What Students will learn in Gr-7

Grade 7

General Outcome 1 (Gr. 7)

Students will listen, speak, read, write, view and represent to explore thoughts, ideas, feelings and experiences.

1.1 Discover and Explore

Express ideas and develop understanding

extend understanding of ideas and information by finding and exploring oral, print and other media texts on related topics and themes
express personal understandings of ideas and information based on prior knowledge, experiences with others and a variety of oral, print and other media texts
reflect on own observations and experiences to understand and develop oral, print and other media texts

Experiment with language and forms

discuss and respond to ways that content and forms of oral, print and other media texts interact to influence understanding

Express preferences

explore and assess oral, print and other media texts recommended by others

Set goals

use appropriate terminology to discuss developing abilities in personal language learning and use

1.2 Clarify and Extend

Consider the ideas of others

listen and respond constructively to alternative ideas or opinions

Combine ideas

use talk, writing and representing to examine, clarify and assess understanding of ideas, information and experiences

Extend understanding

talk with others to elaborate ideas, and ask specific questions to seek helpful feedback

General Outcome 2 (Gr. 7)

Students will listen, speak, read, write, view and represent to comprehend and respond personally and critically to oral, print and other media texts.

2.1 Use Strategies and Cues

Use prior knowledge

select and focus relevant ideas from personal experiences and prior knowledge to understand new ideas and information
use expectations and preferences developed during previous reading experiences to select and read new texts with purpose

Use comprehension strategies

identify, connect, and summarize in own words, the main ideas from two or more sources on the same topic
use concept mapping and mental rehearsal to remember main ideas and relevant details
adjust reading rate and strategies to account for changes in structural features of texts and complexity of content

Use textual cues

identify and use visual and textual cues, such as numbers, bullets and words; for example, first/then/next, before/after, on the one hand/on the other hand and if/then, that signal organizational patterns in print and other media texts, to enhance understanding of ideas and information
identify and use, effectively and efficiently, structural features of textbooks, such as tables of contents and indices, to access ideas and nformation and to read with purpose

Use phonics and structural analysis

apply, flexibly, knowledge of phonics, sight vocabulary, structural analysis, language and context clues, depending on the purpose and rate of reading

Use references

skim and scan reference materials to confirm the spellings or locate the meanings of unfamiliar words

2.2 Respond to Texts

Experience various texts

experience oral, print and other media texts from a variety of cultural traditions and genres, such as journals, nature programs, short stories, poetry, letters, CDROM programs, mysteries, historical fiction, drawings and prints
justify own point of view about oral, print and other media texts, using evidence from texts
organize interpretations of oral, print and other media texts around two or three key ideas
express interpretations of oral, print and other media texts in another form or genre
predict and discuss the consequences of events or characters’ actions, based on information in oral, print and other media texts

Construct meaning from texts

compare the choices and behaviours of characters portrayed in oral, print and other media texts with those of self and others
analyze how plot develops; the connection between plot and subplot; and the interrelationship of plot, setting and characters
identify and explain conflict, and discuss how it develops and may be resolved
develop, clarify and defend own interpretation, based on evidence from the text with support from own experiences

Appreciate the artistry of texts

discuss how techniques, such as colour, shape, composition, suspense, foreshadowing and flashback, are used to communicate meaning and enhance effects in oral, print and other media texts
identify and explain the usefulness, effectiveness and limitations of various forms of oral, print and other media texts
reflect on, revise and elaborate on initial impressions of oral, print and other media texts, through subsequent reading, listening and viewing activities

2.3 Understand Forms, Elements and Techniques

Understand forms and genres

identify various forms and genres of oral, print and other media texts, and describe key characteristics of each
identify the characteristics of different types of media texts

Understand techniques and elements

discuss connections among plot and subplot, main and supporting characters, main idea and theme in a variety of oral, print and other media texts
identify the narrator’s perspective, and explain how it affects the overall meaning of a text
identify and explain how narrative hooks, foreshadowing, flashback, suspense and surprise endings contribute to the effectiveness of plot development
explain how sound and image work together to create effects in media texts

Experiment with language

explore surprising and playful uses of language and visuals in popular culture, such as cartoons, animated films and limericks; explain ways in which imagery and figurative language, such as simile, convey meaning

2.4 Create Original Text

Generate ideas

choose appropriate strategies for generating ideas and focusing topics for oral, print and other media texts

Elaborate on the expression of ideas

use suspense, exaggeration, foreshadowing, dialogue and description to show rising action and develop conflict

Structure texts

create oral, print and other media texts that are unified by point of view, carefully developed plot and endings consistent with previous events
create a variety of oral, print and other media texts to explore ideas related to particular topics or themes

General Outcome 3 (Gr. 7)

Students will listen, speak, read, write, view and represent to manage ideas and information.

3.1 Plan and Focus

Focus attention

consider audience, purpose, point of view and form when focusing topics for investigation
use note-taking, outlining or representing to summarize important ideas and information in oral, print and other media texts

Determine information needs

discuss the types and sources of information appropriate for topic, audience, form, purpose and point of view

Plan to gather information

plan and organize data collection based on instructions, explanations and pre-established parameters

3.2 Select and Process

Use a variety of sources

obtain information from a variety of sources, such as adults, peers, advertisements, magazines, lyrics, formal interviews, almanacs, broadcasts and videos, to explore research questions

Access information

use a variety of tools and text features, such as headings, subheadings, topic sentences, summaries, staging and pacing, and highlighting, to access information
distinguish between fact and opinion, and follow the development of argument and opinion
scan to locate specific information quickly; summarize and record information useful for research purposes

Evaluate sources

use pre-established criteria to evaluate the usefulness of a variety of information sources in terms of their structure and purpose

3.3 Organize, Record and Evaluate

Organize information

organize ideas and information by selecting or developing categories appropriate to a particular topic and purpose
produce oral, print and other media texts with well-developed and well-linked ideas and sections

Record information

make notes, using headings and subheadings or graphic organizers appropriate to a topic; reference sources
reflect on ideas and information to form own opinions with evidence to support them
compare, contrast and combine ideas and information from several sources

Evaluate information

assess if the amount and quality of gathered information is appropriate to purpose and audience; address information gaps
connect new information with prior knowledge to build new understanding

3.4 Share and Review

Share ideas and information

communicate ideas and information in a variety of oral, print and other media texts, such as reports, autobiographies, brochures and video presentations
use appropriate visual, print and/or other media effectively to inform and engage the audience

Review research process

identify strengths and areas for improvement in personal research skills

General Outcome 4 (Gr. 7)

Students will listen, speak, read, write, view and represent to enhance the clarity and artistry of communication.

4.1 Enhance and Improve

Appraise own and others’ work

identify particular content features that enhance the effectiveness of published oral, print and other media texts
incorporate particular content features of effective texts into own oral, print and other media texts

Revise and edit

revise introductions, conclusions and the order of ideas and information to add coherence and clarify meaning
revise to eliminate unnecessary repetition of words and ideas
use paragraphs, appropriately, to organize narrative and expository texts

Enhance legibility

choose and use printing, cursive writing or word processing, depending on the task, audience and purpose
identify how the format of documents enhances the presentation of content

Expand knowledge of language

identify differences between standard English and slang, colloquialism or jargon, and explain how these differences affect meaning
identify and explain figurative and metaphorical use of language in context

Enhance artistry

experiment with figurative language, illustrations and video effects to create visual images, provide emphasis or express emotion

4.2 Attend to Conventions

Attend to grammar and usage

use a variety of subordinate clauses correctly and appropriately in own writing
use correct subject-verb agreement in sentences with compound subjects
distinguish between formal and informal conventions of oral and written language, and use each appropriately, depending on the context, audience and purpose
identify and use common subjective and objective forms of pronouns, appropriately and correctly in own writing

Attend to spelling

use reference materials to confirm spellings and to solve spelling problems when editing and proofreading
extend spelling vocabulary to include words frequently used in literature, but infrequently used in oral and other media texts
apply specific and effective strategies for learning and remembering the correct spelling of words in own writing

Attend to capitalization and punctuation

use periods and commas with quotation marks that indicate direct speech in own writing
use commas to separate phrases and clauses in own writing
use quotation marks to identify information taken from secondary sources in own writing

4.3 Present and Share

Present information

present ideas and opinions confidently, but without dominating the discussion, during small group activities and short, whole class sessions

Enhance presentation

clarify and support ideas or opinions with details, visuals or media techniques

Use effective oral and visual communication

identify and use explicit techniques to arouse and maintain interest and to convince the audience

Demonstrate attentive listening and viewing

listen and view attentively to organize and classify information and to carry out multistep instructions
ask questions or make comments that elicit additional information; probe different aspects of ideas, and clarify understanding

General Outcome 5 (Gr. 7)

Students will listen, speak, read, write, view and represent to respect, support and collaborate with others.

5.1 Respect Others and Strengthen Community

Appreciate diversity

discuss how ideas, people, experiences and cultural traditions are portrayed in various oral, print and other media texts
explain how differing perspectives and unique reactions expand understanding

Relate texts to culture

identify and discuss recurring themes in oral, print and other media texts from diverse cultures and communities

Celebrate accomplishments and events

select and use appropriate form and tone for specific audiences to celebrate special events and accomplishments

Use language to show respect

demonstrate respect for diverse ideas, cultures and traditions portrayed in oral, print and other media texts

5.2 Work within a Group

Cooperate with others

contribute collaboratively in group situations, by asking questions and building on the ideas of others
take responsibility for assuming a variety of roles in a group, depending on changing contexts and needs

Work in groups

contribute ideas, knowledge and questions to establish an information base for research or investigations
assist in setting and achieving group goals by inviting others to speak, suggesting alternatives, assigning tasks, sharing resources, following up on others’ ideas and listening to a variety of points of view

Evaluate group process

evaluate group process and personal contributions according to pre-established criteria to determine strengths and areas for improvement