In seventh grade, students develop the study skills necessary to be independent learners, as well their communication and cooperation skills in small group work and in writing. Math skills review and reinforce concepts learned in 6th grade in preparation for algebra. The class works on graphing, statistics, using integers, fractions, decimals and percents and moves to scatter plots, slope and applying exponents to problems with surface area and volume. There is an emphasis on proportional reasoning, and all skills are reinforced through hand-on activities and their application to science investigation.
Seventh grade science is life science, and focuses on the unity and diversity of living things through evolution. In the first term, the emphasis is on the interaction of living things with their environment. Students study various ecosystems from the Gordon Pond, then move to our local estuary ecosystem, Narragansett Bay, with a focus on eelgrass. We end our study with the value of wetlands, especially in relation to the impact of Hurricane Katrina on New Orleans. Students will study the biology and ecological importance of eelgrass by building a model estuary ecosystem for hands-on study and investigating the best conditions to grow eelgrass, which will eventually be transplanted to the Bay.
in eighth grade, students are continuing to develop the study skills needed to be independent learners while learning the skills and concepts of physical science and Algebra One. The class emphasizes problem solving and communication which students apply through group work, class discussion, and experiments in the classroom, lab and field. Experiments and the GLOBE Project supply real data and meaning for students to apply their skills. The math skills begin with a review of pre-algebra and move through solving linear systems, and end with rational expressions and solving quadratics. There is an emphasis on students communicating their understanding verbally, symbolically and visually throughout the class.
In science, the content focuses on hydrology, water quality and an atomic model of matter as a way of understanding what stuff is made of and how we are related. Skills include hypothesizing, writing and following protocols, measurement, data analysis and graphing, and writing logical conclusions using models to explain and predict how the natural world works.