2023-24 - 7th Grade Required Courses

7th Grade Required Courses

Of note regarding course options:

Advanced (formerly known as Pre-AP) courses in the four core areas for students entering seventh grade will cover grade level curriculum with greater depth and complexity. These courses will NOT be accelerated and will allow for more flexibility in course selection and student scheduling. Gifted and Talented students will have the option to choose GT sections of advanced English and/or social studies courses in sixth, seventh, and eighth grades. GT students may also choose to take accelerated math and science courses. Click here for GT requirements.

Students are required to complete one course in Fine Arts during the 6th, 7th, or 8th grade year. It is highly encouraged to complete the Fine Arts course in the 7th grade year if not already completed.

English Language Arts Selections

English Language Arts

Course No. LA7

Semesters: 2

In grade seven, students refine and apply oral and written communication skills. Critical reading skills are developed through a wide variety of diverse materials including classical and contemporary literature and informational texts. Students are expected to analyze information from multiple sources to form relationships among ideas. Students apply literary and expository writing skills, research skills, the use of technology, and the analysis of visual literacy in a variety of genres. Students are expected to communicate written ideas effectively by maintaining focus and coherence, developing ideas fully, expressing their unique voice or perspective, and increasing proficiency of conventions such as spelling, capitalization, and punctuation

English Language Arts Advanced (formerly known as Pre-Advanced Placement English Language Arts)

Course No. LA7Q

English Language Arts / STEM Advanced (formerly known as Pre-Advanced Placement English Language Arts/STEM) (GMS only)

Course No. LA7SQ

Semesters: 2

This course is designed to prepare students for entry into Advanced Placement (AP) courses at the high school level and meet the needs of the district’s Advanced (formerly Pre-AP) and gifted and talented language arts students. Students refine and apply advanced oral and written communication skills such as note taking, oral presentations, and advanced study of word origins through both guided and independent studies. Students are expected to read advanced selections with greater depth and attention to the relationship of how literary elements work to enhance the story plot. Students write for a variety of audiences and purposes to communicate research findings and explore different genres. Students are expected to communicate written ideas effectively by maintaining focus and coherence, developing ideas fully, expressing their unique voice or perspective, and increasing proficiency of conventions such as spelling, capitalization and punctuation. Students must possess advanced language abilities and have a sincere interest in the areas of reading and language arts.

Gifted and Talented Offerings:

Students identified as in need of gifted/talented services have the option to choose GT sections of advanced English and/or social studies courses in sixth, seventh, and eighth grades. GT students may also choose to take accelerated math and science courses.

GT English Language Arts Advanced

Course No. LA7GQ

Prerequisite: Meet qualifications for GT placement

This course is designed to prepare identified gifted/talented students for success in advanced and Advanced Placement (AP) courses and to meet their cognitive and affective needs. This version of the ELAR course provides advanced learning opportunities for students to engage in research, problem solving, critical thinking, and creative expression. In grade seven, students will refine and apply their oral and written communication skills. Critical reading skills will be developed through a wide variety of diverse materials including classical and contemporary literature and informational texts. Students will deepen their literary and expository writing skills, research skills, and analytical skills in a variety of genres. Students will also build their vocabulary by studying word origins and increase their proficiency in utilizing conventions such as spelling, capitalization, and punctuation. Students will engage with ELAR standards with increased depth and complexity and analyze content from multiple sources for interdisciplinary connections. Students should have a sincere interest in the areas of reading and language arts in order to thrive and be happy in this course. Students enrolled in this course may be required to produce sophisticated products and/or performances.

ASPIRE English Language Arts 7 Advanced (CTMS only)

Course No. LA7AQ

Prerequisite: Meet qualifications for ASPIRE placement

This course is designed specifically to serve ASPIRE students in order to provide a learning environment commensurate with the academic and affective needs of highly gifted students. This course replaces Language Arts (reading, English) for seventh grade GT students. This class will provide the opportunity for identified gifted/talented students to delve more deeply into their work and utilizes gifted education practices to meet the needs of gifted learners. Students are expected to communicate written ideas effectively by maintaining focus and coherence, developing ideas fully, expressing their unique voice or perspective, and increasing proficiency of conventions such as spelling, capitalization, and punctuation. This course requires a high level of reading, comprehension, and writing skills and utilizes the Parallel Curriculum Model to meet the needs of gifted learners.

Social Studies Selections

Texas History

Course No. SS7

This course is a study of Texas geography, history, government, economics, and people from the pre-colonial period to the present. The focus in each era of Texas History is on key individuals, events, and issues and their lasting impact. Students will use primary and secondary sources to examine the rich and diverse cultural background of Texas. Critical thinking, cooperation, map skills, reading, writing, and vocabulary usage are integrated throughout the course.

Texas History Advanced (formerly known as Pre-Advanced Placement Texas History)

Course No. SS7Q

Texas History/STEM Advanced (formerly known as Pre-Advanced Placement Texas History/STEM) (GMS only)

Course No. SS7SQ

This course is designed to prepare students for entry into Advanced Placement (AP) courses at the high school level and will explore grade-level standards to a greater degree of depth and complexity. This course is a study of Texas geography, history, government, economics, and people from the pre-colonial period to the present. The focus in each era of Texas History is on key individuals, events, and issues and their lasting impact. Students will use primary and secondary sources to examine the rich and diverse cultural background of Texas. Critical thinking, cooperation, map skills, reading, writing, and vocabulary usage are integrated throughout the course.

Gifted and Talented Offerings:

GT Texas History Advanced

Course No. SS7GQ

Prerequisite: Meet qualifications for GT placement

This course is designed to prepare identified gifted/talented students for success in advanced and Advanced Placement (AP) courses and to meet their cognitive and affective needs. This version of the Texas History course provides advanced learning opportunities for students to engage in research, problem solving, critical thinking, and creative expression. This course is a study of Texas geography, history, government, economics, and culture from the pre-colonial period to the present. The focus in each era of Texas History is on key individuals, events, and issues and their lasting impact. Students will use primary and secondary sources to examine the rich and diverse cultural background of Texas. Critical thinking, cooperation, map skills, reading, writing, and vocabulary usage are integrated throughout the course. Students will engage with Texas History standards with increased depth and complexity and analyze content from multiple sources for interdisciplinary connections. Students should have a sincere interest in social studies in order to thrive and be happy in this course. Students enrolled in this course may be required to produce sophisticated products and/or performances.

ASPIRE Texas History Advanced (CTMS only)

History Course No. SS7AQ

Prerequisite: Meet qualifications for ASPIRE placement

This course is designed specifically to serve ASPIRE students in order to provide a learning environment commensurate with the academic and affective needs of highly gifted students. This course replaces Texas history for seventh grade GT students. It provides the opportunity for identified gifted/talented students to see the relationship between geography, culture, government, and folklore and utilizes gifted education practices to meet the needs of gifted learners. Students are expected to communicate written ideas effectively by maintaining focus and coherence, developing ideas fully, expressing their unique voice or perspective, and demonstrating proficiency with conventions such as spelling, capitalization, and punctuation. The class also provides opportunities for extended learning, possible field trips to local historical sites, and hands-on experiences. This course requires a high level of reading, comprehension, and writing skills and utilizes the Parallel Curriculum Model to meet the needs of gifted learners.

Mathematics Selections

Math

Course No. MA7

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Math grade 6 or equivalent

Focal points in mathematics at grade 7 are developing fluency with rational numbers and operations to solve problems in a variety of contexts; representing and applying proportional relationships; using expressions and equations to describe relationships in a variety of contexts, including geometric problems; comparing sets of data; and financial literacy. Use of mathematical processes to acquire and demonstrate mathematical understanding are emphasized. Students are expected to use these processes together with technology and other mathematical tools to develop conceptual understandings and solve problems.

Math Advanced (formerly known as Pre-Advanced Placement Math)

Course No. MA7Q

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Math grade 6 or Pre-Advanced Placement Math grade 6 or its equivalent

This course is designed to provide students with opportunity for entry into Advanced (formerly Pre-Advanced Placement) and Advanced Placement courses at the high school level. Seventh grade TEKS will be taught with the development of Pre-AP strategies incorporated throughout the course. Students will engage in learning of seventh grade curriculum with increased depth and complexity. Critical thinking and creative problem solving skills are incorporated throughout this course.

Accelerated Math

Course No. MA7ACQ

Accelerated Math / STEM (GMS only)

Course No. MA7SQ

Accelerated Math / ASPIRE (CTMS only)

Course No. MA7AQ

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Accelerated Math grade 6 or its equivalent & meets qualifications for ASPIRE placement

This course is designed to prepare students for entry into Advanced (formerly Pre-AP)/AP courses at the high school level and meet the needs of the district’s accelerated or gifted and talented mathematics students. All of 8th grade and part of 7th grade TEKS objectives are compacted to prepare the student for 8th grade Algebra I Advanced. Critical thinking and creative problem solving skills are incorporated throughout this course. Students must possess advanced facility with numbers and have a sincere interest in mathematics.

Science Selections

Science

Course No. SC7

Grade 7 science is interdisciplinary in nature. Enduring understandings in Science transcend disciplinary boundaries and include change and constancy, patterns, cycles, systems, models, and scale. As students engage in inquiry-based scientific investigations and reasoning they will learn science in the following conceptual strands: Matter and Energy; Force, Motion and Energy; Earth and Space Science; and Organisms and Environments.

Science Advanced (formerly known as Pre-Advanced Placement Science)

Course No. SC7Q

This course is designed to provide students with an opportunity for entry into Advanced (formerly Pre-Advanced Placement) and Advanced Placement courses at the high school level. This science course is interdisciplinary in nature. Enduring understandings in Science transcend disciplinary boundaries and include change and constancy, patterns, cycles, systems, models, and scale. As students engage in inquiry-based scientific investigations and reasoning they will learn science in the following conceptual strands: Matter and Energy; Force, Motion and Energy; Earth and Space Science; and Organisms and Environments. The curriculum will be taught with advanced strategies incorporated throughout the course. Students will engage in learning activities with increased depth and complexity.

Accelerated Science

Course No. SC7ACQ

Accelerated Science / STEM (GMS only)

Course No. SC7SQ

Accelerated Science / ASPIRE (CTMS only)

Course No. SC7AQ

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Accelerated Science grade 6 or its equivalent & meets qualifications for ASPIRE placement

This course is designed to prepare students for entry into Advanced (formerly Pre-Advanced Placement) and Advanced Placement courses at the school level and meet the needs of the district’s advanced and gifted/talented students. This science course is interdisciplinary in nature. Enduring understandings in Science transcend disciplinary boundaries and include change and constancy, patterns, cycles, systems, models, and scale. As students engage in inquiry-based scientific investigations and reasoning they will learn science in the following conceptual strands: Matter and Energy; Force, Motion and Energy; Earth and Space Science; and Organisms and Environments. Students will receive compacted instruction including standards from 6th, 7th and 8th grades. Students will engage in learning activities with increased depth and complexity.

Physical Education Selections

Physical Education / Health

Course No. PAPE78

Emphasis in this 7th grade PE program is placed on continued social development through physical activity. Believing every student can become physically fit, fitness exercises are included daily. Students acquire physical skills through practice and apply these skills in a variety of sports including volleyball, basketball, badminton, and others. Technology is used to measure and monitor improvement in fitness. Students are required to suit out in proper uniform.

In health education an emphasis is placed on acquiring knowledge and skills regarding healthy behaviors, understanding puberty, and the reproductive process. Abstinence-based programs, such as Choosing the Best, are major components in providing this health information. Play It Safe, a TEKS-based program, addresses a variety of contemporary topics such as sexual harassment, sexual abuse, and other pertinent issues in an age-appropriate manner. Parent previews will precede presentation of all materials related to human sexuality.

ATHLETICS AND HEALTH

BOYS: Football, basketball, track, cross country, tennis, soccer

Course No. PAAB7

GIRLS: Volleyball, basketball, track, cross country, tennis, soccer

Course No. PAAG7

Athletics is open to 7th grade students interested in an extracurricular activity through competitive sports. Basic fundamentals of each sport are taught. Students are expected to participate in at least one sport per semester.

Tryouts are held for each sport when necessary. Participants MUST HAVE a physical examination, insurance, and parent permission. Practice will be held before or after school. The game schedule for next year has not been determined. Those athletes whose sport is not in season still participate in an off-season conditioning program. In health education an emphasis is placed on acquiring knowledge and skills regarding healthy behaviors, understanding puberty, and the reproductive process. Abstinence-based programs, such as Choosing the Best, are major components in providing this health information. Play It Safe, a TEKS-based program, addresses a variety of contemporary topics such as sexual harassment, sexual abuse, and other pertinent issues in an age-appropriate manner.

This is a FULL YEAR course. For more information refer to the middle school athletic requirements linked here. Parent previews will precede presentation of all materials related to human sexuality.