7th Grade Course Descriptions

Art - Bible - Computer - English - Foreign Languages: French IA, Spanish IA - Health and Physical Ed. - Health - Girls PE - Boys PE - History - Math: Math 7, Pre-Algebra - Music: Band, Choir - Science

The seventh grade morning art classes meet one period every day for one semester.

The students learn art history as it relates to the lesson. They will be taught pen and ink drawing, figure drawing using student models in costume, advertising using creative lettering and design, realistic drawing using colored pencils, sculpture using metal found objects, nuts and bolts, and drills, watercolor painting and techniques, acrylic painting with an emphasis on impressionism, an in-depth study of Claude Monet, and two-point perspective drawing.

Various speakers will give artistic presentations.

Spiritual lessons are integrated on a daily basis with an emphasis on being an action-oriented Christian.

• Discover Art
• The Visual Experience
• Discovering Drawing

The 7th grade will be focusing on walking through the Old Testament and understanding how it is relevant to a middle schooler in today's culture. The primary text for this course is the Bible.

Topics covered are: Creation, God Writes an Amazing Story, Leadership, Purity, etc.

7th grade Computer is a general computer survey class with inter-changeable Macs. These Macs allow students to learn the intricate similarities and differences between OS and Windows software. Students benefit from the variety of experience in both operating systems.

Learning computer basics, technology and vocabulary is a foundation of the class. Students create projects utilizing Office-WORD, PowerPoint, Publisher and Excel. Projects involving digital imagery, video and podcast help to expand student knowledge in digital media. Legal aspects such as "copyright" and "downloading" are discussed from a Biblical point of view. Daily emphasis is given to exploration in internet research, daily news, website review and analysis; students are also guided through the usage of ample Christian internet resources. Finally, typing is a major semester focus as students work to complete varying levels in the required Microtype program.

Middle School computer classes regularly emphasize and challenge the students to utilize technological resources in a way that is honoring to the Lord (Ephesians 5:8-10).

Topics covered include: Grammar, parts of speech, capitalization, punctuation, elements of a story, figurative language, themes, symbolism, and cause and effect.

Students will work on developing their writing skills through both a creative writing unit and a poetry unit. They will also work on organizing their ideas to create a paper.

In addition, 7th grades will cover a short story unit, and they will read Witch of Blackbird Pond, The Devil's Arithmetic, and A Day no Pigs Would Die.

By the end of the year, the students should also have improved their ability to analyze literature from a Biblical perspective.

Semester one of this course is taken in seventh grade and semester two is taken in eighth grade. With the help of CD Rom and other resources, students will begin to develop the ability to communicate and express themselves confidentially in the international language of business and culture. Some of the basic topics we will cover are greetings, school, sports & leisure activities, and eating at a café. Those who successfully complete these two semesters will qualify for second year French at the high school level.

This course is one semester in 7th grade and one semester in 8th grade.

Topics covered:

• Introducing people
• Greetings
• Farewells
• Using sentences describing likes and dislikes
• Using pronouns correctly- agreement with the verb
• Nouns (gender and agreement)
• To know how to express wants and needs in complete sentences
• Prepositions- giving directions
• Numbers 1-100
• Telling time
• Adjectives- describe themselves and others in complete sentences
• Verbs- able to conjugate
• Be able to write in complete sentences using pronouns, verbs and adjectives correctly
• Writing short paragraphs.

This course is challenging. Students will have homework everyday and tests every week. Students should be committed to learn and work hard.

This course is a semester long.

God tells us in His Word that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. This course will focus on a study of the major body systems, how God designed them, and how we are responsible to take care of the bodies that God has given to us.

This course is one semester long.

Fitness and Sports: volleyball, softball, basketball, tennis, floor hockey, speedball, soccer, track, President’s Physical Fitness Test, aerobics, running, and a variety of fitness games.

All with the objectives of improving cardiovascular fitness, muscle strength, flexibility, and endurance, as well as gaining knowledge and proficiency in sports.

When the students leave the class they should have mastery of:

• Kicking
• Throwing
• Catching
• Sportsmanship
• Team play
• Checking their heart rate
• Fitness

This course is one semester long. Students lean the basics of team sports which include football, baseball, soccer, basketball, and floor hockey.

When students leave this class they should have mastery of:

• How to dribble, pass, and shoot in soccer & basketball
• How to catch a football
• Hockey fundamentals
• How to run the mile, do push ups, pull-ups, and sit ups
• How to catch, throw, and hit in softball
• Dodge Ball

This is a yearlong course. The topics covered include:

• Ohio History
• 7 Bible Principles
• Native Americans
• Struggle between British and French for Ohio
• Ohio as a state
• Ohio and the Civil War
• Geography
• 6 Bible Principles
• 50 states and facts about each
• Geography of North America
• Flood and Geographical changes
• Civics
• 5 Bible Principles
• Citizenship
• Constitution
• Bill of Rights
• 1st Government established by God

When the student leaves this class he should have mastery of writing essays, note taking and listening skills, how to read questions and look for key words, how to make oral presentations, work on group projects and co-operation, and completing assignments on time and neatly done!! Thinking! Understanding the cross of Christ is the focal point of all history! Trying to see earth events in light of God’s plan and perspective. Trying to think biblically not culturally.

These will never be mastered but this will make a good starting point.

This is a yearlong course. The topics covered include:

• Order of operations, solving equations, ratios, rates, proportions, and percents
• Fractions - change to decimals and percents, general math functions
• Two and three-dimensional figures with computations for area and volume
• Number sets - their use and functions
• Probability, the coordinate system, and functions
• Area, perimeter, circumference, metric system, customary system, time , prime factorization, GCF, LCM
• Exponents - functions and equations
• Graphs - mean, median, mode and applications
• Algebra basics

This course is designed to prepare students for algebra.

Topics include:

• Evaluating expressions using the order of operations
• Solving equations and inequalities using inverse operations
• Comparing, ordering, adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing integers
• Using prime factorization to find the greatest common factor and the least common multiple
• Multiplying and dividing monomials
• Powers and exponents
• Adding and subtracting decimals and fractions
• Multiplying and dividing decimals and fractions
• Mean, median, and mode
• Arithmetic and geometric sequences
• Scientific notation
• Functions and graphing
• Solving systems of equations using graphing
• Determining ratios and unit rates
• Relating fractions, decimals, and percents
• Using the percent proportion to solve percentage problems
• Finding the percent of change
• Statistics and probability
• Relating algebra to geometry
• Measuring area and volume
• Applying algebra to right triangles
• Polynomials

Seventh grade band is for students who have studied a band instrument for at least a year. As a part of the instrumental music class, students will grow in the skill of playing an instrument, the art of musicianship and self expression through music, and the act of worshiping the Lord through music.

Using various sheet music, students will cover a variety of musical styles and periods. Rhythm studies, scale studies and etudes are used to build on and sharpen rhythm and note reading skills. Chorals and Hymns are used to develop ear training and good intonation. Dynamics, phrasing, balance, articulation, intonation and overall musicianship are built upon throughout the year.

Students are evaluated through group participation, individual playing examinations, small group collaborations and concert attendance. A Christmas and Spring Concert are held at the school each year in addition to a group performance at Grandparents Day and Chapel. Students may also participate in the Association of Christian Schools Music Festival, a field trip to a local university for a master class session, or other opportunities as they are presented.

In this course, students have the opportunity to examine and sing various historical periods and styles by reading, singing, and reacting to literature and becoming familiar with various composers and genres. Students also learn that music is a language created by God for the purpose of communicating to others and praising Him. Vocal training is continued as students learn and put into practice the basics of vocal technique while learning to sing in two- to four-part harmony.

The study of the life sciences begins at the cellular level, progresses through the 5 major kingdoms of living organisms (Monera, Protista, Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia) and commences with ecology. The goal is to instill an appreciation for the complexity and order of creation, consequently enhancing the appreciation and reverence for an omniscient and omnipotent Creator. Lab investigation, dissection, and many discovery activities are included that develop critical thinking and implement the scientific method.