Seventh Grade Curriculum

Religion
A student will be able to:

• appreciate the rich heritage of the Catholic tradition and prayers
• realize the importance of reading and reflecting on the Bible, especially the Gospels
• recognize value of prayer
• learn a process for making decisions according to Christ’s values
• gain a greater appreciation of the life Jesus won for us by his death and resurrection
• continue preparation for Confirmation
  

Social Studies

The students will integrate skills in relationship to history, geography, citizenship, economics, and humanities by:

• identifying major turning points in American history from the 15th to the 20th century
• exploring what it means to be a citizen of the United States with concentration on the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution
• celebrating the diversity of our nation and the contributions which different groups made to the development of our country
• examining American participation in global affairs throughout our nation’s history
• continuing to develop skills in map, graph, and chart interpretation
• developing an understanding of the interrelatedness of economics and political systems
• learning how to participate actively in the role of leaders as stewards of our world

ILA

A student will be able to:

• construct meaning as he/she engages with the text
• use critical and creative thinking processes
• synthesize information, draft conclusions, and make interpretations
• write about a variety of topics in more than one form (expository, informational, descriptive, persuasive, poetic)
• use conventional and electronic sources to research, gather, and organize data
• paraphrase notes
• discover the meaning of words through research, the study of content clues and usage
• use figurative language and analogies to expand meaning
• develop strategies to ensure conformity to standard English conventions of writing
  

Math

A student will be able to:

• choose and apply strategies for solving problems
• use all operations with whole numbers, fractions, decimals, and integers
• understand the relationship between fractions, decimals, and percents
• explain how changes in data affect statistics in a given situation
• identify, describe, compare, classify, and construct geometric figures
• use and apply formulas to find missing elements
• solve equations
• relate math topics to practical real-life issues

Science

The students in Science classes will explore the Standards set for Science and develop an appreciation for life as sacred and God-given. Curriculum over a two year period

 Student will be able to:

Physical Science

• Explain Atoms – Structure
• Structure and Properties of Matter
• Chemical and Physical Changes
• Motion and Forces
• Energy and its Interaction with Matter

Life Science
Identify and explain:

• The Cell
• Reproduction and Heredity/Genetics
• Evolution
• Interdependence of Organisms
• Matter and Energy
• New Organization of Life Systems
• Behavior of Organisms
  

Earth Science
Understand:

• Composition of Earth and the Dynamics that Shape it
• Origin and Evolution of the Universe
• Space Exploration

• Introduction to the History, Nature of Science, and Social Perspectives
• To do experiments in all areas of the curriculum

 Assessment

Students will experience:

• continual assessment of achievement in understanding concepts, not just periodic tests of factual information
• assessments that match core content topics that are articulated in the Curriculum Guidelines
• Multiple types of assessment which include cooperative assignments, class participation, research projects, portfolios, open-ended questions, and problem-solving opportunities

Our Seventh Grade Program Also Features:

• Participation in Leadership Team and Announcement Team
• Opportunities for social interaction throughout the year – eg: dances, prayer partners, organized sports

Art

A student will be able to:

• recognize and use various media, materials and tools to produce different visual effects in works of art
• apply the knowledge of the elements and principles of art in their own two-dimensional and three-dimensional work
• create works of art inspired by art history and the great masters

Computer

A student will be able to:

• continue to access the school network with a user name and password
• perfect typing skills
• research on the internet
• work more on developing skills for Microsoft Excel, Power Point, and Word
• use a variety of computer programs to enhance classroom curriculum

Library
A student will be able to:

• visit on an alternating week schedule to check out a library book for enjoyment reading and a book to supplement classroom assignments
• use the Dewey Decimal System

Music

A student will be able to:

• perform on instruments, alone and with others
• improvise melodies and variations
• read and notate music
• listen and analyze all types of music
• have fun and move to music
• sing and praise God with Church songs

Health

A student will be able to:

• understand the food pyramid and Dietary Guidelines
• Read food labels with an understanding of the nutritional value
• plan a menu following the food pyramid
• identify Fats, Proteins, Carbohydrates, Vitamins and Minerals

Physical Education

A student will be able to:

• evaluate and increase individual physical fitness
• know the rules and be able to play with competence in a variety of individual and team sports
• explore teamwork and cooperation through physical activity

Spanish

A student will be able to:

• identify grammar including verbs (ir, ser, estar and gustar) and possessive adjectives
• identify vocabulary including numbers one to one million, professions, feelings, months, years, body, weather, holidays and foods
• identify different Spanish speaking cultures