COURSE DESCRIPTIONS 2026-2027

Science - English - Math 

All classes are taught at 6901 Turkey Farm Road in Chapel Hill.

SCIENCE COURSES - MR. JIM MUELLER

Physics, High School 

Tuesdays, 1:15-3:15

Physics is the study of motion and energy, and in this class we will break up the year into those two major topics. The first half of the year will consist of the study of motion, including such topics as velocity, acceleration, Newton’s Laws, momentum, and more. The second half of the year we will study the more abstract concepts surrounding energy, including potential energy, kinetic energy, waves, resonance, sound, and light. Most classes will have lab work in which the students will put the concepts and the math that we have covered in class to real-world applications. 

Prerequisites: Students should have a very firm handle on algebra one. We will be working heavily with formulas and the more familiar a student is with math the better they will do in this class.

Chemistry, High School

Mondays, 1:15-3:15

Chemistry is the study of atoms and molecules and how they interact. This class is designed to give the students a firm understanding of basic chemistry concepts so that they will be well prepared if they wish to take a chemistry or biochemistry class in college. For the first part of the year, the students learn the “language” of chemistry. First, they will learn how to use the "alphabet" of chemistry: the periodic table. From there they will learn to create “words” with their "alphabet" by understanding how different atoms form molecules and how nomenclature is used to name those molecules. After that, they will finally begin to form sentences, which in chemistry is learning how to read, write, and balance chemical equations. Once we’ve learned the language, we will begin using it as we move on to stoichiometry, acids and bases, gas laws and more. Hands-on activities and labs will be used to reinforce and enhance the concepts as the year goes on.

Prerequisites: Students should have a very firm handle on Algebra 1. The more familiar a student is with math, the better they will do in this class.

Environmental Science, High School

Wednesdays, 1:15-3:15

In Environmental Science, students will develop an appreciation for environmental processes and discover how they are integrated with all other sciences and society. Throughout the year we will explore agriculture, meteorology, soil, fresh water biomes, population growth, and much more. We will also be looking at energy sources and efficiency. This class will be focused on the science of the environment and the interaction between the environment and humanity. Each concept will be accompanied by activities, labs, and demonstrations. We will also be creating an eco-column that will house plants, insects, and even a fish. This is an excellent course for students who may be looking for a low-math alternative to science. This class is not only a great class for early level science students but also for later level students since Environmental Science is multi-disciplinary and does a wonderful job pulling in concepts from biology, chemistry, and even physics.

Physics, Middle School

Fridays, 1:15-3:15

Physics is the fundamental science. It is key to understanding Chemistry, Biology, Astronomy and many more of the sciences. Through a series of enjoyable hands-on labs and lectures, the class will be a basic overview of Newton’s Laws, energy, magnetism, electricity and more. This class will be focused at more of a conceptual level and will be less focused on the math of physics.

ENGLISH COURSES - MRS. JEN MUELLER

Literature and Composition A

Fridays, 10:45-12:45

This course provides an excellent introduction to the formal study of language arts for the middle-school student, laying a strong foundation in the subjects of grammar, composition, literature study, and poetics. In grammar, students will learn to identify the parts of speech, parts of the sentence, phrases, and sentence purpose, as well as engage in vocabulary analysis. The focus of the composition curriculum will be on the development of well-crafted narrative compositions through the imitation of excellent literary models, following the narrative exercise of the Progym. Skills will include paraphrasing, summarizing, basic outlining, artful sentence construction, editing, and revising. Through the study of engaging classics of children's literature (fables, fairy tales, short stories, novels, plays, and poetry), students will learn to identify the basic elements of a story or poem, including setting, character, plot structure, point of view, as well as figures of speech, figures of description, and poetry rhyme and meter. Weekly journal assignments will aid students in connecting deeply with the works they read. This class is graded Pass/Fail. 

Suitable for Grades 6-7: Visit the Placement Guide for more information.

Literature and Composition B 

Thursdays, 10:45-12:45

In this course, students will review and apply skills from the previous year. We will continue with a more intensive study of grammar, and will practice applying our knowledge to improve our compositions. The students will continue with the narrative exercise of the Progym, working on well-crafted narratives with models that increase in length and complexity throughout the year. This class will include vocabulary analysis, advancing literary analysis, artful sentence construction skills, revising and editing skills, and more complex outlining and summarizing skills. Through the study of engaging classics of children's literature (fables, fairy tales, short stories, novels, and poetry), students will continue to identify the basic elements of a story or poem, including setting, character, plot structure, point of view, as well as figures of speech, figures of description, and poetry rhyme and meter. Weekly journal/commonplace assignments will aid students in connecting deeply with the works they read. ​This class is graded Pass/Fail.

Suitable for Grades 7-8: Visit the Placement Guide for more information.

Literature and Composition 2

Tuesdays, 10:45-12:45

​This class builds upon the foundation laid in Literature & Composition B. We will continue our study of grammar, and will practice applying our knowledge to improve our compositions. Through reading engaging classics of fiction, drama, and poetry, students will continue to develop an appreciation of literature. They will identify common themes and a broad range of literary devices, as well as develop comprehension, vocabulary decoding, and critical thinking skills. Lively discussion and weekly journaling will aid students in exploring and connecting deeply with the works they read. In composition, we will review and build upon the skills students learned in Lit & Comp B; however, the main focus will be expository writing. We will learn the basic elements of a formal persuasive essay, concentrating on structure, organization, coherence, word choice, and meaningful content. Basic MLA formatting will be introduced.

Suitable for Grades 8+: See the Placement Guide for more information.

Literature and Composition 3, Honors

Wednesdays, 10:45-12:45

​In this class the focus will be on more advanced instruction in expository essay writing focusing on literary analysis. Students will learn and practice more advanced skills in literary criticism, quotation usage, paragraph organization, sentence complexity, and MLA formatting. We will continue to work with the four levels of grammar on more challenging sentences, and will practice applying this knowledge to improve our compositions. Through reading engaging works of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry, students will practice critical analysis of literary elements as well as develop in comprehension, vocabulary decoding, and critical thinking skills. Lively discussion and debate will aid students in analyzing and connecting deeply with the works they read.

 Suitable for Grades 9-11: See the Placement Guide for more information. 

MATH COURSES - MR. ROB RICH

Pre-Algebra

Fridays, 8:30-10:30

The Pre-Algebra curriculum is focused on developing the mathematical capacities essential to the study of Algebra. This course will promote enhanced proficiency with standard mathematical principles and practices involving fractions, decimals, mixed numbers, percentages, the distributive property, and order of operations. Students will develop proficiency with the essential concepts of factoring, divisibility testing, least common denominators (LCD), greatest common factors (GCF), ratios, rates and proportions. Students will also be introduced to the foundational concept of Algebra, the variable, along with variable expressions and equations. Students will learn to solve single-variable equations and word problems. The principles of exponents and roots will be presented and practiced, as will perimeter, area, and volume.

Prerequisites: It is assumed that students have basic computational skills (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division); understand place value; and have a basic understanding of fractions and decimals.

Algebra 1

Thursdays, 8:30-10:30

When students move from arithmetic to Algebra, they are moving from the realm of the tangible to the realm of the abstract. They are making a shift from real numbers, which are constant, to variables, which are not. The work of the Algebra 1 course grounds them in this more fluid way of thinking. At the same time that their thinking is becoming more fluid, the methods and practices are relatively formal, requiring close attention, precision and sequential thinking. The course will cover variables, linear equations, graphing, functions, systems of equations, and absolute value. See course syllabus for more detail on the topics to be covered.

Pre-requisites: Students shall be proficient in the skills listed in the Pre-Algebra course syllabus.

Algebra 2

Wednesdays, 8:30-10:30

Algebra 2 provides a deeper immersion into the study of a wide range of functions, their characteristics, their solution methods, and their graphs. The course examines the qualities and importance of irrational and imaginary numbers, as well as fractional and negative exponents, and how they can be manipulated and simplified. The basic principles and methods of trigonometry are introduced, along with real-world applications and hands-on instruction in the use of surveying equipment. From a broader perspective, Algebra 2 is a training ground for precise and effective analytical thinking.

Pre-requisites: Students shall be proficient in the skills listed in the Algebra 1 course syllabus.