Middle School Advanced Learner Placement for Students (ALPS) Program

The Jordan District ALPS Program is designed to provide greater depth and complexity, infuse creativity and critical thinking into the curriculum, and to provide appropriate learning experiences for the academically talented student. To enter the ALPS program, students must show evidence of advanced abilities through an assessment process. The 7th and 8th grade courses listed below are specific to the ALPS program. 

Biology H (Foundation/Core) Course #3004, Credit (BS), Grade 9, 1.0 Credit
The Biology Core includes three major concepts for instruction. (1) The structures in all living things occur as a result of necessary functions. (2) Interactions of organisms in an environment are determined by the biotic and abiotic components of the environment. (3) Evolution of species occurs over time and is related to the environment in which the species live. Students will be expected to design investigations in the laboratory and field using research technologies.  The ALPS section is taught with an added emphasis on depth, complexity, creativity, and critical thinking.  

Earth Science H  (Foundation/Core) Course #3102, Credit (ES), Grade 9, 1.0 Credit
The theme for Earth Science is systems as an organizing concept to understand life on Earth, geological change, and the interaction of atmosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere. Earth’s place in the universe, internal structure, atmospheric processes, and resources are explored to help students understand how Earth Science interacts with society.  

Human Geography AP Course #6126, Credit (WG), Grade 9, 1.0 Credit
This college level course covers the nature and perspectives of geography, population, cultural patterns and processes, political organization of space, agricultural and rural land use, industrialization and economic development, and cities and urban land use. University credit can be earned with a successful performance on the Advanced Placement (AP) exam.  

Integrated Science 7 Course #3050, Grade 7, .5/1.0 Credit
Seventh Grade Integrated Science focuses on the theme of “structure.” Life, physical, and earth science content are integrated in a core curriculum. The standards to be taught relate to matter, structure of earth’s crust and interior, structure of cells and organisms, reproduction and heredity of organisms, and classification schemes. The ALPS section is taught with an added emphasis on depth, complexity, creativity, and critical thinking. 

Integrated Science 8 Course #3051, Grade 8,  1.0 Credit 
Eighth Grade Integrated Science focuses on the theme of “change.” Physical, earth, and life science contents are integrated in a core curriculum. The standards to be taught relate to observations of chemical and physical change, changes in biological energy, forces, energy, and motion, constructing machines, and changes in the Earth’s crust and climate.  The ALPS section is taught with an added emphasis on depth, complexity, creativity, and critical thinking. 

Language Arts 7 H - CORE Course #4508, Grade 7, 1.0 Credit
This course, based on the 7th grade Utah English Language Arts (ELA) Core Standards, is a combination of Honors Language Arts and Honors Reading.  It is designed for students who qualify for more advanced instruction in reading comprehension and writing. It follows course descriptions for Language Arts 7H and Reading 7H.  The ALPS section is taught with an added emphasis on depth, complexity, creativity, and critical thinking. 

Language Arts 8 H Course #4526, Grade 8, 1.0 Credit
This course, based on the 8th Grade Utah English Language Arts (ELA) Core Standards, is designed for students who qualify for more advanced instruction in reading comprehension, writing, methods of inquiry, and the processes, skills, and strategies for effective communication. The ALPS section is taught with an added emphasis on depth, complexity, creativity, and critical thinking.  

Language Arts 9 H Course #4543, Credit (ELA), Grade 9, 1.0 Credit
This course, based on the 9th Grade Utah English Language Arts (ELA) Core Standards, is designed for students who qualify for more advanced instruction in reading comprehension, writing, methods of inquiry, and the processes, skills, and strategies for effective communication. 

Language Arts 10 H Course #4602, Credit (ELA), Grade 9, 1.0 Credit
This course, based on the 10th Grade Utah English Language Arts (ELA) Core Standards, is designed for students who qualify for more advanced instruction in reading comprehension, writing, methods of inquiry, and the processes, skills, and strategies for effective communication. 

U.S. History 1 H Course #6013, Grade 8, 1.0 Credit
United States History 1 H includes events and issues in United States history from the Age of Exploration through Reconstruction, emphasizing the 18th and 19th centuries. Topics include, but are not limited to, American Indian life, European exploration and colonization, the Revolutionary War, constitutional issues, nation building, expansion, the Civil War, and Reconstruction.  The standards can be taught either chronologically or thematically, but are organized into chronological periods. Periodization is an organizational tool historians use to make connections and draw distinctions. Periods are flexible ways of making meaning, and may overlap chronologically.  Students will be expected to demonstrate their understanding of each period’s key historic, geographic, economic, and civic concepts by applying those concepts to complete cognitively rigorous tasks. Whenever possible, students will be expected to make connections between historically significant events and current issues, helping to deepen their understanding of the context and complexity of civic life and preparing them for civic engagement. The ALPS section is taught with an added emphasis on depth, complexity, creativity, and critical thinking.

Utah Studies 7 Course #6000, Grade 7, .5/1.0 Credit
Utah is an amazing place, rich in resources, in geographic wonders, in inspiring history, and in the diversity of its people. The study of Utah permits students to understand more deeply the place they call home, while developing essential skills unique to the social studies disciplines. Within these standards, Utah Studies offers an opportunity for students to learn about their own families and cultures as well as those of others. The Utah Studies standards are based on four social studies disciplines: history, geography, economics, and civics. Students will explore the complex history of Utah, with examples of creativity, sacrifice, conflict, innovation, inequity, compromise, and leadership. Students will also learn about Utah’s diverse physical geography, encounter Utah’s economic systems and dynamics, and explore local and statewide political systems. The range of the Utah Studies standards allows teachers flexibility in designing the course scope and sequence. The course could be organized thematically, with distinct units of study related to the social studies disciplines of economics, geography, history and political science/civics. The ALPS section is taught with an added emphasis on depth, complexity, creativity, and critical thinking.   

World Geography H Course #6022, Credit (WG), Grade 9, 1.0 Credit
Geography is the study of physical and human characteristics of the Earth’s people, places, and environments. Students will develop geographic thinking skills by studying the “why of where” as they examine the interactions, interconnections, and implications of forces shaping our world today. They will apply geographic knowledge and geo-literacy skills to identify, locate, interpret, analyze, and evaluate geographic patterns and processes. These standards emphasize both human geography and physical geography, and students will explore the interconnections between the two.

Grade Level	English  Language Arts	World  Language	Math	Science	Social Studies
7th Grade	Course 4508 Language Arts 7 H	World Language Course of Choice at the Appropriate Level	Determined by Assessments  and Teacher Recommendation	Course 3050 Integrated Science  7	Course 6000 Utah Studies 7
8th Grade	Course 4526 Language Arts 8 H			Course 3051 Integrated Science  8	Course  6013 U.S. History 1 H
9th Grade	Course 4543 Language Arts 9 H or Course 4602 Language Arts 10 H			Course 3004 Biology H  or Course 3102 Earth Science H	Course 6022 World Geography H or Course 6126 Human Geography AP

Due to multiple options of enrichment and acceleration at the high school level, the ALPS program is not offered past 9th grade.    The following table outlines suggested ELA courses for students entering the high school from the ALPS program, and displays a visual organizer of other core content classes students will take in their sophomore, junior, and senior years.

Grade Level	English  Language Arts	World Language	Math	Science	Social Studies
10th Grade	Course 4602 Language Arts 10H or Course 4612 Language Arts 11H	World Language Course of Choice at the Appropriate  Level	Determined by Assessments  and Teacher Recommendation	*	*
11th Grade	*			*	*
12th Grade	*			*	*

*Determined by students’ interest and offerings at the high school as it relates to their career and college readiness plans.

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LEGEND (Credit)

ILA = Individual Lifetime Activities
ELA = English Language Arts
FL = Fitness for Life
M = Mathematics
PS = Physical Science
PST = Participation Skills & Techniques
Sr. ELA = Senior English Language Arts
S = Foundation/Core Science
WH = World History
USH = US History
USGC = US Government & Citizenship

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