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Seventh Grade Curriculum Guide
Adams' curriculum is designed to prepare students to meet the challenges of high school and college. Advanced course work is offered in most academic subjects and in all grade levels. Elective programs provide opportunities for students to explore and develop interests in the fine arts and vocational areas. Each of these areas is briefly described within the guide. More complete information regarding each area of study or service can be obtained at the school office upon request.
An extracurricular program of organizations and athletics contributes positively to the educational program at Adams Middle School. Through this facet of our overall school program, we attempt to provide each student opportunities to find success, use leisure time wisely, provide service to the community and the school, develop special interests, establish friendships, and develop both leadership and support roles within the school setting.
We hope that this guide will be of assistance in understanding the school’s curriculum and services available at Adams Middle School.
Grade 7 Course Descriptions:
Language Arts 2
This is a course in communication arts including composition, literature, syntax and grammar, vocabulary study, listening skills, critical thinking skills, library usage, study habits, viewing film, and the conventions of writing include spelling, punctuation, and capitalization. Literature will generally be centered around themes and will include those especially written for, or appealing to, adolescents. The grammar taught will aim for understanding of the parts of speech and their function in sentence structure. The listening and viewing skills will be taught in relation to mass media. Composition of letters and short themes will be taught.
Language Arts 2, Advanced/Honors
Students are placed in this course based on teacher recommendations and standardized test scores.
This course encompasses the same elements as Language Arts 2; however, classroom requirements are more stringent and higher level readings are used.
Intensive Reading
Students who enter seventh grade with Level I scores on the FCAT are placed in this smaller, more individualized reading course. The focus is on reading strategies and vocabulary study that assists students in becoming more proficient, confident readers and in improving their FCAT scores. The text Reading XL, which was specifically written for FCAT practice, and literature selections focused around themes especially written for, or appealing to, pre-adolescents are utilized.
Developmental Reading
Students who enter seventh grade and have scored between the 19% and 49% on the NRT are required to take one reading class. The focus is on reading strategies and vocabulary study that assists students in becoming more proficient, confident readers and in improving their FCAT scores.
Geography
This course provides students the opportunity to acquire an understanding of the interrelationships between people and their environment. The seventh grade program provides an opportunity to broaden the concept of humanity within the global context. The focus will be on the earth as home to many different people who strive to deal with the forces that shape their lives. The content is international in scope, with the basic concepts from geography and economics-resources distribution, spatial interactions, and global interdependence.
Geography, Advanced/Honors
Students are placed in this course based on teacher recommendations and standardized test scores.
Grade seven completes the study of the major land areas using the six essential elements and the five geographic themes of location, region, human environment interaction, movement, and place. Teachers have students analyze both cultural and physical aspects, employing more than identification of location, resources, products, or people of a region. They explore the unique characteristics of each place, its languages, religions, cultures. They discover how these regions have changed over time and how each affects their world.
Mathematics 2
This course continues developing mathematical content fundamental for higher level course work. The course work should include, but not be limited to: algebraic expressions and equations, computations with whole numbers, decimals, fractions, percents, integers in problem solving context, estimation strategies, geometry, graphing, measurement, number theory, probability and statistics, problem solving strategies, ratio and proportion, and use of calculators and computers for mathematical use.
Mathematics 2, Advanced/Honors and Gifted
Students who are academically talented in mathematics as identified by a combination of teacher recommendations, student performance and motivation, grades and standardized test scores are placed in Math, Advanced/Honors. Students in the district’s Academically Gifted Program are placed in Math, Advanced/Honors Gifted .
The purpose of this course is to develop the necessary skills for Algebra. Topics should include, but not be limited to: operations with rational numbers, ratio and proportion, percents, number theory, equations and inequalities, rational and irrational numbers, polynomials, geometry, measurement, and statistics. Proofs and special projects are also a part of this course.
Comprehensive Science 2
The purpose of this course is to provide the second year of a sequential three year course of study balancing science content, processes and applications of life, earth/space, and physical science concepts. Three years of spiral, integrated course work will gradually shift from the student centered in sixth grade to more discipline centered in grade eight.
Comprehensive Science 2, Advanced/Honors
Students are placed in this course based on teacher recommendations and standardized test scores.
The purpose of this course is to provide advanced students the second year of a sequential three year course of study balancing science content, processes and applications of life, earth/space, and physical science concepts. Three years of spiral, integrated course work, will gradually shift from the student centered in sixth grade to more discipline centered in grade eight. Themes included are: systems, diversity and variations, stability and change, probability and prediction, energy and matter, cause and effect, models and theories, structure and function, scale and time, and scientific habits of the mind. The content shall include, but not be limited to: scientific methods and selected areas such as cells and heredity, motion, forces and energy, earth’s waters, weather and climate.
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