The Stonehaven School

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. Essential Texts: The Giver, Tartuffe, Much Ado About Nothing, Frankenstein, Little Women, Short Stories, Poetry
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 through Song of Solomon 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. The storyline follows the daily life and adventures of the Julii, a typical Ancient Roman family, and the readings familiarize students with Roman culture at the same time that they build a rapid facility with the Latin language.

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: The Screwtape Letters, The Hiding Place, Fahrenheit 451, The Crucible, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, Romeo and Juliet, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, To Kill a Mockingbird, Short Stories, Poetry
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 prophetic Old Testament books of Amos through Nehemiah with a Christ-centered focus. This course is taught in chronological order by the time period of each prophet's ministry. Students will read and discuss this often overlooked part of scripture to make connections within Scripture to better understand God’s redemptive story.
Latin I - 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 a story - making connections in context rather than by rote memorization. The storyline follows the daily life and adventures of the Julii, a typical Ancient Roman family, and the readings familiarize students with Roman culture at the same time that they build rapid facility with the Latin language.

Dialectic - Students will review formal logic and make long-form applications, learn to discern what they see in the media, what they hear in conversations, and what content they choose to invite into their homes and hearts through their devices, as well as gain the tools to analyze great speeches for rhetorical situations and effectiveness.
Ancient and Medieval History - This course traces the development of world civilizations from creation through the medieval period, drawing contrasts and connections between various people and cultures. Students also consider the many ways in which pre-modern civilizations influence and shaped the modern world. Through research and service projects, students are challenged with a lifelong passion for learning and a perspectival humility to serve and 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 the community. Readings will be aligned with history and dialectic curriculums as students hone the art of persuasion, careful analysis, and writing. Essential Texts: Mythology, Beowulf, The Odyssey, Song of Roland, The Canterbury Tales, Macbeth, Oedipus Rex, Confessions of St. Augustine, English Renaissance and Metaphysical Poetry, Short Stories
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 I - Beginning in the 9th grade, students can elect to take Spanish or continue their Latin instruction. Teachers strive to challenge the student’s mind to acquire a new language at such an intimate level that the student comprehends the target language without the aid of the intermediate step of translation. In order to achieve this goal, Stonehaven has adopted a broadly inductive approach to language instruction. Students learn vocabulary in the context of compelling readings instead of memorizing isolated lists. Grammar is introduced systematically and is reinforced through tiered stories as well as authentic texts.

AP European History + Medieval and Early Modern History - Beginning in the late Middle Ages, this course focuses on the political, religious, scientific, economic, and cultural developments of the Western world from the Renaissance to the twentieth century, with special attention paid to interaction and exchange between Europe and the world. Building on the foundation laid in the Grammar and Logic phases, this class focuses on recognizing complexity, context, causation, and continuity and change over time. In AP European History, students will dig deeper into historical sources, using them to make historical connections, synthesize ideas, and develop sound arguments.
Rhetoric I - In this first rhetoric course, students learn principles of winsome speech as developed in the foremost text on persuasion, Aristotle’s Rhetoric. Students learn the essential components of persuasion—the three appeals, the three types of speech, and the five canons.
Medieval and Early Modern Literature - Students will read and engage the foundational texts of Western Civilization. Through classic stories, students will consider the literary “hero”, epic poetry, and human nature. Readings will be aligned with history and rhetoric curriculums as students hone the art of persuasion, careful analysis, and writing. Essential Texts include Inferno, Paradise Lost, The Great Divorce, King Lear, Don Quixote, Pride and Prejudice, Jane Eyre, A Tale of Two Cities, English Romantic Poetry, Short Stories
Historical Theology - This course introduces students to the development of Christian doctrine from the second century through the beginning of the modern age, with special attention to the biblical basis and historical context of these developments. Students will continue to develop foundational skills for rhetoric school through primary source analysis, Harkness discussion, persuasive writing, and public speaking.
Algebra II - Algebra II is a ‘bridge’ course to higher-level mathematics. This course will expand upon the foundations previously laid out in Algebra I and Geometry and combine the two disciplines on occasion. Algebra II students will gain an appreciation for the beauty and order inherently found in mathematics as God originally created it. Students will solidify these God-given processes and mathematical laws as they pertain to solving real-world problems.
Chemistry - Students study the structure of the subatomic particles, and advance to writing, balancing, and performing stoichiometry on the various types of chemical reactions. Throughout the year students will have the opportunity to move from learning about chemistry to doing chemistry through various experiments. These experiments provide wonderful hands-on experience in the field and also prepare the students for the labs they will encounter in their science courses at the university level.
Latin III / Spanish II - Teachers strive to challenge the student’s mind to acquire a new language at such an intimate level that the student comprehends the target language without the aid of the intermediate step of translation. In order to achieve this goal, Stonehaven has adopted a broadly inductive approach to language instruction. Students learn vocabulary in the context of compelling readings instead of memorizing isolated lists. Grammar is introduced systematically and is reinforced through tiered stories as well as authentic texts.

AP United States History + American History - Students explore the narrative of the United States, spanning from the pre-Columbian era to the present. The course is designed to enhance students' skills in historical analysis, interpretation, and synthesis. Through the examination of primary and secondary sources, students gain a deeper understanding of the formation of the distinct American identity. In AP US History, students engage in a more in-depth exploration of historical sources. The focus is on understanding the economic, social, and cultural factors that have influenced the present.
Rhetoric II - Students focus on honing their reasoning and unique style by using the textbook, A Rhetoric of Love (Veritas), to add to the models of ancient Greeks and Romans by elevating Jesus’s models of living, loving, and persuading. “But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way”- 1 Corinthians 12:31.
American Literature - Students will read and engage in some of the quintessential texts of American Literature. Through classic stories, poems, and novels, students will use the lens of “What is the American Dream,” and how it lines up or deviates from Jesus’ teachings from the Sermon on the Mount. Readings will be aligned with the history and rhetoric curriculum as students hone the art of persuasion, careful analysis, and writing. Essential Texts: Their Eyes Were Watching God, East of Eden, The Scarlet Letter, The Sun Also Rises, The Great Gatsby, Othello, Age of Innocence, American Poetry, Short Stories
Systematic Theology - This course is a systematic study of theology including the nature of God, Jesus as both man and God, the nature of man, and soteriology. The aim of this course is for students to see the whole Bible as a unified story culminating in Jesus as the fulfillment of all Old Testament promises.
Pre-Calculus - Pre-Calculus weaves together previous studies of Algebra, Geometry, and mathematical functions into a preparatory course for Calculus. The course focuses on mastery of critical skills and exposure to new skills necessary for success in subsequent math courses.
AP Chemistry - AP Chemistry is an introductory college-level chemistry course. Students cultivate their understanding of chemistry through inquiry-based lab investigations as they explore the four Big Ideas: scale, proportion, and quantity; structure and properties of substances; transformations; and energy.
Physics - Students are introduced to the discipline of physics, discovering the laws and theories that govern matter and motion, force and acceleration, energy and momentum, heat and temperature, and magnets and electricity. A laboratory component will be an integral part of the course.
Human Anatomy / Physiology - From the smallest, most imperceptible parts to the largest, and most familiar ones, this course focuses on the anatomy and physiology of the human body and its organ systems. In this course, students will be intellectually challenged but also supported as they work through science concepts and thought-provoking experiments.
Latin IV / Spanish III - Teachers strive to challenge the student’s mind to acquire a new language at such an intimate level that the student comprehends the target language without the aid of the intermediate step of translation. In order to achieve this goal, Stonehaven has adopted a broadly inductive approach to language instruction. Students learn vocabulary in the context of compelling readings instead of memorizing isolated lists. Grammar is introduced systematically and is reinforced through tiered stories as well as authentic texts.

AP Literature and Composition + Modern World Literature - Students will read and engage the texts of modern world literature. Through classic stories, students will consider themes of the individual and society, oppression, freedom, education, and morality. Readings will be aligned with history and dialectic curriculums as students hone the art of persuasion, careful analysis, and writing. Essential Texts: Pride and Prejudice, 1984, Hamlet, The Plague, The Metamorphosis, The Brothers Karamazov (excerpts), Faust, Cry, The Beloved Country, Modernistic Poetry, Short Stories
Twentieth Century History - Students study world history in the twentieth century, with a particular emphasis on the political, intellectual, and cultural developments that shape modern life. From the World Wars and the Cold War to decolonization, secularization, globalization, and rapid technological advancements, students engage with a variety of sources to better comprehend the complexities of contemporary life.
Senior Capstone - Three years of logic and two years of rhetoric culminate in an exercise that combines research, source evaluation, media literacy, Bible literacy, and loving persuasion. Students participate in the Senior Capstone, bringing to bear all the available tools of persuasion to grapple with issues of value, morality, and logic.
Applied Theology - This year-long course introduces students to significant arguments, schools of thought, and Christian thinkers in the field of apologetics. Students will shore up their understanding of the gospel and learn about contextualization within different Biblical worldviews. Students will also have the opportunity to engage with classical sources, discuss ancient and modern forms of arguments for the Christian faith, and research and present to their class rational defenses of Christianity.
AP Calculus AB/BC - AP Calculus AB is an introductory college-level calculus course. Students cultivate their understanding of differential and integral calculus through engaging with real-world problems represented graphically, numerically, analytically, and verbally and using definitions and theorems to build arguments and justify conclusions as they explore concepts like change, limits, and the analysis of functions.
Physics - Students are introduced to the discipline of physics, discovering the laws and theories that govern matter and motion, force and acceleration, energy and momentum, heat and temperature, and magnets and electricity. A laboratory component will be an integral part of the course.
Human Anatomy / Physiology - From the smallest, most imperceptible parts to the largest, and most familiar ones, this course focuses on the anatomy and physiology of the human body and its organ systems. In this course, students will be intellectually challenged but also supported as they work through science concepts and thought-provoking experiments.
Latin V / Spanish IV - Teachers strive to challenge the student’s mind to acquire a new language at such an intimate level that the student comprehends the target language without the aid of the intermediate step of translation. In order to achieve this goal, Stonehaven has adopted a broadly inductive approach to language instruction. Students learn vocabulary in the context of compelling readings instead of memorizing isolated lists. Grammar is introduced systematically and is reinforced through tiered stories as well as authentic texts.

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.

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. Examples of manual arts practica include baking, farm & garden, and woodworking. Examples of fine arts practica include painting, drama, and choir.

"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)