Georgia Standards of Excellence Grade 7 Mathematics

Curriculum Map Rationale

Unit 1: Building upon the understanding of rational numbers developed in 6th grade, this unit moves to exploring and ultimately formalizing rules for operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division) with integers. Using both contextual and numerical problems, students explore what happens when negative numbers and positive numbers are combined. Repeated opportunities over time will allow students to compare the results of adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing pairs of numbers, leading to the generalization of rules. Fractional rational numbers and whole numbers should be used in computations and explorations.

Unit 2: Students build on what was learned in previous grades regarding mathematical properties such as commutative, associative, and distributive properties, and conventions, such as order of operations. Students use these conventions and properties of operations to rewrite equivalent numerical expressions. Students continue to use properties used with whole numbers, extending their use to integers, rational, and real numbers. Students write expressions and equations in more than one format, demonstrating that they are still equal. Variables are used to represent quantities in real-world problems.

Unit 3: This unit builds on student knowledge and understanding of rate and unit concepts, including the need to develop proportional relationships through the analysis of graphs, tables, equations, and diagrams. Grade 7 pushes the student to develop a deep understanding of the characteristics of a proportional relationship. Mathematics should be represented in as many ways as possible in this unit by using graphs, tables, pictures, symbols and words.

Unit 4: Students learn to draw geometric figures using rulers and protractors with an emphasis on triangles. Students explore two-dimensional cross-sections of cylinders, cones, pyramids, and prisms. Students write and solve equations involving angle relationships and solve problems that require determining the area, volume, and surface area of solid figures. This unit also introduces students to the formula for the circumference and area of a circle.

Unit 5: Building on the knowledge of statistics from sixth grade, students use random samples to make predictions about an entire population and judge the possible discrepancies of the predictions. Students use real-life situations from science and social studies to show the purpose for using random sampling to make inferences about a population. Note- Units 5 and 6 were combined in the revised curriculum map providing an uninterrupted exploration of statistics.

Unit 6: Students begin to understand the probability of chance (simple and compound). They develop models to find the probability of simple events, and make predictions using information from simulations.