7th Grade
February 2012
Dear Parents,
During the month of February, students will take mid-terms and, toward the end of the month, begin working on ideas for the Science Expo in March. As a reminder, we continue to collect items for the Nutritious Nibbles program. Here is what you can expect this month.
Pre-Algebra - During the month of February, students will identify relations and functions, and then graph linear functions, learning that non-vertical lines represent linear functions. In addition, students will graph lines through the slope and y-intercept. Students will learn to write rules for linear functions from words and from tables. Lastly, they will use their graphing knowledge to find trends and make predictions from scatter plots.
Language Arts - Students will study different types of nonfiction: biography, autobiography, essay, informative article, and interview. The students will use a variety of strategies in order to read and appreciate nonfiction, which includes being able to distinguish between fact and opinion in each reading selection. In their anthologies, students will be reading and analyzing selections from the following works: the biography of Eleanor Roosevelt, and the autobiographies of Malcolm X and Jackie Robinson.
Geography - The 7th graders will learn about African regions. They'll recognize the stark contrast between the breathtaking physical beauty and rich and beautiful cultures of Africa's various regions such as the Serengeti, Mediterranean, Central Western Rainforests, and the sprawling Sahara and the dire humanitarian challenges and strife facing so many African nations. Students will explore and evaluate topics such as the "Arab Spring" revolutions that ousted North African dictators, the roots of conflict in Sub-Saharan areas such as Darfur and Rwanda, and they will brainstorm solutions for the plethora of humanitarian concerns that span the continent.
Spanish - Early this month, students will review and take their mid-term exam. This assessment will encompass material covered from the start of the textbook through page 163. Next, students will begin to acquire the vocabulary associated with discussing plans, places, and people they know. In addition, they will learn vocabulary for sequencing. In grammar, students will practice the proper conjugation of regular "er" and "ir" verbs. The review section for this month will concentrate on telling time and using adverbs of frequency.
Science - As Life Science students review the first part of the year in preparation for Mid-Terms, students will also wrap up their study of the plant kingdom. At this time, students will begin preparation for the March Science Expo and move on to the study of animals. Our exploration will begin with innate and learned behaviors, including reflexes, instincts, imprinting, adaptations, and social interactions. Toward the end of March, we will put our book knowledge to the test on a field trip to the Philadelphia Zoo.
In Friendship!
T. Jerry
February Events:
- Monday, Feb. 6-Friday Feb. 10: Middle School Midterm Exams
- Tuesday, Feb. 14: Valentine's Day
- Wednesday, Feb. 15: Hoops For Heart
- Thursday, Feb. 16: Coffee & Tea with Rose, 8:30am
- Friday, Feb. 17-Monday, Feb. 20: School Closed for Winter Break