Seventh grade brings new opportunities for growth that comes with rotating classes, their own locker space, and choosing an exploratory program. Rigorous academics and community service learning through the advisory program are avenues to transform students into prepared eighth grade graduates.
Seventh grade ELA weaves together instruction in reading, writing, and speaking to encourage reading critically as well as reading for pleasure; writing analytically as well as creatively; and communicating well orally in various contexts.
Through their study of literature, students will build their understanding of self and personal identity, as well as the significance of the identities of others. Through independent reading, book clubs, and class texts, the seventh grade curriculum asks students to find connections between themselves and the characters (or people in nonfiction texts) and their own hearts and minds as they grow as members and leaders of a local and global community. Simultaneously, students use their class readings as mentor texts, experimenting with the same literary and poetic devices they have studied in their own writing.
Seventh grade writing instruction models and demystifies the writing process; asks students to write in a variety of forms; encourages growth through meaningful feedback; and builds students’ understanding of grammar, vocabulary, and mechanics to produce written pieces that address Common Core learning standards. Bringing together Common Core reading and writing standards, the seventh grade ELA curriculum encourages authentic dialogue between peers, rigorous analysis, creative expression, and a personal application of each theme to each student's unique life experience.
Seventh grade History focuses on ancient civilization, world geography, Washington State history and the development of modern society over time. Students develop skills in reading and analyzing primary documents. They work on literacy skills that include pre-reading strategies, organized note taking, and post-reading comprehension methods. Students work on writing skills including clear topic sentences, adding historical facts and include relevant background information and commentary. The class uses the History Alive curriculum, ‘Ancient World & Beyond’ and ‘Medieval World & Beyond’.
Each class will focus on the common core standards drawing from the Big Ideas: Red textbook as well as the ALEKS Middle School Math Course 2. Focus in the seventh grade will intertwine mathematical skills: numerical calculations, algebraic manipulation, spatial visualization, measurement and estimation, with numerical, algebraic, geometrical, analytical concepts. Students will enhance their reasoning, communication and thinking skills by monitoring their learning. The course will cover the number system by applying previous knowledge of operations on rational numbers, expressions and equations by applying properties of the operations and solving equations, geometry through constructing and describing the relationship of the figures, and statistics by applying information gathered to draw inferences.
This class will focus on the common core standards for Middle School Algebra, drawing from the Big Ideas: Algebra 1 and the ALEKS Algebra. It is a prerequisite for Geometry and Algebra 2. The content of the course includes: the study of the four fundamental operations with rational numbers, the study of solving equations and systems of equations, inequalities, quadratics, word problems, the study of graphing, the study of functions, and the study of polynomials. Students will enhance their reasoning, communication and thinking skills by monitoring their learning.
Seventh grade religion covers a number of different topics with the focus given to the life of Jesus. Students cover the New Testament, re-visit the Sacraments, and focus on the teachings and meaning of the Creed. Throughout the year, there is an emphasis on the Liturgy, the Liturgical Calendar, the sacred times of Advent and Lent, and how to recognize God in the world around us.
Robotics provides a hands-on environment to learn STEM / STEAM concepts. Students learn to think creatively, innovate, design, build, and code robots to solve a problem or perform important tasks.
Science is a year-long, Next Generation Science Standards-based course in Life Science. Its purpose is to activate the intellectual curiosity of adolescent learners about their world and the wonders of science. Students develop their inquiry skills as they explore science concepts. Students will be asked to observe, infer, predict, collect data, communicate, collaborate, and problem solve around Life Science topics. These topics include structure and function at the cellular level, genes and their interactions, and ecosystems and their interactions.