7th Grade Math

Course Description

This math course follows the Minnesota State Standards for 7^th grade. Topics include; understanding similarity, ratio, proportion, and percent, integers and rational number operations, linear relationships, probability and expected value, describing variability and comparing groups, symmetry and transformations, three dimensional measurement.

Course Objectives

By the end of this course students will be able to:

Number & Operation

· Read, write, represent and compare positive and negative rational numbers, expressed as integers, fractions and decimals. (7.1.1)

· Calculate with positive and negative rational numbers, and rational numbers with whole number exponents, to solve real-world and mathematical problems. (7.1.2)

Algebra

· Understand the concept of proportionality in real-world and mathematical situations, and distinguish between proportional and other relationships. (7.2.1)

· Recognize proportional relationships in real-world and mathematical situations; represent these and other relationships with tables, verbal descriptions, symbols and graphs; solve problems involving proportional relationships and explain results in the original context. (7.2.2)

· Apply understanding of order of operations and algebraic properties to generate equivalent numerical and algebraic expressions containing positive and negative rational numbers and grouping symbols; evaluate such expressions. (7.2.3)

· Represent real-world and mathematical situations using equations with variables. Solve equations symbolically, using the properties of equality. Also solve equations graphically and numerically. Interpret solutions in the original context. (7.2.4)

Geometry & Measurement

· Use reasoning with proportions and ratios to determine measurements, justify formulas and solve real-world and mathematical problems involving circles and related geometric figures. (7.3.1)

· Analyze the effect of change of scale, translations and reflections on the attributes of two-dimensional figures. (7.3.2)

Data Analysis & Operation

· Use mean, median and range to draw conclusions about data and make predictions. (7.4.1)

· Display and interpret date in a variety of ways, including circle graphs and histograms. (7.4.2)

· Calculate probabilities and reason about probabilities using proportions to solve real-world and mathematical problems. (7.4.3)

For a more detailed list of benchmarks within these objectives click here.

Gradebook

Homework: Math homework comes in 3 categories; correcting Math Reflections (quizzes), finishing classwork, and homework assignments. Read more about Math Reflections below. Classwork that is unfinished is given if students were not able to complete the work in class. Homework assignments will be given out at the beginning of each unit. Students will have a choice in the assignments they choose to complete. Options will include: Mangahigh (online platform), worksheets, bookwork, special projects, playing games. Parent signatures will be required certain assignments. Students will hand in the final homework record at the end of the unit.

Abzeichen: Abzeichen (or Badge) is TCGIS’s way of honoring middle school students making notable achievement in academic subjects. This program is very new still, and ways to earn the Academic Math Badge will be discussed in class. Completing all homework assignment options will be a component of earning Abzeichen for Math.

Mathematical Reflections: Math Reflections (MRs) are given every 3-5 class work days. These are usually completed in class independently, but with open notes. At times they may be given as group math reflections, or, rarely, as homework. Math Reflections are the best way for me to know what you know. All MRs are expected to be corrected in a different color. Fixing mistakes is one of the best ways to learn. Students are allowed to correct MRs multiple times until the Unit Test.

Check-Up: Check-Ups are sets of problems for you to complete individually. They are a way for me to know what you know. These are also revisable and should be corrected in a differrent color.

Unit Tests: Unit Tests are the final assessments in a unit. They cover all of the material from the unit. Unit Tests are meant to be familiar problems that you can show you have mastered the material. If this is not the case, and you receive a grade lower than 80% on the test there is additional work you must do. For more information see the policies section below.

Unit Projects: Some units of study end with a culminating project. It requires the application of many of the skills you learned throughout the unit. The project is an alternative way to showcase your newly acquired math skills. Sometimes units will have a unit project instead of a test, and sometimes in addition to the test.

Materials

This course uses small textbooks. Each book is a new unit of study. This book is three-hole punched and to be kept in your binder. Some homework assignment options are problems from the book. Each book has 3-5 Investigations, and each Investigation takes 3-5 days of study.

Your graph notebook is a key part of math class. Each graph notebook should be kept in your binder. Your notebook is divided into 3 sections; classwork, vocabulary, and warm-ups. This is to serve as your own reference book and can be used on math reflections. Keep track of it and keep it organized!

Your chromebook is a resource and the means to do your homework. Please bring it to class everyday as it will be used at various times to support our lesson with technology

Course Outline

Unit 1: Understanding Similarity

Homework

5 Math Reflections

Check Up 1 and 2

Partner Quiz

Unit Test

Unit Project

Unit 2: Integers and Rational Numbers

Homework

4 Math Reflections

Check-Up

Partner Quiz

Unit Test

Unit 3: Linear Relationships

Homework

4 Math Reflections

Check-Up 1 and 2

Partner Quiz

Unit Test

Unit 4: Probability and Expected Value

Homework

4 Math Reflections

Check-Up 1 and 2

Partner Quiz

Unit Test

Unit 5: Describing Variability and Comparing Groups

Homework

3 Math Reflections

Check-Up

Partner Quiz

Unit Test

Unit 6: Three Dimensional Measurement

Homework

5 Math Reflections

Check-Up 1 and 2

Partner Quiz

Unit Test

Unit 7: Linear and Inverse Relations

Homework

3 Math Reflections

Check-Up

Partner Quiz

Unit Test

Math Policies

Red Flag System: This system is to ensure your success in math and help you get help when you need it.

Red Flag

Action

2 or lower on MR

Correct mistakes

2 or lower on 2^nd attempt MR

Work with a peer on corrections

2 or lower on 3^rd attempt MR

Study Hall time with Ms Morrissey

Grade in gradebook Falls below 59%

Meet with teacher to develop a plan to get back on track

Below 69% on unit test

online tutorial

retake test on the concepts not mastered

Math Reflection GRADING RUBRIC

Score

Rubric for Math Work

Exceeds Expectations

I can show my work in more than one way.
I can connect my learning to the real world.
I can find the correct answer.

Meets Learning Target

I can find the correct answer.
I can show my work in one of these ways: Words, Tables, Graphs, or Equations.

Partially Meets

Learning Target

I can find the correct answer, but I didn’t show my work.

I can show work that demonstrates understanding of the learning, but my answer was not correct.

Little Progress Made Toward Meeting Learning Target

I did not find the correct answer, and I did not show my work.

I did not find the correct answer, and my work does not demonstrate an understanding of the learning.

No Progress Made Toward Meeting Learning Target

No attempt is made to solve the problem.

UNIT DESCRIPTIONS

Stretching and Shrinking

In Unit 1 students will investigate how similar shapes' properties change and relate to corresponding parts. Students will be constructing their own similar figures on coordinate grids and using rules to stretch or shrink the original image. Students will also be using the properties of similarity to calculate distances and heights that can't be measured directly. This unit introduces ratio, proportion and scale in a visual context.

Accentuate the Negative

This unit introduces students to the rational numbers: positive and negative numbers. Students will be able to: place positive and negative numbers on a number line, develop algorithms for adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing positive and negative numbers, solve simple equations using order of operations, use positive and negative numbers to graph in four quadrants, get to know the commutative and distributive properties with positive and negative numbers.