Language Arts

Welcome back.  As semester 2 begins, we are looking forward to starting our study of The Lord of the Flies. Our Lit Circle books that go with the novel will see students preparing for a debate on issues presented in their novels.  They will complete research and be able to argue both sides of the issue so that they are fully prepared to offer claims, counterclaims and rebuttals.  All Lit Circle novels should be completed by January 9th.  Please remind students that the reading expectation for Independent Reading is 100 pages per week and if your student is utilizing i Ready, they need four lessons passed each week.  These goals will help your student continue to grow as a reader and be on track for 8th grade.

Math

As we start the new year, we will be kicking it off with review skills that include Combining Like Terms, 1-2 step equations, and distributive property.  This will lead into Unit 6 with Expressions and Equations. In this unit we will be comparing proportional and non proportional relationships with expressions, equations and tape diagrams.  

We will continue to have weekly IXl Leadboard competition, so please encourage your child to continue to practice their skills that are suggested by their teacher.   

This semester we will also be focusing on Mathematical Language in order to help support their writing skills for the upcoming CMAS assessments.  

Please continue to check their Schoology Grades to ensure they are staying on top of their work and expectations.

Integrated I Math

Students this month will wrap up the Linear Equations, Inequalities, and Systems unit by learning about ways to algebraically solve systems of equations. Students will then practice these methods by writing and solving systems of linear equations and also selecting the best solution method (graphing, substitution, or elimination). For the rest of the month students will have their Linear vs. Exponential Relationships unit. This unit has a wonderful project in which students will investigate the past 10 years of tuition of a college of their choosing. They will determine if the 10 year data is best represented by a linear or an exponential equation, to then use that equation to predict the cost of this college when they are a freshman in 2031. Be prepared for your student to come home asking some questions about college and the future!

Science

We are so excited to have your student back for our amazing second semester of seventh grade science (yay alliteration!)! Whereas our first semester focused primarily on Space and Earth sciences, the second half of the year shifts towards a focus on the study of living organisms.  Our next unit is ‘Human Biology’ - where students will discover the miraculous internal mechanisms which keep us alive.  We will explore the major organ systems of the human body - how blood is circulated by the cardiovascular system, the process of turning the food we eat into molecules and why we exhale carbon dioxide when we breathe.  Students will engage in hands-on learning where their own bodies will become part of the science experiments used to test hypotheses. Digital simulators will allow students to further explore the microcosms found in these systems and learn how the interactions between organs make everything we do possible. All of this (and more!), coming soon to a science classroom near you!

Social Studies

Welcome back! We’ll start the new semester exploring maps, natural resources, and economic systems in a variety of Eastern Hemisphere countries. Students will use their research to learn about the different types of economic systems as well as specific economic terms such as supply and demand, GDP, import, exports, and scarcity. Students will use this information and research to create a country profile, business plan for a potential company that incorporates the country’s natural resources and climate, and produce a marketing poster for their company.  Students will work in small groups as they explore these new locations. 

As always, please check Schoology to make sure your student’s work is completed. Students can redo most assignments before the end of the quarter if they want/need to. Office hours are Tues/Wed. Please encourage your student to attend if they are absent or missing any assignments.