7th Grade Courses
English Language Arts
0701 English Language Arts Block
Prerequisite: None
Students will read a wide variety of literary forms and explore different cultures and historical periods through literature. Emphasis is placed on reading comprehension, vocabulary development, and application of the literary elements. Students respond to literature through journal entries, essays, creative products, and graphic organizers. Students are provided direct instruction, modeling, practice, and application of the purposes and forms of writing for a variety of audiences. Students read and respond to various genres focusing on the development of effective listening, speaking, reading, research, and writing skills aligned to the TEKS.
0702 English Language Arts Honors Block
Course Requirement: Maintain a Semester Average of 70 or Higher to Continue Enrollment
This course is for those students who show high academic ability for reading. Students read a variety of literary forms and explore different cultures and historical periods through literature. Emphasis is placed on an in-depth mastery of the seventh grade TEKS, reading comprehension, vocabulary development, and application of literary elements. Students respond to literature through journal entries, essays, creative products, and graphic organizers. Students are provided direct instruction, modeling, practice, and application of the purposes and forms of writing for a variety of audiences. Students read and respond to various genres focusing on the development of effective listening, speaking, reading, research, and writing skills aligned to the TEKS.
Mathematics
0711 Mathematics Block
Prerequisite: None
Students will study whole numbers, decimals, fractions, percent, ratios and proportions, personal finance, integers, and geometry. Emphasis is placed upon basic skills. Students are encouraged to solve problems by matching strategies to given equations. Measurement concepts and skills; as well as, the use of probability and statistics to collect and interpret data are also taught. Daily homework is required.
0712 Math (MAP)
Prerequisite: Master Grade Level on last Math STAAR on the first administration and/or the incoming Algebra Readiness score requirement (as outlined within the MAP criteria under C&I); Attendance or Review of Annual Parent Orientation
This advanced curriculum is designed to meet the needs of students who are gifted in math or show high academic ability for math. The course requires in-depth mastery of seventh and eighth grade TEKS. Supplemental pre-algebra work will be given. Word problems are stressed with time devoted to logical thinking processes. Other characteristics of the course include: content immersion, a fast pace, and assessment of performance at high levels of thinking. Daily homework is required.
Science
0731 Science
Prerequisite: None
Students will conduct field and laboratory investigations using the scientific method.
The students will use critical-thinking and problem-solving in life science while integrating principles from chemistry, physics, and earth science. This curriculum involves using scientific and technological tools to collect and analyze data.
0732 Science Honors
Course Requirement: Maintain a Semester Average of 70 or Higher to Continue Enrollment
This course is for those students who exhibit a high interest in science. The course covers the regular seventh grade science curriculum, with emphasis given to the depth and complexity of the content through more difficult laboratory, computer, graphing, and mapping activities. Students will be expected to complete projects and some performance tasks at home.
Social Studies
0721 Texas History
Prerequisite: None
This course is a survey of the political and social history of Texas including its geography and economic growth from prehistoric time to the present. The role and significance of French, Spanish, and Mexican cultures are studied. Democratic attitudes, values, and skills for citizenship are stressed as appropriate.
0722 Texas History Honors
Course Requirement: Maintain a Semester Average of 70 or Higher to Continue Enrollment
This course is for those students who show a high academic ability and interest for social studies. The course develops the same skills and concepts as the regular Texas History curriculum but the content will have more depth and complexity. Extensive writing, informal classroom debates on historical issues, and mini projects are required of the student.
Physical Education (PE)
0741B / 0741G Physical Education
Prerequisite: None
This course is a fitness and health program which emphasizes full participation in a variety of individual and team sports, recreational games, and rhythmic activities. Basic skills, rules and team strategies will be taught. Students are required to actively participate each day in building team play with friendly competitions.
0742B / 0742G Athletics
Prerequisite: UIL Physical examination required by the deadline
This course will teach the values of teamwork, the improvement of fundamentals, and knowledge of the rules of a particular sport. Off-season activities will also be integrated in this course and will include weightlifting and conditioning programs. Students from this course are required to try-out for three of the following sports: football, volleyball, basketball, track, and cross country. Passing grades in all enrolled classes is required to participate in UIL events according to UIL No Pass No Play Rule.
Electives
0779 Art 7
Prerequisite: None
This full year course will consist of student’s thinking about, planning, and creating original artworks while combining their thoughts and ideas with innovation and creativity. Elements and principles of art will be examined and explored through in-depth hands on activities such as drawing, painting, printmaking, and sculpture. Students that are interested in art will benefit from their knowledge learned in this course to enhance their future work.
0780 Advanced Art 7
Prerequisite: Art 6
This full year course will continue the study of dance, music, theatre, and the visual arts to offer unique experiences and empower students to explore realities, relationships, and ideas. These disciplines engage and motivate all students through active learning, critical thinking, and innovative problem solving. The fine arts develop cognitive functioning and increase student academic achievement, higher-order thinking, communication, and collaboration skills, making the fine arts applicable to college readiness, career opportunities, workplace environments, social skills, and everyday life. Students develop aesthetic and cultural awareness through exploration, leading to creative expression.
0770 Beginning Band
Prerequisite: None
Beginning students are taught fundamental music skills on musical instruments selected by the band instructor considering the student’s physical and musical ability. This course is designed to give the student an opportunity to acquire musical and technical proficiency through group performance. Each student will be challenged with individual and group goals, which work to develop industry, persistence, and self-motivation. Classes will be divided into sections based on the chosen instrument.
0772 Band 7
Prerequisite: Beginning Band – In school auditions
Students will meet in full band ensemble to receive further fundamental and technique training on a more advanced level. Students will be assigned to the symphonic or concert band based on in-school auditions. Students at this level may be involved in UIL competition. Passing grades in all enrolled classes is required to participate in UIL events according to UIL No Pass No Play Rule.
0775 Theatre Arts 7
Prerequisite: None
This course focuses on interpretation and performance, as students gain a more in-depth understanding of theatrical elements and principles. Students will examine scripts and learn basic acting techniques. While evaluating scripted materials, students will analyze characters, study dialogue, and design stage movements to solve theatrical problems; as well as, gain experience in mime, improvisation, reader’s theater, monologues, and duet acting.
0778 Future Problem Solvers (FPS)
Suggested Prerequisite: Above average Reading and Writing Skills
This course is a year-long curriculum project and a program that encompasses state and international competition. FPS students work in teams and apply the creative problem solving process to current topics. The FPS class is designed to motivate students to develop creative thinking, increase awareness of and an interest in the future, improve oral and written communication, learn and utilize problem solving strategies, develop and improve research techniques, develop critical and analytical thinking skills, and develop teamwork skills.
0760 HS Spanish 1-A
Successful completion of Spanish 1-A AND Spanish 1-B will result in 1.0 high school credit.
Suggested Prerequisite: Commended performance on Reading STAAR assessment or fluent Spanish-speaker
This Level 1 High School Spanish course offers the student an opportunity for acquisition of the four basic language skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. The primary objective of this Level 1 course is to develop audio-lingual skills and to obtain a mastery of simple basic communicative structures, while learning to socialize, ask for and provide information, express feelings and opinions, and persuade others to adopt a course of action.
0784 Journalism 7
Prerequisite: None
This is an introductory course designed to explore written forms for a variety of audiences and purposes. Students will learn: journalistic traditions and styles, research selected topics, learn principles of publishing, how to conduct interviews, gather news, write headlines and captions, take basic photographs, and use professional desktop publishing programs. Students will use these skills to produce their final product: the middle school yearbook.
0786 Robotics I
Prerequisite: None
Robotics is a concrete and tangible way to build and strengthen cognitive development, as well as other academic areas such as mathematics, engineering, communication skills, strategic thinking, and goal-oriented thinking. Students will learn to program their created object to move as directed. This Lego-designed object will change several times throughout the year according to the challenge presented. This is a basic programming class to write specific steps in order to make the robot complete a given task.
Course Offering Availability Subject to Student Enrollment and Staffing Levels.