Grade 7

GRADE SEVEN CURRICULUM OVERVIEW (2021-2022 School Year)

“With the strengthening of the forces of feeling and will and the slow beginning of the process of physical maturation, the growing person is strongly dominated by the influence of these forces... the turbulence familiar to teachers and parents make their appearance. Teachers and parents become “lightning rods” for the children's often unchecked feelings.” – from Rhythms of Learning

Themes of Seventh Grade are Renaissance, individualism, biography, world perspective through geography and exploration, anatomy, self-awareness, and the rebirth of thought and human potential. At this time in their development the seventh grader is becoming more of an individual, searching for a relationship to the world, to others and to their body. The curriculum will reflect and support these changes in the student and work to nourish growth and development. Adults must be supportive of the growing and changing child by retaining objectivity and not taking the child’s words and actions personally.

“We should not, therefore, view puberty and adolescence as an isolated age, but as a condition for transition, as a transitory state of being, paradise having been lost and not yet regained. We could also refer to this third seven year period (14-21) as a river flowing between the banks of childhood and adulthood.” – from Education for Adolescents

During this phase the student can have questions about one’s destiny and tasks in life. This is why teaching through biography is brought, taking the great life questions that the student yearns for us to answer, and illustrating how complicated and varied life can be. These biographies are of great individuals who rose to meet life’s challenges and pressures, while often suffering greatly. We don’t offer pat answers, but rather open up the paradox. It is through objective looking, discovering, and thinking that the teenager grows. They can be greatly disappointed if the adult meets their emotional unrest with emotion. The adult will do far better to meet the child at this age through the disciplines embedded in the subjects brought forth during the course of the year.

"One should guard against preaching to young people success in the customary form as the main aim in life. The most important motive for work in school and in life is pleasure in work, pleasure in its result, and the knowledge of the value of the result to the community." -Einstein

7th Grade Block Rotation

Creative Writing (Wish, Wonder, Surprise):

Our English classes have two major goals related to the development of each student’s writing skills. First is the development of a writing practice in which the students begin to feel a degree of ease in written expression and begin to develop a personal voice with malleability. The second is to develop the ability to write clear, cohesive, and cogent paragraphs that will form the basis of future expository and inquiry-based essay writing assignments. Skill Focus: Creative writing, study of style and form, essay writing, grammar, parts of speech and punctuation.

World History and Physics:

The history curriculum covers the time following the end of the Roman Empire and the period leading up to and including the Renaissance, with a focus on art, science, religion, and the Age of Exploration. In our physics work we will finish up our study of sound, heat and light from 6th grade. Skill Focus: Writing and Grammar skills, self and peer editing, group work and critical thinking. We will be having a book report during this block.

Introduction to Algebra:

The class will review fractions, decimals, geometry, and percentages before moving into algebra and the application of formulas. New material of algebra is always introduced during a main lesson, while established material is reviewed and practiced in our year-long track classes. Skill Focus: Logical thinking, problem solving, introduction to negative numbers, working with equations and story problems, interpreting data and graphs, comparisons and ratios review of formulas area, perimeter, circumference, interest rates, etc.

Chemistry:

Study of combustion, salts, acids and bases, and the lime cycle. Skill Focus: Observation and reporting, logical thinking skills, lab report documentation, clear written communication and problem solving.

The Renaissance:

The year’s history curriculum shows the students the evolution in human consciousness taking place during the Renaissance. The astronomers, explorers, and leading painters, sculptors and inventors of the time brought innovation to many aspects of society. We will also be studying aspects of the Harlem Renaissance this year. Skill Focus: essay writing, biography report on an important historical figure, group discussion and writing, critical thinking, perspective drawing and calligraphy.

African Geography:

This year‘s geography block focused on African culture, geography and history with each student choosing a country in Africa to report on. The culture of Africa was explored through its storytelling, history, economics, natural resources, and the legacy passed down from indigenous tribes. We followed the rise of the slave trade and colonialism and then the path to freedom and equality. A range of stories were told: Traditional African stories, stories of explorers and finally stories of the quest for freedom. Skill Focus: Country report writing, study of place and space, cultural awareness, reading of African writers, geographical consciousness, map making and interpretation.

Class Play:

The class will be performing a class play this year, most likely outside, and we will be reading plays throughout the year of different forms to see what connects with the class. Skill Focus: Social and emotional learning, group work, interpretation of text and history, speech, movement, problem solving, costuming and set creation, character analysis.

Human Anatomy and Physiology:

During this block we will engage in the study of respiratory, digestive systems, and circulatory systems, ear and eye. We will also study health and hygiene, social and emotional awareness, journal writing and self reflection, writing and drawing of anatomy, as well as study of Human reproduction systems.

History - Reformation and Explorers:

The 7th graders will study the periods after the renaissance, both European and American, and learn through biographies of important figures how each time reflects a period of questioning and potential transformation. We will also study the amazing explorers of the world and examine the adventurous spirit required to venture into the unknown. Skill Focus: Continued study of European and American history leading up to reformation and the expeditions of explorers, both European and Non-European and their effects on the world.

Physics:

The 7th grade will take up a study of Mechanics- “simple machines”: the lever, the inclined plane, and the wheel, especially in its application as the pulley. We will also have an introduction to electricity. Skill Focus: Observation, lab write-ups, technical drawings, logical thinking, problem solving and work with equations and practical applications of physics through group projects.

THE ARTS:

We will continue our study of form drawing through our continued geometry work. We will have weekly watercolor painting classes and will work with new techniques. We will paint subjects from our lesson content as well as times to paint more freely. This year the students take up a study of perspective drawing in relation to the European Renaissance. We will do some clay modeling as well, especially in our study of history and geography. We will be able to sing outside and will have music class twice a week.