The art curriculum will provide students with the ability to express themselves and create successful artworks by applying the elements of art and principles of design using a variety of artistic mediums.

7th grade art students will create artwork that focuses on applying the principles of design such as rhythm, emphasis, movement, balance, contrast, pattern, and unity as well as perspective.

Students will build upon their grade six skills and learn to articulate their written and oral assignments with increased  idea development and sentence complexity. The theme of “Community: Establishing your Place and Perspective” is echoed throughout the short story, poetry, novel and nonfiction selections that are read through a critical lens so students can translate the craft into their own writing. 

7th grade math builds on the skills that students learned in grade 6. Instructional time will focus on the following critical areas: developing understanding of and applying proportional relationships; developing understanding of operations with rational numbers and working with expressions and linear equations; and solving problems involving scale drawings and informal geometric constructions, and working with two- and three-dimensional shapes to solve problems involving area, surface area, and volume. There are eight units completed in 7th grade math: (1) Geometry (circles and composite figures); (2) Geometry (surface area and volume); (3) Operations with Rational Numbers; (4) Algebraic Expressions; (5) Equations and Inequalities; (6) Ratios and Proportions; (7) Percents; (8) Geometry (angles and polygons).

Middle School Math Parent Resources

BAND

Students will already have a developing understanding of tone production, basic music reading, correct playing position, and instrument assembly and maintenance. In this class, they will develop the skills to read and perform music effectively both as an individual and as a group. Focuses include:

• Refinement of tone quality, technique, aural skills, and music literacy. 

• Exploring various styles of music. 

• Creating, interpreting, listening, critical thinking, performing as an individual and as a group. 

Students will have the opportunity to showcase their learning at two concerts.

CHORUS

Students explore vocal production in an ensemble setting in order to:

• Develop proper posture, breathing and placement.

• Expand their musical background through performance of a variety of literature

• Develop self-awareness and awareness of others

• Develop their understanding of music through learning symbols, terms and reading skills

Students will have the opportunity to showcase their learning at two concerts.

ORCHESTRA

Students will already have a developing understanding of tone production, basic music reading, correct playing position, and instrument assembly and maintenance. In this class, they will develop the skills to read and perform music effectively both as an individual and as a group. Focuses include:

• Refinement of tone quality, technique, aural skills, and music literacy. 

• Exploring various styles of music. 

• Creating, interpreting, listening, critical thinking, performing as an individual and as a group. 

Students will have the opportunity to showcase their learning at two concerts.

GENERAL MUSIC

Students experience a broad spectrum of music and musical experiences in order to:

• Explore how music is organized, created and experienced.

• Develop an appreciation of music of different cultures.

• Expand their musical background through exposure to a variety of styles of music.

• Create their own music, respond and connect to other people’s musical creations.

Physical Education

Our primary goals as a department are

• to motivate students to achieve a healthy and active lifestyle;

• to introduce a variety of activities that will foster participation for a lifetime; and

• to foster teamwork, responsibility, and sportsmanship while having fun.

It is hoped that as a result of the middle school physical education experience, students will develop a positive attitude toward a lifetime of being physically active and understand and appreciate the importance of good sportsmanship. 

Activities include a number of team sports, individual sports, group/individual fitness, all while promoting proper social responsibilities. 

*Students will continue to build and develop skills that were taught and introduced in 6th grade

Health

Health education teaches about physical, mental, emotional and social health. It motivates students to improve and maintain their health, prevent disease, and reduce risky behaviors. Health education curricula and instruction help students learn skills they will use to make healthy choices throughout their lifetime.

In 7th grade health students will be discussing the topics of nutrition- focusing on the impact of sugar, the components of physical fitness, digital citizenship and online safety, substance abuse, LGBTQ+ terminology, and sexual harassment.

Science

Students in grade 7 focus on systems and cycles using their understanding of structures and functions, connections and relationships in systems, and flow of matter and energy developed in earlier grades. A focus on systems requires students to apply concepts and skills across disciplines, since most natural and designed systems and cycles are complex and interactive. They gain experience with solar system interactions, earth’s place in space, the interrelatedness of human body systems, force and motion, and key technological systems used by society. Students acquire content and practice skills through culturally sensitive, inclusive, and equitable instruction. This creates a foundation for exploring more abstract content in grade 8.

Technology

The primary focus area at this level is more advanced computer programming concepts. 

In seventh grade World Geography and Ancient Civilizations II, students will learn about ancient civilizations in Asia and Europe.  Students will focus on how geography has impacted societies and people throughout history and in the modern world. We also will survey the major political and cultural developments in those ancient civilizations. Some of the civilizations we focus on are Ancient China, Ancient India, Classical Greece, and Classical Rome.  We will highlight how connections between civilizations have influenced the development of both and how ancient European civilizations have shaped our political thought.

French/Spanish 1a (7th grade - Full year class)

A formal introduction to either French or Spanish, students will develop the skills necessary to communicate with speakers of the target language at the novice level. Students will start with the basics of the language and continue increasing their ability to communicate via listening, speaking, reading and writing. Students will be able to have basic conversations, with some details, with classmates and their teachers by the end of the year.  This course is the first half of Spanish/French 1.