BECK ACADEMY 2025-2026 Syllabus
BECK VISION STATEMENT: To meet the academic needs of our culturally diverse student body in a safe environment that nurtures, accepts and encourages all students to be productive citizens of the global community, life-long learners and future leaders.
Instructor: Jim Moore
Room: #703
Planning Times: 8:45 - 10:25
Available Conference Times: Call or Email to request a conference
E-Mail: jamoore@greenville.k12.sc.us
School Telephone: (864) 355-1438
Text Book Title: National Geographic World Cultures and Geography
COURSE TITLE: Social Studies 7th Grade World Geography
COURSE DESCRIPTION (Focus and Purpose):
This year we will be studying the Earth from a regional perspective, focusing on the continents. Students will study contemporary places and regions to identify how the experiences of people are rooted in place and organized into geographic regions. Students will learn about Earth’s physical conditions and how these features interact with the Earth’s other living features. This course also focuses on human systems and the sum of human activities across the Earth’s surface. These systems also include the spatial distribution of population and the movement settlement patterns, economic systems, and political systems. Students will explore the interactions between environment and society to learn how human activities modify Earth, how resources are used, and how physical systems, such as climate, present risks to humans. These regional conditions, both physical and cultural, create unique landscapes, an understanding of which lays the foundation for learning about connections to other peoples and places on Earth.
LEARNING LEVELS:
In Seventh Grade Social Studies the classes are not grouped based on ability level. Unlike Math and ELA where classes are based on Gifted and Talented and High School Credit Classes we function with a heterogeneous concept. All students learn the same curriculum at the same time but having the class instruction differentiated.
Learning Objectives for the Course:
My mission is to motivate my students to become life-long, enthusiastic learners. I want them to become proficient in the Social Studies Curriculum, to be able to apply that knowledge to real world events and to know the cause and effects of historical moments on the world today and in the future.
Instruction will be based on the Greenville County Schools curriculum guide and the South Carolina Social Studies Curriculum Standards. These standards can be accessed on the SC Department of Education website: www.state.sc.us/sde/educators/standards.
COURSE OUTLINE/ INSTRUCTIONAL UNITS for the Year:
Throughout the year, our grade level teams will complete cross-curricular units of instruction.
COURSE OUTLINE/ INSTRUCTIONAL UNITS for the Year:
Quarter 1:
August- Class Procedures, Rules, Expectations, Baseline Data, The Essentials of Geography
September- Essentials of Geography, North America,
October- Central America and the Caribbean and the 1st Nine Weeks Benchmark
Quarter 2:
October- South America
November- South America, Europe
December- Europe, Russia and Eurasia
January- Russia and Eurasia
Quarter 3
January- Sub-Saharan Africa, and the 2nd Nine Weeks Benchmark
February- Sub-Saharan Africa, Southwest Asia/North Africa
March- South Asia, East Asia, Third Nine Weeks Benchmark
Quarter 4
March- East Asia
April-Southeast Asia
May-Australia/South Pacific/Antarctica, Final Year Project
Additional Instructional Tools:
Maps and Atlases
Other content reading books
BrianPop
United Streaming Videos
Chrome Books for class Use
Kahoot
TEACHING METHODS and STRATEGIES:
We use a balanced approach to teaching reading map skills, analyzing history, comparing and contrasting geographical regions to our own and the writing process. A typical week includes a variety of instructional formats: from note taking and lecture, class discussion, small group instruction, to guided and shared reading. Student instructional reading levels are used to group them for differentiated activities and assignments. Using a Learning Focused format for instruction, acquisition lessons present major concepts with graphic organizers to maximize learning and retention. Students extend and refine their learning with activities designed to promote higher levels of thinking such as analysis and evaluation. Discussions and hands-on group activities build and extend skills. Authentic projects are assigned throughout the year to assess learning. Instructional activities are designed based on our district curriculum guide and state standards.
www.state.sc.us/sde/educators/standards.
ASSESSMENTS and GRADING
PROCEDURES for RECORDING STUDENT PROGRESS:
Students are assessed using both formative and summative assessments. Daily class assignments, homework grades, tests, projects, and quizzes will be included in these assessments. Students are also asked to complete quarterly projects. These are assessed with rubrics. Benchmark test given at the end of each grading period and one at the start of the year. These tests provide data on each student to show growth over the quarter.
The district-wide grading scale is as follows:
100-90 A
89-80 B
79-70 C
69-60 D
59-50 F
Grading Policy for Social Studies:
Major Assignments (which include Tests/Projects): 50%
Minor Assignments (which include Quizzes, Class Work and ,Homework): 50%
School Wide Late Work Policy:
Our school acknowledges that students may occasionally be absent and need to make up assignments. The following policy outlines the procedures and consequences for late work submission.
Marking Late Work
NHI (Not Handed In): Teachers will mark late work as NHI with a note indicating the student has five days to submit the assignment without a point deduction.
Submission Deadlines and Penalties
First 5 Days: Students may submit make-up work within five days of the original due date with no penalty.
Days 6-10: After the initial five days, a deduction of 5 points per day will be applied for up to five additional days.
After 10 Days: Assignments submitted more than 10 days late will be marked as GFA (Grade Failing Assignment), and the work will no longer be accepted.
Notes
This policy is designed to encourage timely submission of assignments while providing flexibility for those who are absent.
Teachers and staff are here to support students in managing their workload and meeting deadlines.
By adhering to this policy, students can ensure their academic progress is accurately reflected and receive the support they need to succeed.
SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS & SUPPLIES:
Students will need:
Color Pencils
#2 pencils
Composition Notebook
MAKEUP WORK/ ABSENCE POLICY:
Students must make up missed work within 5 days of returning to school. Students are responsible for making arrangements with teachers to make up work. Teachers should be contacted before or immediately after the excused absence. Students must complete and turn in the work on time to receive credit. Parents may also request assignments through Guidance for an extended absence. (As discussed and stated in the Student Handbook)
CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS AND PROCEDURES:
Students are expected to be respectful of each other at all times. There are several required expectations:
ALL students must wear an ID badge.
ALL students must carry their planners.
ALL students must abide by the dress code.
ALL students must practice the 3 R's: Rights of others, Respect for others, Responsibility for learning
SCHOOL-WIDE DISCIPLINE PLAN:
Specific rules and policies regarding discipline can be found on the school district website and in our student planner. Our school wide discipline plan with regards to minor rule violations consists of a step plan designed to give parents the opportunity to assist with discipline whenever possible. The steps are:
Warning
Parent phone call
After-school detention
After-school detention
Office referral
Additional student behavior guidelines may be found in the student handbook.