7th GRADE COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

REQUIRED ACADEMIC COURSES: (full year courses)

ENGLISH
The objectives are to improve students’ writing abilities, to improve their grammar skills and to develop an appreciation and better understanding of literature. Units include:
Literature short stories, drama, nonfiction, novels
Language spoken and written communication, word history
Composition improving basic writing skills, descriptive writing
Grammar word classes, sentences, sentence patterns
Skills capitalization, punctuation and spelling

MATH
Mathematics 7 is a basic comprehensive math course designed to fit the needs of seventh grade students. The emphasis is upon problem solving and computational skills. The main topics covered include:

• Review of basic operations
• Decimals
• Fractions
• Integers
• Ratios, proportion and percents
• Geometrical concepts
• Measurement: area, perimeter, and volume
• Probability, statistics and graphing

PRE ALGEBRA
Pre Algebra provides an opportunity for students to improve skills in the four basic operations of real numbers. Students will solve and graph equations. Students will learn and use basic geometry facts including formulas. Pre Algebra is the bridge between basic mathematics and Algebra 1.

SCIENCE
Life Science is designed to give students a basic understanding of the nature of all living things. The class provides an overview of all types of living things and their structure. The major units of study are:

• Introduction to cell biology
• Ecology
• Classification of living things
• Heredity
• Basic botany (plant study)
• Basic zoology (animal study)
• Human Anatomy
  

The class also covers the science of ancient Greece and the science of various countries during interdisciplinary projects with other classes.

SOCIAL STUDIES
The object of 7th grade Social Studies is to examine the culture and history of countries in South America and Europe. We will be looking at the beginnings of ancient civilizations, and how different events led to the shaping of our world. Students will also be studying connections between countries, and modern culture. Areas of focus will include:

• History Geography
• Government Religion
• Economy Understanding a Timeline
• Vocabulary Using an Atlas
• International Relations

CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS
CTS concentrates on improving students’ reading and thinking skills. Main areas of study include the following:

1. Accelerated Reader - a computerized reading management program
2. All Stars - Encourages students to make good life-style choices
3. Bal-A-Vis-X - Rhythmic balance, auditory and vision exercises
4. Vocabulary Units
5. Study Skills - Test taking strategies, listening skills, etc.
6. Writing - Elementary book writing project
7. Problem Solving/Thinking Skills

BOYS PHYSICAL EDUCATION
This course is designed to offer the students’ physical education through various team, individual and leisure activities. These activities enable the students to improve on their fitness and strengths while gaining knowledge of rules and enjoying social interaction.

GIRLS PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Physical education helps students develop their physical, mental and social skills. This course teaches the physical skills and rules needed to perform various physical activities. Social interaction and cooperation is emphasized through team activities and personal fitness is emphasized through individual activities.

REQUIRED EXPLORATORY COURSES: (6 week courses)

AG EDUCATION
Ag Ed 7 provides an opportunity for young students to explore agriculture through a study of six major areas found in agriculture. They are: horticulture/floriculture, crop science, natural resources, animal science, companion animals and ag processing.

ART
This course is an introductory art class exploring various two-dimensional and three-dimensional art. Projects will include but not limited to, drawing, painting, oil pastels, and fiber art in the form of Hopi basket making. It will also include components on Art History and critical evaluation.

COMPUTERS 7
Students will learn to type the letter and punctuation keys with a basic degree of typing skill. This course is designed to teach students a skill that will be useful to them in the area of computer education at all grade levels in the middle school. Students will also be introduced to Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Word learning the basic concepts of developing graphs in Excel and test editing and saving in Word. Students will be introduced to ISAFE curriculum, which discusses the issue of safety on the Internet.

FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCE
Family and Consumer Science is an individualized class. Seventh grade students work at their own pace on topics they have chosen related to Friends, Family, Resource Management, Self, Foods and Nutrition, and Clothing, Students learn basic food preparation and work in the lab to prepare several snacks.

GENERAL MUSIC
The elements of music are studied separately, and in combination as they are presented in different styles of music. Rhythm. melody, harmony, timbre, form, expression and note-reading are the basic units of study. Guided listening lessons are also used to develop the students’ skills in listening and in music appreciation.

INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY
This course will provide students with exposure to areas of technology. This exposure will familiarize the students with application and methods as well as the basic tools and equipment in each area. Each student will gain lab experience. The areas covered in the course include, but are not limited to:

• Intro to technology
• CO2 Dragster racecars
• Structures and Strength
• Car builder computer program
• Balsa Cubes Model Airplanes

ELECTIVE COURSES: (full year courses)

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC
The Middle School Band functions as a prep course for high school band and as a class worthwhile on its own merit. Students will be involved in performing at concerts and a band/solo/small group contest and playing in combined situations with the high school band. Instrumental Music meets every other day. In class lessons students will be challenged to develop their technique. A prerequisite for the course is at least one year of experience playing a band instrument, and a passing grade in the class the previous year.

VOCAL MUSIC
This class is an elective that meets every other day. 7th and 8th grader singers are combined in one group to make the 7-8 grade Chorus. Emphasis is on the development of good singing technique. Vocalization, exercises, a variety of musical styles, and public performances are included to assist in the students’ vocal and music development.

READING
Students not in instrumental or vocal music will be required to take Reading. Reading will meet every other day.
Seventh grade reading students will:
use context clues to decipher meaning in passages read,
identify the main idea and supporting details in 7th grade level material, use a dictionary to learn and confirm word meanings, distinguish between fact and opinion, identify words and phrases that are causing comprehension difficulty