Seventh Grade Overview
Our seventh grade program begins the process of preparing students for high school. Students switch classrooms and teachers for each subject and take each class with a different grouping of their peers.

Students receive 125 minutes of artistic instruction daily, rotating between their Primary and Secondary Arts classes. The academic curriculum includes mathematics, science, English language arts, social studies, world languages, and physical education.  
Daily Schedule
Seventh grade students participate in their academic classes each morning, moving from classroom to classroom and meeting with a different group of their peers each period. Students finish the day with about two hours of artistic instruction after lunch.  
Artistic Instruction
Seventh grade students participate in two different arts classes, a Primary Art and a Secondary Art. Students are scheduled for their arts classes based on the selections made on their application and during their New Student Interview. Once enrolled, students may not change their arts selections until the following school year.  

 
Primary Arts Focus
Primary Arts classes meet four times each six-day cycle. Students focus on their main area of interest in the arts, developing fundamental techniques and preparing for at least one major public showcase each year. This should be the student’s greatest artistic interest and, ideally, a field with which he or she has some prior experience or instruction. Students will actively participate in this art form more than any other subject, so careful thought and consideration should be put into this selection.
Secondary Arts Focus
Secondary Arts classes meet twice each six-day cycle. These classes introduce students to the basic vocabulary and foundational skills needed for success in the art form. Prior experience or study is not required, but genuine interest and a strong desire to learn are a must. Students may also prepare for a public showcase during the school year at the instructor’s discretion.
Academic Courses
Our seventh grade academic curriculum is aligned to Pennsylvania Common Core academic standards and taught by fully-certified teachers.
 
English Language Arts
Scheduled each school day.

This course addresses reading, writing, literary analysis, grammar, vocabulary acquisition, and speaking and listening skills in a scaffolded instruction framework that uses increasingly more complex texts.
Mathematics
Scheduled each school day.

Seventh grade mathematics class introduces algebraic concepts, requiring mastery of operation skills learned in prior years. Students also develop skills in ratios and proportions, geometry, and data analysis.  
 
Science
Scheduled four days every six-day cycle.

Students explore a variety of topics in life sciences, including ecosystem interaction, environmental health, cell structure and function, plants, biodiversity, and water. The course also provides a basic introduction to genetics and heredity.  
Social Studies
Scheduled three days each six-day cycle.

Students will explore topics in geography and world cultures, with special emphasis on geographical landforms, current global issues, and historical trends from ancient times to today.
 
World Language
Scheduled three days each six-day cycle.

World Language courses provide students with a comprehensive introduction to a new language as well as the culture of its native speakers. Designed for beginning students, the course focuses on basic vocabulary, grammar, and speech for everyday conversation. AACMS currently offers classes in Spanish to seventh and eighth grade students.  
Health & Physical Education
Scheduled two days each six-day cycle.

The Health & Physical Education program introduces students to new games and strategies, in turn building students’ confidence in their athletic abilities. During the winter months, students take part in Health Education classes, which focuses on substance abuse prevention.