Seventh Grade Curriculum
	Bible The seventh grade Bible curriculum focuses on the life of Christ through a harmony of the Gospels approach. Our “textbook” is the Holy Bible (NIV). Students are encouraged to apply biblical principles to their lives as they study the New Testament. Taught daily, the curriculum includes Bible memory work each week. Second semester we will be adding the novel The Bronze Bow to our Bible curriculum. This book fits perfectly as we study the life of Christ.  Language Arts The language arts curriculum in seventh grade is comprehensive in nature, including grammar, literature, vocabulary, oral and written communication.  Literature: Seventh graders read several novels: A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, Carry On, Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Lathan, and The Dream Giver by Bruce Wilkinson. The class explores characters and plot development and relates the literary work to history. Students attend a live performance of A Christmas Carol. While using a teacher-guided pacing chart, books are student selected and read on deadline monthly with a yearly goal of 10 books. In addition, we utilize the textbook Elements of Literature Course I, published by Holt, Reinhart, and Winston, exploring the following genres: Fiction Nonfiction Biographies Various styles of prose are analyzed including the following: Emily Dickinson Langston Hughes Lewis Carroll Robert Frost E.E. Cummings Carl Sandburg Students create and pattern their original writing based on each designated style of poetry.  Vocabulary: Students are evaluated on more than 200 vocabulary words in which they must match the word to its synonym, antonym, and identify correct analogies. Wordly Wise, published by Educators Publishing Service, incorporates the vocabulary words into weekly stories.  Speaking: Regular feedback is provided on short oral presentations to improve speaking skills and build confidence. A 3-5 minute oratory recitation demonstrates language and memorization skills before the instructor and their peers while performing in a school-wide oratory recital.  Grammar: The textbook, Grammar and Composition published by A Beka, presents essential basics of grammar including parts of speech, punctuation and sentence structure, carefully balanced with units that teach the writing process as it applies to stories, essays, and persuasive writing. Grammar instruction enhances writing improvement through correct application of grammatical concepts throughout the year. In addition to written evaluations, the students will demonstrate their knowledge during hands-on activities that encourage higher level thinking skills.  Writing: Writing instruction concentrates on organization, clarity of expression, and sentence structure. Topical writing assignments allow students to express their Christian worldview. New vocabulary words are built into writing assignments to help the students apply their knowledge. During seventh grade, students write letters, editorials, book reports, and scripts. A one page autobiography is required that includes computerized tasks such as importing graphics, changing fonts and point size, using spell check and thesaurus tools. Students interview then write a two page biography on a grandparent that includes a computerized version of an illustrated timeline. Seventh graders write a three-page research paper on a current event as an interdisciplinary unit using a Report Style Manual and other resources in the media center and computer lab. Students turn in note cards, outlines, drafts and bibliography during the process. Reading: Reading in seventh grade includes detailed comprehensive strategies, and developing techniques in analyzing literature from a Christian worldview. Basic skills are reinforced along with vocabulary development through Greek and Latin roots. Students read selections from an anthology, as well as, several novels representing a variety of literary genres.  Mathematics Seventh grade math is a pre-algebra curriculum with an integrated transition to algebra and geometry. Using the Glencoe PreAlgebra curriculum, students learn to generalize, think spatially, and reason probabilistically. A variety of methods, including hands-on activities, technology, teacher modeling, use of manipulatives, and written practice focus on enhancing mathematical reasoning and problem-solving skills by organizing information, interpreting data, communicating quantitatively, making conjectures, and solving problems. Online technology support is available in the form of online student edition textbooks, as well as tutorials aligned with each lesson. Seventh grade students participate in Continental Math League and ACSI Math Olympics.  Science Seventh grade science is a study of God’s order provision, and reasonableness as revealed in His physical creation. All information is presented from a conservative Christian perspective based on God’s word. The goals for this curriculum include: confirming that God is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe, life, intellect, and order; learning to observe, investigate, and hypothesize about God’s word; and making conclusions based on the truth of God’s word. Students explore: God’s physical creation through topics such as: Cells Plants Genetics Classification Biomes of the world Vertebrates and invertebrates The environment Human body The scientific method and keep an accurate lab note book. Students participate in: Experimentation in the science lab, utilizing its equipment to study various topics such as: Osmosis Diffusion Mitosis Genetics Capillary action and transport Frog dissection Group and individual projects utilizing the Media Center and Computer Lab to research and investigate various current event topics, famous scientists, the world biomes, and animal kingdoms. Resources Bible, Life Sciences, Bob Jones University Press, Greenville, South Carolina  Social Studies Seventh grade social studies encompass a varied scope of topics, all taught from a biblical worldview. The study of world history begins with the Middle Ages and concludes with present day. Along with map skills and geography, students are encouraged to develop an understanding of the world they live in, including the languages, cultures, and religions of different people groups. Students explore the political system in the United States, the election process, and an on-going awareness of local, national, and global current events.  P.E. Approached through a Biblical worldview, the seventh grade curriculum is designed to include a wide variety of instructional activities which will help the student apply daily fitness, expanded team sport experiences, refinement and mastery of sound principles of movement, continued development of upper and lower body strength, continued development and expansion of team and individual sport strategies and fundamental refinement, and the continued development of an appreciation and willingness to utilize exercise as an aid to wellness.  Art Seventh grade students who are not in band, will have a forty-five minute art class, four times a week for two nine week sessions. Seventh grade art is designed to provide the students with more in-depth instruction in technique, and the use of more specialized art materials. Students explore multiple medias that will develop artistic skills and creativity, including drawing, printmaking, fiber arts, and ceramics. Students study the variety of careers in the creative arts field, including Graphic Design. Students create a design, working in Adobe Illustrator on the Macintosh computers. Students in 7th grade will learn photography and Adobe Photoshop, a photo editing computer program. There will also be an emphasis on art history and appreciation. Students are shown the importance of patience, dedication, and a strong work ethic. They will be required to create an Altered Book with project requirements and must account for all assignments. Students’ grades are not based on natural abilities, but requirements met.  Music Seventh Grade music is taught from a perspective that music is a gift from our creative God to glorify Him and to enrich our lives, as well as the lives of others. Classes meet 4 days each week for a 9 week period during the first semester, rotating with art and then repeating for another 9 weeks during the second semester. General Music in the Seventh Grade is primarily focused on more advanced guitar skills, a third level of Music Theory as our technology component, creating a pod cast, a study of the production of movie sound tracks, as well as exploring various classical composers and their selected compositions.  Library Students will learn some basic research skills in the library including the following: Understand the Dewey Decimal System Use OPACS to locate resources in the library Use periodical indices, print and electronic. From the citations students will be able to identify author, title, publisher, and copyright dates Know how to use a variety of indices Use tables of contents, index, glossary, and appendix to locate information in books and reference works Use guide words in dictionaries and encyclopedias Use specialized dictionaries, encyclopedias, atlases, and other print resources Recognize the need to validate information obtained from the internet Select and narrow topic and research questions Categorize and organize information using maps, webs, and outlines Using the Report Style Manual, prepare and present information through reports, demonstrations and projects Document sources of information obtained both electronically and in print Use subscription databases efficiently Use the library computer catalog independently Use the internet as a research tool Technology  Students give PowerPoint presentations on different religions of the world. They create PowerPoint slides to journal the scientific process of plant life, and use Sketchpad in their Geometry curriculum. They use the MS Office Suite for various subject projects. Students are also introduced to digital imaging with Photoshop. Programs available for student use are MS Office Suite, Adobe Suite, Inspiration, Sketchpad, and Print Shop.