Seventh Grade
English
Reading, writing, and critical thinking are at the heart of the seventh grade English curriculum. As students read short stories, poetry, and novels they continue to develop their critical reading skills. Literature studies include The Outsiders, The Giver, Anne Frank's The Diary of a Young Girl, and The House on Mango Street, as well novels independently chosen by students. Writing projects comprise a variety of genres such as journals, personal narratives, short stories, poetry, and literary analysis. Students study grammar and vocabulary both in the context of their reading and writing, as well as through the use of adaptive programs such as IXL and Membean, which allow for differentiated instruction tailored to each student’s skill level and individual progress.
Math
Seventh Grade Pre-Algebra is designed to help students transition from the concrete concepts of arithmetic to the abstract concepts of algebra and geometry. The course integrates these three areas while making connections to probability, statistics, and the use of technology. This course provides opportunities for students to individually and cooperatively visualize, discuss, and demonstrate mathematical concepts.
Science
In seventh grade, students independently and collaboratively learn in an integrated science course that introduces the principles of physical and life sciences and how they relate to each other. Through traditional and project-based modalities, students learn about matter, motion and forces, cells and genetics, and the human body. Additionally, key skills are emphasized, such as collaboration, critical thinking, communication, creativity, and technology proficiency. Students research, conduct experiments, collect, analyze, and synthesize information, create models, and communicate what they’ve learned.
Social Studies
Seventh grade history is a continuation of the two-year world civilizations program and focuses on the history of North Africa, Europe and Asia since the collapse of the Roman Empire. Students explore the connections to the mathematical and scientific achievements of Islamic civilizations in collaboration with the math curriculum. Famous figures from the Italian Renaissance come alive as young historians discover the connections between artists, patrons, and popes in the age of humanism. Science, art and history connect when students create their own frescoes using traditional methods and materials. Throughout the course, students examine historic artifacts and interpret their meaning in order to practice writing analytically. Finally, students become historians themselves during an extended inquiry project. Using original research garnered from family oral history, each seventh grader spends the year investigating a topic of historic importance in the life of his or her family. After careful research, students transform their learning into a mini-documentary blending their own primary source interview with music, images and video found in the public domain. Students share their learning with the larger community by presenting their films at a St. John's film festival.
World Languages
French
Seventh grade French develops basic understanding of grammar and vocabulary with emphasis on greater detail and competency. The course explores the vocabulary associated with school and classroom, describing people, objects, life in the city, and home interiors. Grammar includes learning the four main irregular verbs, être, avoir, faire, and aller. As well as regular –er verbs in the present tense. A more in-depth study of adjectives and prepositions is pursued. Cultural traditions are explored through skits, and projects.
German
Seventh grade German equally addresses listening comprehension, written skills, and oral skills. The curriculum includes: asking and telling what someone is doing; talking about interests, likes and dislikes; talking about school; sequencing events properly; weather, time increments; countries of Europe, languages; asking where someone is from and giving the same information; Germany and German culture.
Spanish
Students begin to develop complex communication skills. They learn how to use a variety of irregular verbs and stem-changing verbs. The verbs ser and estar receive particular emphasis, and students learn to write compositions using both verbs properly.
