GRADE 7 Course Descriptions
MATHEMATICS COURSES
Students performing below grade level in mathematics may be assigned to additional mathematics support courses.
Intermediate PreAlgebra 7
[ full year ] Prerequisite / Selection process: District Placement Process Intended audience: Grade 7 Major outcomes:
• Application of integers, fractions, decimals, and percents
• Evaluate expressions and solve one-step equations with variables and rational numbers
• Proportional reasoning
• Applications of probability and data representation
• 2- and 3-imensional figures Instructional focus: Instruction presented in a variety of ways, including large group discussion and active participation.
Middle School Algebra
[ full year ] Prerequisite / Selection process: District Placement Process Intended audience: Grade 8 [ Accelerated Grade 6 and 7 ] Major outcomes:
• Solution of equations
• Linear functions
• Properties of exponents Instructional focus: Instruction presented in a variety of ways, including use of manipulatives, discovery and small and large group discussions.
Honors HS Intermediate Algebra
[ full year ] Prerequisite / Selection process: Middle School Algebra Intended audience: Accelerated Grades 7 and 8 Credit: 1.0 high school credit earned with passing grade * Major outcomes: This course continues the extensive, connected, and applied study of mathematics from previous courses. Emphasis is on the development of multiple strategies to solve problems and to recognize multiple ways of understanding concepts, especially as it pertains to quadratic and exponential functions. It has strong threads woven throughout the course focusing on multiple representations, justifying thinking, and communicating themeaning of a solution. The topics covered in the course are:
• Functions, linear relationships
• Simplifying and solving
• Sequences
• Modeling two-variable data
• Exponential functions
• Quadratic functions
• Solving quadratic and inequalities Instructional focus: Instruction presented in a variety of ways; some hands-on activities and the use of a graphing calculator.
Honors Advanced Mathematics
[ full year ] Prerequisite / Selection process: District Placement Process Credit: Credit will vary depending upon themathematics completed * Intended audience: Grades 7 and 8; designed for students who are mathematically gifted and perform significantly above grade level Major outcomes:
• Become proficient problem solvers using a variety of strategies
• Apply appropriate mathematical skills to real world situations
• Effectively communicate mathematical learning
Instructional focus: Individually paced instruction with a variety of instructional strategies. * Offered as high school credit; grades from this high school course may be reflected on high school transcript.
SCIENCE COURSES
Science 7
[ full year ] Major outcomes: Students will use models, engineering, analysis of data and critical thinking skills to explore and create a deeper understanding of the following concepts:
• Cells
• Human body
• Genetics
• Evolution
• Ecology Projects, activities, etc.: May include cell labs, microscope use, cell models, ADAM humanbody software, owl pellet field study, dissections, and ecosystem models. Instructional focus: Students will work individually, as well as in small and large groups. They will be involved in hands-onexperiments, dissections, investigations, model design and creation, engineeringprocess, observations, data collection and analysis.
Advanced Science 7
[ full year ] Prerequisite / Selection process: Student selfselection. Students with a high interest in life science topics and strong problem-solving, reading, and math skills. Major outcomes: Students will use models, engineering, analysis of data and critical thinking skills to explore and create a deeper understanding of the following concepts:
• Cells
• Human body
• Genetics
• Evolution
• Ecology This course will address the same Minnesota science standards as Science 7, but at an accelerated pace to allow for increased depth and integrated use of technology. Projects, activities, etc.: These will include lab investigations, argument driven inquiry, field studies and use of computer technology. Students will complete lab reports and communicate the results of their experiments.
Middle School Registration Guide 15