7th Grade Learning Previews - Sept. 2018
Science: Mr. Mahoney, [email protected]
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.
Social Studies: Ms. Motto, [email protected]
The first unit in 7th Grade Social Studies is Identity. Students will explore how they define themselves personally and in our society. Additionally, students will examine the impact discrimination can have on certain groups. Through discussions, multimedia presentations, and examination of different primary and secondary sources, 7th Graders will deconstruct the history of race and how it affects us today. They will be reflecting on what they can do to make their school, community, and world a better place to live in.
ELA: Ms. Gonzalez, [email protected] and Mr. Mitchell
Unit Title: Launch Into Reading and Writing (Sept-Oct.)
This launch unit begins the year long theme around “Community.” The first full week is about discussing ideas behind equality and equity (fairness) and creating classroom codes to work together as a learning community. As we move forward, we will be setting up routines for independent reading, writing in ELA notebooks, and book talks. The key skills we would like students to develop at this time are around establishing independent reading goals, keeping an organized ELA notebook, following a writing process for a small narrative, and working in groups effectively. To support your scholar at home, check to see if they have an independent reading book and if they already know what other book they would like to read next. Keeping a list of books to read next or already having a pile of books available makes it easier to develop strong reading habits. Also, please visit this link to see what is for homework:
https://sites.google.com/cpsd.us/raucgr7/homework
Math: Ms. Damiani, [email protected]
The first unit of the 7th Grade Enhanced Pathway is Scale Drawings. In this unit, students learn to understand and use the terms “scaled copy,” “to scale,” “scale factor,” “scale drawing,” and “scale,” and recognize when two pictures or plane figures are or are not scaled copies of each other. They use tables to reason about measurements in scaled copies, and recognize that angle measures are preserved in scaled copies, but lengths are scaled by a scale factor and areas by the square of the scale factor. They make, interpret, and reason about scale drawings. These include maps and floor plans that have scales with and without units. Use the link below to take a look at the Family Resources for our Scaled Drawings unit provided by our curriculum, Open Up - Illustrative. The page provides definitions to key terms, an overview of the concepts taught and problems to try out with your student as we move through unit. You do not need to have an account to access the site:
https://im.openupresources.org/7/families/1.html#scaled-copies
In a week or so, ask your student to tell you what they’ve learned about scale drawings and when they can
be useful.