2025-2026 7th Grade Course Descriptions

The first of a two -year program which will prepare students for advanced high school English. This course will cover all grade level standards for 7^th grade English with an emphasis on critical thinking, analytical writing, and discussion. Enrollment in advanced English is fluid based on student academic performance and classroom behavior.

In this course, students will build advanced reading and writing skills through the application of vocabulary, grammar, and literature.  The literature components will include an emphasis on fiction, non-fiction and poetry. In addition, students will participate in a series of writing workshops: narrative, persuasive, descriptive, and informative.

The middle school Health Enhancement program is designed to give students a chance to learn basic skills in lifetime sport activities.  Our main objective is to teach students the basic rules, strategies, and importance of sports that they can participate in throughout their lifetime. While learning these sports we emphasize the importance of participation, physical fitness, and sportsmanship.  Students are required to dress with proper clothes (i.e., clean tennis shoes, shorts, sweats, shirt, and socks).  Students will also participate in a district wide (5-10) maturation class taught by the District Health Nurse.

Our primary focus in health education is to provide students with information so that they can learn and practice ways to make healthy choices.  Students will have opportunities to apply, practice, and assess the skills they need to enhance their own health and the health of others. The health education topics will include taking responsibility for your own health, physical activity and fitness, food and nutrition, growth and development, and ways to protect your health.

This course is geared toward young adolescents and covers topics including but not limited to: safety, hygiene, communicable and noncommunicable diseases, the immune system, fitness, nutrition, and tobacco.  Students will explore how their mental/emotional, social, and physical health influence each other and what factors influence their overall health.  Students will discuss positive character traits, healthy decision making skills, and practice communication techniques.  They will also learn methods to strengthen peer, friend, and family relationships as well as how to express emotions and manage stress.  Main goals of this course are to provide the students with the information and skills required to be safe, productive, and responsible citizens.

Success in everyday living depends on students developing an interest in and understanding of their world. The emphasis in the seventh grade life science curriculum is the constantly changing field of biology and living things. The major topics of the year include how organisms are organized from the cellular level and up, the genetic processes of DNA and heredity, how life on Earth is related, and how organisms interact with each other and their environments. Students' critical thinking skills will be a major part of this course. They will also learn how good science is done with a big emphasis on being able to analyze and interpret evidence and draw reasoned conclusions from that evidence.

The course focus will be on improving students’ skills in computation and numbers sense.

In addition, weaknesses and gaps will be identified as a group and addressed. Students in 7th grade Math Essentials will also be in a 7th grade Mathematics class.

 What is Title One/ Math Essentials? 

Title One is a federally-funded, general education support program. The goal of Title One Math is to provide extra math help and instruction for students who are struggling. Title One instruction is specialized math instruction that is provided through the cooperation of the classroom teacher and the Title One Math teacher. This supplements classroom instruction. 

Supplemental math instruction with the Title One Math teacher occurs in small groups, daily for approximately 45 minutes. 

This can be illustrated as some students needing an “extra snack of math” during their day. We identify students in need of assistance and offer them extra instruction. The “main course” of math is not enough instruction for these students. 

Title One Goals 

• To diagnose and identify specific math problems in each eligible student
• To supplement and support (not replace) the classroom math instruction
• To foster an enjoyment of math and to encourage problem-solving as a leisure activity 
• To develop a positive attitude and self-confidence by providing math success 
• To formulate and implement plans that will improve students’ math skills
• To help each student acquire the skills needed to function in the classroom
• To obtain parental support and involvement in our program. 

Student Identification Process 

The opportunity to be a part of a Title One program is determined for each child and based on several pieces of information used by the Title One teacher including teacher recommendation, Fastbridge and iReady testing, and analysis of independent math behaviors. Students are then monitored throughout the school year to measure progress. 

Enter Title One Program 

A parent or guardian must sign the permission letter and send it back to the Title One teacher in order for their student to receive Title One services. If you elect to receive these services for your child, Math Essentials will take the place of an elective class.

Exit Title One Program 

Students may exit the program at any time during the year. Students will be dismissed from the program by showing grade level performance in the classroom, grade level performance on assessments, and/or parent and teacher referral. The student will only be dismissed from the program after consultation with the classroom teacher, parent, student, and Title One teacher. A parent or guardian must sign the exit letter and send it back to the Title One teacher in order for their student to decline further Title One services. 

Other Considerations: 

Students with an IEP for reading are typically not served in the Title One program. Students whose parents object to their placement will not be served.

This course will focus on four areas:

1. Students will develop their understanding of proportional relationships. 
2. Students will build on their knowledge of operations with rational numbers and work with expressions and linear equations. 
3. Students will solve problems involving scale drawings and solve problems working with two- and three- dimensional shapes involving area, surface area, and volume. 
4. Students will understand how to draw inferences about populations based on samples.

The first of a two -year program which will allow students to enter high school at the Integrated Math II level.  This course will focus on all four areas included in the description of 7^th Mathematics in addition to several 8^th grade level topics.

Prerequisites: Referral, evaluation, if students meet criteria, then placement.

In the Resource Room, students receive support, help and modifications with regular education classes.  The subject areas of English and math can be replaced with a more appropriate program at the individual’s level of performance.  A structured study hall/study skills class is also available.

This class is designed specifically for students who have never played in band before! This class will start with all of the foundational elements with the intention that students who did not start band in 5th grade can join the more advanced ensembles in the future. 

Students will perform two evening concerts during the school year.

By participating in a band ensemble, the goal of the Belgrade Middle School band program is to develop the values of hard work and self-discipline, create and appreciate aesthetic beauty, learn how to learn and problem solve, and exercise group skills to work toward a common goal.

Instruments permitted in this course are:

• Flute
• Clarinet
• Trumpet
• Trombone
• Baritone/Euphonium
• Percussion

Please contact Mr. Binder if you have questions about instrument selection. kbinder@bsd44.org

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Get a band instrument

6/7/8(year) (Prerequisite = 5^th Grade Band or Beginning 6/7/8 and/or permission from director)

Intermediate Band is intended for students with one year of band experience. This class offers the opportunity to participate in an instrumental music program dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in music through performance. Students participate in daily full-band rehearsals. Students perform two evening concerts during the school year.

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7/8(year) (Prerequisite = 6^th Grade Band and/or permission from director)

This class is designed for those students with two or more years of previous band experience. The music will be the most exciting and challenging of any ensemble at the middle school level. Students will perform two evening concerts during the school year.

By participating in a band ensemble, the goal of the Belgrade Middle School band program is to develop the values of hard work and self-discipline, create and appreciate aesthetic beauty, learn how to learn and problem solve, and exercise group skills to work toward a common goal.

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This course is designed for students who have been in the choir program for at least one prior  year and have been given director approval.  Students enrolled in this class have a desire to learn beyond the basics of singing and will engage in advanced music including 3 parts, acapella, and various activities/performances.  Students will have a minimum of 3 performances each year with the final performance, the Pop Concert, being student driven with song selections and groups.  This class will deepen musical understanding as well as how to perform within a choir in preparation for High School.

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This course is designed for students with one or more years playing a string instrument (violin, viola, cello, or bass), mostly 6^th graders.  6^th-8^th grade students who have never played a string instrument are encouraged to join this class as well.  We will begin with a quick review of beginning orchestra skills, then move on to more advanced techniques.  Students in this class will study Rock, Fiddle, Jazz, Classical, Mariachi, and other musical styles.  Students enrolled in this course are invited to participate in Belgrade’s Rock Orchestra Club.

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This course is designed for students with two or more years of experience playing their instrument (violin, viola, cello, or bass).  We will be exploring advancing techniques, and more challenging (and FUN) pieces as we prepare for the transition to Belgrade High School Orchestra.  We will continue our study of Rock, Fiddle, Jazz, Classical, and Mariachi styles while adding Baroque, Renaissance, Country, Pop, and more!  Students enrolled in this course are encouraged to participate in Belgrade’s Rock Orchestra Club in order to continue to grow their skills.

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The Aeronautics elective is for 7^th and 8^th grade students and provides an opportunity to learn about the history and science of flight from the Wright Brothers to the International Space Station. Aeronautics students will explore a vast array of aviation and space topics such as wing design, engine design, axes of flight, G forces, flight instruments, radar, in-flight refueling and aerospace physiology to name just a few. Many of the lessons will be enhanced with a flight helmet, G-suit, flight suit, survival vest and other equipment for hands-on learning. The last day to add Aeronautics is the 7 ^th day of the semester, and the student must agree to come in every day at lunch to learn the first 7 days of material. Aeronautics is limited to 30 students based on the number of chairs that will fit in the classroom.

In visual arts, students will be exposed to a wide variety of mediums and techniques such as: clay, tempera and acrylic paint, oil pastels, plaster, drawing materials, sculpture supplies, etc. They will also learn and incorporate the seven elements and the seven principles of design throughout their work during the semester. The assignments encountered during this class will help prepare students for what they may encounter upon entering the high school art program. The significance and importance of art history will be discussed along with the study and appreciation of Native American culture. Artist’s Workshop is a progressive program, so there will be no entrance allowed after the first 7 days of the semester.

Continue to grow your drama skills with the ability to work onstage and backstage to create original scripts and performances as well as perform a scripted show in front of an audience.  Students will have the opportunity to explore musical theater, improv, lighting techniques, and sound effects.  Class will include a live performance. 

This class is designed for the experienced and dedicated theater student.  Students will be involved in productions, working both onstage and off.  An understanding of theater terminology, rehearsal processes, and performance etiquette is required.  Successful completion of beginning and intermediate drama is strongly recommended.  This class will move quickly and will include live performances.

This class is open to all 7^th and 8^th grade students. It is a semester course that is divided into two quarter units.

One of the two units is the Introduction to Textiles and Sewing unit. Students will learn how to make simple clothing repairs, how to read a pattern, learn different seam finishes, and learn how to use the sewing machine. Once they have mastered threading and practice sewing on paper, they will complete three main projects. 

The other unit, An Introduction to Culinary, will cover many aspects of home food preparation. Students will learn kitchen safety, food safety, measurements, equivalents, as well as the proper use of several home appliances. Students will participate in several food labs. 

A lab fee of $20 is requested to help with the cost of the class. Students will need to bring 1 yard of cotton fabric, a composition notebook, and other sewing supplies. The list of supplies will be given to the students on the first day of class. The last day to add FCS is the ^7th day of the semester, and the student must agree to come in every day at lunch to learn the first 7 days of material.

In this semester-long course, students will learn to play the guitar. They will learn playing position, hand position, fretting and strumming techniques, and reading guitar tablature.  We will apply those techniques in a variety of different styles of music such as folk songs, classic rock, pop and others. By the end of the course, students will know the notes in first position as well as the open chords.

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Industrial Arts and Design will be an introductory course.  This semester class will explore architectural and project design through the use of computer drafting programs as well as shop safety and proper tool handling techniques. Students will learn how to use measuring tools, basic woodworking tools, basic project planning, and simple joinery to create a multitude of projects.  This course includes Computer Aided Drafting, hand tools, machinery, and emphasizes safety.  A lab fee of $20.00 is requested to help with the cost of the projects. Scholarships are available. 

The last day to add Industrial Arts & Design is the 7^th day of the semester, and the student must agree to come in every day at lunch to learn the first 7 days of material.

This course requires computer access and movie consent; many of the activities are on the computer.  Students will also be watching G/PG documentaries.   Medical Detectives is a Project Lead The Way (PLTW) class based in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).  Students will become medical detectives and solve medical mysteries.  They will apply experimental design, creative thinking, and problem solving to investigate the inner-workings of the human body, and improve human health.  Students will collect and analyze medical data to diagnose disease.  They solve medical mysteries through hands-on projects and labs, measure and interpret vital signs, dissect a sheep brain, investigate disease outbreaks, and explore how a breakdown within the human body can lead to dysfunction.

Unit 1 - Disease Detectives 

Students discover how healthcare professionals act as medical detectives to identify, treat, and prevent illness in their patients.  They will design and conduct experiments to test the effectiveness of antibiotics on bacteria.

Unit 2 - Mysteries of the Human Body 

This unit introduces the human body as a collection of body systems, with a focus on the nervous system.  Students will analyze evidence to identify and diagnose specific nervous system dysfunctions.  They then will dissect a sheep brain to confirm their understanding and diagnosis.  (Sheep brain dissection can be substituted).

Unit 3 - Outbreak! 

A mysterious toxin is endangering the health of a community.  Using their understanding of the human body systems, students describe how the suspected toxin has impacted the patients. They will analyze patient symptoms and perform lab analysis of patient samples to identify the culprit and determine how it is spreading.

Next Level Math is a year long elective class that is targeted towards students who are interested in learning above grade level mathematical concepts, willing to persevere in problem solving, and committed to building confidence in their mathematical abilities.

During the first semester these students will have the opportunity to compete in the Mathcounts Competition Series for 6^th, 7^th, and 8^th grade students. It starts with school level practicing, then the Chapter or area competition at MSU. Qualifying students will move onto the State competition at Montana Tech in Butte and finally to the National competition.

The second semester will be dedicated to applying mathematics to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) topics. Examples of the topics are: Rocket trajectory and ballistics, static forces, free body diagrams, friction, pulleys, and right triangle trigonometry.

Students are required to have approval from a previous teacher to enroll.

This 7th and 8th grade elective provides an opportunity for students to work on their leadership, teamwork, decision making, character development, communication, time management and organizational skills. PPS students develop a career roadmap and a high school graduation plan to help them plan for their future success. As a learning experience, the PPS students plan and supervise the dodge ball tournament in the fall and the carnival in the spring. In addition, PPS students go on field trips to enhance their classroom education and build confidence. The last day to add PPS is the 7^th day of the semester, and the student must agree to come in every day at lunch to learn the first 7 days of material. PPS is limited to 30 students based on the number of chairs that will fit in the classroom.

Take your STEM skills to the next level with more advanced projects in engineering, coding, and design. Whether you’re building on past experience or just getting started, this class supports all learners through hands-on challenges in engineering, coding and robotics, design and prototyping, as well as computer building and programming . Think critically, work as a team, and solve real-world problems like a true innovator!

Join us in creating a community of Spanish speakers! Come and enjoy Spanish acquisition while we play games, dance, hear stories and get to know each other. You will be exploring the culture of the world’s 3rd most popular language through video, stories, and crafts. Don’t miss out on this wonderfully interactive class! It is also a great prep class for High School Spanish!

Yearbook is a class where students will learn how to develop a cover, a theme, take pictures and influence the final yearbook product that will be for sale at the end of the year. Students take an active role with pictures, posing people, yearbook ideas, and will help sell the yearbook. You will get a chance to be social, come up with design ideas, practice on a graphic design site, and capture the memories of the school year. If weekly goals are met, students get a “Food Friday” weekly.  Yearbook is a yearlong elective.  Once you sign up, please see the office for a brief application to solidify your spot.