7th Grade

This course continues to develop the seventh-grade student’s literacy habits and skills through a reading and writing workshop model. The workshop model incorporates mini-lessons, small group work, conferring, writing and reading response, as well as a high volume of daily, independent reading to improve student learning. 

Students engage in ongoing reading work and literature analysis utilizing selected mentor texts, including novels, short stories, non-fiction articles, poetry, and drama, as well as student-selected texts to study the elements of literature (plot, character, conflict, theme and setting.) Seventh grade students also analyze text structure and author’s use of language, and participate in an intensive book study of the dystopian genre. Students also develop their nonfiction reading skills in longer non-fiction text. 

Writing instruction in this course focuses on using the writing process to develop fictional narratives. Reading response, poetry, and literary analyses are also written throughout the year. Lessons on grammar, mechanics, speaking, and listening will be integrated into each unit. 

Instruction will be differentiated based upon each child’s strengths, interests, and progress at the time. The lessons and units are aligned to the PA Core Standards for English Language Arts.

Unit 1: Launching Reading and Writing Workshop

Unit 2: Author Study

Unit 3: Writing Realistic Fiction Narratives

Unit 4: Tapping the Power of Nonfiction

Unit 5: Poetry

Unit 6: Dystopian Book Clubs

Self-selected readings, vocabulary, and grammar run concurrently with the above units.

This grade level course will focus on the 7th grade Pennsylvania Common Core Standards. This course will place a strong emphasis on the continued study of integers, order of operations, variables, expressions, and equations. Students will solve and graph equations and inequalities, write and solve proportions, and explore geometry, statistics, and graphing concepts.

Unit 1 - Ratios and Proportions

Unit 2 - Operations with Rational Numbers

Unit 3 - Expressions, Equations, and Inequalities

Unit 4 - Geometry

Unit 5 - Percent and Applications of Percent

Unit 6 - Probability and Populations

The seventh-grade science curriculum utilizes a hands-on, inquiry approach to learning. This course begins with the scientific method, later following with basic principles of physics. Topics of study throughout the year include basic atomic theory, motion, force, energy and astronomy. Students will complete laboratory activities as they engage in the process of science.

Units

• Nature of Science & Scientific Inquiry
• Basic Atomic Theory
• Forms of Energy
• Waves
• Astronomy
• Forces & Motion

7th Grade Social Studies is a yearlong course infused with basic geography, critical thinking, analysis of primary sources and the development of reading and writing strategies.

Course content includes the study of American History. This encompasses reading about the experiences of various groups that contributed to the development of our country.

The units are generally studied in chronological order from the Revolutionary War to Civil War.

7th Grade Social Studies will encompass the following themes;

1. Road to Revolution/Revolutionary War 
2. Constitutional Convention
3. The Constitution of the United States- (Government/Individual Rights)
4. Launching the Nation - Presidency of Washington/Jefferson
5. War and Expansion- War of 1812
6. The Age of Jackson-1825-1845
7. Westward Expansion and Growth of the United States 
8. Causes of the Civil War/ Civil War