Grade 7

The 7th graders enjoy an intensive study of the Renaissance, which brings all previous cultural achievements to a glorious flowering and ushers in a new age of wide scientific inquiry and exploration.  The students enthusiastically dive into this exploration and take this energy into their own studies of Africa, South America, and Asia. They are also met with new opportunities to explore the world around them through chemistry, physiology, astronomy, and physics.

The Child

The seventh grade signals a very important change in the development of the child. Externally, the body is usually in the throes of puberty while, internally, the new force of intellect is born. In many ways, it can be characterized as the year of looking ahead. Finally able to call themselves teens, these students are chomping at the bit, ready to join the world. Their horizons are expanding, the social experience of the class is very important to them, and every day can be full of wonders even as they strive to balance a tender inner emotional life.  As the seventh grader moves into a new phase of growth – adolescence – she/he brings a new capacity for critical thinking to the subject matter at hand. These students are charged with emotional vitality and question everything around them. They seek to learn the boundaries of authority and the laws of science. 

The Class

Seventh grade is a time for students to assert their independence and to find their place among their peers. What better time to study the Renaissance and the Age of Exploration and the biographies of strong individuals in history, active members of society, who made their mark in science, exploration and art? 

The physical sciences continue with mechanics, beginning with the discovery of the lever principle in relation to the human arm. This block extends to the basic mechanical principles applied to ancient and modern machines. Further topics in physics are the laws of refraction, reflection, heat and electricity. Students study human reproduction and health. During the chemistry block, the students study the properties of acids and bases and the lime cycle. Combustion is a theme that leads into the study of physiology and the life processes. 

Astronomy continues as the heliocentric study of our solar system.

The vigorous mathematics curriculum brings students an understanding of negative numbers, algebra and plane geometry, graphing roots, powers and formulas. 

The geography curriculum includes the explorations of the New World by European explorers. In the creative writing curriculum of seventh grade, students synthesize all previous language studies as they explore oral tradition, the development of written language, and survey styles of poetry and prose genres. The world language curriculum includes grammar skills, reading, writing and conversation. 

Cyber Civics classes focus on information literacy.

The fine and practical arts continue with the addition of perspective drawing. 

During music class, students will participate in chorus and orchestra while studying musical styles, such as madrigals, ballads, opera and oratorio. 

Finally, physical education will include team games and preparation for the annual regional 7th & 8th Grade track and field meet including sprinting, javelin, long jump and discus.