Learning Previews - Grade 7 - May 16, 2017

Learning Previews - Grade 7 - May 16, 2017
Posted on 05/16/2017

7th Grade Math: Mr. Chris Devlin
Unit 6: In these chapters, your student will learn how to find the area, surface area, and volume of 2-Dimensional and 3-Dimensional solids. Some of the skills your student will practice are: Identifying similarities between prisms, cylinders, and pyramids; Finding the area of 2-Dimensional polygons; Finding the volume and surface area of prisms, cylinders, pyramids, cones, and spheres; Solving real-world problems involving prisms, cylinders, and pyramids, cones, spheres, and composite solids.

7th Grade Accelerated Math Pathways: Mr. Chris Devlin
Your student will learn about the Pythagorean Theorem. Some of the skills your student will practice are: Using the Pythagorean Theorem to find side lengths in triangles; Using the converse of the Pythagorean Theorem to decide if a triangle is a right triangle; Solving real-world problems involving the Pythagorean Theorem; Using the Pythagorean Theorem to solve problems involving three-dimensional figures, including finding volumes of solids.

Your student will also learn about geometric transformations. Some of the skills your student will practice are: recognizing translations, reflections, rotations, and dilations; drawing the image of a figure after a translation, a reflection, a rotation, or a dilation; finding the coordinates of points after a given translation, reflection, rotation, or dilation.

Finally, your student will learn about congruent and similar figures. Some of the skills your student will practice are: Applying the concepts of congruence and similarity; Recognizing that if two figures are related by a translation, reflection, or rotation, then the figures are congruent; Recognizing that if two figures are related by a dilation, then the figures are similar; Describing transformations that demonstrate the congruence or similarity of two figures

ELA: Ms. Amy Gonzalez
Our 7th grade readers and writers have begun reading and discussing S.E Hinton’s The Outsiders. This year is the book’s 50th anniversary, and it is wonderful to see the impact it still makes on readers (for more info. read the NY Times article, “Why The Outsiders Lives On: A Teenage Novel Turns 50”). Readers are expected to read the book at home as well as in class. They all have a reading guide to follow. They are also allowed to read ahead with the understanding they will be rereading sections in class. In addition to their reading, they are also gathering notes on what they noticed and what they thought about it. To help your reader think about what stood out to them, ask them if they saw the following:

  • Memory moments (characters having flashbacks)
  • Things that happen again and again
  • Words of the Wise (advice being given or personal philosophies)
  • Tough questions being asked
  • Aha moments (things the main character suddenly realizes)
  • A character doing something unexpected

The above list of items is a transferable skill for understanding any fictional text. At the conclusion of our reading, students will show their understanding of the themes, conflict, settings, and characters through a 10 minute play version of the novel. They will be responsible for picking out key scenes, drafting them, revising, and editing. Each student will have a role to play whether it’s a character or “a stage hand.” Our librarian, Ms. Musher will be helping us during this portion of our unit. It will be a great way to end the year!

Science: Mr. Jay Mahoney
As we wrap up the year in science we will be completing our weather unit and dabbling in a little design engineering based on what we have learned. After investigating additional weather conditions, including pressure, humidity, and lift, students develop a model of a storm that shows what happens to matter and energy before, during, and after a storm. They then use their model to explain patterns in the weather condition data from a real storm in the Midwest. We will complete the year with two design challenges that will have students looking at the the role matter and energy play in the environment around them. Students will work together to come up with solutions that include their understanding of how energy is transferred and how it impacts matter.

Social Studies: Mr. Thomas Trainor
This month 7th Graders will be embarking on an exploration of the last two major religions we will study this year, Judaism and Christianity. We will investigate the amazing narratives and apply their lessons to current issues in our world. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the rights and responsibilities of belonging to a community. Students will grapple with the question: Why should we learn people’s stories?

Next, we will conclude our year with a study of Ancient Rome and Christianity. Students will Identify & analyze how the values of Ancient Rome and Christianity spread, evolved and were challenged. Additionally, we will assess how the values of a state or faith reinforce and/or challenge our own beliefs. The big questions we will be answering are: What are the benefits and limits of (a) a republican system of government and (b) an empire? What happens when values of state and church are in conflict with each other or our own values? How did the teachings of Jesus challenge people's thinking? Ask your student their thoughts!

Website by SchoolMessenger Presence. © 2024 SchoolMessenger Corporation. All rights reserved.