In Grade 7, students deepen their reading and writing skills while simultaneously exploring historical contexts and diverse perspectives. Our extensive range of books in the Learning Commons complements the classical texts and short stories used in class, allowing students to explore diverse narratives and styles. Writing, a core component, encompasses various modes such as narrative, informational, analytical, and creative writing. Frequent opportunities to present and dialogue ensure that our students are confident in their speaking and listening skills, in addition to their reading and writing skills. The curriculum seamlessly integrates social studies, applying reading and writing skills to analyze historical events and sources. Through close-reading, document analysis, and critical evaluation of primary sources, students gain insights into different perspectives and develop an appreciation for the complexity of past events.
Grade 7 Mathematics prepares students for the shift to more advanced mathematical topics, building a strong foundation for the increasingly complex problem solving and application work expected in future mathematical studies. During the year, students will refine skills of communication, concepts and procedures, problem solving and modeling through engagement with rich math tasks based on real life situations. Through a balanced mathematics framework, students will develop a deeper knowledge and a conceptual understanding of mathematics by modeling problems and building fluency from the concrete (physically building models), to visuals (drawing models, tables, double number lines, etc) through to the abstract (expressions and equations). The Mathematical Practice Standards apply throughout each unit and, together with the content standards, prescribe that students experience mathematics as a coherent, useful, and logical subject that makes use of their ability to make sense of problem situations.
Instructional time is focused on the following critical areas:
Developing understanding of and applying proportional relationships;
Developing understanding of operations with rational numbers and working with expressions and linear equations; and
Drawing inferences about populations based on samples.
Grade 7 Science offers an in-depth exploration of ecological and environmental sciences, fostering a deeper understanding of the natural world and its complex interactions. Unit 1 immerses students in the study of photosynthesis, matter cycling, and energy flow within ecosystems. Unit 2 delves into animal behaviors and ecosystem dynamics, examining factors affecting organism growth and population changes. In Unit 3, the focus shifts to geoscience and human impact, where students analyze plate tectonics, resource distribution, and the environmental effects of human activities. The year with study of the Earth's water cycle, weather patterns, and natural disasters. This comprehensive NGSS aligned learning experience is designed to build scientific knowledge and also to instill a sense of responsibility towards our planet and its resources.
At each grade level, students are placed into the Arabic pathway and proficiency level that best matches their experience. Building on the foundations laid in Arabic 1, Arabic 2 takes students further into the language, enhancing their proficiency in reading, writing, speaking, and listening. This class emphasizes a more nuanced understanding of grammar and vocabulary, allowing for more complex expressions and conversations in Arabic. Students continue to work collaboratively and independently, refining their language skills while deepening their critical thinking and creativity. Students continue to develop cultural understanding of our host country, Saudi Arabia, as well as other Arabic-speaking regions.