Category Archives: Update

Exhibition #3 Overview

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Wednesday June 13th, 2012

Bodies in Motion:
An exploration of human body systems

Essential Questions:

How do the human Body’s systems work together to balance active bodies?

Why are bodies shaped the way they are?

What is the relationship between the different parts of the body?

Project Description and Required Components:

    In Art class, students will create a three dimensional wire and plaster sculpture of a body in motion. They will research images of a person doing a physical activity of their choice, and use their picture to create a sculpture in the round representing their chosen activity. The statue will then be painted and mounted.

    Using their knowledge of the Human Body’s major organ systems, students will compose a detailed explanation of the different systems that the figure in their sculpture is using while doing this activity, how those systems are used, and how they work together to keep the body functioning and healthy.


Standards, Strands, Skills (Students will learn, do): 

  • Students will visually identify organ systems on their sculpture
  • Students will identify the functions of the major organ systems of the body
  • Students will describe homeostasis, the body’s ability to maintain a constant internal environment despite changing external conditions.
  • Students will write an explanation of how organ systems interact to maintain life (homeostasis).
  • Students will expand the repertoire of 3D art processes, techniques and materials, with a focus on constructed forms.
  • Students will create 3D representational artwork from direct observation, that demonstrates an understanding of scale and proportion.
  • Students will demonstrate the ability to organize and complete projects, and produce work that shows an understanding of the concept of craftsmanship.

 

Reform and Reformers in the 19th Century

Essential Questions:

How did reformers and writers inspire change and spark controversy? 
How did expansion, growth and economic development change American society in the nineteenth century?
How was the Civil War a political, economic, and social turning point? 

Project Description and Required Components:

Based on class work and individual research, students will identify a person who worked toward improving some social condition or who helped the lot of some disadvantaged group. Students will become these figures as they present their opinions to the community. Students will examine the motivation behind the person’s actions, what steps were taken to create change and the lasting implications of that person’s work. These findings will be presented in the form of a five-paragraph research paper. In a creative writing exercise, students will compose a letter from the perspective of their character. The letter will attempt to persuade an opposition group or leader to change his or her view. Students will also prepare a short one-two paragraph personal statement identifying a present day problem that needs reform. The identification of the problem will become the first steps towards creating a community service action plan.

Standards, Strands, Skills (Students will learn, do):

  • Student will learn how to persuade their audience to agree with their opinions, recognizing opposing viewpoints and counter-arguments.
  • Students will research and document a social condition and the historical implications.
  • Students will write a five paragraph research essay with proper citations and documentation. 
  • Students will learn public speaking skills and techniques.
  • Students will compose and record arrangements of Civil War music

 

Exhibition #1 Overview

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Communication

Exhibition #1, November 21, 2011

Baking Bread:

How can I represent the structure, function and life cycle of a single-celled organism?
7th Graders will apply their knowledge of single-celled organisms as they become bakers.

  • Students will conduct experiments in order to understand why yeast is essential to bread and what conditions and recipes allow yeast to flourish and produce the best bread.
  • Students will compare and contrast the essential cellular functions of cellular respiration, photosynthesis, and fermentation in written work and in a visual display.
Would you like to know more?  Follow this link to the Baking Bread website!

Book Bloggers:

Why read? 
Taking on the role of a book blogger, seventh graders will write and publish two posts about their favorite recent reads. Once the student’s blog has been edited for content, mechanics and readability, students will publish them on the 7th Grade Reads website. Students will begin by choosing a book that interests and engages them.   After reading the book, students will write a book review for their classmates. From the collection of reviews complied by the seventh grader, students will be able to sort, select, and choose their future reading material.
Would you like to know more?  Follow this link to the Book Bloggers website!

Constitutional Convention:

Who governs? What is national identity?

In 1787, a federal convention convened to revise the Articles of Confederation, however after debate and discussion it became clear that a new frame for the government was needed. In state delegation groups seventh grade students will present the views and ideas of their assigned delegates and fictional constituents. Taking on the role of a state delegate or state reporter, students will present a delegate profile including a position statement.

Would you like to know more?  Follow this link to the Constitutional Convention website!

7th Grade #3 Exhibition Overview

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Conflict and Harmony

June 15, 2011

7th Grade Overview

Can You Be Persuaded?

Advertising: Assuming the role of an advertising executive, students will create a visual advertisement and an accompanying sales pitch. In class students will examine a variety of advertising media and determine/analyze the effects to that media on the viewer. Using specific techniques, students will create their own advertisement. Students will also dissect a piece of media and evaluate how it effects the audience.
Public Speaking: Students will take on the role of a speech writer and composer for a major organization, charity, or political action group (something they are passionate about). Students will write a speech and compose music persuading their audience to vote, support or agree with their point of view. On Exhibition night, students will present their persuasive piece in the style of a Greek Oration.
In groups, students will record music at Ringo Studios, on their instrument of choice, and sell them at Exhibition. Community performances of the composition will also take place. In music the major music standards covered is Composing.
Standards Assessed: Language Arts- Composition and Media

Standard Assessed: Music- Composing and Playing Instruments

Community Health Fair:

Assuming the role of a Community Health Fair staff member, 7th Graders will apply their knowledge of the human body’s major organ systems and their contributions to Homeostasis (the body’s ability to maintain a constant internal state despite a constantly changing external environment).  Upon entering, guests will be provided with a symptom card and information which they will use to describe problems they are having.  Student’s will diagnose the cause of the disruption and advise the guest on how to return to homeostasis.

In Science: Students will work in groups of 4 to create a visual display of one organ system.  The display will highlight: functions, features and collaboration with other organ systems using pictures, diagrams and/or graphics all with written captions.
Standards Assessed: Life Science – Human Body Systems

In Art, the students will apply their knowledge of body proportions and construct a 3D model of a figure in action. They will research images of people practicing a sport activity, do some sketches, and build a wire and plaster statue of their sportsperson in action, paying close attention to body position and identifying which muscle groups are used.

In CSL, students, as ambassadors for good health,  will answer the question “How do we ensure food safety for ourselves and the enrivironment?” They will study the impact of industrial farming on our health and environment, and get a first hand experience of what it takes to run a sustainable farm by volunteering at The Project Farm in Lynn, MA. For exhibition night, students will distribute informative brochures that exhibit their understanding of industrial farming, and provide viewers with information about how to make informed decisions about food.
Standards Assessed: CSL- Exploring Community Needs, Meeting Community Needs, Observation, Reflection

In Wellness, students will look at their health habits in the categories of Mental Health, Physical Health/Fitness, Nutrition, Family, and Interpersonal. After reflecting and gathering data on these habits, students will create a Wellness Wheel.

Adventures of Olympic Proportions:

What are the conflicts that an athlete might face?  How do these conflicts relate to life beyond the arena or stadium?  Why is it important to experience and solve these conflicts?

In their exploration of present-tense verb conjugations, Foreign Language students will be creating an original comic strip inspired by French and Spanish comic book series.  In collaboration with 7th Grade Curriculum, students will also explore human anatomy and physiology, athletics, and expand their knowledge of description vocabulary.   The comic strips will portray the trials and successes of an original character as they participate in the Ancient Greek Olympic Games.
Standards Assessed: Global Studies- History; Foreign Languages: Describing people, places, and things; Expressing needs and emotions; Expressing agreement and disagreement; Presenting information in a brief report; Ask and answer questions.

7th Grade Summer Reading List

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REQUIRED SUMMER READING:

FOR STUDENTS ENTERING 7th GRADE IN THE FALL

On the first day of school seventh graders will be asked to turn in a summer reading list. One of the books on the list should be from the list below.

SUGGESTED SUMMER READING

Fantasy

  • Eragon, Eldest, Brisingr by Christopher Paolini
  • Summerland by Michael Chabon
  • The Warrior Heir by Cinda Chima
  • The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass by Phillip Pullman
  • Sabriel, Lirael, and Abhorsen by Garth Nix
  • Airborne, Skybreaker, and Starclimber by Kenneth Oppel
  • The Bartimaeus Trilogy by Jonathan Stroud
  • Sea of Trolls by Nancy Farmer
  • Three Wee Men and Nation by Terry Pratchet
  • Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
  • The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart

Science Fiction

  • The Ender Series by Orson Scott Card
  • Feed by M.T. Anderson
  • The Last Book in the Universe by Rodman Philbrick
  • Little Brother Cory Doctorow
  • The Maximum Ride Series by James Patterson
  • Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson
  • Things Not Seen by Andrew Clements
  • The Hunger Games and Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Realistic Fiction

  • Monster by Walter Dean Myers
  • Secret Lives of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
  • Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
  • A Step from Heaven by An Na
  • Skellig by David Almond
  • Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen
  • The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants Series by Ann Brashares
  • Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech
  • When Zachary Beaver Came to Town by Kimberly Willis Holt
  • Woman in the Wall by Patrice Kindl

Historical Fiction

  • The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Vol. I & II by M.T. Anderson
  • Black Duck by Janet Lisle
  • The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak
  • True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi
  • Under a War-Torn Sky by Laura Malone Elliott
  • The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara
  • Samurai Shortstop by Alan Gratz
  • The Ransom of Mercy Carter by Caroline B. Cooney

Mystery and Horror

  • And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
  • Blue is for Nightmares, White is for Magic, and Silver is for Secrets by Laurie Stolarz
  • The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
  • Operation Red Jericho by Joshua Mowll
  • Jade Green: A Ghost Story by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
  • The Third Eye by Lois Lowry
  • The Face on the Milk Carton, Whatever Happened to Janie, and Voice on the Radio by Caroline B. Cooney
  • Thin Ice by Marsha Qualey
  • Thirteen by Toyna Pines (editor)
  • Cirque du Freak series by Darren Shan
  • A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly

Classics

  • Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
  • Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas
  • Call of the Wild by Jack London
  • The Pearl by John Steinbeck
  • David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
  • Robin Hood by Howard Pile

Nonfiction

  • Revenge of the Whale: The True Story of the Whaleship Essex by Nathaniel Philbrick
  • Left for Dead by Pete Nelson
  • Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer
  • Never Cry Wolf by Farley Mowat

Sports

  • Travel Team and Heat by Mike Lupica
  • Hoops by Walter Dean Myers
  • Baseball Card Adventures by Dan Gutman
  • Over the Wall by John H. Ritter
  • Tangerine by Edward Bloor