7th Grade Registration for 2026-2027

This course will focus on critical literacy skills involving reading, writing, speaking and listening. Literature units at the 7th grade level include short story, novel, drama, non-fiction, and poetry. Students will use various literary elements and questioning strategies to develop critical-thinking skills while analyzing literature. Students will analyze one novel together as a class and at least one novel as part of a differentiated literature circle. Collaboration and discussion as a class and in small groups are essential to learning. Independent reading is also a component of the class. Students’ writing skills will be developed and reinforced through essay writing, personal narrative, argumentative writing, poetry, journaling, and literary response. This course is also the foundation for promoting Advanced Placement (AP) access to more students. It will prepare students for success when they take AP and other challenging courses in high school.

This course will cover this nation's history to the current era, and will explore multiple perspectives about the key events and themes that have shaped our society. It will also include important economics and geography content. Students will apply and use their knowledge in a variety of ways and will work more independently; they will also problem solve, collaborate, communicate, and understand course content at higher levels. This course focuses on promoting strategies that will make students more organized, better note-takers, and effective critical thinkers, which will make them better prepared for access to AP courses and college in general.

This course is the foundation for promoting access to advanced coursework to more students and will prepare students for success in high school and beyond. It focuses student learning on Minnesota’s 7th grade math standards and will also offer advanced coursework that will provide more depth, complexity, and exposure to 8th grade standards for students who want an extra challenge. Within this course, there is an emphasis on mastering concepts such as rational number operations, proportional relationships, functions, and equations with variables. The math concepts and skills are learned through real-life experiences and applications. After completion of this course students will be ready for Algebra 8 with the opportunity, based on teacher recommendation, to register for Intermediate Algebra 8.

This is an intensely double-accelerated course at the 9th grade level. This course focuses on a review of Minnesota’s 8th grade and the high school math algebra standards. Intermediate Algebra 7 introduces students to the building blocks for higher level mathematics (algebraic properties, expressions, linear equations, quadratic equations, and systems of equations will be studied) Students will be expected to solve problems numerically, graphically, and analytically. 

Students who typically earned a 4 (Exceeds) on their elementary report card in math and/or scored in the Exceeds grade level standard achievement level on their MCA (665 and above) in math have found this course to be a good match for their skills. 

Students will receive two high school credits for completing this course with a C- or better each trimester. However, their grade will not count in their High School GPA. Students completing the course with a D+ or below will automatically retake the course the next year and/or be recommended to switch to Math 7 to build a more solid foundation.

This course sets the foundation for success in high school biology, including advanced coursework. This standards-based course investigates the processes and concepts of the life sciences. Major units of study include: From Molecules to Organisms (structures and processes), Ecosystems (interactions, energy, and dynamics), Heredity (inheritance and variations of traits), and Biological Evolution (unity and diversity). Science skills are taught through scientific investigation and inquiry in the classroom. Informational text, classroom activities, and lab experiences are used to teach students. The science skills taught include:

• Asking questions and defining problems
• Developing and using models
• Planning and carrying our investigations
• Analyzing and interpreting data
• Using mathematics and computational thinking
• Constructing explanations and designing solutions
• Engaging in argument from evidence
• Obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information

All students are given the opportunity to complete advanced coursework with high rigor.

In this class, students will produce a variety of artwork done in different mediums. Students will be introduced to basic drawing techniques, acrylic painting, hand-built pottery, and printmaking. In addition to these areas, students may have additional art experiences with sculptural forms, mosaic art, digital art, pastels, collage and other mediums. All projects will incorporate use and knowledge of the elements and principles of art. This course can be taken for a full year/alternating day or one trimester.

WORLD OF MUSIC: This is a non-performing, project-based music class that explores past and current musical styles and their importance in history. It includes a variety of presentations, research, written work, world drumming, and Garage Band (a music writing program). This is a trimester course.

BAND: Students must have experience in 6th grade playing woodwind, brass, or a percussion instrument. A limited number of instruments are available for rent from the school.

ORCHESTRA: Students must have experience in 6th grade playing a string instrument. A limited number of instruments are available for rent from RAMS.

CHORUS: Students must enjoy singing and be able to match pitch in their voice range. Students who are enrolled in one of these music classes may participate in extracurricular music groups such as Chamber Orchestra, Jazz Band, or Morning Choir.

Band, Orchestra, and Chorus are performance classes in which students play or sing every day, learn to read music, and develop their skills on their instrument or with their voice. Small-group, pull-out lessons are part of the curriculum. Two evening concerts at RAMS are a required part of performing in these ensembles. Only students who are enrolled in one of these classes may participate in extracurricular groups such as Chamber Orchestra, Jazz Band, or Morning Choir.

Have you always wanted to play a band instrument but didn’t know how to start? Now you can! This class is for students with no previous or limited experience playing a band instrument. Instruments to choose from may include flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, horn, trombone, baritone, or tuba. Students are expected to practice their instrument outside of the school day. Students will try out and choose an instrument during the first week of class. Students are encouraged to provide their own instrument. A limited number of instruments are available for rent from the school.

The Health 7 curriculum is a trimester class that follows the National Health Education Standards. These standards have been integrated into seven thematic content areas designed to provide students with a wide variety of topics focused primarily on the development of life skills along with developmental assets and protective factors. The content areas include, but are not limited to, health/wellness/decision making, mental health, substance abuse and prevention (tobacco, alcohol, hard drugs,) human sexuality, and CPR/first aid.

This program provides the opportunity for development of physical skills and a positive attitude toward physical fitness. Activities are a balance of team, individual and dual sports. Units include soccer, tennis, volleyball, basketball, and badminton (weight training, Xbox Kinect, elliptical, and cardio machines). This course can be taken for a full-year/alternating day or one trimester.

Students will be in a physical education class every day when they register for Personal Exercise Plan (PEP). Students will have the opportunity to work out in the fitness center (resistance training, active technology, ellipticals, and exercise bikes) on a more frequent basis as well as choose individual or team activities they would like to participate in. The objective of PEP is to increase strength and cardiovascular fitness through daily activity. Active and self-motivated students looking for additional physical education opportunities will be successful in PEP.

In FACS 7, we will be working on learning more about you. We will learn about how your personal development relates to your future through the exploration of your personality, skills, talents, values, and learning styles. 

We will have the opportunity to explore more about your interests and how it will relate to your career and education choices through the MCIS (Minnesota Career Information System) program. This course will also provide students with hands-on projects through sewing and how to understand and care for young children.

Curriculum is based on a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) approach incorporating the mix of disciplines through several challenging and innovative units. Areas covered in this exciting, fast-paced course may include: measurement, isometric drawing, woodworking, and metals. Students will develop practical, hands-on skills while establishing a life-long “safety first” awareness. There may be a small course fee for materials needed for projects that will become the property of the student.

This is a project-based class where students learn through hands-on experiences. Projects are based on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, math) with an emphasis on the Engineering Design Process where students define a problem, plan a solution, make a model, test the model, and then reflect and redesign. Students will use various pieces of equipment and technology when designing and making projects. There may be a small course fee for material needed for projects that will become the property of the student.

World Cultures has two goals: to teach students to respectfully respond to differences and expose students to exploratory languages and cultures. We will explore answers to the questions: What is culture? How are languages related and change? How are language and culture connected? and What causes a language to die out? We will explore different topics that relate to languages and culture and give students an opportunity to explore areas of interest with a final project that synthesizes all the information from class.

Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) is a rigorous academic elective course that prepares students for college readiness and success, and is scheduled during the regular school day as a year-long course. Each week, students receive instruction that uses a rigorous college-prep curriculum, tutor-facilitated study groups, motivational activities, and enhancing academic skills. Students participate in activities that incorporate strategies focused on writing, inquiry, collaboration, organization, and reading to build upon their academic growth. Students engage in activities centered around exploring college and career opportunities utilizing intrapersonal and interpersonal skills as well as formal and informal speech. The process to be in the AVID 7 elective is completed at elementary sites in the second half of 6th grade. Students will complete an AVID application, interview, and will be selected. If you are new or missed the initial application process and want to be in the AVID 7 elective, contact scott.lauinger@isd623.org to begin your process.