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Grade Seven Curriculum Picks

Picks can be purchased from Anchor Academic (using your PO#) or from one of our comprehensive vendors. Other options, such as borrowing from the Learning Commons Search Portal or Sora virtual eBook library or purchasing from our Used Bookstore, may also be available.

Vendor websites are pick-and-choose, and some optional or alternate suggestions may be listed, so carefully select your items.

Overview Of Grade 7 Curriculum Picks

Here is an overview of the curriculum picks that we suggest for Grade 7. Please note that some subjects provide more than one option. For more information about the curriculum, please refer to the information under Detailed Information for Grade 7 Curriculum Picks.

English Language Arts
  • Option A (integrated literature focus with composition): Lightning Literature Gr 7 Student Workbook, Student Guide and Teacher's Guide with novels and poetry reader (The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, All Creatures Great and Small, The Story of My Life (Helen Keller), and Stories and Poems for Extremely Intelligent Children).
OR
  • Option B: Essentials in Writing 7; Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare with Progeny Press Study Guide; The Golden Goblet by Eloise Jarvis McGraw with Progeny Press Study Guide (or alternate); another novel and novel study or stories as per interest/goals of the student.
OR
  • Option C (lighter option): Writing Strands by Master Books Intermediate 1 (or level as per placement test results); Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare; The Golden Goblet by Eloise Jarvis McGraw; Mara, Daughter of the Nile by Eloise Jarvis McGraw; and/or other novels/stories as assigned by parent/teacher. 

Mathematics
  • Dynamic Classroom BC Grade 7

OR

  • Singapore Dimensions Math 6A and 6B Textbooks and Teacher's Guides

Science
  • StudyForge Individualized Science Subscription

Social Studies
  • Ancient Civilizations and the Bible Essentials Pack by Diana Waring

Bible/Christian Studies
  • What on Earth Can I Do? by David Webb and John Hay Textbook (Apologia)

Optional Resources

(not detailed below)

 
  • The Bottom Line: Money Basics by Diane Dakers (Math/Financial Literacy)
  • Paper Circuits STEM Starters by Teacher Created Resources (ADST)
  • Above and Beyond with Creativity and Innovation by Robin Johnson (Career)
  • ACSI's Total Health: Talking About Life's Changes - Student Textbook and Workbook (PE/Health)
  • The Archaeology Book by David Down (to address Socials content area, "Geographic conditions shaped the emergence of civilizations".)

Detailed Information for Grade 7 Curriculum Picks 

Note from Curriculum Consultant: In the middle school years (grades 7 - 9), academic standards begin to increase in preparation for high school. Teachers/parents/students may also notice that the resources begin to shift towards more independent student work and that the role of the parent may begin to shift to more of a coach/facilitator. This is a healthy and necessary shift that is not without its challenges. One way I have tried to mitigate the challenges is to recommend resources in the same series for these grades so that students can gain a level of confidence with them over time. It is reasonable to expect that grade seven could be a bit of a learning curve for families as they navigate increasing expectations.

English Language Arts

Option A: Lightning Literature Gr 7 Student Workbook, Student Guide and Teacher's Guide with poetry book and readers

Type of Resource: Home Education Curriculum
Description: Lightning Literature is a language arts curriculum designed to instill a love of literature in students, expand their ability to read intelligently and deeply, and prepare them for more advanced language arts concepts. The key components of this series are literature, grammar and mechanics, and composition.
Novels: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, All Creatures Great and Small, The Story of My Life (Helen Keller).
Poetry Reader: Stories and Poems for Extremely Intelligent Children.
The Workbook gives students a chance to practice the skills and concepts learned in the lessons, along with composition skills (writing from note cards, rewriting in your own words, etc.), thinking skills (e.g., differentiating fact from opinion, identifying bias), and grammar review (e.g., capitalization, pronouns and antecedents). There are also optional puzzles and extra “Challenge” workbook pages.
The Student Guide consists of lessons on the plot line, increasing your creativity, autobiography, the character sketch, dialogue, basic terms and rhyme in poetry, sound in poetry, nonce words, brainstorming, outlining, choosing a topic, writing a good opening, and instruction on four poetic forms (limerick, haiku, cinquain, and list poem). Each lesson contains a brief biographical introduction, vocabulary, comprehension questions, the literary lesson and mini-lesson, and writing exercises. The workpages allow students to practice the skills and concepts learned in the lessons. Book-length works are sold separately and in a pack with the guides and workbook. The Teacher’s Guide (see Related items below) includes the answers to comprehension questions and the workbook pages, a teaching schedule, extra teaching help for the lessons, help choosing appropriate writing exercises, and discussion questions.
The Teacher’s Guide includes an explanation of the course’s philosophy, a weekly lesson planner, answers to the comprehension questions and the workbook pages, additional teaching suggestions for the lessons, and additional information on the writing exercises.

Website

Lightning Literature Grade 7 Scope and Sequence
Review
Samples: Teacher Guide Sample, Student Guide Sample, Student Workbook Sample
Option B: Essentials in Writing 7; Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare with Progeny Press Study Guide; The Golden Goblet by Eloise Jarvis McGraw with Progeny Press Study Guide (or alternate); another novel and novel study or stories as per interest/goals of the student.

Type of Resource: Homes education curriculum

Description: a homeschool writing curriculum that teaches middle school students proper grammar, how to properly write meaningful sentences, and implement mechanics. Students learn to use the writing process for narrative/descriptive/expository/ persuasive writing, how to use effective writing techniques, and much more. The step-by-step approach allows students to focus on small, daily assignments, so they don’t feel overwhelmed. Level 7 includes a textbook/workbook and contains a video component.

Lesson-by-lesson video instruction is provided via streaming or DVD. These lessons are essential to the program and must be used in conjunction with the textbook/workbook combo book. Note that additional workbooks may be purchased if there are additional students in the family taking the course.

Website

Placement Test (Level Wizard)

Review

Other Optional or Supplementary Resources

Sample Video Lesson

Table of Contents and PDF Sample

Free Trial
Option C: Writing Strands by Master Books Intermediate 1 (or level as per placement test results), with reading assigned by the teacher/parent according to the goals/interests of the student.

Type of Resource: Workbook

Description: Writing Strands Intermediate 1 will help your junior high/high school student learn about effective paragraphs, descriptive writing, narrative voice, and tense usage, as well as how to analyze plots in literature. It explores the art of writing effectively—and creatively! In this comprehensive course, students will discover how to structure a story, utilize topic sentences, organize information, craft written descriptions, explore voice and character position, and more.

This is a hybrid course that combines reading and writing into one course. Worksheets add structure to reading assignments chosen by the teacher/parent. Students will rotate writing and reading assignments each week—thus also learning to write through literature because good readers make good writers! Additionally, the Bible is used as the literature base for teaching how narrative voice can be used to form captivating pieces of literature.

Note from Curriculum Consultant: This resource alternates weekly between writing assignments and reading assignments. The teacher/parent is asked to assign a different book for every other week's reading lesson. Writing Strands Overview Video & Teaching Companion

Novels

Note from Curriculum Consultant: These novels are suggestions only and are cross-curricular historical fiction selections set in ancient history (the time period of study in Social Studies for grade 7 students). Alternate options are available at Progeny Press, Total Language Plus, or Classroom Complete Press.

Novel #1: Bronze Bow and Progeny Press Study Guide

Type of Resource: Novel and workbook

Description: Angry and vengeful at the death of his parents, Daniel bar Jamin joins an outlaw Zealot band pledging to all he can to rid the land of the hated Romans. Daniel meets Joel and Malthace, two young people with a similar desire to see their land free of the Romans. The three of them make a pact to fight together for God's victory. 

Then Daniel learns his grandmother has died and finds he must leave the mountain to care for his sister, Leah. He is torn between the responsibility he feels toward his sister and his hatred against the Romans. To support himself and his sister, Daniel takes over a blacksmith shop belonging to his friend, Simon, who has left town to follow a travelling teacher named Jesus.

Daniel begins to wonder if Jesus is the leader they have all been hoping for, the one who will lead them against the Romans. But Jesus is teaching a very different message from the one Daniel wants to hear.

Website

Review

Table of Contents and PDF Sample Pages

 

Novel #2: The Golden Goblet with Progeny Press Study Guide

Type of Resource: Novel and workbook

Description: Ranofer dreams of following in his father's footsteps as a goldsmith, but when he is suddenly orphaned, he struggles under the abusive control of a half-brother. When he stumbles across tomb robbers, Ranofer is swept into danger, mystery, and intrigue, but he never loses sight of his dream. This exciting coming-of-age mystery brings Ancient Egypt to life.

Website

Review

Table of Contents and PDF Sample Pages

 

Novel #3: Mara, Daughter of the Nile by Eloise Jarvis McGraw

Type of Resource: Novel

Description: This compelling story of adventure, romance, and intrigue, set in ancient Egypt, was written by the three-time Newbery Honor and Edgar Award winning author Eloise Jarvis McGraw.

Mara is a proud and beautiful slave girl who yearns for freedom in ancient Egypt under the rule of Queen Hatshepsut. Mara is not like other slaves; she can read and write, as well as speak the language of Babylonian. So, to barter for her freedom, she finds herself playing the dangerous role of double spy for two arch enemies—each of whom supports a contender for the throne of Egypt.

Against her will, Mara finds herself falling in love with one of her masters, the noble Sheftu, and she starts to believe in his plans of restoring Thutmose III to the throne. But just when Mara is ready to offer Sheftu her help and her heart, her duplicity is discovered, and a battle ensues in which both Mara’s life and the fate of Egypt are at stake.

 

Math

Select one of the following math programs (A or B) below

Jump Math has not been included as a "Pick" in the middle school grades because the workbooks themselves often do not provide sufficient instruction for most students to adequately learn new and increasingly more difficult concepts. Families who have had good success with this program may wish to continue, however.

Option A: Dynamic Classroom BC Grade 7

Type of Resource: Workbook

Description: aligned to BC's curriculum

  • Detailed explanations of every topic with step-by-step guided examples with solutions. 
  • A series of problems for the student to practice the concept they just learned. Questions start out easy and gradually increase in difficulty. Challenging questions are provided for those students that really want to push themselves.
  • Practice tests for each chapter/unit in the book. 
  • An answer key for all questions in the book. 
  • Students can get extra support through the website that provides additional worksheets and a limited selection of video lessons when you create an online account.
  • A complete set of video lessons (a paid service) where you can watch a math teacher while they explain a concept and then walk you through some examples. 

Website

Other Optional or Supplementary Resources

Table of Contents and PDF Sample Pages

Option B: Singapore Dimensions Math 6A and 6B Textbooks and Teacher's Guides

Type of Resource: Home education/classroom curriculum

Description: The program emphasizes problem-solving and empowers students to think mathematically, both inside and outside the classroom. Pre-algebra, algebra, geometry, data analysis, probability, and some advanced math topics are included in this rigorous series. The series follows the principles outlined in the Singapore mathematics framework, including the Concrete, Pictorial, Abstract (CPA) Approach, bar modelling, and more. In the Dimensions Math program, concepts are introduced and explained in a new format with vibrant imagery, all with the progression and scope that has defined Singapore math.

Components

  • Textbooks build on prior knowledge and develop familiar concepts in an accessible way.
  • Workbooks offer independent practice while maintaining the careful progression of exercise variation.
  • Teacher’s Guides provide teaching suggestions and important information for educators to help students achieve math mastery.
  • Workbook Solutions contain fully worked solutions for problems in workbooks.

Components Samples

Notes from Curriculum Consultant: This US-based resource is advanced for BC standards, and books 6 - 8A align reasonably well (although not entirely) with BC's curriculum for grades 7 - 9. There are sufficient exercises in the textbook for many students, and so the workbook may not be necessary (and may even be frustrating) for students who learn quickly. For students who require repetition and extra practice, the workbook (and workbook solutions) are recommended. Even though this resource does not completely align with BC's curriculum, it was chosen for its proven approach which has been a favourite with home educators for years. It is a rigorous program that generally works best for students who have developed an aptitude for math. Those looking towards using this program to prepare for the BC grad course, Foundations and Math and Pre-Calculus 10 should be aware that levels 6A, 6B, 7A, 7B and 8A should be sufficient preparation. That is 5 books over 3 years, and so in terms of pacing, one would be looking at completing approximately 1 and 2/3 books per year, allowing for a slightly less rigorous pace than 2 books per year.

Website

Review

Scope and Sequence

Brochure

Science

If you prefer to use print resources, see this spreadsheet for correlations.

StudyForge Individualized Science Subscription

See this page for the most up-to-date information.

Social Studies

Ancient Civilizations and the Bible Essentials Pack

Type of Resource: Home education curriculum 

Key Features:

  • Presents many opportunities for students of all learning styles to thrive
  • Develops critical thinking skills in a Charlotte Mason style Unit Study approach
  • Different levels of projects and books allow multiple ages to learn together … Grades 5-12 with main curriculum and kindergarten to grade 4 with the Elementary Activity Book
  • Learn history from a Bible-centered approach
  • History Revealed integrates events and people of the Bible with the study of ancient civilizations from Creation to Jesus
  • Give high school credit for history plus possible credit for geography, creative writing, research writing, music appreciation, art appreciation, world literature, and more! (Possible credit based on hours spent and work completed in the subject area.)

The Essentials Pack includes:  Teacher Guide, Student Manual, What in the World Volume 1 CD Set, Test Kit, Rubric Set, Quick-Start Guide and Basic Lesson Plan

Note from Curriculum Consultant: Assignments could possibly be applied for credit in English Language Arts, and Arts Education as well, depending on which activities students choose. This resource may seem daunting at first, but many of the assignments are pick and choose, and students can select activities that are appealing to them. I recommend listening to a sample of the audio lessons online here, as this makes up a large portion of the teaching.

Website

Review

Other Optional or Supplementary Resources

PDF Samples

Additional Support: Video Introduction (highly recommended)

Bible/Christian Studies

What on Earth Can I Do? 

Type of Resource: Home education curriculum 

 

Description: What On Earth Can I Do?, the fourth book in the award-winning What We Believe series, helps students understand what it means to be a “good and faithful servant” of God (Matthew 25:23) and to be stewards of all the blessings we have from God. It will help them choose to put God first in every area of their lives based on biblical truths taught in this study of stewardship. This study will help them choose to put God first in every area of their lives based on these biblical truths:

  • God owns all things because He created and sustains all things
  • He has entrusted me with certain gifts and wants me to use these gifts for His glory
  • I honour God by using my money and possessions wisely
  • I glorify Him by investing my time and talents wisely
  • My body is not my own but has been bought at a price
  • God expects me to care for His creation
  • God will reward me for my faithfulness

Note From Curriculum Consultant: This resource works really well as a family devotional where discussion and open conversation are encouraged and fostered. The content is suitable for elementary grades through middle school, however, most Grade 8 students could work through this resource independently.

Website

Review

 

Other Optional or Supplementary Resources

Table of Contents and PDF Samples

Additional Support


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