7th Grade ELA: Ms. Amy Gonzalez
Students have just finished reading Linda Sue Park’s historical fiction novel, A Long Walk To Water. I am excited to note that many students finished the book ahead of the reading schedule, because they became invested in the story! This book may have even encouraged your child to be more mindful of their water usage and/or to learn more about how to help bring clean water to children their own age around the world. If you would like more information on the true story and issues that inspired A Long Walk To Water, please click here. For the next few weeks…Using the notes they took as they were reading, students will engage in a variety of class discussions. They will continue to pull evidence from the book to create a letter to a character, a two-voice poem, and a literary analysis to discuss the theme of survival. Much of the writing will be done in class, but there will also be writing assignments to be done at home. To support your child at home ask, “What did you talk/write about in ELA today?” “What can you tell me about the characters, Nya or Salva?” “How do you think they survived their challenging circumstances?”
7th Grade Science: Mr. Jay Mahoney
We have had a great start to our chemistry unit and are looking forward to the closing activities and labs which will wrap up our study of “How can I Make New Stuff from Old Stuff”. We have learned about elements and chemical reactions and will use this knowledge to see how substances behave when we make new substances. We will have our second common assessment which will culminate this particular unit. Help your student prepare by asking them to explain these ideas to you. In class, students conduct experiments in both open and closed systems, observing that no matter how substances interact, the total mass of the system does not change. Students use molecular models to explain what happens to the atoms and molecules so that the total mass of a system stays the same. In one of the final lab experiences in chemistry students will create their own polymer, rubber substance in which they determine consistency and thickness by changing amounts. Students continue to search for current science happenings and sharing them with classmates every Friday. Some of the current science news is directly related to the chemistry they have been studying. Ask your student to share what’s going on in the science world!
7th Grade Social Studies: Mr. Tom Trainor
The 7th Graders are currently engaged in two units. We are closely following the presidential election and examining the electoral college process. Students are deciding if they believe this is the best and most fair process to elect our president. Additionally, we are currently exploring the origins of Islam and the inspirational story of the Prophet Muhammad’s life. Students have been grappling with these two big essential questions: What makes people follow a leader? Why should we learn people’s stories? Ask your student why they think we should learn the stories of Muhammad and Islam. Eventually the 7th graders will use their knowledge of Muhammad’s life and the 5 Pillars of Islam to produce an analytical essay answering the question: Why did Islam spread so quickly? Check in to see what your student thinks!
7th Grade Math: Mr. Chris Devlin
Chapter 2: In this chapter, your student will learn about operations with rational numbers. Some of the skills your student will practice are:
- Adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing integers
- Finding the distance between two integers on a number line
- Using the order of operations with integers
- Adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing rational numbers in fraction or decimal form
- Solving real-world problems using operations with integers, fractions, and decimals.
7th Grade Accelerated Math Pathways: Mr. Chris Devlin
Chapter 3: In this chapter, your student will learn about algebraic expressions. Some of the skills your student will practice are:
- Simplifying, expanding, and factoring algebraic expressions
- Translating verbal descriptions into algebraic expressions
- Solving real-world problems using algebraic reasoning
Chapter 4: In this chapter, your student will learn how to solve algebraic equations and inequalities. Some of the skills your student will practice are:
- Identifying equivalent equations Solving algebraic equations and inequalities
- Solving real-world problems using equations and inequalities.