Grade 7 Guidelines - Saint Teresa of Avila School

Grade 7

Course Title:
Religion

Faculty Name: Mrs. Brungo

Textbook: We Live Our Faith as Disciples of Jesus

Publisher: Sadlier

Website: www.sadlier.com

Text: New American Bible

Publisher: Nelson Bibles

Significant Curriculum Guidelines

Students will:

Demonstrate knowledge of the basic doctrine of the Catholic faith
Explore the divine and human Jesus as revealed in the New Testament
Elaborate the mysteries of Christ’s public life
Examine and understand that Jesus’ miracles are dramatic signs of God’s power and love
Study and analyze the parables
Recognize and understand the role of the Ten Commandments in our lives
Elaborate the sacraments and their meanings
Present the New Testament as the story of Jesus
Examine the Beatitudes as a guide to the values of God’s kingdom
Understand that moral virtue is the key to living a moral life

Teaching Strategies used

Large group instruction
Small group instruction
Oral presentations
Class discussions
Journals
Artistic and written expression
Written responses to questions
Quizzes
Tests

Special Features

Individual participation at Mass
Presentations

Evaluation

Class work
Class participation
Presentations
Quizzes
Tests

Course Title:
Pre-Algebra 7

Faculty Name: Mrs. Brungo, Mrs. Kalish, and Mrs. Pastor

Course Title: Accelerated Pre-Algebra and Pre-Algebra

Textbook: Prentice-Hall Mathematics: Pre-Algebra

Publisher: Pearson Prentice-Hall

Workbook: Prentice-Hall Mathematics: Pre-Algebra Practice Workbook

Publisher: Pearson Prentice-Hall

Website: www.PHSchool.com (on-line tutor, quizzes, etc.) www.pearsonsuccessnet.com (textbook log-in)

Significant Curriculum Guidelines

Students will:

Master computations and applications of integer operations, rates, ratios, proportions, and percents
Master computations with exponents, including scientific notation
Use mental math and estimation to solve problems and judge reasonableness of computations
Utilize properties of numbers to simplify computations and understand relationships
Differentiate and use double bar graphs, double line graphs, circle graphs, histograms, stem-and-leaf plots, and box-and-whisker plots
Develop probability concepts for compound events utilizing tree diagrams and organized lists
Analyze survey techniques for bias, group data into intervals, and create scatter plots to analyze relationships between two sets of data
Use models, tables, graphs, and symbolic notation to represent algebraic relationships
Solve multi-step equations and use equivalent forms for expressions involving parentheses, like terms, and exponents
Relate rate of change, slope, and y-intercept to graphs, tables, and symbolic forms
Explore nonlinear relationships through tables, graphs, and equations
Use two-dimensional representations to explore three-dimensional relationships
Draw inferences about lengths, areas, and volumes of similar figures
Analyze congruent and similar figures, as well as transformations on a coordinate plane
Use dimensional analysis to convert units within the customary and metric systems
Apply formulas for rectangles, triangles, and trapezoids to find areas of irregular figures
Develop the formula for area of a circle and use formulas to find surface areas and volumes of prisms, cylinders, pyramids, cones, and spheres
Apply scale factors in similar figures to find changes in lengths, areas, and volumes
Use more than one strategy to solve a problem and compare strategies to determine which is most appropriate for the given situation
Utilize inductive reasoning to make and investigate conjectures
Explain mathematical work and justify conclusions with logical arguments
Understand the language and notations of mathematics

Teaching Strategies used

Large group instruction
Practice by example
Board work
Small group instruction
Individual class work
Daily homework
Reviews
Computation skills for speed and accuracy
Standardized test preparation
Skills practice utilizing the internet
Problem solving discussions
Question and answer sessions
Quizzes
Tests

Special Features

Assess mastery and diagnose weaknesses before, during, and after each concept
Challenge abilities with both speed of instruction and problem solving of varying difficulty
Tutoring available on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 2:30 PM to 3:00 PM
Initiate instruction in Algebraic concepts

Evaluations

Periodic grading of homework
Class work
Internet assignments
Quizzes
Tests

Other Descriptions

Accelerated Pre-Algebra moves through the concepts at a faster pace than Pre-Algebra

Course Title:
Literature

Faculty Name: Mrs. J. Mueller

Course: Literature 7

Textbook: Elements of Literature, First Course

Publisher: Holt, Rinehart, Winston

Copyright: 2007

Website: http://my.hrw.com (textbook log-in)

Significant Curriculum Guidelines

Students will:

· Predict the actions of given characters by stating possible reactions to conflict situations involving the following: an individual and a group; an individual and other individuals; and an individual’s group with other groups

· Identify events that advance the plot, and determine how each event explains past or present actions or foreshadows future actions

· Evaluate the plot’s structure and development and the way conflicts are resolved

· Analyze idioms, analogies, and other figures of speech to infer both the literal and the figurative meanings of a text

· Identify and analyze different points of view, and explain how they affect the overall theme of the work

· Analyze how voice, tone, persona, and choice of narrator affect characterization and plot

· Identify and analyze the characteristics of different forms of prose and poetry

· Evaluate the quality of the author’s evidence to support claims, noting instances of bias and stereotyping

· Analyze information in consumer, workplace, and public documents

· Follow technical instructions in order to understand the use of a simple mechanical device

Teaching Strategies Used

· Large group instruction

· Small group instruction

· Oral presentations

· Class discussions

· Written responses

· Quizzes

· Tests

· Internet activities

· Guided reading of select novels with in-class discussion/analysis

· Annotating text strategies

· Daily language activities

Special Features

· Oral interpretation of literature

· Accommodations for gifted learners

· Close reading

· Literary/discussion circles

· Additional vocabulary study

· Accommodations for struggling readers

· Adaptations of selected reading selections

· Additional instruction and practice in remedial reading skills and strategies

· Standardized test preparation

· Independent reading

Evaluations

Diagnostic assessment tools
Class participation
Class work
Quizzes
Chapter tests
Summative tests for each unit
End of the year test for cumulative assessment opportunities
Book reports and summaries

Other descriptions

Students are encouraged to use the Holt, Rinehart and Winston website as well as other literature-oriented sites for supplemental materials that will enhance their reading experiences.

Course Title:
English

Faculty Name: Mrs. Brungo

Course Title: English

Textbook: Grammar and Writing

Publisher: Pearson Prentice Hall

Criterion Online Writing

Website: criterion.ets.org (writing) www.pearsonsuccessnet.com (textbook log-in)

Significant Curriculum Guidelines

Students will:

Identify, classify, and clearly utilize nouns, pronouns, adjectives, verbs, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, and interjections
Identify complements as direct objects, indirect objects, predicate nominatives or predicate adjectives
Identify, classify, and use prepositional phrases as either adjective phrases or adverb phrases and verbal phrases as either participial or infinitive
Identify, classify, and compose subordinate clauses
Diagram sentences
Proofread and revise formal writing to correct errors in English usage
Visualize and write sensory details
Compose coherent paragraphs utilizing transitional words and phrases
Use the writing process to write narrative, persuasive, descriptive, and expository paragraphs
Compose a complete and fluent essay
Proofread, edit, and revise written work
Analyze poetry form and create original poems

Teaching Strategies used

Large group instruction
Small group instruction
Diagnostic tests
Class work
Board work
Grammar exercises
Writing exercises
Proofreading exercises
Peer group writing evaluation
Homework
Quizzes
Standardized test preparation
Tests

Special Features

Participate in Diocesan writing evaluation
Compose and publish individual writing
Connect writing exercises with Literature 7
Utilize Criterion on line writing evaluation to improve writing skills

Evaluation

Class work
Writing exercises
Quizzes
Tests

Course Title:
Science

Faculty Name: Charlotte Leibach

Textbook: Earth Science

Publisher: Holt, Reinhart, and Winston

Copywrite: 2007

Website: go.hrw.com www.scilinks.org

Significant Curriculum Guidelines

Students will:

· Study changes in environmental conditions such as erosion, movement of the earth’s plates and changes in atmospheric conditions

· Knowledge of the history of the earth and the effect of catastrophes

· Explore weathering and soil formation

· Investigate the importance of the oceans

· Study of weather and climate

· Research the solar system

· Investigate forces and motions that occur on earth and space

· Design future space stations

Teaching Strategies Used

Students will:

· Participate in large group instruction

· Constructivist learning groups

· Cooperative learning groups

· Journal keeping

· Daily review

· Laboratory experiences and evaluations

Special Features

Students will:

· Review concepts from previous grade levels

· Complete scientific method project

· Propose solutions to environmental problems

· Journal weekly the results of laboratory experiments

Evaluations

Classroom participation, homework assignments, completed journals, scientific method project, quizzes and tests

Other descriptions

Physical science objectives:

· Show understanding of the characteristics of matter as it is related to symbols, formulas and also chemical reaction changes

· Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science offered as an advanced project

Course Title:
Social Studies

Faculty Name: J. Mueller

Textbook: AMERICA: THE HISTORY OF OUR NATION

Publisher: Prentice Hall

Website: www.phschool.com www. pearsonsuccessnet.com (textbook log-in)

Significant Curriculum Guidelines

Students will:

study the roots of American History – geography, history and social Sciences.
explore colonization, Jamestown colony, religious freedom, roots of self -government, American Revolution & the French & Indian war.
investigate turmoil over taxation, goals & principles of the Constitution, along with the ratification & the Bill of Rights.

Teaching Strategies Used

Students will:

listen to lectures and work in small groups for cooperative learning.
have exposure to current events by means of the newspaper and Jr. Scholastic magazine.
work on projects, have oral presentations, watch films.
use maps, work on transparencies and attend possible field trips.

Special Features

Students will:

participate in class debates and /or panel discussions.
complete at least one research paper on Famous Americans or Black History.

Evaluations

Oral and written tests; quizzes
Class participation; homework
Oral presentations & projects

Other descriptions

There are supplemental workbook masters that go along with this text.