Summary of Grade Seven

Summary of Seventh Grade Year (2003-2004)

Some of the books Ben read this year:

Artemis Fowl (Eoin Colfer)

Lyddie (Katherine Pattersen)

The Education of Little Tree (Forrest Carter)

The Lost Years of Merlin (T. A. Baron)

Esperanza Rising (Pam Ryan)

The Giver (Lois Lowry)

Carry On, Mr. Bowditch (Jean Lee Latham)

The Fellowship of the Rings (J.R.R. Tolkein)

The Two Towers (Tolkein)

The Return of the King (Tolkein)

MATH

Ben worked in the Oak Meadow 7 book this year. He focused on fractions, decimals, and word problems. Ben also enjoyed being part of a weekly Chess Club.

LANGUAGE ARTS

One of Ben’s favorite pastimes is reading. He read over a dozen books this year and participated in a monthly Book Club where the group discussed the books and authors. Ben created a book jacket for one of the books he read. He also attended a Job Shadow Day for teens at the library to learn about library careers. Ben took a Creative Writing Class where he worked on character development and turning short, free writes into longer pieces. He contributed a fantasy story to the class book collection of student writing. Ben also worked on his handwriting this year, completing the Italic Handwriting Book G, the final book in the series.

SOCIAL STUDIES

This year, Ben completed a main lesson book on the Age of Exploration, studying the geography of the world and different explorers.

SCIENCE

Ben took a Physiology class this year and created a main lesson book on the human body. Ben continued traveling with a veterinarian, Dr. Linda Mitchell, in her mobile clinic. He worked on medical vocabulary with Dr. Mitchell and participated in a dissection class that she led. This year, Ben had the opportunity to participate in a Return to the Moon space simulation at the Challenger Learning Center in Wheeling, West Virginia. On this simulated space mission to the moon, Ben was a member of the Communications Team for the crew. Ben also completed a physics block on levers, studying catapults and the anatomy of bird wings.

MUSIC

Ben took up a new instrument this year, the drums. He played with a home schooling band for the first half of the year and performed a concert to the public in December.

ART

Ben continues to enjoy sketching and often picks up his sketchpad in his spare time. His subjects include still lifes such as his bedroom and animals. Ben also resumed knitting this year and made a scarf for his sister.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Ben continued with his Fencing Classes this year for the second year. He played soccer in the fall and spring. During the winter months, Ben enjoyed snowboarding weekly. Ben’s favorite physical activity is his horseback riding. He takes weekly lessons and attended a week of riding camp during the summer. Ben is now jumping and really enjoys being around horses.