Curriculum Overview

7th Grade

Reading - The short story, poetry, elements of drama, fantasy and science fiction, American myths, fables and folktales, non-fiction, elements of a novel. Selected reading includes: Holes, The Call of the Wild, and Farewell to Manzanar, “Our Town.”

Grammar - Grammar, usage, and mechanics: review of sentence structure and parts of speech, complements, phrases, clauses, pronouns, verbs, agreement, modifiers, review of punctuation and spelling.

Spelling/Vocabulary - Wordly Wise, Book 4

Writing Process - The writing process, expressive writing, informative writing, persuasive writing, descriptive writing, process writing, compare and contrast, classification, argument, definition; students maintain a daily journal.

Mathematics - Decimal notation, estimation, fractions and percents, positive and negative powers of 10, scientific notation for large and small numbers, circles and circle graphs, customary and metric measurement conversions, measuring angles, variables and algebraic expressions, formulas, inequalities and open sentences, grouping symbols and order of operations, probability and relative frequency, adding positive and negative integers and fractions, solving algebraic equations, problem-solving strategies, spreadsheets, graphs, absolute value, square roots, Venn diagrams, multiplication and division with negative numbers, rates and ratios, means extreme property, coordinate graphs and transformations, area of polygons, surface area and volume of 3-dimensional figures, proportions in similar figures, Pythagorean Theorem, Triangle Sum Theory, vertical and supplementary angles, parallel and perpendicular lines, quadrilaterals, tesselations, properties of addition and multiplication, graphing lines, scientific calculator applications.

Science - Earth Science: the Earth (structure, composition), astronomy (solar system, stars, galaxies, universe), Earth’s surface (rocks, minerals, erosion, weathering, soil formation, energy, resources), Earth’s waters (freshwater, oceans), weather and climate. Science fair projects: scientific process, controlled experiments, communicating in science.

Social Studies - World Geography: geography skills, regions of the world (South Asia, East Asia, Southeast Asia, Middle East, Africa, Australia and Oceania, Russia, the Americas, and Europe.) Culture projects with each unit.

Weekly Enrichment Classes

Computer - 1st Semester: Computer History and Technology. Adding machines, analytic engines, integrated circuits, binary language, software, hardware, input/output devices, storage devices, networks. 2nd Semester: Web Page Design. Plan/create web page, introduction to HTML, publish web page.

Spanish - Nouns, articles, adjectives, verbs, sentence structure and translation, pronunciation, listening and speaking skills.

Art - Elements of art (color, form, line, shape, space, texture, value), principles of art and design (balance, contrast, emphasis, proportion, pattern, rhythm, unity, and variety), famous artists, emphasis on 2-dimensional media (pencil, charcoal, pastel, paint).

Physical Education - Preparation for the Presidential Physical Fitness Test; weekly physical fitness logs; long-distance running; increased competency in sports skills and strategies; tennis, volleyball, soccer, baseball, kickball, basketball, flag-football, Ultimate Frisbee, floor hockey, badminton, dodgeball; maintaining physical fitness through flexibility, strength training, and aerobic exercise; sportsmanship, fair play, and effort

Sacred Studies - Students study the Minor Prophets of the Old Testament, and the New Testament from the Gospels through Revelation, with emphasis on the Gospels, the person of Jesus Christ, and the letters of Paul.