Learning Previews - 7th Grade - September 2016

Learning Previews - 7th Grade - September 2016
Posted on 09/14/2016
7th Grade ELA: Ms. Gonzalez

Unit Title: Immersion in Reading and Writing (Sept-Oct.)

This launch unit begins the year long theme around “growth.” Students are exploring what it means to be a writer, reader, speaker and listener in class and in their personal lives. They will be reflecting on how they have used their literacy skills in the past, present, and make goals for what they would like to accomplish in these areas by the end of the year. We are building a collaborative community through reading and discussing a variety of genres and experimenting with different writing styles. Major goals include establishing independent reading, beginning reader’s-writer's notebooks, student profiles as quick publish, and book talks. Essential Questions: How can I be supportive so that our class produces a win-win situation? What is my role in the classroom? How can reading and writing help you notice possibilities for your life? How do we grow as readers and writers over time? The key skills I would like students to develop at this time are around establishing regular independent reading and keeping an organized reader’s-writer’s notebook. To support your student at home, ask them to show you their notebook. It should be divided into different three sections, including response, notes, and vocabulary. Questions to help your student talk about their reading include: How would you describe the main character? Have they done anything that has surprised you yet? If your student is reading nonfiction you can ask, How much background knowledge of this topic did you have before you started reading this book? What have you learned so far?

7th Grade Social Studies: Mr. Trainor

Our first couple weeks of 7th Grade Social Studies will have students explore how they define themselves personally and in our society. Additionally, we will examine the impact discrimination can have on certain groups. Through discussions, multimedia presentations, and examination of different primary and secondary sources, the 7th Grade will deconstruct the history of race and how it affects us today. 7th Graders will be reflecting on what they can do to make their school, community, and world a better place to live in. Students will be constantly asked these two questions: How does our identity shape the way we see ourselves and others? To what extent does our identity influence the choices we make?

7th Grade Math: Mr. Devlin

Chapter 9: Grade 7 focuses on variability as well as central tendency to describe and compare data sets. This is a critical topic. Students should not only calculate the mean, median, and mode, but also use the calculations to solve problems and make inferences based on variability (mean absolute deviation). Note that box and whiskers are listed as 6th grade Common Core Standards, but they are used here to meet Grade 7 standard of comparing data sets and variability. Stem and leaf plots will be reviewed. Ask your student to explain some of these math terms to you.

7th Grade Accelerated Math: Mr. Devlin

Chapter 1: This chapter will extend understanding of the system of rational numbers to all real numbers. Students will explore the idea that between every pair of rational numbers, there is another rational number. A big idea is that real numbers are used to represent quantities, and can be located on an infinite number line. Students will need to draw number lines to scale with the correct interval. In this chapter, students will use long division to write fractions as decimals and explore terminating and repeating decimals. Ask your student to explain rational numbers to you.

7th Grade Science: Mr. Mahoney

Unit: Introduction to Chemistry; How can I Make New Stuff from Old Stuff?

After a week or so of establishing classroom norms and expectations for seventh grade science, students will focus on understanding the processes of science and how to use scientific method to answer their own questions in an organized and thorough way. We will begin our first IQWST unit called Introduction to Chemistry, continuing the new curriculum which students started last year as sixth graders. IQWST is a sequenced curriculum that looks at core ideas, scientific practices, and performance expectations that allow students to build on previous knowledge. Our curriculum unit focuses on a Driving Question, in this case How Can I Make New Stuff from Old Stuff?, and consists of learning sets of lessons guided by sub-questions that address content important to answering the Driving Question. Each lesson provides multiple activities allowing different entry points for students to access curriculum. The lessons are structured with differentiation strategies and are supported with practice in doing good science and engineering. Literacy goals are also part of lessons so students will be developing some science literacy within the lessons. In the first learning set will generate original questions from observing chemical reactions, describe properties of matter to differentiate substances and identify how they are similar and different. Students will conduct solubility tests as a means of describing matter as well as experiments dealing with melting point and hardness. As the unit progresses students will have opportunities to look at other important chemistry concepts. Looking forward to a great year in the science classroom.
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