentary. Students will continue to develop their ability to argue persuasively in writing assignments relying on their foundational knowledge of grammar and composition. Essential Texts: Fahrenheit 451, Twelve Years a Slave, Romeo and Juliet, To Kill a Mockingbird
Physical Science - Topics covered within Physical Science include: types of matter, energy, order and design in creation, forces and fields, measurement, motion, sound and light, electricity and magnetism, and the nature of scientific knowledge.
Algebra I - The objective of Algebra is to learn and appreciate the art of expressing problems with abstract symbols and then using rules and techniques to solve these problems. The essential elements of Algebra are the unifying thread of all mathematics and provide an excellent opportunity to teach students to give careful attention to detail and learn important methods to check their work.
Old Testament II - This class will survey the Old Testament books of I Chronicles - Malachi with a Christ-centered focus. The goal is to explore God’s revealed wisdom in his word and his Spirit led proclamation of the word of God to his people. Students will read and discuss this often overlooked part of scripture to make connections within Scripture to better understand God’s redemptive story.
Latin 1 / Spanish 1 - Beginning in the 8th grade, students can elect to take Spanish or continue their Latin instruction. Both classes use the pedagogical approach of Comprehensible Input for language acquisition. One year of high school credit can be earned toward the Foreign Language graduation requirement.

Dialectic - Students will complete the dialectic phase of the trivium by engaging formal logic in long-form texts. Students will develop a critical eye for the messages in our world. Students will be given the tools to analyze great speeches for rhetorical situation and effectiveness.
Ancient History - This course focuses on the development of early civilizations and their role in shaping the modern world while drawing contrasts and connections in world history as a way to equip students with a life-long passion for learning and a perspectival humility to serve and to lead.
9th Grade Literature - Students will read and engage the foundational texts of Western Civilization. Through classic stories, students will consider the literary “hero”, epic poetry, and the individual’s relationship to community. Readings will be aligned with history and dialectic curriculums as students hone the art of persuasion, careful analysis, and writing. Essential Texts: The Odyssey, The Aeneid, Till We Have Faces, Macbeth
Biology - Biology is the science in which the nature of life is studied; therefore, Biology is the study of God’s glorious workmanship! Students are reminded of God’s creative power as they study atoms and molecules, the structure and function of a cell, and advancing through genetics, microorganisms, plants, animals, and ecosystems.
Geometry - In the study of geometry, students learn the art of deductive reasoning that has served as the foundation for mathematical thinking for the last 2,000 years. Geometry is essentially the application of logic to mathematics, and students will learn the nature of lines, angles, triangles, polygons, distance, and other similar topics related to shape, size, position, and the properties of space. Honors students will also explore Euclid’s Elements.
New Testament Survey - This class will survey the New Testament books of the Bible. The goal is to see the fulfillment of the promises in the Old Testament about the savior to come, the importance of the death and resurrection of Jesus and the promised Holy Spirit, the creation of the church and the call to persevere until Christ returns. Students will read and discuss scripture, make connections to the Old Testament, and examine their identity in Christ.
Latin II / Spanish II - Students continue the language progression that was chosen in the 8th grade - moving on to either Latin II or Spanish II.

Medieval / Early Modern Literature and History
Rhetoric I
Church History
Algebra II & Trigonometry
Chemistry
Latin III / Spanish III

American Literature & History
Rhetoric II
Ethics / Apologetics
Pre-Calculus
Physics
Latin IV / Spanish IV

British Literature
Modern History
Senior Rhetoric Capstone
Redemptive History
Calculus or Statistics
Advanced Science
Latin V / Spanish V

Subjects

Logic / Rhetoric

Logic phase students (7th-9th grades) engage with both formal and informal logic moving towards analysis of long-form argumentation so they may practice careful listening and reading, sound reasoning, precise communication, and confident yet humble dialectic.

10th-12th grade students study rhetoric. Rhetoric is the ability to see what is persuasive in every given case, according to Aristotle who also noted that it can be used by virtuous people as well as the depraved. Stonehaven's Upper School strongly desires graduates to use rhetoric to demonstrate and defend truth, goodness, and beauty while using learned tools to analyze the persuasive efforts of others.

History

Students study the past to better understand the people, forces, and events that shaped the world as they know it. Relying heavily on primary sources, students develop their historical thinking by making historical connections, evaluating continuity and change over time, and considering the context and complexity of historical events.

Literature

Through the study of great books, students evaluate character through the lens of virtue, learn to identify and analyze the major themes of a literary work, and consider expressions of truth, goodness, and beauty in the written word. In addition to reviewing fundamentals of grammar and composition, students hone their ability to write and argue persuasively through essays and socratic discussion.

Science

Within Stonehaven’s science program, we seek to draw students into close engagement with the subject matter and provide a solid education while fostering a sense of wonder and responsibility for God’s amazing creation. Learning through laboratories is an integral part of the science program. Not only does a lab practicum give students direct knowledge and experience that are virtually impossible to obtain from a text, but the report writing component of the lab work provides a rich enhancement to the primary objectives for the course.

Subjects

Mathematics

In studying mathematics, Stonehaven challenges students to discover creative methods of problem solving, to think logically and orderly, and to work carefully all while developing a deeper appreciation for the beauty and order of God's creation.

Bible

The goal of Stonehaven's Bible program is rooted in discipleship - teaching Biblical truth in the context of a trusted relationship. It is because of this aim that we have gender-specific Bible classes for logic phase students. Our Bible teachers invest in knowing our students well so that Biblical knowledge can be applied to the heart. In the Rhetoric phase, the focus is training our students to communicate the gospel in meaningful ways to our culture. Through studies in Biblical Worldview, ethics, church history, and redemptive Biblical themes, students learn to answer the questions: "Who is God" and "What does He mean to me" in profoundly personal and impactful ways.

Foreign Language

Stonehaven uses the pedagogical approach of Comprehensible Input in both Latin and Spanish Language instruction. Language is not built up from grammar practice, but from consistent and constant exposure to input. Input is indispensable to language acquisition. An input-rich class is an equitable class, where all students can succeed.

Practica

Because Stonehaven is committed to preparing our students for all aspects of life, we offer a wide selection of practica which include training in life skills and the arts. Some of the Vocatio (Life-work) Practica include baking, horticulture, and gastronomy. Artes (Arts) Practica include fine arts electives such as ceramics, theatre, and orchestra.

"Eustace had read only the wrong books. They had a lot to say about exports and imports and governments and drains, but they were weak on dragons." - C.S. Lewis ( Voyage of the Dawn Treader )