Grade 7

This course introduces students to the concept that more than 340 million people speak Spanish world-wide, 35 million native speakers in the United States.  Student develop basic vocabulary and conversation skills.  Emphasis in this course is placed on understanding spoken Spanish and conversing with confidence, taking pleasure in replicating Spanish sounds.  An expectation is the memorization and recitation of vocabulary with perfect pronunciation.  An overall goal is to give students the developmental tools for proficiency in Spanish.  Vocabulary enrichment, reading, and some basic writing in Spanish, as well as study of Hispanic culture and customs round out the content of this course.

 For the first few lessons students review the concepts learned in the previous year.  The student works with current vocabulary to compose sentences to put into use the words and grammar usage learned. They read the dialogues and respond to the questions in French. There are many exercises to reinforce the concepts learned.  The students also compose small autobiographies.  They give short talks on the subject of their choice.  They also do a major project on the subject of their choice.  Students will continue their study of the language through increased vocabulary, informal expressions, and exposure to the Francophone culture.

An intermediate class that is a continuation of the knowledge learned in the fifth and sixth grades. Students learn more advanced window terminology and computer skills. Keyboarding is not taught in the seventh grade. Students in the seventh grade will learn advanced features of: Microsoft Office Suite, Internet Research, Computer Hardware & Software, Operating Systems, WebPages, Graphic Design, Music composition, advanced Internet safety, saving to different forms of media and troubleshooting. This program will help students to understand technology in their lives and acquire skills to learn new forms of technology on their own.

A comprehensive physical education program that will continue to provide learning experiences to meet the current and projected needs of individual students. Emphasis will continue to include physical fitness activities and team sports concepts at a higher level which will enable the students to demonstrate proper social skills in physical education. The emphasis on an active healthy lifestyle will continue to be stressed.

This course study will follow the seventh grade social studies curriculum. Classical music connections to American history provide a link in disciplines as in life. Students will still be singing in class however the instrumental portion of music exploration will be provided through the selection and participation in SFXP performing groups. Tests, quizzes and reports will be part of a student’s grade.

This is a survey art course which emphasizes studio art. Students will apply media, techniques, and processes in creating their own artwork. Students will be expected to understand a variety of vocabulary with respect to the making of their studio art projects. Students will identify and use the elements and principles of design. Students will draw from life, including - outdoor sketching, portrait studies at home and in class, and figure studies. Each 7th grade class will produce a large grid drawing from a famous work of art for display at the Spring Arts Festival. Mediums include (but are not limited to), pencil, colored pencil, pen, oil or dry pastels, charcoal, markers, tempera paint, watercolors, printmaking, and clay. Class critiques are held as a way to enhance art appreciation and understanding of art criticism. In addition to studio art, art history subjects include Renaissance and Baroque art. Additional artists are studied as time permits. Students are given home assignments at least once each marking period.

The seventh grade U.S. History curriculum begins with prehistory and continues through the early 1800s. It offers students an introduction to the events, themes, and a basic understanding of the times. The students will have an introduction to the Constitution and U. S. government, along with current events and basic economics. The students will apply critical thinking skills, understanding cause and effect, and the use of a primary source. Students will be able to distinguish between fact and opinion, read a graph, map, and editorial cartoon. The ability to express knowledge and/or opinion in a clear, concise way both verbally and in an intelligent essay is an integral part of class.

Students begin the year studying the Ecology of Cape Cod. They then have four units of chemistry, a unit studying the nature of science, and end the year with a geology unit. Students learn the principles of environmental science by focusing on the ecology of Cape Cod. In depth study of the Salt Marsh habitat is followed by a hands-on field trip to Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary. The bulk of the year is spent studying four units of chemistry: an introduction to matter, its parts, organization in the periodic table, and carbon/life chemistry where students learn the basic structure of DNA. Studying the nature and history of science, students learn where science first appeared in human history, how it survived the Dark Ages, and how the scientific method works. A geology unit looks at the earth’s structure, plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanoes, and the rock cycle.

This course continues to introduce a wide range of classic and contemporary literature in order to foster a love of and appreciation for reading. Classroom discussion and written reports are used to refine comprehension and critical thinking skills. Genres studied include novels, short stories, drama, non-fiction, poetry, myths, legends, and folk tales. Students also read grade appropriate books of choice

The Grade Seven curriculum focuses on the Christian Scriptures (New Testament) and builds on the Grade Six focus on the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament).  During the year students will focus on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ as understood by the Roman Catholic Church.  Within this context students will also learn more specifically about the Church’s social teachings in the hope that they will be able to apply their academic religious studies to their everyday lives as followers of Jesus Christ.

The grade seven math curriculum consists of a strenuous investigation with related practice and drill with the basic operations with whole numbers, decimals, and fractions. The class also covers major units involving percent, concepts of geometry and linear and area measure.  Solving basic equations and the use of formulas with exposure to manipulations with variables is included.  Strategies and practice with the solutions of word problems is included in each unit.

This course continues to expand and strengthen students’ knowledge of their language in the areas of grammar, vocabulary, written expression, and oral expression. The curriculum reviews sentence structure and parts of speech; increases comprehension of phrases and clauses; and initiates a study of gerunds, participles, and infinitives.  Sentence diagraming is used as a tool to understanding.  The course also stresses proper language mechanics and usage. A consumable vocabulary workbook is used to improve knowledge of the language. Written expression encompasses creative, descriptive, narrative, persuasive, and expository work.  Students employ the writing process to develop clear, well-organized, and intelligently expressed ideas.  They learn to form thesis statements and to subsequently support them.  Whenever possible, students’ written work is submitted to area contests in order to foster pride and excellence.  Confident and competent oral expression is encouraged both informally through classroom discussion and formally through classroom orations and debates.