Core 7

Click here to see an overview of the Core 7 Curriculum Guide.

Seventh Grade Core Finals

Students at Piedmont Middle School begin taking final exams when they are in seventh grade. Core 7 teachers believe that final exams are important not only because they are a way to assess students’ understanding of the curriculum, but also because they provide an opportunity for students to practice reviewing and taking longer exams that cover more than just one unit. During the weeks before finals, Core 7 teachers hand out study guides to help students prepare for the exams. These study guides explain the format of the finals. They also include information about what to study as students get ready for the exams. Core 7 teachers collaborate to create finals, but it is always a good idea to look for specific details that come home with your child and to contact the Core teacher directly if you have any concerns.

Language Arts

Grammar Book Image Language Arts emphasizes writing as a process.  Students work through several stages, including prewriting, writing, sharing and responding, revising, editing, and evaluating.  Students do frequent, informal journal writings and take selected pieces of writing through all stages of the writing process to final drafts.  They develop writing skills through practice and feedback from teachers and peers.  In addition, students develop paragraphs with a topic sentence, supporting details, and a concluding sentence.  They also write essays with introductory, body, and concluding paragraphs.  Students engage in a variety of both formal and informal writing activities that include descriptive, narrative, expository, and persuasive expression.  The course also covers spelling, grammar, and the mechanics of punctuation and capitalization.  The development of effective study habits and research skills, including reference work and the use of the library, are also covered.

Social Studies

hist textThis class focuses on an examination of social, cultural, religious, and technological changes around the world during the period 500 C.E. to the 1700′s.  Students will also study geography, geographic terms, and maps within each unit.  Units of study are: 1. Europe During Medieval Times 2. The Rise of Islam 3. The Culture and Kingdoms of West Africa 4. Imperial China 5. Japan During Medieval Times 6. Civilizations of the Americas 7. Europe’s Renaissance and Reformation and 8. Europe Enters the Modern Age.  Units include a variety of activities and projects, as well as traditional lectures and note-taking.

Reading

lit textReading skills are reinforced and emphasized through the study of literature.  Areas of focus include vocabulary, comprehension, and analysis of plot, setting, characters and theme.  Students will also study elements of literary style and a variety of forms, including biography and autobiography, the short story, the novel, folk literature, and poetry.  Literature units frequently relate to the social studies curriculum.  In addition, each student participates in an outside reading program.