Grade 7

In Grade 7 English, we focus on student choice, independence and growth. Our program is designed to help students strengthen their reading, writing, speaking and listening skills through a mix of structured lessons, personalized learning opportunities, and a broad and balanced curriculum.

In Writing Workshop, students build their writing skills through focused genre studies, using books they are reading as examples. They receive direct instruction on important writing techniques—such as developing ideas, organizing their thoughts, and using strong vocabulary and voice. Grammar, punctuation and conventions are taught both directly and through students’ own writing. Students move through each stage of the writing process with guidance and support.

Reading Workshop gives students the chance to read a variety of texts—both fiction and nonfiction—independently, in pairs, in small groups, and as a class. Students set personal reading goals and choose books that match their interests and challenge their reading level. As they read, they practice key skills like making predictions, drawing inferences, and analyzing themes and characters. Texts may include realistic fiction, dystopian novels, and informational pieces.

Throughout the year, students engage in thoughtful discussions about what they read. They learn how to ask meaningful questions, build on each other’s ideas, and support their thoughts with evidence from the text. Students also practice presentation skills, learning how to speak clearly and confidently in front of a group while emphasizing key points.
Our Grade 7 English program helps students become more thoughtful readers, effective writers, and confident communicators—all while encouraging their individual interests and goals.

The Grade 7 mathematics course is based on the Common Core State Standards for mathematics. In Grade 7, instructional time focuses on four critical areas: (1) developing understanding of and applying proportional relationships; (2) developing understanding of operations with rational numbers and working with expressions and linear equations; (3) solving problems involving scale drawings and informal geometric constructions, and working with two- and three-dimensional shapes to solve problems involving area, surface area, and volume; and (4) drawing inferences about populations based on samples.

The Grade 7 math course is taught from a variety of resources and the core resource is the Connected Mathematics Project 4 (CMP). Buzzmath.com is an online program used to reinforce skills; teachers assign individual and class assignments using this tool. Manipulatives, math games, online resources and calculators are also part of the instruction.

Throughout the Middle School, there is an emphasis on developing a deeper understanding of concepts and how they are connected. We support problem-based learning; in mathematics, students are encouraged to make sense of a situation rather than memorizing techniques and algorithms. At each grade level, a select set of important mathematical concepts, ideas and related procedures are studied in depth rather than skimming through a larger set of ideas in a shallow manner. There is an emphasis on writing about mathematical understanding and demonstrating mastery through constructing viable arguments. Calculators should be used to manipulate advanced numerical situations and to store information; calculators are not intended to replace mental math operations.

Reporting to parents/guardians is made through conferences, mid-semester access to the mastery portal, and end-of-semester report cards. The semester proficiency level consists of unit assessments, projects, check-ups, quizzes (individual and partnered) and written reflections. Students are given multiple opportunities to show mastery of the math standards and practices. Homework is an opportunity to practice and to challenge. 

Teachers seek to differentiate in order to meet the needs of each student. Instruction is responsive to the individuals, and teachers consistently monitor the level of enrichment and reinforcement needed.

Students in Grade 7 participate in two performing arts disciplines by electing which they are most interested in pursuing—choir, orchestra, band and drama. Students participate in both ensembles for the entire year, where the block is split between each discipline. Students new to the School who have never played a band or orchestra instrument before are given a specified choice of instruments to begin in Grade 7, and receive small-group instruction appropriate to their level. Because of the limited number of spaces in each discipline, students are not always guaranteed their choices. The emphasis of the performing ensembles in Grade 7 is on developing an understanding of communication through performing arts, along with technical and collaboration skills. The ultimate goal is an enjoyment and appreciation of the ability to make art, and for students to think of themselves as performing artists.

The Grade 7 band class reinforces the basics of good musicianship, which includes good posture, proper breathing, rhythmic accuracy, good intonation, ensemble balance, correct embouchure, proper fingerings, musical phrasing and clear articulation. Students learn many types of concert music, which represent a variety of styles and moods, and perform in both full-band and small-group settings.

The Grade 7 string orchestra program continues to support the development of technical skills, such as proper playing position, rhythmic accuracy, listening and intonation, stylistic use of the bow, musical phrasing and literacy. Students play and perform a wide variety of music reflecting different styles and periods.

Grade 7 choir students learn rehearsal skills, proper tone production, sight-singing and performance techniques. Students practice sight-singing using the solfege system. There is occasional written work. The Grade 7 choir emphasizes the development of musical understanding in a fun and collaborative setting.

Grade 7 drama students explore drama as an art form that is not only ever changing and evolving, but also ways we see the art form in our everyday lives and how stories can shape our relationships, society, and the spectacle of our life. Through a series of units, students will have the opportunity to develop their collaboration skills, imagination, public speaking, and experience the professional process of being an actor, director and designer. 

Students focus on the three dimensions of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) with an emphasis on the cross-cutting concepts of systems and system models, energy and matter, and stability and change. Throughout the year, students have multiple opportunities to develop their science and engineering practices with a focus on: developing and using models, analyzing and interpreting data, and evaluating information and constructing explanations. Units are driven by an interesting scientific phenomena and students mirror the work of scientists and engineers through investigation and develop an understanding of these concepts. 

Grade 7 units for the year are:

• Chemical reactions and matter: How can we make something new that wasn’t there before? Students begin by observing a bath bomb in water and, through exploring this phenomenon, develop an understanding of the properties of matter, chemical reactions and the conservation of mass. Throughout, they use evidence collected in investigations to write scientific arguments and develop models to compare physical and chemical changes. 
• Chemical reactions and energy: How can we use chemical reactions to design a solution to a problem? Students further their understanding of chemical reactions by testing processes that both release and absorb energy. They are then challenged to apply their understanding to a design problem—creating a portable incubator for sea turtle eggs that uses a chemical reaction to produce heat.
• Metabolic reactions: How does our body work to make us feel the way we do? Students are presented with a medical mystery involving a middle school girl and, as they investigate her illness, extend their understanding of chemical reactions to those that occur in the human body. They develop models of what happens to food in the body, consider the interconnectedness of body systems, and ultimately use the evidence gathered in their investigations to diagnose the sick girl.
• Matter cycling and photosynthesis: How do plants survive in a closed terrarium? Students begin by building terrariums and exploring how their plants use light energy to turn carbon dioxide and water into food through photosynthesis. They then investigate the flow of energy from one organism to another through food chains and use models to understand that the cycling of matter is key to a plant surviving in a closed system. 
• Ecosystem dynamics: How does changing an ecosystem affect what lives there? Students start the unit by considering how buying candy bars can have a ripple effect on orangutan populations thousands of miles away. They use simulations to investigate the role of resource availability and competition on orangutan populations, model the interconnectedness of rainforest ecosystems, and consider the importance of biodiversity in maintaining resilience. Students further develop their understanding of the impact of disruptions, both caused by human activity and natural events, by analyzing population data from other ecosystems. 

The Grade 7 social studies curriculum explores the concepts of empire, migration and revolution. Through conceptual learning strategies, students are encouraged to inquire, learn and develop generalizations in order to come to deeper understandings about the world in which they live. Through this course of study, students gain a greater understanding of how the people and cultures of the past interacted and impacted the world we live in today. Students leave the course considering how individuals and small groups can enact change on both small and large scales.

Students use a variety of sources, including primary sources, videos, handouts, databases, textbook excerpts, educational websites, and simulations in order to examine the course concepts through the lenses of personal, historical and current events. Students use these sources to draw their own conclusions about the past and to link those conclusions to the present.

Throughout Grade 7, students focus on key social studies skills. While learning about places and themes, students develop their argumentative writing skills, both in discussions and in writing. While learning the content, reading comprehension and research skills are explicitly taught. Students also develop historical thinking skills over the course of the year, through source analysis, corroborating findings, considering conflicting information and communicating their learning.

The middle school world languages program offers two levels of courses in Chinese, French and Spanish for students in Grade 7 (levels A and B).

Level A is aimed at true beginners and students who have had minimal academic exposure to the target language. This course aims to develop students’ ability to communicate about themselves and their immediate environment using simple sentences containing basic vocabulary and language structures. A student who successfully completes the A course continues on to a B course in Grade 8.

Level B is for students who have successfully completed a minimum of one full year of an academic program in their chosen language. Building on the skills acquired in the A course, students continue to use simple sentence structures and vocabulary on more familiar topics. Through a variety of communicative activities, students continue to develop the four language skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing.

A student who successfully completes the B course continues on to a C course in Grade 8.

Our robust electives program provides students with an opportunity to have some choice in their schedule, and to expose them to different subject areas and disciplines within a student's middle school career. Students are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to deepen their passion in a particular area, or explore something entirely new.! No middle school elective course is a prerequisite for a high school course.

Creative Coding: Ever wonder how your favorite apps and websites are made, or how electronic devices work? In this interactive course, students learn to think algorithmically and solve problems efficiently while developing a deeper understanding of the logic and structure of programming. Students complete projects incorporating both block-based (e.g., Scratch) and text-based (e.g., Python) coding languages. Throughout the semester, students participate in a self-paced Python course, and use code to do creative things. This course is open to students of all skill levels—no prior experience is required!

Dance: The dance elective is split into three strands: developing technique; creating choreography; and performing. The first strand focuses on developing technical skills in contemporary dance and includes elements of ballet, jazz and hip-hop. The second strand explores choreography and the process of making dance in the dance style of your choice, either as a solo, duet or trio. The third strand requires students to perform a group piece and their independent piece in an end-of-semester showcase in front of an audience. All levels of experience are welcome. Dance provides a great opportunity to improve both physical and mental well-being, build confidence and resilience, work with others and be creative. 

Design: In this course, students are introduced to 2-D and 3-D modeling programs, as well as sophisticated laser machining and 3-D printing technology to construct innovative designs. Students learn about the product design process and how to use powerful computer software. They use state-of-the-art tools in the MILL to build their designed objects. No prior technology knowledge is required, just a good imagination!

Explore London: The city is our extended classroom in this elective as we connect students’ interests to London’s past and present. We examine how politics, immigration, culture and the arts have shaped, and continue to shape, our city. Those who choose this elective are encouraged to think outside the box and to get outside of the building. Students research and propose local excursions based on themes they care about, and help to lead and plan those trips. Most classes are spent off-campus exploring this amazing city by public transport and walking, combining our class 
block and recess/lunch whenever they overlap. “The streets of London have their map, but our passions are uncharted. What are you going to meet if you turn this corner?”—Virginia Woolf

Games for Leadership Development: This course explores the themes of creativity, competition and collaboration through board games, card games, class scavenger hunts, improvisation games and unique physical activities. Students develop their communication skills and learn to demonstrate personal responsibility and positive social behaviors by practicing inclusion and effective listening, while engaging in activities led by the teachers. Students also facilitate small- and large-group activities to develop their leadership, problem-solving and conflict-resolution skills. This course takes place on and off campus, depending on the activity and the weather. Join us as we use active and engaging learning to develop the skills to be a leader that supports, motivates and inspires others!
 

Global Issues and Community Action:  Do you want to make our school, our city and our world a more fair, kind and just place? In this class, you become a changemaker—someone who speaks up, thinks deeply and takes action to help fix what’s not working in the world around us. Together, we’ll explore big questions and real issues, both close to home and far beyond. Choose topics you care about, team up with others and connect with community partner organizations here in London to learn from their work—and even assist them in creating positive change.

• We dive into powerful topics, such as:
• AI and the future of democracy
• The root causes of local theft
• Why our school has a backpack policy—and who it helps or harms
• Sea pollution and how it’s hurting marine life
• Gender and sexuality at the Qatar World Cup
• Small habits that fuel climate change
• Hijab bans and racism
• Racial profiling as a systemic issue 
• Soup vs. Van Gogh: Protest or vandalism?
• Period poverty
• Jina Mahsa Amini and women’s rights
• The fight for abortion access and reproductive rights 

In this class, we practice both dialogue and debate. We explore how power works, what rights we have, and what justice really means in different places and for different people.
And this isn’t just about learning—it’s about doing. Design projects, reflect on your impact and make things happen. Whether you are researching, writing, creating or campaigning, you are sharpening your critical thinking while taking action that matters. Our classroom is a space of shared leadership, where your voice and ideas help shape what we do. You are encouraged to bring your whole self, be inclusive of others, and try to leave every space—at ASL and beyond—better than you found it. Curious? Fired up? Ready to make waves? This is your space to step up.

London Through the Years: London is a city rich in history and culture. So many important historical events have happened on the streets that we walk down every day. Think about these questions: What was London like hundreds of years ago? What was it like to live in London during both World Wars? How destructive was a night during The Blitz? What was the significance of St. Paul’s Cathedral to the city? What more recent events have shaped life in our city? This course is focused on examining events, people and places that have shaped London’s history. Most of our classes involve using London as our classroom and visiting these historical places around the city, so get your walking shoes on and get ready to explore!

Mixed Media Art: This course is designed to engage students in thinking about the future and their social world. Students gain experience in drawing, sculptural architecture, and printmaking. They develop predictive skills such as scenario planning, systems thinking and the exploration of current trends. Students gain knowledge of contemporary design practices to help inspire and inform their work. The printmaking unit engages students in global issues that are personally meaningful. They learn a range of printmaking processes such as mono-printing, lino-printing and drypoint etching. 

Robotics and Automation: The world is evolving and with the rapid development of technology, tasks traditionally done by humans are now being completed by robots with increased automation. In this course, using REV Robotics kits, students design, build and program robots to complete tasks of increasing complexity. Students use basic principles of mechanics, learn essential programming skills and collaborative problem-solving techniques. This course is hands-on and project-based. No prior robotics or programming experience is required.

Sculpture: This dynamic visual arts elective provides students the opportunity to experience the functional, decorative and conceptual possibilities of 3-D art. Students experiment with media such as clay, textiles and found objects, developing a foundation of skills in ceramics, figurative construction and assemblage. They plan personal works of art inspired and informed by various artists, cultures and time periods. A field trip to an art exhibition connected to a unit of study is an integral part of the course. Students are encouraged to push their creative boundaries as they document their artistic journey in their sketchbooks from ideation to final presentation.

Video Journalism:  Everyone has a story to tell, and a good reporter seeks out and publishes those stories that might not always be obvious. In this elective, students learn to use video and audio to tell non-fiction stories. Students learn interviewing, videography and editing skills to create videos on a variety of topics. Students have the opportunity to share their work with the student body and a wider audience via The Scroll's website as part of the Eagle News Network (access the link to view examples of previous projects). Although there are no formal homework assignments as part of this elective, students need to conduct some video interviews outside of class time.

Yearbook:*  There are two different yearbook courses, as described below. In both courses, students make memories that will last a lifetime, not just for individuals, but for everyone in the Middle School. All yearbook staff are expected to complete some work outside of class (such as taking photos or conducting interviews). Students are invited to participate in fun workshops and take on leadership roles, and some may even attend journalism/publication events and conferences. Yearbook is a fun, collaborative and creative environment for any student who is willing to work hard, meet deadlines and challenge themselves. Ultimately, yearbook students will be proud when their hard work sits on the shelves of their peers for decades to come.

*Students can take both yearbook classes in Grade 7 and Grade 8 if schedules allow, so feel free to sign up for both. We create a new yearbook each year, so there will always be new content.

Yearbook: Graphic design  In this course, students learn how to use Adobe programs, such as InDesign and Photoshop. They learn how to create interesting and engaging layouts and designs, based on composition guidelines and the elements and principles of design. Students learn about color theory and typography, ultimately selecting all of the colors, designs and fonts for this year’s book. In collaboration with the yearbook: photojournalism class, graphic design students generate a theme and develop the design of the book to support that theme. 

Yearbook: Photojournalism  In this course, students learn how to use a DSLR camera to capture all the best moments in middle school. They learn to create great photo compositions, use the camera’s presets and manual mode, and edit photos in Adobe Lightroom. Students learn about interviewing and journalistic practices and ethics. They discover how to find an angle, and to write captions and short journalistic articles. Students in this class are responsible for generating all of the content for the middle school yearbook, from photos to articles and captions. In collaboration with the yearbook: graphic design class, photojournalism students generate a theme and develop the content for the book to support that theme. This elective requires additional time and commitment compared to other electives. All yearbook staff are expected to complete some work outside of class time (such as taking photos after school or at events, conducting interviews during lunch or read and meet, and writing articles and captions at home). This class has hard deadlines and homework is sometimes necessary to meet those deadlines. Students in yearbook are encouraged to participate in other extracurricular activities, sports and clubs, but please consider your personal workload and whether or not you have the bandwidth and flexibility to take on this commitment before signing up for yearbook.