Last Updated:
January 3, 2008

WELCOME TO MEADOWS SEVENTH GRADE

The seventh grade Language Arts curriculum centers around the development and application of higher level thinking skills, while still sharpening basic reading and writing skills. These skills are practiced and mastered with the use of various genre in literature and the practice of these genre in writing. A variety of literature is used, supplemented with poetry, short stories, articles, plays, etc. When applicable, literature and reading are integrated with the social studies and science curriculums.

Social Studies on the seventh grade level is primarily U.S. History from the pre-Civil War period to the present. There is also a heavy emphasis on the political and physical geography of the United States and current events. Students learn under a variety of instructional techniques and strategies that include traditional lecture and discussion, reading assignments from the textbook, written homework, and updated relevant audiovisual presentations. They are also required to do research papers, participate in cooperative group presentations on U.S. history topics, conduct interviews with family members about decades of the 20th century, and create poster reports on U. S. history topics of their choice - all designed to give them a hands on and personal experience with the history of their country. Seventh grade Social Studies is strongly integrated with the novels the students read in their Language Arts classes.

The Mathematics curriculum is devoted to inquiry based learning. Observing patterns and relationships lies at the heart of acquiring deep understanding in mathematics. The curriculum develops a knowledge and understanding of mathematics that is rich in connections. Students solve problems, they conjecture, test, discuss, verbalize, and generalize patterns and relationships. The instructional model used encourages higher level thinking and problem solving. The mathematical strands that are assessed at each grade level are: Statistics; Geometry and Spatial Sense; Measurement; Number Sense; Patterns; Relations and Functions; and Probability.

The Science curriculum in the seventh grade visits the general concepts of Earth Science, Physical Science, and Biology. There is a particular emphasis upon the Scientific Method. This important concept is inquiry based, supported both in school and at home, and culminates with each student presenting their own Scientific Inquiry at the Spring Curriculum Fair and here on campus. In addition to the scientific Method, as an overriding objective, the students will become well versed in the use of the Metric System.

The Physical Science component emphasizes forces and motion (acceleration and velocity) with a particular focus upon the mathematics of physics. This is where a working knowledge of the Metric system is really put to use.

The school year concludes with the study of Biology. Seventh grade students are exposed to the following concepts: the Phylogenetic Tree, Taxonomy, and the systems that low and higher order organisms possess.

Welcome back to the 2007-2008 school year. Please read the following supply list and come prepared on August 20th with the following supplies: 7th Grade Supply List

**These items will be kept in the classroom to minimize back-pack weight. In order to minimize the weight of backpacks, we have carefully selected the materials the students will need for each subject. Please do not send your students to school with a Trapper Keeper or other large multi-subject notebook. They will be asked to leave it at home.

WHAT NEEDS TO BE IN YOUR CHILD’S BACKPACK

7th GRADE:
AEP Language Arts: 2 paperbacks, notebook
Language Arts: 2 paperbacks, spiral notebook, blue folder, composition book, vocabulary or spelling book
Math: 3 ring binder, folder, and Math book
Science: folder, composition book, calculator
Social Studies: folder or notebook, stapler
Enrichment: folder
General: planner, pens, pencils

Please click on: Madison Meadows Library Media Catalog at school or Madison Meadows Library Media Center Catalog from home to access materials and educational websites from the Meadows Library Media Center. Students and parents can read free e-books on either Page by Page Books or Read Print Books or Google Book Search, free books for students, teachers, and the classic enthusiast.You can search by title or by author and read these classic books. For assistance contact Ms. Sally Roof, Teacher-Librarian Information Specialist at sroof@msd38.org or 602 664-7640.

Meet 7th Grade Teachers: