Seventh Grade Overview
Looking outward while feeling inward, the 7th grader is expressive and forceful, challenging authority and exploring limits. With a torch in hand, they seek to assert their independence and find their place, while remembering to provide light for those behind them. The Renaissance—examining truth and beauty via scientists, religious reformers and artists—permeates the entire curriculum.
7th Grade Curriculum at a Glance
MAIN LESSON BLOCKS
History: “1491” & The Age of Exploration, Artists of the Renaissance,
The Scientific Revolution, The Protestant Reformation
Science: Simple Machines, Inorganic Chemistry, Physiology I
Geography: Africa, South America, Europe
Drama: Class Play
7th Grade Curriculum in Detail
LANGUAGE ARTS
Literature
Reading and discussion of novels and short stories with accompanying writing responses and comprehension work
Writing & Grammar
Paragraph writing, essay writing, creative writing, descriptive and narrative writings, letter writing; sequential English Project Lessons on grammar and spelling, including proofreading and editing skills
Vocabulary
Vocabulary units in Sadlier-Oxford series as well as lists generated in main lesson; Support of main lesson North American geography block with study on
Writing Conventions & Study Skills
Writing conventions oversight, note-taking, research, homework accountability
FOREIGN LANGUAGE - SPANISH
Current Events
Weekly current events class; using Junior Scholastic and other news articles to read for information; sort opinion from fact; understand differing points of view; learn to identify bias; developing basic understanding of civics concepts, practicing debating issues
Competency with 4 processes, fractions, decimals, and percentages
Various problem-solving techniques with the four operations and integers
Coordinate plane usage
Interpreting graphs and using them to make predictions and identify rules for equations
Substitution of variables and solving equations and systems of equations
Setting up and solving proportions
MUSIC
Middle School Choir
Blocks: African music & drumming; Mozart & Beethoven; ukulele & guitar
Recorder ensemble playing; soprano, alto, and tenor recorder
GAMES/PE
Team sports: soccer, touch football, volleyball, basketball, ultimate Frisbee, softball
Fitness & the One-Mile Run
Ballroom Dancing
Yoga
Cooperative games and activities
Sportsmanship
HANDWORK
Doll-making
WOODWORK
Introduction to working with hardwoods
Introduction to power sander and power sharpener
Project: Chiseling a hardwood spoon
ART BLOCKS
Masterpieces of the Renaissance
Perspective Drawing
FRIDAY CURRICULUM
GEOMETRIC DRAWING Ii
Logarithmic spiral, Spiral of Archimedes, Cycle of Circles, Golden Mean/Ratio/Proportion
WELLNESS II & TRUST CIRCLES – Guest Presenters/Facilitators (4-6 hour-long sessions)
Presentations & facilitated conversations on Healthy Relationships, Media Literacy, Sexuality, Healthy Choices & Communication
COMPUTER II
Computer care review and typing check in
Google Docs basics: copying, pasting, formatting; using spellcheck and grammar tools; saving, naming, sharing, editing, and finding files
Google Slides: create a basic presentation
COMMUNITY SERVICE—Class undertakes 3-5 projects for the school & community (8-10 hrs)
MIDDLE SCHOOL FRIDAYS – Siskiyou School faculty or Visiting Teachers (January – May)
7th graders pursue an elective over 4-5 Friday classes, 90 minutes each
3-4 blocks of electives offered during the semester; elective options vary per block
OTHER 7th GRADE YEAR HIGHLIGHTS
5-day Fall Orientation Trip rafting on the Lower Klamath
Getting the official Oregon Shakespeare festival tour and attending a 1-2 plays
Helping host the Medieval Games & the 8th grade graduation reception
Beginning personal fundraising for 8th grade trip
