7th Grade Curriculum

Language Arts

Objective: To prepare students to be able to communicate and express themselves as Christians in an ungodly world; to examine genres of literature.

Textbooks: Glencoe Literature – The Reader’s Choice Course 2, Warriner’s English Grammar and Composition, Wordly Wise

Time Allotment: 175 days – 60 minutes per day

Course Content

First Quarter: Theme: What I Am, What I Want to Be

Where the Heart Is (poems, essay, memoir, autobiography, short story)

Second Quarter: Theme: Winds of Change: Facing Challenge (short story, song, poems, nonfiction)

Third Quarter: Theme: At the Crossroads, Twists and Turns (short stories, folk tales, drama, poems)

Fourth Quarter: Theme: A Different Dimension – A Delicate Balance (myth, legend; short story, essay, journals)

Areas to Be Evaluated: Vocabulary, spelling, Comprehension and expression, Compose written work that is articulate, clear, creative, grammatically accurate, and that has a meaningful purpose, Appreciation of literature, Oral speaking

Literature and Composition

Course Objective: To prepare students to be able to communicate and express themselves as Christians in an ungodly world; to examine genres of literature.

Course Description: This course consists of five components: literature, composition, grammar, spelling, and vocabulary. The literature component is built around selected books read by the class as a whole, as well as by using specific stories from the grade level literature book. Students are required to read daily and to complete a quarterly book report project. Composition assignments are taken from journal prompts and selected class discussions from literature books. The basic writing process (outline, rough draft, editing, and final draft) is practiced. Grammar and Vocabulary/Spelling alternate weekly.

Areas to Be Evaluated: Vocabulary and spelling, Comprehension and expression, Compose written work that is articulate, clear, creative, grammatically accurate, and that has a meaningful purpose, Appreciation of literature, Oral speaking

Summer reading:

  1. Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson

  2. Students select one from NC Battle of Books list

  3. Class Readers

  4. On His Own by Horatio Alger, Jr.

  5. The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom

  6. Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery

  7. Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain

Course Content/Themes

First Quarter: No Place Like Home

Second Quarter: Which Way to Go; Short Story; Poetry

Third Quarter: Free to Be Me

Fourth Quarter: Memoirs; Poetry; Drama

Student/Teacher Resources and Texts:

  • Literature: The Reader’s Choice Course 2, Glencoe/McGraw-Hill 2000 edition

  • Warriner’s English Grammar and Composition 1st Course. Holt, Rinehart, Winston 1985 edition

  • Wordly Wise 3000, Book 7, 2nd edition. Educators Publishing Service/2007/Cambridge, MA

  • Vocabulary from Classical Roots Book A: Educators Publishing Service 2003 edition. Cambridge, MA

  • The Winston Grammar Program: Teacher edition only. Battleground, WA; Precious Memories Education Resources, 1982.

Math – A Group

Objective: The challenge of middle school mathematics course of study is to acquire a deeper understanding of math concepts, a proficiency in math skills, mastering all arithmetic functions, fractions, decimals and measurements; becoming fluent in rounding, estimating, interpreting data, using basic geometric terms and functions, problem solving techniques; and further developing algebraic thinking. The A group will be basic math course of study for those not taking Algebra I in middle school.

Textbooks: Saxon Math, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, Course 2 and supplements

Time Allotment: 75 minutes for 175 days

Course Content

(The Saxon program mixes math concepts throughout the year in a cyclical pattern for planned practice and repetition – the following highlights areas of emphasis):

First Quarter: Number and operations, algebra, geometry, measurement, data analysis, and problem solving

Second Quarter: Number and operations, geometry, measurement, data analysis and probability, problem solving, algebra

Third Quarter: Number and operations, algebra, geometry, measurement

Fourth Quarter: Number and operations, algebra, geometry, measurement, data analysis and probability, problem solving

Areas to be Evaluated: Above course content and mathematical practices

Science

Objective: Students will be engaged in scientific investigation to develop reasoning and problem-solving ability which will glorify God as the Creator of our powerful and orderly universe.

Textbooks: Order and Reality, 2nd Edition (ABeka Books, 1993)

Time Allotment: 35 minutes for 85 days

Course Content

(Approx. 4 weeks) The Earth’s Atmosphere (Water cycle, weather and climate and the effects of the atmosphere on humans)

(Approx. 4 weeks) Structures and Functions of Living Organisms

(Approx. 4 weeks) Forces and Motion

(Approx. 5 weeks) Energy: Conservation and Transfer, Origins: Creation vs. Evolution

Areas to be Evaluated: Class participation, tests, class assignments

Social Studies

Objective: Students will recognize and honor God as the author of creation and the molder of history. Students will examine creation and Biblical / historical events from approximately 4004 BC to approximately 630 BC.

Textbooks: The Mystery of History, Volume I

Time Allotment: 35 minutes per day for approx. 85 days

Course Content

First Quarter: Creation to 1199 BC (Gideon)

Second Quarter: 1117 (Samson) – 629 BC The Rise of Athens and Sparta

Areas to be Evaluated: Course content through class participation, tests, quizzes, maps and projects

Physical Education

Objective: Students will develop competent motor skills, behavioral strategies to demonstrate responsibility, respect of self and others, and understand the importance of achieving and maintaining a health-enhancing level of physical fitness.

Time Allotment: 45 minutes a day; 5 days a week for 175 days

Course Content

3 Weeks: Personal / Social Responsibility

11 Weeks: Motor Skills

11 Weeks: Movement Concepts

11 Weeks: Health Related Fitness

Areas to Be Evaluated: Participation as an individual and in a group, Teacher observation, Role-playing. Checklists / Fitnessgram / Assessments,

Quizzes