Comprehensive Overview of the Seventh Grade Curriculum

Mathematics: Ratios, Proportions, and the Number System

• Ratios and Proportional Relationships: Students analyze proportional relationships and use them to solve real-world and mathematical problems. This includes computing unit rates associated with ratios of fractions, such as measured lengths or areas.
• Constant of Proportionality: Identification of the constant of proportionality, or the unit rate, within tables, graphs, equations, and diagrams. In an equation, this is typically represented by the variable $k$ in the formula $y = kx$.
• Proportional Equations: Representing proportional relationships by equations. For example, if total cost ($t$) is proportional to the number ($n$) of items purchased at a constant price ($p$), the relationship is expressed as $t = p \times n$.
• Multi-step Percent Problems: Solving complex problems involving percent increase and decrease, simple interest, tax, markups, markdowns, gratuities, commissions, and percent error.
• Operations with Rational Numbers: Applying and extending previous understandings of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division to move from fractions to rational numbers. This includes the rules for multiplying and dividing signed numbers, ensuring that $- (p/q) = \frac{-p}{q} = \frac{p}{-q}$.
• Linear Expressions: Using properties of operations to generate equivalent expressions. This involves adding, subtracting, factoring, and expanding linear expressions with rational coefficients using the distributive property, such as $a \times (b + c) = ab + ac$.
• Solving Equations and Inequalities: Solving multi-step real-life problems posed with positive and negative rational numbers (integers, fractions, and decimals). This includes solving equations of the form $px + q = r$ and inequalities of the form $px + q > r$ or $px + q < r$.

Geometry and Measurement

• Scale Drawings: Solving problems involving scale drawings of geometric figures, including computing actual lengths and areas from a scale drawing and reproducing a scale drawing at a different scale.
• Circles: Knowledge of the formulas for the area and circumference of a circle and using them to solve problems. The circumference is defined by C = 2 \times \text{̀}π \times r or C = \text{̀}π \times d, and the area is defined by A = \text{̀}π \times r^2.
• Angle Relationships: Using facts about supplementary, complementary, vertical, and adjacent angles in multi-step problems to write and solve simple equations for an unknown angle in a figure.
• Three-Dimensional Figures: Solving real-world problems involving the area, volume, and surface area of two- and three-dimensional objects composed of triangles, quadrilaterals, polygons, cubes, and right prisms. The volume of a right rectangular prism is calculated as $V = l \times w \times h$.

Statistics and Probability

• Random Sampling: Understanding that statistics can be used to gain information about a population by examining a representative sample. Valid samples must be representative and random to avoid bias.
• Comparative Statistics: Informally assessing the degree of visual overlap of two numerical data distributions with similar variabilities and using measures of center (mean, median) and measures of variability (mean absolute deviation, interquartile range) for numerical data from random samples to draw informal comparative inferences about two populations.
• Probability Models: Investigating the chance of a process or event occurring. The probability of a chance event is a number between $0$ and $1$. A probability near $0$ indicates an unlikely event, a probability around $1/2$ indicates an event that is neither unlikely nor likely, and a probability near $1$ indicates a likely event.
• Compound Events: Finding probabilities of compound events using lists, tables, tree diagrams, and simulations.

English Language Arts and Literacy

• Reading Literature and Informational Texts: Citing several pieces of textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text. Students determine a theme or central idea and analyze its development over the course of the text.
• Narrative Elements: Analyzing how particular elements of a story or drama interact, such as how setting shapes the characters or plot.
• Writing Strategies: Producing clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience. This includes argumentative writing (supporting claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence), informative/explanatory writing (examining a topic and conveying ideas), and narratives (developing real or imagined experiences).
• Language and Grammar: Demonstrating command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage. Key focus areas include the use of phrases (noun, verb, adjectival, adverbial, participial, prepositional, absolute) and clauses (independent and dependent) to convey specific meanings and add variety to writing.
• Vocabulary Acquisition: Determining the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases by using context clues and analyzing meaningful word parts such as Greek or Latin affixes and roots.

Life, Physical, and Earth Sciences

• Cell Biology: Understanding that all living things are made of cells, which are the smallest units of life. Major organelles include the nucleus (genetic control), mitochondria (energy production), and cell membrane (boundary). Plant cells specifically contain chloroplasts for photosynthesis and a cell wall for structure.
• Photosynthesis and Respiration: The process by which plants convert light energy into chemical energy: $6CO_2 + 6H_2O \rightarrow C_6H_{12}O_6 + 6O_2$. Cellular respiration is the reverse process used by organisms to release energy.
• Genetics and Heredity: Exploring how traits are passed from parents to offspring. This involves studying DNA, genes, and alleles, often using Punnett squares to predict the probability of genotypes and phenotypes.
• Newton’s Laws of Motion: Physical science concepts focusing on Force ($F$), mass ($m$), and acceleration ($a$), represented by the formula $F = m \times a$. Students study inertia, action-reaction pairs, and the effects of balanced and unbalanced forces.
• Energy Forms: Distinguishing between Kinetic Energy ($KE = \frac{1}{2} m v^2$) and Potential Energy ($PE = mgh$).
• Earth Systems: Analyzing the Earth's interior layers (crust, mantle, outer core, inner core) and the theory of Plate Tectonics, which explains earthquakes, volcanoes, and mountain building via the movement of lithospheric plates.

World History and Geography: Medieval and Early Modern Times

• The Fall of Rome: Studying the internal and external causes of the decline of the Western Roman Empire and the rise of the Byzantine Empire in the East.
• Islamic Civilizations: Examining the origins of Islam, the life of Muhammad, and the growth of the Islamic Empire, including its contributions to science, mathematics, and philosophy.
• Sub-Saharan African Empires: Identifying the geographic, economic, and political structures of Ghana and Mali, focusing on the trans-Saharan gold and salt trade.
• Medieval Europe: Analyzing the feudal system, the role of the Catholic Church, the Crusades, and the eventual transition toward the Renaissance. Key developments include the signing of the Magna Carta in $1215$, which limited the power of the monarchy.
• East Asian Dynasties: Investigating the Tang, Song, and Ming dynasties of China, including technological innovations like the compass, gunpowder, and printing.
• The Renaissance and Reformation: The rebirth of classical learning in Europe and the religious shifts sparked by figures like Martin Luther, leading to the Protestant Reformation.