September has been a great start to the school year for our 7th graders! We've spent the month building a strong classroom community through team-building activities and games that have helped students feel more connected and comfortable. It’s been wonderful to see friendships forming and collaboration growing as students settle into their routines. We’re also looking ahead with excitement about our upcoming field trip on October 7th to Mountain Lakes Park, where students will have the opportunity to explore the outdoors, strengthen teamwork skills, and make lasting memories. Please make sure to sign the permission slip and return it to Ms. Palmer. In addition, please complete the electronic waiver form due by October 1st. You can use Schoology to access the electronic waiver form.  

In math, we have been reviewing how to add, subtract, multiply, and divide rational numbers.  Alongside this, we have been practicing our graphing skills through a fun Code of Arms activity, where we plot points on a coordinate plane to create a unique design. This activity helps us become more confident in reading and plotting coordinates while also reinforcing how math can be creative and engaging.  Please remind students to keep practicing on IXL to help strengthen their skills throughout the year. 

In science, we have been focusing on building the foundational skills needed for success. Students practiced creating and interpreting graphs to organize data and identify patterns, while also reviewing the steps of experimental design, including variables and controls. We reinforced the use of the metric system, emphasizing accurate measurement and unit conversions to prepare for lab work. Finally, we will be exploring the characteristics of life, discussing the criteria scientists use to define what is considered living and applying these ideas to real-world examples. 

In ELA, students are engaged in the writing process to create a descriptive poem that captures a recent memory! They are practicing writing with imagery that appeals to the five senses and are choosing powerful verbs and adjectives to spice up their writing. In the revision phrase, they will be involved in writing conferences and will have access to School AI (programmed by Mrs. Jeran/Mrs. Laffey) to give students instant feedback on their draft. This is a powerful tool that is fun and engaging to use. Students also reviewed the difference between proper and common nouns and will complete an editing checklist before finalizing their writing piece.  

In Social Studies class, we are spending time learning about the United States Constitution. Our study focused on the five safeguards and how they protect citizens from tyranny. Students walked through the steps of how a bill becomes a law during a fun board game activity. Students debated whether there was reasonable doubt for a defendant when they were summoned for a simple jury duty experience! They also applied their knowledge of the five safeguards to real life examples of checks and balances, the bill of rights, separation of powers, elections and terms, the federal system as well as the legislative and judicial processes.

Team 7-1 (name coming soon!) is excited for an awesome year ahead. We hope to see you out supporting the Wolves at Homecoming on Saturday September 27th! Go WOLVES!