Webster Middle School

WEBSTER MIDDLE SCHOOL – 7TH GRADE COURSE DESCRIPTION GUIDE 20182019 CORE ACADEMIC COURSES Communication Arts: Student- centered and inquiry-based, communication arts in seventh grade integrates reading, writing, speaking, listening, and language within a literacy workshop model based on the Wisconsin State Standards. Students’ skills in these areas are strengthened through a variety of literary genres, reading concepts, skills and strategies. In addition, students are encouraged to choose and read self-selected books. Students will write regularly to inform, persuade, and reflect, with grammar and writing mechanics constantly examined. Vocabulary, roots, and affixes are introduced throughout the year, and students are also held accountable for the “Webster No-Excuses List” of commonly misspelled words. Specific units of study include mythology, science fiction, and the Holocaust. Students will meet for Communication Arts every day for 89 minutes all year. Mathematics: 7th Grade Math: Webster students study mathematics at their appropriate challenge level. This course is aligned for students scoring up to 235 on the 6+ MAP assessment. Students will meet for Math every day for 89 minutes all year. The curriculum follows the Wisconsin Standards, which focuses on:  Ratios and Proportional Relationships – Ratios, rates, proportion, percent equation, present proportion, percent of change, and simple interest  The Number System – Operations with integers & fractions, rational numbers, square roots, percent, and powers & exponents  Expressions and Equations – Algebraic expressions, equations, and inequalities  Geometry – Triangles, quadrilaterals, scale drawings, cross sections of three-dimensional figures, complementary & supplementary angles, area & volume of composite figures, and area & surface area of three-dimensional figures  Statistics and Probability – Samples & populations, simple events, outcomes, experimental & theoretical probability, and compound events 7th Grade Accelerated Math: Prerequisites: MAP: 235-245, teacher recommendation This course is designed for students scoring around 235 and higher on MAP. This course covers the same content as 7th grade math, but moves at a faster pace with more challenging problems. These students demonstrate a willingness to persevere through multistep problems and are interested in applying concepts.  Ratios and Proportional Relationships – Ratios, rates, proportion, percent equation, percent proportion, percent of change, and simple interest  The Number System – Operations with integers & fractions, rational numbers, square roots, percents, and powers & exponents  Expressions and Equations – Algebraic expressions, equations, and inequalities  Geometry – Triangles, quadrilaterals, scale drawings, cross sections of three-dimensional figures, complementary & supplementary angles, area & volume of composite figures, and area & surface area of three-dimensional figures

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Statistics and Probability – Samples & populations, simple events, outcomes, experimental & theoretical probability, and compound events

7th Grade Advanced Math: Prerequisites: MAP: 245+ and IOWA: between 80th – 90th percentile also Teacher recommendation. Students in this class are expected to have already mastered all operations with positive fractions, operations with positive and negative integers. They will be working with more difficult applications and multi-step problems involving negative fractions and integers. This class will be moving at a much faster pace. Course Description: All of the above including but not limited to:  Ratios and Proportional Relationships – Slope and direct variation  The Number System – Cubic roots, properties, Pythagorean Theorem, scientific notation, and operations with scientific notation  Expressions and Equations – Linear functions, graphing linear functions, inequalities, parallel & perpendicular lines, and graphing functions  Geometry – Translations, reflections, rotations, dilations, congruent figures, parallel lines & transversal, and similar triangles, circles, circumference, perimeter of composite figures, area of circle, adjacent & vertical angles, and angle measures  Statistics and Probability – Independent & dependent events 7th Grade Algebra: Prerequisites: MAP scores of 250+ (240’s before that) and IOWA: 90+ Course Description: Algebra is a high school level course that provides the principal concepts necessary for all mathematics courses beyond the arithmetic level. Equation-soling techniques which are vital to all future mathematics and sciences are developed. Algebra includes the meanings and uses of formulas, linear equations in one and two unknowns, graphing linear relations in the Rectangular coordinate system and quadratic equations. Life Science: The Webster seventh grade science program offers students opportunities to develop lifelong curiosity and interest in science; an understanding of science inquiry; knowledge of fundamental scientific concepts and history; expansion of critical thinking and problem-solving skills; and the connections among science, mathematics, and technology. Specific units of study will include introduction to living things, investigations with organisms, trees and plants, viruses and bacteria, cells, human growth and development, ecology, and environmental science. In addition to focusing on the scientific concepts in each of these units, students will learn how to use a dichotomous key, how to use a microscope, and how to dissect. Students will meet for Science every other day for 89 minutes all year. Social Studies: The Webster seventh grade social studies program is designed for students to make connections between the past and the present, and to develop the ability to make informed and reasoned decisions for the public good as citizens of a culturally diverse, democratic society. Seventh graders will study World History, including units on early humans, river valley civilizations, classical traditions, medieval times, and the early modern world. Students will meet for Social Studies every other day for 89 minutes all year. REQUIRED ALLIED ARTS COURSES Physical Education: The goals of the physical education program are to develop the skills necessary to lead an active lifestyle, develop positive attitudes toward fitness, and experience basic skills to participate in lifetime, individual, and team activities. The course will include learning the fundamentals of sports and games, learning how to demonstrate teamwork and sportsmanship, as well as develop skills to improve personal levels of fitness. Lifetime, leisure, and

recreational activities will be introduced. Individual, dual, and team sports are also a part of the curriculum. Seventh graders will have physical education every other day for a full year. Art: The middle school art program is designed to give students the opportunity to explore a variety of techniques and media in painting, drawing, printmaking and ceramics. Seventh grade art students will learn about past and present artists and focus on the Elements, and Principles of Art and Design as they create their original works of Art and Design as they create their original work of art. Self-evaluation will complete the learning process, giving the student an opportunity of reflect on their work. Seventh graders will have art every other day for a semester. Project Lead the Way 7 (PLTW-7): Project Lead the Way will offer students a variety of opportunities. Design is a key component of the 7th grade course in addition to focusing on the engineering and the design process. In this unit, students begin to recognize the value of an engineering notebook to document and capture their ideas. They are introduced to and use the design process to solve problems and understand the influence that creative and innovative design has on our lives. Students use industry standard 3D modeling software to create a virtual image of their designs and produce a portfolio to showcase their creative solutions. During this course, students will learn and apply concepts of measurement, technical drawing, and engineering. Students will apply core concepts of science, technology, engineering, and math with hands-on activities. The culmination of this unit is the creation of the candy dispenser, where students apply all the knowledge from the semester into one project. Seventh graders will have Project Lead The Way every other day for a semester. World Languages: Each seventh grader will choose a language (French, German or Spanish) that they are interested in pursuing after their initial 6th grade experience. Vocabulary and grammar will be taught and reinforced through exercises involving reading, writing, and speaking. Students will develop insight into the language and culture being studied by listening to and using the language in real life situations. Seventh graders will have world language every other day for a full year. Please note that while students do NOT receive a high school credit for completing the first level of World Language in middle school, colleges do recognize the completion of level one in middle school. Level on completion is defined as successfully completing foreign language courses in both 7th grade and 8th grade combined. For more information on college entrance requirements, please visit the following website: http://wwhelp.wisconsin.edu/admissions/freshman/collegeprepcampus.aspx MUSIC (Must choose ONE) Band: Previous experience is REQUIRED or permission must be obtained from the instructor. Students will build upon and expand the skills learned in 6th grade band plus perform in several concerts and assemblies. They will also have the opportunity to perform in the Solo and Ensemble Festival. Band will meet every other day for a full year. Band students who rent school-owned instruments not available from a music store will be assessed a nominal rental fee payable at the beginning of each school year. There is no band fee for students who own their own instrument or rent from outside of the school. Band will meet every other day for a full year. 7th Grade Girls Chorus & 7th Grade Boys Chorus: Students continue study from past years and build their voices effectively for concert performance. Students will perform in two and 3-part harmony as individual gender ensembles as well as receive mixed ensemble experiences. Additional goals include self-expression, developing proper vocal technique, singing music by sight using Solfege syllables (Do, Re, Mi, etc.), and strengthening music-reading skills and understanding music vocabulary and notation. Students will perform in two evening concerts. Chorus (girls’ choir and boys’ choir) will meet every other day for a full year.

Music Exploration: Students will expand on 6th grade general music concepts with review of classroom instrument technique and functionality of instruments. Students will be introduced to music technology and be participating in project based learning experiences exploring music from the 1900s to present day. We will be composing songs, writing lyrics, and experiencing music in different ways as well as learning about music’s transformation in our society. Music exploration will meet every other day for a full year. P.I.E. (Prevention, Intervention, Extension) P.I.E. time is 30 minutes daily Extension Time (ET) is in P.I.E. which meets every day throughout the year. 8 class rotations throughout the year each lasting 17 to 18 days.