7th Grade
Overview
Seventh graders at OCA are firmly established as middle school students, and the goal is to progress towards more independence and self-sufficiency in their education as they begin to move closer high school. In seventh grade, students will be introduced to algebraic expressions and equations. They will also begin to write formal arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence.
Bible
Seventh graders continue with Bob Jones curriculum and begin a comprehensive study of the Old Testament to gain a better understanding of the overall big picture view of God’s Word and an appreciation for the encompassing arc of the Scriptures that culminates in eighth grade.
Math
Our seventh graders begin to focus on more complex algebraic skills, including order of operations, expressions, and equations to ease the transition from arithmetic to algebra in preparation for high school courses. Our students also explore relations and functions using equations, tables, and graphs.
Language Arts & Literature
Language arts in seventh grade focuses heavily on utilizing grammar concepts and skills to begin to learn to comprehensively research, cite, and support formal, written arguments demonstrating a clear understanding of the text and supporting their arguments with clear reasons and relevant evidence. Students continue to have a dedicated class devoted to literature and the concepts entailed such as understanding character development, themes, structure, moral tone, etc. In seventh grade, students are introduced to both classic novels and relevant, appropriate contemporary novels to gain a better understanding of increasingly complex texts and master reading skills that will help span other curriculum areas.
Science
We use Bob Jones curriculum in seventh grade Life Science to explore structures and functions of living things including plants, animals, and the humans body in order to understand life as created by God. The concepts explored in Life Science assist students think through scientific processes through a biblical perspective.
History
Seventh graders at OCA utilize the Bob Jones curriculum to trace American history from the discovery of the New World through current events. Furthermore, our students learn specific American values and governmental roles and procedures.
By the end of 7th grade, students will:
Bible
- Have a basic understanding of the structure and themes of the Word of God
- Understand the truths and applications that God placed in each book of the Old Testament
Math- Fundamentals
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Analyze proportional relationships and use them to solve real-world and mathematical problems
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Apply and extend previous understandings of operations with fractions
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Use properties of operations to generate equivalent expressions
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Solve real-life and mathematical problems using numerical and algebraic expressions and equations
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Draw, construct, and describe geometrical figures and describe the relationships between them
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Solve real-life and mathematical problems involving angle measure, area, surface area, and volume
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Use random sampling to draw inferences about a population
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Draw informal comparative inferences about two populations
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Investigate chance processes and develop, use, and evaluate probability models
Math- Pre-Algebra
- Know that there are numbers that are not rational, and approximate them by rational numbers
- Work with radicals and integer exponents
- Understand the connections between proportional relationships, lines, and linear equations
- Analyze and solve linear equations and pairs of simultaneous linear equations
- Define, evaluate, and compare functions
- Use functions to model relationships between quantities
- Understand congruence and similarity using physical models, transparencies, or geometry software
- Understand and apply the Pythagorean Theorem
- Solve real-world and mathematical problems involving volume of cylinders, cones and spheres
- Investigate patterns of association in bivariate data
Language Arts
Literature:
- Cite several pieces of textual evidence to support analysis of and inferences drawn from the text
- Analyze the impact of setting on character development and plot in a literary text
- Compare two or more themes and their development throughout a text
- Explain how an author establishes and achieves purpose through diction and syntax
- Paraphrase content from grade-level texts
Spelling & Grammar:
- Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence
- Introduce claim(s), acknowledge alternate or opposing claims, and organize reasons and evidence logically
- Support claim(s) with logical reasoning and relevant evidence, using accurate, credible sources and demonstrating an understanding of the topic or text.
- Use words, phrases, and clauses to create cohesion and clarify the relationships among claim(s), reasons, and evidence
- Establish and maintain a formal style.
- Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the argument presented.
- Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content
- Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, relevant descriptive details, and well-structured event sequences
- Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience
- Conduct short research projects to answer a question, drawing on several sources and generating additional related, focused questions for further research and investigation
- Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking
- Explain the function of phrases and clauses in general and their function in specific sentences
- Choose among simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex sentences to signal differing relationships among ideas
- Place phrases and clauses within a sentence, recognizing and correcting misplaced and dangling modifiers.
- Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing
- Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings
Science
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Understand and practice the scientific process; including investigations, modeling, and experiments
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Comprehend cell structure and mitosis and meiosis
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Understand the process of genetics and the adaptation of DNA
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Understand and describe the ecosytem; including the food web and food chain
- Differentiate and define the Old Earth vs Young Earth creation theory
- Describe the events leading up to and during natural disasters; such as earthquakes, volcanoes, and tsunamis.
- Explore and investigate the gardening process; including plant root systems, irrigation, and foods plants need
History
- Use research and inquiry skills to analyze American History using primary and secondary sources
- Examine the causes, course, and consequences of British settlement in the American colonies
- Demonstrate an understanding of the causes, course, and consequences of the American Revolution and the founding principles of our nation
- Demonstrate an understanding of the domestic and international causes, course, and consequences of westward expansion
- Examine the causes, course, and consequences of the Civil War and Reconstruction, including its effects on American peoples
- Understand how to use maps and other geographic representations, tools, and technology to report information
- Understand the characteristics, distribution, and migration of human populations