1. Science 7
2. Pre-Algebra 7
3. French 1
4. Spanish 1
5. Art 7

Science 7

7th Grade Science
2009-2010
Kristin Reichert    
kreichert@stuart-hall.org

Text:  Science Explorer:  Investigations  (Prentice Hall 2004)

Supplies:
•	3-ring binder containing lined notebook paper and 
folders --  
(Please don’t use a spiral bound notebook, as you need to be able 
to easily put papers in it as well as use paper from it and take 
notes in it.)
•	Composition book to use as field notebook, for 
observations, labs, etc.  If you have a partially used one, 
that’s fine with me!

Course Description:
Grade 7 Science will include investigations in various science 
disciplines, including biology, chemistry, physics, environmental 
science and earth science.  This year we will focus on Ecology, 
Human Biology, Inside Earth and Earth’s Surface, Ocean, and Sound 
and Light.

Outline of Study:  We will cover each unit in approximately five 
to seven weeks in 
roughly this order.

 
Unit 1:  Earth Processes
I.	Plate Tectonics 
II.	Mapping Earth’s Surface
III.	Rocks and Minerals
IV.	Erosion and Deposition
V.	Weathering and Soil Formation 
Unit2:  Ecology
I.	Populations and Communities
II.	Ecosystems and Biomes

Unit 3:  Human Biology
I.	Bones, Muscles and Skin
II.	Food and Digestion
III.	Circulation
IV.	Fighting Disease
V.	The Nervous System

Unit 4:  Ocean Planet
I.	Ocean Movements
II.	Ocean Floor and Shore Zones
III.	Ocean Water and Life
Unit 5:  Sound and Light
I.	Characteristics of Waves
II.	Sound
III.	The Electro-Magnetic Spectrum
IV.	Light 

Objectives:
•	Students will discover basic scientific concepts for 
themselves through hands on investigation.
•	Students will use the scientific method to form their own 
hypotheses, conduct experiments and draw conclusions from their 
results.
•	Students will become aware of science in their daily 
lives and connect what they are studying in class with objects 
and events outside the classroom.
•	Students will learn to research topics and practice 
reporting their findings orally and in writing.
•	Students will work cooperatively in small groups as well 
as independently.  
•	Students will be able to use the metric and English 
systems of units interchangeably using a table of conversions.
•	Students will discover that science can be fascinating 
way to explore their world as well as a lot of fun!

Class Policies:
•	Be in your seat when the bell rings so that we can start 
class on time.  Keep your brain turned on and your notebook and 
supplies out until the bell rings to end class!
•	Come to class prepared to move ahead by having your 
completed homework assignment and by having all your books, 
notebooks, papers and pencils.
•	Make every possible effort to get and complete 
assignments when you miss a class. Look in your planner, call a 
friend or check the website.
•	Respect yourself, your classmates and your teacher by 
being polite and courteous at all times.

Honor Code:  Like all courses at Stuart Hall, your work and 
conduct in this course is governed by the honor code.  
Plagiarism, being evasive or deceptive, recycling work and or 
falsifying information are violations of the honor code.  Please 
ask me if you have questions about any of these.

Homework Policy:
If homework is not turned in when it is due, you will find 
yourself struggling on tests and quizzes and possibly just 
confused during class.  Do your very best to get it completed and 
turned in on time.  If you don’t turn an assignment in when it is 
due, please fill out a missing homework form and turn it in, 
indicating what the assignment was, when it was due and when you 
are going to turn it in.  

Absences:  If you are absent from class it is your responsibility 
to make up any missed work.  If possible, find out from a 
classmate what you missed and check your assignment sheet so that 
you can have the homework done and not fall behind.  If you miss 
a test, quiz or other in-class graded assignment, make it up at 
the earliest opportunity.  Once you have looked at a classmate’s 
notes, please arrange a time to get together with me if there is 
something you don’t understand.

Assesments:  
For each grading period your average will be computed as follows:

Major Grades (40%):  These will include tests and test 
corrections, research/writing assignments and presentations, 
group projects and involved labs and reports.

Minor Grades (25 %):  This will include certain more involved 
homework assignments (which I will identify when assigned), 
quizzes, some in-class work.  Observations and field notes in the 
science journal will also fall into this category.

Homework (15%):  Homework assignments are extremely important to 
your understanding and development in any class.  They will 
include readings and section and chapter review questions, and 
lead-ins and follow-ups to class activities.

Participation (20%):  Effort, positive contribution and 
participation in all aspects of class.   This includes taking 
notes during lecture portions of class, making meaningful 
contributions to class discussion, and being purposeful and 
diligent work in cooperative work.

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Pre-Algebra 7

Pre-Algebra 7
Syllabus 2009-2010

Welcome to Pre-Algebra!!!  I am excited for a new year.  This 
year will bring many challenges, rewards, new experiences, and 
new opportunities.  With enthusiasm, hard work, and perseverance, 
this year will be both educational and enjoyable

This syllabus will provide you and your guardian(s) with an 
outline of topics to be investigated, a list of materials needed 
for each class, and a guideline of assessments that will be used 
throughout the year.  I am looking forward to an exciting year!

I. General course information:
Course Name:  Pre-Algebra
Teacher: Ms. Stotz	(lstotz@stuart-hall.org)
Textbook: The University of Chicago School Mathematics Project 
Transition Mathematics, third edition, Steven Viktora, Erica 
Cheung, Virginia Highstone, Catherine Capuzzi, Deborah Heeres, 
Neva Metcalf, Susan Sabrio, Natalie Jakucyn, Zalman Usiskin; 
Wright Group/McGraw-Hill, 2008

II. Topics of study:
Reading and Writing Numbers
Using Variables
Representing Numbers
Representing Sets of Numbers and Shapes
Patterns Leading to Addition and Subtraction
Multiplication in Algebra
Patterns Leading to Division
Linear Equations and Inequalities
Important Geometry Ideas
Multiplication in Geometry
Geometry in Space
Statistics and Variability

III Materials:
 
Bring to class every day:
notebook with lined paper
course textbook
pencils and eraser
 
Have at home:
calculator	protractor
compass	ruler 
graph paper
 

IV. Homework:
Homework will be assigned nightly to help students become 
independent learner.  Students will work on developing 
accountability for their own learning through self-assessing 
activities.  Assignments will help students to understand new 
material and bring to light skills that require continued focus.  

Homework assignments will be grades on a 0-2 scale as follows:
2 – assignment is identified and completed with all work neatly 
shown.
1 – assignment is at least 60% complete, some work shown, work is 
not neat, or work is 1 day late.
0 – assignment is less than 60% complete, no work is shown, work 
is more than 1 day late.
If you have an unplanned absence, assignments are due upon your 
return to class.  If you are unable to do work during the 
absence, meet with me on the day you return to establish a 
timeline for completing missed assignments.  If you have a 
planned absence, ask for assignments at least 2 days prior to the 
day you will be out.

V. Grading:
All work should be done in pencil.
Homework, class participation, class preparedness: approximately 
35% of quarterly grade
Alternative assessments (journal entries, compare and contrast 
matrixes, projects, interviews, self evaluations, cooperative 
activities,…): approximately 25% of quarterly grade (Assessment 
rubrics for alternative assessments will be provided throughout 
the year to help student and teacher define the evaluation 
process.)
Tests and quizzes: approximately 40% of quarterly grade
All work should be done by the student in accordance with the 
school’s honor code 
Unexcused tardiness and absences will result in a reduction of 
course grade (see handbook)  

VI. Classroom Environment:
This class will be a safe space in which every person puts forth 
their best efforts.  
To accomplish this we all must…

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French 1

Syllabus. Year 2009-2010
French level 1. Français niveau 1.
Madame Aaslestad


Class objectives:
The goal of the French 1 curriculum is to give students a good 
understanding of the mechanics and the vocabulary of the French 
language as well as to broaden their ability to function better 
in the global economy of the 21st Century by opening a door to a 
language rich in history and culture. The students will have 
daily opportunities to hear, speak, read and write the French 
language.

	The students will learn to communicate in real-life 
contexts about topics that are meaningful to them (i.e. ordering 
food, going out with friends on the week-end, jobs, family life, 
etc…).

	Grammar will be integrated into the instruction of the 
vocabulary and students will be shown the mechanism of a grammar 
different than their own.

	The students will get a good perspective on francophone 
cultures. Ultimately, they will make connections between their 
own culture and the French one in order to develop a better 
understanding of both.


Homework:
Students will have homework in their Activity workbook and/or 
textbook after most classes. Homework will be checked the 
following time the class meets and will be part of the grade.
They will also be required to work on a more detailed homework 
assignment several times a year about a French cultural topic 
that we will be discussing in class (for example, study of a 
famous French person , a historical event, a particular famous 
building…).


Required materials:
Daily planner
Textbook: Discovering French-Bleu
Workbook: Discovering French nouveau. Bleu
Three ring binder or two pocket folder for returned work and 
storage of assignment sheets.
Writing materials.



Grading:
30%	Class work: (in-class assignments, use of French)	
	
20%	Homework: (assignments completed outside of class: 
workbook or book exercises)		
30%	Quizzes. (Unit/chapter quizzes and tests, vocabulary 
quizzes).
20% 	Projects: (presentations, independent cultural projects).

Semester grades are combined in accordance with the guidelines 
set forth in the Student handbook.


Please, do not hesitate to e-mail me with any questions.

Bonne chance. 

Madame Aaslestad

jaaslestad@stuart-hall.org

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Spanish 1

ESPAÑOL DEL SÉPTIMO GRADO
SÍLABO Y DESCRIPCIÓN DEL CURSO
AGOSTO 2.009
SEÑOR ROBERTO RHETT brhett@stuart-hall.org

Descripción del curso:

	Welcome to the world of Spanish at Stuart Hall. In this 
course you will continue to lay the solid foundation upon which 
you build your ever increasing knowledge and use of ESPAÑOL, a 
most beautiful, valuable, and useful language. Everything that 
you learn well in this course will stay with you and help you 
with your Spanish forever.
	This year you will learn to talk about yourself, your 
family and friends, the things you like to do and do not like to 
do. You will learn how to describe people, places, and things. 
You will count, tell time and the date. You will be able to talk 
about things you do every day, things you did in the past and 
used to do in the past, as well as things you plan to do in the 
future. And you will learn all sorts of new words and expressions 
to help you successfully communicate all of the above.  

Libros y materia para la clase

	¡En español!					McDougall-
Littell
	Las Aventuras de Alejandro			(reader 
Winter and Spring)


	Carpeta con tres anillos
	Papel con rayas
	Secciones para apuntes, vocabulario, tarea y hojas de 
clase
	Bolígrafo y lápiz

	Cabeza		Corazón	Voz
	
El Camino Seguro:
	1- Hablar español
	2- Participar
	3- Preguntar
	4- Practicar

Lo que yo espero de ustedes:
	1- Hablar español			5- Hacer un 
esfuerzo
	2- Pedir ayuda				6- Entregar sólo 
tu trabajo
	3- Hacer la tarea			7- Apoyar a sus 
compañeros
	4- Estudiar vocabulario		8- Seguir haciendo un 
esfuerzo


La nota en este curso se calcula según esta fórmula:

	Exámenes:	25%
	Pruebas:	25%
	Tarea:		15%
	Participación:	15%
	Proyecto:	10%
	Asistencia	10%



	So, let´s get to it. ¡Aprendamos español! It will be fun, 
it will take hard work and concentration, and it will be 
rewarding. Please contact me with any questions and concerns 
throughout the year.

	Un saludo,
	Señor Rhett

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Art 7

Middle School Art
Prerequisites: None
Sherry Davis-Instructor

Art gives students the opportunity to solve problems creatively, 
drawing upon both logical and intuitive thinking skills. It is 
also a means of personal expression through the synthesis of 
information gained from their physical, emotional, intellectual 
and spiritual worlds, thus requiring students to be observant on 
many levels. Art is a visual interpretation of what has been, 
what is, and what can be. It is hoped that each year, students 
will build upon skills and knowledge gained not only in previous 
art classes, but in other areas of their lives as well.

Studio work consisting of 2D and 3D projects will involve:
-	learning basic skills in drawing, painting, and sculpture
-	additional exposure in printmaking or weaving or other 
crafts
-	exploring traditional and experimental techniques in a 
variety of media
-	learning to translate ideas visually
-	exploring art of many styles, cultures, and time periods
-	gaining fluency in and understanding of the elements of 
art (line, color, texture, value, shape, form, space) and 
principles of design (balance, rhythm, unity, contrast, emphasis, 
pattern, movement)
-	evaluating and editing artwork
-	exercising good craftsmanship while manipulating tools 
and materials
-	building a vocabulary of art related terms

Materials:
A variety of resources and visual aids will be used instead of 
one textbook. Art materials used may include: pencil, pen, 
markers, charcoal, oil pastel, chalk pastel, watercolor, tempera, 
gouache, acrylic, printing inks, clay, fiber, metal, wood, 
plaster, papers of various types, and found objects.

Evaluation:
Each project is graded based on the following four areas:
Personal Qualities: Responds to stimuli; imagination; attitude; 
effort
Manipulative Skills: Skill and understanding of tools, materials 
and techniques; craftsmanship
Knowledge and Understanding: Demonstration of an understanding of 
concepts being taught, and appropriate application of the art 
processes related to the subject
Aesthetics: Demonstration of a growing awareness and appreciation 
of aesthetic considerations of line, color, texture, value, 
shape, form and space, as well as for the principles of design.

Additionally, quizzes and reports may count toward a small 
percentage of the eight weeks grade.

Stuart Hall Middle School Art
Sherry Davis- Instructor

Middle School art classes are designed in a way that brings 
students from diverse levels of art experiences together to share 
a general foundation of knowledge and skill that can then be 
built upon from year to year, while at the same time, allowing a 
student to work at his own pace to improve proficiency in art.

An emphasis is placed on providing opportunities to work with a 
variety of tools and materials, as well as with a variety of 
styles and techniques. The flexibility in the curriculum allows 
the instructor to tailor projects to specific skills that need to 
be addressed in a particular class. Each year of advancement 
should provide students a chance to learn new skills while honing 
skills previously taught. New materials may be incorporated from 
one year to the next, and projects change from year to year to 
keep the art fresh. Certain elements may be emphasized more with 
a particular group in any one year if the instructor sees the 
need for it.

Art appreciation is taught starting with a broad survey of 
artists and their works with greater depth of understanding in 
later grades. Art of various cultures and other academic 
disciplines is included on every grade level.

Students should become more confident in producing art, editing 
their work, and expanding their understanding of what art is and 
its importance in the world.

Objectives specific to Grade 7:

_Students will increase technical skills while continuing to 
explore new processes.
_Students will learn about color theory by applying specific 
color relationships to their work.
_Students will gain a greater understanding of the Elements and 
Principles of Design while working on projects.
_ Students will create a three-dimensional form in clay.
_ Students will continue to develop a vocabulary of art related 
terminology.
_ Students will learn about 10 famous artists, their lives and 
work in greater depth through research and classroom reports.

Specific Objectives for projects planned in 2009-2010:

_ know the 7 principles of design through their application in 
student work
_ enhance skills in painting, drawing, and clay work
_ use knowledge of positive and negative shapes
_ apply color harmonies knowledge
_ learn about graphic design
_ increase knowledge of good composition
_ learn coil method of hand building in clay
_ learn about mid-eastern arts and crafts
_ learn about the lives and work of 10 famous artists in greater 
depth through research and class reports
_ continue to build an art vocabulary

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