Seventh Grade Curriculum

Religion

The seventh grade Religion program is a developmental one based on the Scriptures and rooted in the teachings of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The students receive instruction in doctrine, Scripture and morality and relate what is being taught to everyday life. The Trinitarian life of God, the sacramental life of Christians and the earthly life of Jesus is part of the course in grade seven. Students develop their knowledge of prayer and the necessity of prayer in their daily lives.

Language Arts

English and Vocabulary

During the course of the year the students will succeed in the following areas:

• Continue to develop the knowledge and skills of the English language. This includes grammar, (sentence structure, sentence parts, sentence types, and sentence errors) parts of speech, work usage, mechanics and punctuation.
• Expand their vocabulary through reading, studying different types and different parts of words, participating in word contests and activities and through testing.
• Develop speaking fluency and composure through many oral activities, both group and individual.
• Improve listening skills.
• Improve study skills through note-taking, outlining, strengthening dictionary skills, encyclopedia, thesaurus and library skills and other related activities.
• Expand thinking skills through activities such as problem solving, predicting and drawing conclusions.
• Become strong, proficient writers through the development of narratives, essays and short stories and a through a complete review of all aspects of the writing process.
  

Literature

The Literature Curriculum seeks to foster an understanding and appreciation of literature. Students explore literary genres such as the novel, the short story, drama, works of nonfiction and poetry. Students become active readers, engaging in close textual reading and in-depth study of literary components including plot, character, setting, point of view, theme and iterary techniques. Critical and analytical thinking is encouraged through the writing of essays that explore various elements and aspects of the selections that are read.

Math

Proportional thinking is emphasized through applications involving rate, ration, percent, similar geometric figures, and indirect measure; interrelationship of fractions, decimals and percents; integers; exponents; order of operations; variables; algebraic terms; inequalities; equations; functions; graphing equations; geometric construction; similar and congruent figures; transformations; applications of Pythagorean theorem; data collection and display; statistics; probability and prime factorization.

Science

The students will study the structure and function of plant, animal and bacterial cells, sexual and a sexual reproduction in bacteria and fungi, reproduction in plants and animals and trait inheritance. The students will study biological evolution and the evolution of the earth The students will study cells, tissues, organs and organ systems in humans. In all of these areas, the students will conduct investigations using the scientific method, making measurements, gathering and organizing data, thinking critically and graphing data.

Social Studies

The students will study life in Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire, the feudal system, the growing power of the Catholic Church, the Crusades, the Renaissance, the Reformation, the Scientific Revolution, the Age of Exploration, the Aztec and Inca conquests, the rise of parliamentary power in Tudor and Stuart England and the establishment of colonies in North America by England and France.

Physical Education

Students begin to develop advanced skills that demonstrate knowledge and skills in a minimum of one sport and other physical fitness activities including individual and team sports and activities. Physical fitness is emphasized through classes on nutrition, proper diet, and care of body through participation in a variety of fitness activities. Each skill involves creative thinking, communication, responsibility, leadership. teamwork, health, competition and an appreciation of recreation and physical fitness as a part of healthy living. Students have physical education twice a week for approximately forty minutes.