GRADE 7
PROGRAM OF STUDIES
2025– 2026
SEVENTHGRADECOURSEDESCRIPTIONS
ALGEBRAI–YEAR1
The seventh grade mathematics curriculum is Algebra I. Most students will take a two-year Algebra I sequence during the seventh and eighth grades. The Algebra I curriculum during the seventh grade year is focused on order of operations, algebraic properties, integers, graphing relations and functions, analyzing linear equations andsolvinglinearinequalities.Emphasiswill be placed on a step-by-step approach to problem solving and makingconnectionsoftheseskills torealworldapplications.
ALGEBRAIACCELERATED
AselectgroupofseventhgradestudentswillbereadytotakeanacceleratedAlgebraIcourse. Theintentofthecourseistoallowcapablestudentstheopportunitytocompletethealgebra curriculuminoneyear Placementinthiscoursewillbedeterminedbythestudent’s performanceinsixthgrademathematics(gradesandworkethic),therecommendationofthe sixthgrademathematicsteacher,andtheoutcomeonaplacementtestthatallsixthgrade studentswilltakeattheendoftheyear Thedecisionmadebythemathematicsdepartment takesintoconsiderationthebesteducationalinterestsofthestudent.
This course is very fast-paced and has challenging expectations. Students should be able to handle the work without significant struggle and/or assistance. The main goal of the mathematics department is to be sure that each middle school student has a solid foundation in algebra. To be sure that the goal is met, we require students taking this coursetomaintainaBaverage or better. If a student’s mid-quarter or quarter grade is below B-, that student may not continueinacceleratedalgebra.
AMERICANGOVERNMENT&CIVICS
Students will study the origins of the Constitution,thethreebranchesofthefederalgovernment, separation ofpowers,checksandbalances,andfederalism.Onthestateandlocallevels,students willlearnaboutthestructureofMissouriandKansasgovernmentaswellaslocalcityandcounty governmental organization. Students will learn about the responsibilities of citizenship through projectsandactivities.
ART
The seventh grader will build upon their knowledge of the elements and principles ofdesignby experiencing more complex media processes in drawing, painting,ceramics,fiber,sculptureand printmaking. Students will learn to analyze their own and others artwork through written and verbalexercises.
COMPETITIVEMIDDLESCHOOLSPEECH&DEBATE
TheMiddleSchoolSpeech&Debatecourseservesasthegatewaytobecomingamemberofthe Speech&DebateTeam,offeringstudentsessentialcommunicationandcriticalthinkingskills throughparticipationintournaments.Studentswillexploreavarietyofspeechanddebate formats,includingPublicForumDebate,PolicyDebate,andCongressionalDebate. Additionally,theywilldelveintoindividualeventssuchasProseandPoetryInterpretation, publicspeakingeventslikeOriginalOratory(OO)andInformativeSpeaking(Info),andtheart ofimpromptuspeaking.Throughoutthecourse,studentswillmastertheconstructionof persuasivearguments,researchmethodologies,andconfidentpresentationtechniques. Collaborativeactivitiesandpeerfeedbacksessionswillenhanceteamworkandcommunication skills,encouragingstudentstoembracechallengesandlearnfromsetbacks.Byengagingwith diverseviewpointsandtopics,studentswilldevelopanalyticalabilitiescrucialforsuccessin academicandpersonalpursuits.Assessmentwillfocusonthegrowthmindset,evaluating students'willingnesstotakerisks,learnfromfailures,andcontinuouslyimprove.Thiscourse welcomesallmiddleschoolstudents,regardlessofpriorexperience,whoareeagertoenhance theircommunicationabilitiesandbecomeintegralmembersoftheSpeech&DebateTeam. Overall,theMiddleSchoolSpeech&Debatecoursepreparesstudentstoexcelacademicallyand professionallyinourinterconnectedworld.Studentsmustbeenrolledinthiscoursetobe guaranteedtheabilitytocompeteinSpeech&Debatetournaments.
DRAMATICARTS
Studentswillbeginwithactingfoundationstousesensememoriestocreaterealisticacting techniques.Dramaticcreativewritingusingtheplaybuildingtechniqueaswellasadvanced trainingofthevoiceareintroduced. Studentswillperformscriptedandoriginaldramaticworks inadditiontolearningthefoundationsofimprovisationalactingandscenebuilding.
ENGLISH
Seventh Grade English further develops oral and written communication skills along with reading comprehension skills. The curriculum exposes students to a variety of literary genres, including the novel, historical fiction, fiction,thememoir,poetry,andshortstories.Composition skills complement the genres and focus on a wide variety of writingstyles: expository,creative short stories, poetry, letter writing, and memoir In an effort to convey theinseparableboundary between social studies and art, many integrated units are utilized. The nuances of grammar are further studied, with an emphasis on application. Vocabulary is bolstered through vocabulary workshop exercises and assigned readings. Students also incorporate a variety of technologies across multiple platforms into many of the activities that they complete. Above all, the curriculumissetforthtodevelopastudent’sappreciationandinterestinliteratureandwriting.
INTRODUCTIONtoCOMPUTERSCIENCE
Welcometotheexcitingworldofcomputerscience!Inthisintroductorycourse,youwillembark onajourneytoexplorethefundamentalsofcomputers,programming,andengineering,
Throughoutthecourse,youwilllearnthebasicsofcomputersciencetounderstandhow computerswork.You'lldelveintotheprinciplesofcodingusinguser-friendlyplatformsand languagestocreateyourownprojects.Moreover,youwilldiscoverthesignificanceof computationalthinkingandproblem-solvingskillsasyoutacklevariouschallenges.Byengaging intheactivitiesandprojectsinthiscourse,youwilldevelopyourcreativity,criticalthinking,and logicalreasoningabilities,whichareessentialforsuccessinthedigitalage.
PHYSICALEDUCATION
Theseventhgradephysicaleducationprogramobjectivesaretoprovideanenvironment conduciveforthestudenttoobtainanacceptablephysicalfitnesslevel,todevelopan appreciationoflifetimesports,andtoenhancetheskillsanddesiretocontinuewithahealthy lifestyleastheyprogressthroughtheirmiddleschoolyears.Studentswillalsoestablishan understandingforthebasicrules,strategiesandskillsetforeachcurriculumunit. Thephysical educationstaffwillpromotetheconceptsofgoodsportsmanship,leadershipabilities,beinga teamplayerandcharacterbuildingskillsthroughouttheseventhgradecurriculum.
ROBOTICS
Inthiscourse,studentswillexploretheworldofroboticsbydesigning,building,and programmingtheirownrobotsusingLEGOMindstormskits.
Throughoutthiscourse,youwilllearntheprinciplesofroboticsengineering,including mechanics,electronics,andprogramming.Workinginteams,youwilltackleexcitingchallenges andengageinfun,interactiveprojectsthatwilltestyourproblem-solvingabilitiesandingenuity. Studentswilllearntoprogramrobotstoperformavarietyoftasks,fromnavigatingobstacle coursestocompletingcomplexmissions.Conceptssuchassensors,motors,loops,and conditionalswillbeusedtobringrobotstolifeandwatchthemrespondtocommands.
SCIENCE
Applicationofproblemsolvingandinquiryskillsisattheheartof7th gradescience. Afocusof collecting,interpreting,evaluatingandeffectivelycommunicatingdatawillbeimplemented throughouttheyear.Generaltopicstobestudiedarerelatedtolifeandenvironmentalscience, whileusingscientificpracticestoaddressandexploreavarietyofreal-worldconcepts.Students willdiscoverthatallfieldsofscienceareinterrelatedandaffecttheglobalcommunityand environment.
FOREIGNLANGUAGE
SEVENTHGRADEFRENCH
This course is the first half of a two-year program designed tocompleteonefulllevelofFrench I. Continuous development of oral skills and vocabulary, as well as an emphasis on both the spokenandwrittenword,willaccompanyculturalstudiesoftheFrancophoneworld.
SEVENTHGRADEMANDARINCHINESE(6thgradeChineseisaPrerequisite)
Thiscoursecontinuesthedevelopmentofthefourmajorcommunicativeskillsbegunin6th grade:listening,speaking,readingandwriting.Studentswillexpandtheirvocabularyandbe abletocomprehendandparticipateinmoreextensiveconversations,toreadandwritemore complexsentences.ThestudentswillgainmoreunderstandingofChineseculture.
SEVENTHGRADESPANISH(Blue)
Thiscourseisthefirsthalfofatwo–yearprogramdesignedtocompleteonefulllevelof SpanishI.Continuousdevelopmentoforalskillsandvocabularyaswellasanemphasisonboth spokenandwrittenSpanishwillaccompanyculturalstudiesoftheSpanishspeakingworld.
SEVENTHGRADESPANISH(Red)
Thiscourseisacontinuationforthe6th gradeRedcourseandwillelaborateonskillsdeveloped inspeaking,listening,reading,writing,andgrammar Thecoursewilluseformaltextbookand supplementarymaterialsaswellasnovels,movies,andotherculturallyimmersivematerials. Thisclasswillprimarilybeconductedinthetargetlanguage,bytheendoftheyearstudents shouldfeelconfidentandabletoconverseinSpanishinmanyvariedreallifesituations.Students willbegintheLevelIItextbookmid-year
ENCORECOURSES
EncoreCourses-allyear,twiceaweek
CHORALMUSIC
ChoralMusicisayear-longcourseandisopentoany7th and8th gradestudent.Notonlywillthe studentsbedevelopingtheirsingingandmusicalskills,buttheywillalsobelearningtomake musictogetherwhiledevelopingmanyfriendshipsalongtheway.Someinvaluablelifelessons suchascooperation,respect,teamwork,self-discipline,problem-solving,risk-taking, perseverance,sensitivityandself-expressionwilloccurastheymakemusicinthe“roomwhere ithappens”.Thefirstsemesterfocuswillbeonbuildingvocalfoundationalskillsfor performanceofclassicalandseasonalchoralmusicontheannualHolidayConcert.Second semesterfocusisonpreparationforperformingintheannualspringShowcase.Showcaseisa full-scalemusicalproductionconsistingofavarietyofselectionsfromClassical,Broadway, Jazz,andmedleysfeaturingsongsbypopularmusiciansfromtodayandyesterday Thismusical productionwillincludeselectionsperformedbytheTreble,Bass,andFullChoruseswhile providingsoloandsmallensembleopportunities.Thestudentswillworkwithaprofessional choreographerandbeaccompaniedbyaprofessionalpitorchestraforthistraditionalproduction.
CONCERTBAND
Themiddleschoolconcertbandisopentoallinstrumentalmusicstudentsingrades6,7,&8. Thisyear-longcourseprovidesafun,creative,andeducationalenvironmentforstudentsto developsuccessfulensembleandmusicperformanceskills.Theensemblerehearsesduringthe schooldayandperformsavarietyofmusicthatisstylisticallyandculturallydiverse.Focusis rootedindevelopingmusicperformanceskills,self-expression,creativity,rehearsaletiquette, andensemblesocialskills.Inadditiontoschool-relatedperformancesandPepBandgames, studentsarerequiredtoperformfortwomajorconcerts(winterandspring).Comejoinourteam andhavefunmakingmusictogether!
GAMEON
Inthisclassstudentswillexploredifferentsportsandgameopportunitiesforphysicalactivity. Studentswillhavetheopportunitytobeactiveinvarioussportingactivities.
STUDIOART
ThiscoursewillinvolveallthingsArt!! Studentswillhavetheopportunitytotaketheir knowledgelearnedinartclassandcontinuetoexplorethosetechniquesfurther. Theoptionsare endless...painting,printmaking,hand-buildingwithclay,mixed-mediacollageandfibers. Studentscancreatetheirowncurriculumorhaveguidancebytheinstructor!
TECHNOLOGYandENGINEERING
InthisEncoreclass,theteacherwillusestudentinterestincomputerprogramming,robotics,and engineeringtoprovideavarietyofopportunitiestoexploretechnologyandengineering.The primarygoalofthiscourseistobuildcomputationalthinkingandproblem-solvingskillswhile workingcollaboratively.