7th Grade - Program of Studies

As 7^th graders, students are ready to take more responsibility in their own learning. To help students with their development, they are given more choices in their program and more responsibility for homework and class work. Teachers work closely with administrators and the guidance counselors to monitor development and to offer support when needed.

English Language Arts

Language – written and spoken, read and heard, is central to education and to life. In grade 7, students begin more intensive work in writing – not only in terms of continuing to develops skills and awareness of conventions, but also in terms of revising to clarify, elaborating upon meaning, and analysis of literature. Students are also encouraged to develop more complex ways of communicating using written language. In doing so, students explore new genres of writing and revisit some familiar ones. As the school year continues, students will work to build a larger repertoire of writing skills and learn strategies to help them access the more sophisticated writing styles of advanced writers. Students continue to read a variety of more complex texts through the lens of analysis. Students have numerous opportunities read and to discuss their thinking and analysis of texts with fellow readers, while also having numerous opportunities to share their analysis and thinking through written word.

Mathematics

Math 7

In Grade 7, the mathematics program is focused on an inquiry-based instruction. It connects problem solving and mathematical ideas with engaging learning experiences. Instruction is students centered and builds on previous understandings, requiring students to connect concepts, make sense of math, and extend their comprehension.

1. Two-Dimensional Geometry, 2. Integers and Rational Numbers, 3. Understanding Similarity, 4. Ratios, Rates, Percents, and Proportions, 5. Linear Relationships, 6. Probability and Expected Value, 7. Three-Dimensional Measurement, and 8. Data Analysis

Students will be able to apply learned concepts to higher level thinking problems and real world situations.

Algebra 1 (7th)

(Prerequisite - demonstration of Algebra 1 readiness)

Algebra 1 (7th) prepares students for more advanced courses than the Algebra 1 class with more challenging assessments, optional exercises, and threaded discussions that allow students to explore and connect algebraic concepts. They also learn concepts central to the abstraction and generalization that algebra makes possible. Topics covered include:

1. Linear and Inverse Variation, 2. The Pythagorean Theorem, 3. Exponential Functions, 4. Symmetry and Transformations, 5. Making Sense of Symbols, 6. Systems of Linear Equations and Inequalities, 7. Quadratic Functions, 8. Families of Functions

Students will be able to apply learned concepts to higher level thinking problems and real world situations. They will be expected to transfer knowledge to novel situations in a more advanced way.

Social Studies

The seventh grade social studies program is rooted in an examination of United States History from its founding through the Civil War and centers around the role of the Constitution in establishing a framework for democracy in the United States. A particular focus is on developing students for civic life by familiarizing them with the foundational knowledge of government and the growth of the United States. Students explore questions that are the core of the discipline, including the role of the Constitution in protecting democracy, how do societies make progress, and how do competing visions for America influence citizens’ social, economic, and political values & outcomes. Through inquiry, students learn how to engage in civic discourse and how to develop credible explanations based on evidence. In an effort to bridge the past and the present, a specific focus is given to current issues and their relationship to the past.

Science

In the 7th grade science program, students will deepen their knowledge and understanding of life science. Core disciplinary ideas that are explored include Cell Structure and Function, Growth and Development of Organisms, Organization of Matter and Energy Flow in Organisms, Information Processing, Heredity, Biological Evolution, and Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics of Ecosystems. The course is centered around students engaging in work of the discipline to make sense of natural phenomena. Students will consistently engage in performance tasks to further build their capacity to develop and use models, use mathematical and computational thinking, plan and carry out investigations, analyze and interpret data, construct explanations, engage in argument, and obtain, evaluate, and communicate information. The engineering design process is integrated into the study of ecosystems to develop students’ capacity to define problems more precisely, to conduct a more thorough process of choosing the best solution, and to optimize the final design. Students will be evaluated using varied assessments including performance assessments that will challenge students to transfer their learning to relevant novel contexts and problems.

World Language

(French or Spanish)

Students will continue their study of French or Spanish from 6th grade in order to demonstrate growth towards Novice proficiency benchmarks. In addition to using memorized words and phrases to talk about familiar topics related to school, home, and the community, students will communicate in the target language using words, lists, and simple sentences to ask and answer questions and handle simple transactions related to everyday life. They will be encouraged to use language in activities embedded in authentic, real-life, and cultural contexts which can be connected to content learned in other core areas. Instruction and assessment will be aligned so students have multiple opportunities to demonstrate their abilities to engage in conversation, understand and interpret spoken and written language, and recognize the perspectives of diverse cultures.

Exploratory Classes

Exploratory classes will be offered to all students. All exploratory classes will be a semester (2 marking periods) long. During the scheduling process, students can rank the exploratory classes they would like to take each semester.

Please Click Here for Exploratory Class Descriptions

Music Ensemble Classes

Ensemble classes will be offered to all students. Each grade level will have their own band and chorus. Participation in band and chorus gives students the opportunity to practice 21^st Century Skills such as collaboration and teamwork, creativity, and accountability. They will come to know the importance of practice for oneself and the group, and in doing so, will learn more about the aesthetic side of music and musicality. Students will also expand their appreciation, understanding, and involvement of music through performing in a large ensemble. Participation in at least two concerts each year is expected of students enrolled in the music ensemble classes.

Note - students may participate fully in both band and chorus without any conflict.

7th Grade Band

Students in band are scheduled for two full-band rehearsals and one small-group lesson per week, all of which take place during the Exploratory time block of a student’s schedule. Lessons are grouped according to instrument and ability. Lesson content includes sequential studies in the lesson book, instrument-specific pedagogy, and the application of new skills to the selected band literature. There are three band ensembles at Smith School: Sixth Grade Band, Seventh Grade Band, and Eighth Grade Band, each of which rehearse during their own periods. Students in the 7th and 8th grade bands are eligible to audition for All-County and All-Region groups as well as advanced ensembles at Smith School.

7th Grade Chorus

Each chorus (Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth) at Smith School is scheduled for two full-ensemble rehearsals each week during the Exploratory period block. Students in the chorus study and perform a wide variety of music of different genres, and perform at a minimum of two public concerts each year. As students’ musical backgrounds vary greatly, the chorus program is structured in order to foster individual musical growth for all students. Students without previous choral experience are always welcome to join.

Physical Education & Health

Physical Education and Health are a comprehensive wellness program. Modules include topics on physical fitness, sports, project adventure, drug awareness and human anatomy.

Physical Education

Physical Education is an integral part of the total education which contributes to the development of the individual through the natural medium of physical activity. The Ramsey program provides opportunities for the learner to develop and maintain a satisfactory degree of physical efficiency for daily living. These experiences will allow students to enjoy a variety of physical activities, some of which may carry over into adult life.

A carefully planned program provides continuing opportunities for the enforcement of organic neuromuscular, interpretive, emotional and social development as our students move from grade level to grade level. Lead up games and activities of this type are used in the middle school to provide additional skill development and to provide a base for the team games and the carry over activities offered in the high school.

Health

The seventh grade health program is based on family life education. The middle school student is beginning to be aware of their changing body and is developing a new awareness to sexuality. Children in this stage of growth are naturally curious, confused, and sometimes worried by these changes. We strive to help them through this period by explaining what is happening to them now, and what they can expect in the coming years as they mature into adults. We use an approach that encourages open discussion and solicits the concerns of the individual. Abstinence is stressed throughout the curriculum. To help our students develop these understandings, carefully controlled discussions are supplemented with appropriate handouts and video materials.