Common Core Standards: https://iowacore.gov/iowa-core/grade/7
Religion: Exploring the Gospels, the 7th graders pay close attention to the life, teachings, and divinity of Jesus. Seventh graders study the Sacraments. The Family Life curriculum is included in seventh grade religion.
7th Language: The concentration is on reviewing and applying parts of speech and grammar skills through writing activities. The students use the writing process, which emphasizes the six traits of effective writing (focus, voice, sentence fluency, ideas and content, organization, and conventions). Through the writing process, the students learn planning, revising, and evaluating their own writing. They each research, supporting a claim with clear reasons and relevant evidence. They apply note taking skills, create an outline, and work cited page. Students also choose and memorize a speech in the spring to practice a verbal delivery focusing on voice (volume and rate), gestures (facial, body, and hand), enunciation, and eye contact.
7th Literature: The seventh grade students experience both academic and recreational reading to comprehend literature, including stories, dramas, and poems independently and proficiently. Comprehension strategies such as making connections, determining importance, questioning, visualizing, making inferences, and summarizing are reinforced through class discussions, Reader’s Response journals, and teacher/student book talks. Academic literature includes Where the Red Fern Grows, The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, The Christmas Carol, The Adventures of Ulysses, The Outsiders, Across Five Aprils, and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. They also read about current events and other global issues.
Science: Students explore concepts in Physical, Life and Earth Science. The standards are covered using an online curriculum called Stemscopes. This curriculum helps to meet the science standards set by the State of Iowa. Scientific inquiry, problem solving and collaboration are incorporated throughout the year through developing and conducting investigations. Students continue to develop their skills of inquiry and use data to explain and defend their thinking. Our Stemscopes curriculum supports and fosters these skills.
Social Studies: The theme of seventh grade social studies is World Geography. Students study regions of the world; looking at people and their ways of life as well as studying the physical features of the area. They also participate in the National History Day contest. Students will choose a topic they wish to learn about which fits the current year’s theme. They work throughout the year researching that topic and creating a project in one of five categories: Paper, Performance, Exhibit, Website, or Documentary. They have the opportunity to present that project at the Regional Level Contest with many advancing to the state level or even the national level.
Math: The Illustrative Mathematics series is a problem-based core curriculum rooted in content and practice standards to foster learning and achievement. Students learn by doing math, solving problems in mathematical and real-world contexts, and constructing arguments using precise language. Lessons are designed with a focus on independent, group, and whole-class instruction.
Special Area Classes: Physical Education, Health, Computer, Art, Music, Band (optional)