Starting in high school, students have more options available as to classes. Certain classes are required to graduate, usually including a number of math, science, history and foreign language courses. Traditionally, schools also required a civics course explaining the structure and function of the U.S. government, though this is less common than it once was.
Depending on the school, there may be other required classes. These may include speech, computer science, economics or practical skills. All other class slots are filled with electives, which many students use to pursue personal interests or develop skills needed in future careers. Electives can include art, journalism, drama, film production and creative writing.
Besides conventional note taking and tests, some classes include the occasional hands-on activity. This is particularly common in science classes, which may include dissecting animal cadavers (pictured above) or synthesizing chemicals.
Other classes may have the students producing something. This could mean handmaking a physical product (such as the desk organizer pictured below) or a media product like a website or film trailer.
Presentations are also common. This begins with younger children, who are required to prepare and recite reports on books that they've read. Older students are tasked with more complex presentations, which can include constructing visual aids.