Seventh Grade Curriculum

English / Language Arts (ELA)
Grammar:
Students will engage in a study of grade-appropriate grammar skills through immersion in writing, in the context of reading, and in isolation through units of study in Elements of Language: First Course published by Holt. Units of study include but are not limited to:
  • Parts of Speech: noun, pronoun, adjective, verbal phrases, adverb, prepositional phrases, conjunction, interjection, independent and subordinate clauses, direct and indirect objects, and subject complements
  • Agreement: subject and verb, pronoun and antecedent
  • Modifiers comparison and placement
  • Verbs: regular and irregular, tense, and voice
  • Using Pronouns Correctly: nominative and objective case forms
  • Punctuation: end marks, commas, semicolons, colons, italics, quotation marks, apostrophes, and hyphens
  • Sentence structure
Writing: 
Students will learn to peer edit and write the following though the writing process:
  • Functional and expository writing: formal and informal letters, responses to literature, lists, thank you notes, directions, how-to, study guides, etc.
  • Narratives
  • Persuasive writing
  • Fictional writing
Science

Seventh Grade Science is designed to equip students with the necessary skills for a smooth transition from elementary life science standards to high school biology standards. The purpose is to give all students an overview of common strands in life science including, but not limited to, diversity of living organisms, structure and function of cells, heredity, ecosystems, and biological evolution.

Seventh grade students keep records of their observations, use those records to analyze the data they collect, recognize patterns in the data, use simple charts and graphs to represent the relationships they see, and find more than one way to interpret their findings. They make and use observations to explain the diversity of living organisms and how the organisms are classified, how they reproduce and how genetic information is passed from parents to their offspring. They use different models to represent systems such as cells, tissues, and organs. They use what they know about ecosystems to explain how matter cycles and energy flows through the ecosystem. They use the concepts of natural selection and fossil evidence to construct explanations about the diversity of life that they see. Seventh graders plan and carry out investigations, describe observations, and show information in graphical form. The students replicate investigations and compare results to find similarities and differences.

Math
The 7th grade math curriculum is supported by McDougal Littell’s Math Course 3 textbook. This course focuses on rational numbers and their operations, equations and inequalities. Topics from math strands, such as real number properties, geometric formulas, and averages, are introduced early in the course and then integrated and expanded upon throughout. Later chapters include topics such as linear equations and their graphs, properties of right triangles, geometric transformations, and probability. Technology support for course content and standardized test preparation is available at classzone.com. Students will be assessed on daily assignments, supplemental activities, quizzes, and exams.

At the end of seventh grade, students take the Orleans-Hannah Placement Test. The placement test, test averages in seventh grade, standardized test scores, and teacher recommendations are taken into consideration to determine whether a student will take Honors Algebra I or Basic Algebra in the 8th grade.

Literature
Literature engages students through a variety of novels, short stories, and poetry to teach foundational skills. Students will learn how to identify key ideas and details, analyze craft and structure, and integrate cross-curricular knowledge. Students will read, respond to, listen to and discuss various genres of differing complexity and interest. In addition to using Elements of Learning: First Course published by Holt, students will read the following, but not limited to, novels:

  • Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
  • The Giver
  • The Outsiders
  • The Wednesday Wars
  • The Hunger Games
  • City of Ember
Our mission is to meet students where they are in reading and grow them by providing the necessary skills to stretch their reading, responding to literature through speaking and writing, and analyzing text.
Social Studies

The seventh grade Social Studies curriculum focuses on developing the student’s awareness and understanding of the historical significance of events as it relates to heritage and current cultural existence. Students begin to analyze United States’ history in context of its geology, geography, and human interaction. This curriculum is supported by McDougall Littell’s American History: Reconstruction to the Present and other support materials as the teacher provides. This may include, but is not limited to, appropriate guest speakers, field trips, and educational video clips/movies.

Physical Education
The benchmarks in the Physical Education Curriculum are designed to promote each student’s optimum physical, mental, and social development. This curriculum represents a student-centered approach to physical education, consisting of appropriate grade level learning activities that support and encourage physical fitness (basic movement skills; team, dual, and individual sports; physical fitness; rhythm and dance) as well as lifelong physical activities are all addressed.
Exploratory
Exploratory classes initiate exploration in extracurricular areas that encourage well-rounded students and inquisitive learners.  These class may include, but are not limited to, Introduction to Spanish, Art, Bible, Typing to Learn, Introduction to Computers, Character Education, and G.R.E.A.T. programming.