Seventh Grade Benchmarks

Humanities

These benchmarks represent end-of-year objectives.

Reading
The student:
  • Reads grade level material with full comprehension.
  • Understands plots, setting, theme, character development, point of view and figurative language.
  • Demonstrates increased understanding of literary devices.
  • Supports  ideas, interpretations or opinions with direct references from text.
  • Reads about and responds to international current events.
  • Works on long-term assignments by reading books and preparing various presentations/projects. 
  • Learns and uses new vocabulary.

Writing
The student:
  • Writes with a command of Standard English conventions appropriate to grade level.
  • Creates and uses an outline independently.
  • Writes cohesive paragraphs with topic sentences and supporting details.
  • Writes multi-paragraph essays containing formal introductions, supporting evidence and conclusions.
  • Writes fictional narrative with a standard plot line and complex major and minor characters.
  • Uses descriptive details to bring stories and poems to life.
  • Independently proofreads writing for sentence structure, grammar, capitalization, punctuation and spelling.
  • Effectively uses new vocabulary. 
  • Demonstrates improved note-taking skills.

History
The student:
  • Obtains and interprets geographic information from maps, tables, graphs, charts, and text.
  • Exhibits increased knowledge of place locations.
  • Demonstrates and understanding of the factors necessary for a culture to be sustainable.
  • Compile evidence through the formal research process and convey clear and accurate perspectives on the subject.
  • Gives credit for quoted or paraphrased information through proper citations.
  • Demonstrates basic understanding of the cultural universals of social structure, art, religion, government, and warfare of: Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece.
Math/Pre-Algebra

These benchmarks represent end-of-year objectives.

Students are expected to successfully demonstrate the following skills and concepts without the use of a calculator.

Number Sense
The student:
  • Demonstrates fluency and increased accuracy in computation as well as estimation to judge the reasonableness of answers.
  • Demonstrates the correct order of operations to solve problems.
  • Uses factors, multiples, prime factorization and prime numbers to solve problems.
  • Uses appropriate strategies to add, subtract, multiply, divide and compare integers.
  • Uses appropriate strategies to add, subtract, multiply, divide and compare fractions.
  • Uses appropriate strategies to add, subtract, multiply, divide and compare decimals.
  • Demonstrates the ability to apply integer, fractions and decimals concepts in a variety of meaningful situations.
  • Reads, writes and compares rationale numbers in scientific notation.
  • Applies exponential knowledge of scientific notation when performing operations and applications.
  • Simplifies rationale numbers by using exponent rules.
  • Uses proportional reasoning to analyze problems involving: rates, ratio, proportion, percent scale and equivalency.
  • Solves real world percent problems that involve: discounts, markups, percent increase, percent decrease, simple and compound interest.
Algebra and Functions
The students:
  • Demonstrates a conceptual knowledge of the use of variables.
  • Uses algebraic symbols to write expressions and linear equations.
  • Demonstrates the basic properties of numbers: commutative, associative, distributive, zero, and identity.
  • Recognizes, interprets and simplifies algebraic expressions.
Equations and Inequalities
The student:
  • Correctly applies the property of equality.
  • Solves one-step equations that involve integers, fractions and decimals by adding or subtracting.
  • Solves one-step equations that involve integers, fractions and decimals by multiplying and dividing.
  • Recognizes inequality symbols and their relationships to the number line.
  • Solves one-step inequalities that involve integers, fractions and decimals by adding or subtracting.
  • Solves one-step equations that involve integers, fractions and decimals by multiplying and dividing.        
  • Solves multi-step equations that involve integers, fractions and decimals by adding or subtracting.
  • Solves multi-step equations that involve integers, fractions and decimals by multiplying and dividing.
  • Solves multi-step inequalities that involve integers, fractions and decimals by adding or subtracting.
  • Solves multi-step inequalities that involve integers, fractions and decimals by multiplying and dividing.

Mathematical Reasoning
The student:
  • Analyzes problems by identifying relationships, distinguishing relevant from irrelevant information, sequencing and prioritizing information, and observing patterns.
  • Uses multiple strategies, skills and concepts to find solutions to problems.
  • Determines the reasonableness of an answer.
  • Expresses the solution clearly and logically by using the appropriate mathematical notation and terminology.
  • Develops generalizations and apply them to new problem situations.
Science

These benchmarks represent end-of-year objectives.

Skills
The student:
  • Devises a step-by-step procedure to solve problems and make decisions.
  • Works collaboratively to develop solutions to scientific (or other) problems.
  • Accurately collects, organizes, analyzes, evaluates, and presents data.
  • Writes clear, concise discussions for experiments which justify conclusions.
  • Correlates cause and effect.
Content
The student:
  • Understands the use of standard laboratory equipment.
  • Explains the difference between a scientific theory and law.
  • Explains the formation of the universe as described in the big bang theory.
  • Shows an understanding of the scientific evidence which supports the big bang theory.
  • Demonstrates knowledge of Earth’s daily, seasonal and annual motions.
  • Demonstrates understanding of topographic map construction, use and interpretation.
  • Uses a compass to follow directions and navigate in relation to Earth’s magnetic north pole.
  • Demonstrates an understanding of the cell cycle and mitosis
  • Explains the role of plants in the biosphere and how they benefit humans
  • Shows an understanding of earthquakes, their causes, effects and methods for identifying an epicenter. 
  • Shows an understanding of the rock cycle and the formation of the three main rock types.
  • Understands the importance of rocks and minerals in our daily lives.
  • Interprets results from an experiment and uses the findings to inform future experiments.
  • Demonstrates knowledge of weathering and erosion and articulates the important role these forces play in soil formation.
  • Shows knowledge of our local watershed and demonstrates an understanding of factors which influence water quality.
  • Uses field equipment to accurately measure and record stream velocity, flow rate and water quality.
  • Shows understanding of ocean waves, tides and currents.
  • Demonstrates an understanding of the structure, composition and function of the Earth’s atmosphere.
  • Shows knowledge of the relationship between humidity, temperature, pressure and cloud formation.
  • Describes global wind belts and demonstrate an understanding of how these influence weather and climate.
  • Describes the lymphatic system’s form and function.
  • Conducts research and gains in-depth knowledge on an astronomy topic and presents the topic to the class.
Spanish

These benchmarks represent end-of-year objectives.

Skill Development
The student:
  • Counts from 1-99.
  • Uses interrogatives and generates correct responses to questions.
  • Successfully conjugates regular verbs in the present tense.
  • Appropriately uses the verb gustar to talk about likes and dislikes.
  • Appropriately uses necesitar (to need) and querer (to want).
  • Comprehends and uses vocabulary relating to school, activities and family.
  • Comprehends and uses vocabulary relating to directions and their room.
  • Uses personal “a.”
  • Relates simple stories about an experience or event.
  • Tells time.
  • Understands differences between use of the verbs ser and estar.                      
  • Correctly conjugates irregular verbs in the present tense.
Participation
The student:
  • Puts forth effort on a daily basis.
  • Participates actively in class activities and discussions.
  • Responds to questions.
  • Asks questions about class activities.
  • Pronounces language clearly.
  • Demonstrates intention to use acquired skills in new contexts.
  • Appreciates and describes aspects of Spanish-speaking cultures.
Physical Education

These benchmarks represent end-of-year objectives.

Skill & Concept Development
The student:
  • Demonstrates an understanding of movement concepts and the use of motor skills.
  • Demonstrates responsible personal and social behavior.
  • Demonstrates the ability to use effective interpersonal skills.
  • Demonstrates the ability to use the decision-making skills of appropriate goal setting, risk taking and problem solving.
  • Demonstrates an understanding of the concepts and skills needed to achieve and maintain a health-enhancing level of physical fitness.
  • Values physical activity for health, enjoyment, challenge, self-expression and social interaction.
  • Demonstrates an understanding of and respect for differences.
Art

These benchmarks represent end-of-year objectives.

Skill Development
The student:
  • Completes projects which demonstrate objectives.
  • Completes projects which demonstrate confidence/experimentation.
Participation
The student:
  • Uses class time productively.
  • Puts forth effort and perseverance.

MDAC Wheel

In the seventh and eighth grade students participate in specialized studies in Music, Drama, Art, and Community Service in a quarterly structure called the MDAC wheel.  During these classes students are given the ability to choose from a group of topics which one they will focus on learning more in depth.  As a result of this, specific benchmarks are not listed here and vary for each student.