Core Philosophy

SOCIAL STUDIES

O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. (Quran 49:13)

Social Studies is an important focal point for integrating Legacy IOHS’ curriculum across the core disciplines. We have created a core curriculum in History and Social Science for grades 6-12 that covers all of the required topics in history and the social science disciplines. They are designed to facilitate integration with topics in science, English language arts, Islamic studies and even mathematics and fine arts. The course sequence sets a foundation of human life in the world today, and studies United States history in its global context. Legacy courses for high school credit begin in grade 8 and feature a two-year sequence of world history. This is followed by a year-long course in Ethics, Economics, and Civics, which offers a critical look at these topics. The last required high school course is a year-long survey of Islamic history with an interdisciplinary focus that includes history of the Islamic disciplines–the institutions that sustained Islam throughout the centuries. The final course is a capstone research project of students’ choosing under the guidance of an interdisciplinary team of Legacy faculty. These courses are original and groundbreaking, and meet and exceed states’ standards to draw upon national standards and international content reform efforts toward global education for preparing youth for college, careers, and citizenship. Students who participate in the middle and high school program will acquire cumulative knowledge and skills that will prepare them for high academic achievement, effective and compassionate community participation, and personal and spiritual fulfillment.

MATHEMATICS

Say: ‘If the ocean were ink [wherewith to write out] the words of my Lord, sooner would the ocean be exhausted than would the words of my Lord, even if we added another ocean like it, for its aid.’ (Quran 18:109)

In our program students will build basic skills and concepts in number system knowledge and also gain an appreciation and sense of wonder about the world of numbers. Opportunities for self-directed, individual work toward goals in mathematical skills and knowledge will be provided, with appropriate supports, to allow students to advance at their own pace.

A distinguishing element of the Legacy Math curriculum is cultivating Islamic ethics through Math such as balancing basic financial needs with planning their financial futures. Deep analytical knowledge of Math can support socioeconomic ideals of social justice and compassion, as well as understanding of social biases (such as in data management).

Just as our students become stellar mathematicians in the academic sense, we pray that they will use their mastery of numbers to become charitable, God-conscious and ethically aware in their future mathematical and financial endeavors.

SCIENCE

Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day are signs for Ulul Albab. (Quran 3:190)

Our science curriculum aims for this Quranic ideal: those who are ‘Ulul Albab. In other words those who study God’s signs in nature using their mind, body, soul and revelation. The focus is on the three-fold relationship we have with God, humanity and the environment. We strive to promote a sense of Ummah, aptitude and awe as we investigate creation, understand related issues and study our scientific heritage. To think and act like a Muslim scientist is to use one’s knowledge to improve oneself, others and most importantly hold oneself accountable to God Almighty as The Creator, Owner and Lord of the Cosmos. We aim to nurture this balance in our program through study, inquiry, experimentation, self reflection and related service projects. Our course offerings include ‘Stewardship’ (Environmental Science), ‘Miracle of Creation’ (Life Science) and ‘In Perfect Balance’ (Physics and Chemistry).

ENGLISH/LANGUAGE ARTS

‘O my Lord expand for me my breast, ease my task for me and remove the knot from my tongue so they may understand what I say’ (Prayer of Moses – Quran 20:25-28).

The Legacy IOHS English/Language Arts curriculum aims to create confident, culturally literate communicators. We seek to fulfill a student’s four needs: academic excellence, cultural literacy, self-esteem, and values consistent with Islam. We will incorporate literature from a variety of cultural backgrounds, including classical Muslim literature that has been translated into English as well as Western literary genres that align with Islamic morals. With literature in a variety of genres, students will engage in comprehensive literary analysis, interpretation, and critical thinking to consider complex and abstract topics.

Utilizing the Six-Trait method, students will develop familiarity with a wide variety of writing styles.They will also actively participate in all steps of the writing process, developing a critical eye both to their own writing and the writing of others, and learning that there is always room for improvement.