Grade 7

• Review operations with fractions, decimals, and percents
• Become efficient with solving and checking multi-step equations
• Solve and graph one-variable inequalities
• Explore rates, ratios, percents, and probability
• Learn rules of factoring, exponents, and square roots
• Graph linear functions; find slope and intercepts
• Introduce operations with polynomials
• Develop logical reasoning skills

• Improve reading skills by using active reading strategies
• Develop the writing process: planning and prewriting, drafting, revising, editing, and proofreading
• Explore grammar and mechanics, appropriate style, principles of organization, word choice, use of evidence and vivid language, and sentence fluency
• Facilitate literal, figurative and abstract thinking
• Encourage confidence and clarity in expressing and supporting opinions

• Use the scientific method to properly conduct accurately designed experiments
• Promote a feeling of responsibility for the natural environment and know how human activity can impact it.
• Understand basic cell biology including the kingdoms of life, and the role of each in ecosystems.
• Conceptualize basic genetics, genetic engineering, and inheritance through laboratory investigations involving plant husbandry and crosses.
• PIP (Personal Interest Project) student-centered research project culminating in research paper written in scientific format, and formal oral presentation to peers.
• Investigate and understand the human body systems including: the skeletal system, muscular system, integumentary system, circulatory system, respiratory system, digestive system, excretory system, nervous system, endocrine system, and reproductive system.
• Believe that scientific inquiry is a dynamic, enjoyable process and appreciate the importance of being curious in everyday life.

US history covering the settling of Jamestown through the Civil War

Reading critically to discern information that is significant to the focus of study

Research and documentation skills honed

Analytical writing introduced: skill of comparing/contrasting facts and points of view

Note-taking skills expanded: variety of note-taking forms introduced

Study, organization and time-management skills are discussed and implemented - discover organizational tools suited to personal learning style

Public speaking and presentation skills are a continued focus

Debate and reasoning skills are developed, using evidence to back up assertions

Class discussions: ability to voice individual perspective, hear others’ perspectives and develop essential questions to propel the level of discussion/inquiry

Assessments: variety of forms are designed to allow students to express their understanding in multiple formats

Think critically and apply this understanding both verbally and in written form

Class is taught mostly in Spanish; students are encouraged to speak Spanish

• Grammar concepts covered include: descriptive adjectives and adjective agreement, possessive adjectives, present tense of regular verbs, present tense of stem-changing verbs, verbs with irregular forms, ser and estar, direct object nouns and pronouns
• Expand students’ vocabulary
• Encourage oral practice of the language through group and paired activities
• Develop students’ writing abilities through short writing assignments
• Explore Spanish and Hispanic culture

Coding

The coding curriculum is currently being updated. The following description is provided as a glimpse of the coding skills that our upper school students have been learning.

The fundamental tools for creating content and managing information on the Internet originate from programming languages. Three of the most common, widely used web development languages are HTML, CSS(Cascading Style Sheets), and Javascript. Students will focus on web design and development and will study these three languages.

Students will work on a comprehensive website using the skills that they learned and with attention to:

appearance, content, functionality, and usability. Students should continue to develop their website throughout the trimester. This website will be presented as part of their final project at the end of the year. Project benchmarks will be due throughout the trimester to help students manage the development of their websites.

The programming language Python has become the language of choice for many programmers for a wide variety of projects ranging from creating video games to automating tasks to powering sites like YouTube, Google, Yahoo Maps and many others. During the trimester, students will create games, apps, and dynamic graphics while learning Python.

As part of their final project, students will create their own product (application, game, etc.) using Python, which they will then incorporate into their websites. These websites will be due by and presented during their final exam time slot. Grading of this final project will be based on a rubric that will be available to students when they start to build their websites.

Students in this class may work at their own pace to complete a series of lessons which will be posted online and accessible to the student on any computer with an Internet connection. The lessons will be largely project-based and will challenge the students to solve problems independently and think analytically. During significant benchmarks throughout the course, students will take tests to demonstrate their knowledge of the specific topic/s that they are learning.

All Upper School students sing in the chorus. Students focus on part singing and engage in standard choral repertoire, multi-cultural music and folk songs.

Additionally, students may participate in the a cappella Towerettes and Boys Band.

Tower’s Arts Block program provides upper school students with opportunities in technology, visual arts and musical arts classes. Recent Arts Block trimester offerings include: handbells, photography, woodworking, oil painting, technology, jazz band, marimbas, clay, sculpture, video, chorus, part singing, unaccompanied voice work, multi-cultural works, a cappella and folk groups.

• Develop relevant skills connected with the sport played
• Learn and enjoy the benefits of physical activity
• Develop a high level of sportsmanship and school spirit
• Develop leadership skills and an appreciation for the value of teamwork
• Seek personal levels of excellence
• Experience playing on a competitive team
• Identify the correlation between hard work and improvement

The drama program offers opportunities for burgeoning actors and crew to spread their theatrical wings. Under the guidance of the drama directors, students are responsible for all aspects of the production; acting, singing, dancing, costume design, set design, stage tech, and booth tech. Our goal is for students to develop confidence in themselves, while challenging themselves to reach in new directions. Our productions are designed to highlight our middle school students' talents in order to create a show that our entire school community can enjoy.