Grade 7 Program

IV. GRADE 7 PROGRAM

Grade 7 Program Our Grade 7 program continues the work that began in Grade 6. No longer new to the middle school world, students are given greater responsibility and they see an increase in expectations. At the same time, they are surrounded by Faculty who have developed a program that ensures success for these adolescents. A continued focus on developing writing, reading, and study skills drives this program. Through grade-sponsored community service, grade level meetings, and advisory discussions, students are given the tools to show greater empathy for others and to come together as a more unified class that focuses on setting and achieving both individual and collective goals. By the end of the year, students are prepared with the skills and selfconfidence necessary for success in the coming years.

ENGLISH – REFLECTIONS OF SELF AND HISTORICAL CONNECTIONS

This course is designed to provide students with exposure to literacy genres that are thematically linked to the History syllabus. Rites of passage, conflicts and challenges, and the search for self are the main themes on which individualized and collaborative learning are based. Frequent writing assignments help students develop coherent and articulate expository essays. Editing skills are directly linked to instruction in grammar and punctuation as well as sentence and paragraph development. Students develop personal vocabulary through a formalized program, along with contextual vocabulary. Technology skills are integrated throughout the syllabus.

Resources: “English Workshop, Second Course,” Elvier “Vocabulary Workshop,” Shostak “Little Worlds,” by Guthrie and Page “Literature, Silver,” by Bowler, et al “My Brother Sam Is Dead,” by Coller and Collier “Soldier’s Heart,” by Paulson “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” by Shakespeare

MATH – TRANSITIONING FROM CONCRETE TO ABSTRACT

The Math Program works to prepare students for more complicated courses in their future. It also works to help students see that math is more than just a series of rules to apply in narrow contexts. As John Paulos wrote in his book, “A Mathematician Reads the Newspaper,” we work to leave our students “with a greater appreciation of the role of mathematics in understanding social issues and with a keener skepticism of its uses, nonuses, misuses, and abuses.”

Grade 7 is the grade most marked by different developmental thinking stages among students. Some students are not quite ready for the abstraction of thought required by algebra; some are almost there; and some are becoming proficient at abstraction.

Consequently, our courses have two major goals, with variations in instruction: finishing arithmetic with the goal of introducing abstraction and pre-algebra, and applying arithmetic skills to simple one- and twovariable equations and other contexts.

Texts: “Middle School Math, Course 2” “Pre-Algebra” HISTORY – EARLY UNITED STATES HISTORY TO THE CIVIL WAR

American History tells the story of dynamic struggle among diverse and often competing groups. Students will: demonstrate critical thought; develop their skills of oral and written expression; examine the exploration and colonization of America, the struggle for independence, the formation of the U.S. government, the reality and repercussions of slavery, industrial development, and the push westward that led to conflict and ultimately Civil War. The Prentice Hall text, “America: History of Our Nation” and other selected resources guide students on this journey, as they learn that anything we appreciate today, anything about this country that is decent, is that way because people worked together to create it.

Texts: “America: History of Our Nation” various primary and secondary resources

2012-2013 Middle School Program Guide

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IV. GRADE 7 PROGRAM

SCIENCE – EXPLORING THE WEB OF LIFE

MODERN LANGUAGE

The course begins with the study of the living cell as the foundation of life and culminates with in-depth investigation of the complexities of human organ systems and their independence. Heredity and genetics are discussed, and each human system is explored in depth. Students become familiar with the components of the systems and thoroughly understand the mechanisms of each system of the body. Students then understand the interdependency of the human systems and comprehend how different environmental influences affect these systems.

Students continue to practice oral communication skills by using the target language in class as often as possible, creating skits and giving oral presentations.

Listening activities are designed to practice and develop listening comprehension skills in real life content.

Students continue to develop their writing ability by adding more details to sentence structures and the future tense is introduce. Basic grammar notions are taught and complement the necessary foundation for writing skills.

There are hands-on interactions with models in the class that resemble some of the systems functions, as well as laboratory and field explorations that enhance understanding of the human body. Students continue to develop their knowledge of the scientific method and how to apply theory and hypothesis to the learning process.

Texts: “Cells,” Prentice Hall “Heredity,” Prentice Hall “Animals,” Prentice Hall “Human Biology,” Prentice Hall

2012-2013 Middle School Program Guide

Students continue to learn about the culture of French or Spanish speaking countries to acquire knowledge and understanding of other cultures.

Spanish Texts: “Spanish: Exprésate 1,” textbook and writing activities book French Texts: “Allez, viens!” Level 1 and workbooks

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