Seventh Grade School Program

At LVDS, we understand the importance of preparing students for success in their future academic and professional lives. Our seventh grade curriculum is designed to give students the skills and knowledge they need to be successful in the future. We focus on developing critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills. We also provide a rigorous and comprehensive curriculum that covers all the necessary topics in language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, and other areas. Our teachers are committed to helping your child achieve their highest potential. With our seventh grade curriculum, your child will be well-equipped and ready to excel in the years ahead.

Explore our curriculum below.

In literature, students are provided an opportunity to become active and critical readers. Students are provided with a variety of literary genres to analyze and critique, such as:

• Fiction
• Nonfiction
• Poetry
• Dramas
• Plays
• Short stories
• Novels

This is done through written work, classroom discussions, and individual and group projects. Students also discuss literary terminology such as theme, motif, symbolism, foreshadowing, setting, and point of view.
Novels cover a wide range of topics and include different points of view. Novel discussions will be held regularly, and students are expected to participate and offer their thoughts. Students will get a chance to read books of their own choice during the year and reading outside of the classroom is highly encouraged.
Our robust literature program will expose students to a variety of literature, encourage participation, and promote lifelong readers.

Throughout the year, students complete writing assignments to focus on the analysis of literature. Students develop the ability to analyze various elements of literary genres, such as:

• Short Fiction
• Nonfiction
• Satires
• Novels
• Essays

Seventh graders complete a minimum of four quarterly projects, including reading a recognized work of literature and producing a student generated project.

English offers detailed instruction into various forms of academic writing including expository, persuasive, and research writing. Through the use of the writing process, students incorporate key components of grammar, usage, mechanics, and spelling to develop clear, concise written work. Writing focuses on integration of original ideas with research from multiple sources, both digital and print, for analysis and drawing conclusions.

Students are taught how to cite their sources, create a works cited page, and how to set up their research papers using MLA format. Technology is integrated to produce, publish, research, and collaborate on writing projects, short research activities, and group projects.

Communication skills are developed through oratorical speeches, collaborative group projects, and class presentations. Students learn important elements of listening, speaking, and responding appropriately to prepared speeches, class discussions, and presentations.

The program offers students the opportunity to compete in writing competitions and an oratorical speech competition, which not only showcases creative writing skills, but also acquired communication skills throughout the school year.

Our goal in teaching mathematics is to constantly maintain a challenging environment in which a student can achieve success. Seventh-grade students begin the year studying Pre-Algebra, and finish with the beginnings of Algebra I.

Concepts include:

• Properties
• Operations of Integers
• Rational Numbers
• Real Numbers
• Solving Equations
• Inequalities
• Probability
• Reviewing Ratio
• Proportions
• Percentages
• Geometry

Online textbooks feature technology that is integrated with easy to access online sources including tutorial videos, assignments, examples, and interactive lessons. Students have the opportunity to take control of their learning and experience success.
We encourage participation in many forms and work to create an environment where students can interact, feel challenged, and enjoy learning math.

The goal of the science program is to develop independent study habits, with an emphasis on skills such as creativity, innovation, critical thinking, problem solving, communication, and collaboration.

The course is designed to give students a basic understanding of science and its relationship to their lives. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) is integrated throughout the science program. Students will use interactive electronic textbooks, Smartbook, IXL, and both virtual and hands-on labs to enhance learning.
Seventh-grade earth science curriculum surveys the processes that formed and continue to shape the Earth. Students examine the fields of:

• Cartography
• Geology
• Meteorology
• Oceanography
• Environmental Science
• Astronomy

The scientific method is applied along with scientific skills and equipment for the observations, collection, organization, interpretation, and presentation of data.

Social studies provides students with a solid foundation in the areas of history, political systems, geography, research skills, and current events. This course offers a chronological history of the United States from colonization to present day. Themes include:

• Forging a national identity from a diverse population
• Broadening and strengthening our democratic institutions
• Improving our economic and technological capacity

Students create a social studies fair project and research paper. Students also write a report in conjunction with the English department on a cause-and-effect event in U.S. History.

Seventh graders have geography activities to supplement studies. Research and note-taking skills are reinforced. Emphasis is placed on the development of a working knowledge of the various types of reference materials and the ability to efficiently utilize these skills. Special activities include the state stock market competition and creation of a podcast. Current events will be incorporated into the social studies class using Junior Scholastic. The study of current events allows students to actively participate as citizens.

Through the study of art and the humanities, students develop an appreciation and understanding of the world around them, as well as the progression of cultures and the aesthetic movement which incorporates these cultures. Students explore the process of taking an abstract thought and creating a concrete form from that thought. The goal of the program is to teach students to see and understand the aesthetic elements that give a work of art enduring beauty and meaning.

Seventh-grade follows a discipline-based art program, offering a broad range of visual experiences based on art works and art styles of various cultures and times in history. The concepts of aesthetics, art criticism, art history, and art production are applied and reinforced throughout the program.

Students are thoroughly introduced to the elements of art and explore various artistic styles from the Art of Greece and Rome to the Baroque Art Period. Studio lessons reinforce the concepts that are being studied. Our program is designed to promote growth in the areas of communication, creativity, critical thinking, aesthetic awareness, personal expression, and self-esteem.

The study of Spanish exposes students to a different language and thereby stimulates a desire to continue developing their competence in foreign languages, as well as their own. Seventh grade will review the first half of the Spanish I book from sixth grade and move on to complete first year high school Spanish. Concepts taught include multiple irregular verbs, the progressive tense, and past tense.

Small group activities, videos, and games are used, along with group participation, to make learning Spanish more fun and interesting. These activities expose the students to daily conversational vocabulary, while at the same time giving them insight into the culture, geography, and history of the Spanish speaking world.

While providing a strong background in computers, the seventh grade course extends the student experience of using the computer as a tool. Keyboarding and ergonomic practices are stressed as life skills. Students are encouraged to be creative while developing a strong foundation in application software and computer science during the year. Windows operating systems and an online suite of programs allow the students to practice both skills and teamwork opportunities.

Topics students study include:

• • Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
  • How Computers Work and Their History
  • Block Programming
  • Logical Thinking
  • Debugging
  • Problem Solving
  • Critical Thinking
  • Future Technologies

Students learn to apply and are given practice with ethical internet skills including safe use of social media and similar programs, email etiquette for both business and personal use, security as it applies to their accounts and applications, emerging technologies and how they affect society, efficient and best use of tablets and computers.

The middle school health and fitness program is committed to offering an educational process in which all students are encouraged to reach their highest potential, as well as their personal goals.

Students participate in:

• Sports & Leisure Activities
• Strength Training
• Aerobic Exercise

They are introduced to the importance of their own health and well-being through health education topics. Students are given a strong foundation in the value of lifetime physical fitness and a healthy lifestyle.

Seventh-grade students learn about mental and emotional health, as well as drugs, alcohol, and tobacco use and its effects on the body.

Throughout the year, the rules and mechanics of various sports are taught. Students also run the mile weekly. The weight room is used to work on strength and conditioning in a safe and guided manner. Students compete in the Scorpion Fitness Award program based on the amount of pull ups, sit ups, run time, and flexibility.