English

Reading Comprehension

• Practices reading comprehension strategies such as summarizing, using context clues, re-reading, asking and answering questions, making predictions, and visualizing.

Reading Literature

• Reads diverse novels, short stories, articles, and poems from varying backgrounds and genres
• Uses and appropriately cites textual evidence to support analysis
• Comprehends theme and analyzes its development through a work of literature
• Begins to identify literary devices and interprets their meaning in a text
• Identifies plot elements and their interaction in a narrative
• Analyzes the impact of rhymes and other repetitions of sounds in poems or sections of a story or drama.
• Examines how form or structure contribute to meaning.
• Comprehends how an author develops and contrasts the points of view of different characters or narrators in a text.
• Compares and contrasts adaptations of literature to the original version, analyzing the resulting differences in meaning and/or form.
• Compares and contrasts a fictional portrayal of a time, place, or character and a historical account of the same period as a means of understanding how authors of fiction use or alter history.

Reading Informative Texts

• Cite textual evidence to support analysis
• Determines central ideas in a text and analyzes their development over the course of the text
• Analyzes the use of text features such as graphics, headers, and captions
• Determines an author’s point of view or purpose in a text and analyzes its development
• Evaluates the arguments and specific claims in a text, assessing the author’s reasoning and use of evidence
• Analyzes how two or more authors writing about the same topic shape their presentations of key information by emphasizing different evidence or advancing different interpretations of facts.

Writing Process

• Practices and applies the writing process to written work: brainstorming, drafting, rewriting, editing, and publishing
• Learns and applies the structure of argumentative, informative, and narrative writing pieces

Informative Writing

• Creates a thorough topic sentence or thesis statement that gives insight to the topic
• Develops their topic with specific facts, details, quotations, and examples
• Correctly cites other sources to support their ideas
• Uses domain vocabulary words to further explain and explore their topic
• Creates a conclusion that adequately completes their writing piece

Argumentative Writing

• Develops a strong claim that is supported and argued through the piece
• Organizes supporting reasons and contributing evidence logically
• Provide counterclaims, reasons, and evidence
• Applies transition words and phrases to create cohesion
• Creates a conclusion that is relevant and supports claims

Narrative Writing

• Establishes a clear point of view that is maintained throughout the work
• Introduces realistic, complex characters that are developed throughout the narrative
• Organizes and develops plot sequences that unfold naturally and logically
• Presents a conflict that is fitting and engaging and that leads to a narrative climax
• Includes dialogue, pacing, specific details, and sensory language to engage readers
• Uses figurative language such as metaphors, similes, alliteration, and onomatopoeia to add substance to their narrative
• Provides a resolution that fits the story and ties up loose ends

Vocabulary

• Uses context clues to understand the meaning of a word or phrase
• Identifies common Greek or Latin affixes and roots as clues to the meaning of a word
• Practices research in dictionaries on websites and in dictionaries to gain access to definitintions
• Uses synonyms and antonyms to practice higher-level vocabulary
• Understands word connotations when choosing words
• Begins to develop understanding of connotative meanings.

Grammar

• Applies grade-appropriate language and mechanics, proper capitalization, vocabulary, and spelling to all written work
• Utilizes correct usage including all parts of speech, cases, and verb tenses when speaking and writing
• Demonstrates the use of simple, compound, and complex sentences
• Recognizes and eliminates wordiness and redundancy

Religion

The Mystery of the Incarnation

• Comprehends Jesus is both fully God and fully human
• Discovers the ancient world Jesus was born into and the workings of His society
• Sees Jesus as always with us and working for our good.
• Understands the Incarnation and Mary’s role as a model of Christian behavior and obedience.
• Develops an understanding of the benefits of prayer and practices meaningful prayer

The Meaning of the Kingdom

• Recognizes the Kingdom of God on Earth
• Views the Saints as role models in bringing God’s Kingdom to Earth
• Articulates ways to serve the Kingdom through a vocation
• Looks for ways to bring justice in the world
• Studies the Beatitudes as a guide for a meaningful and happy life with God

The Christian Life

• Recognizes our call to serve others with humanity
• Sees the Eucharist as the center of our Catholic life
• Understands true morality is imitating the love of Jesus Christ towards others
• Uses prayer as a means of transforming

The Paschal Mystery

• Discusses the extent of God’s love for us as evidenced by the Passion and Death of Jesus
• Practices contrition and spiritual renewal
• Develops faith in viewing Jesus as a partner
• Understands we can call on the Holy Spirit for strength

The Good News

• Considers ways to continue the mission of Christ through the Catholic Church
• Learns the Sacraments and how they deepen our relationships with Christ
• Understands Jesus’ role in our families
• Recognizes the way God makes himself known to us

Life Science

Topic: Cells to Organ Systems

• Draw and label the different parts of the cells
• Identify, compare and contrast, and be able to explain how the structure of a cell is closely interconnected with its function and vice versa
• Analyze data tables, graphs, and other visual models to extract valuable information concerning meiosis, photosynthesis, and cellular respiration.
• Decipher academic texts and expository text and transform them into visual diagrams

Topic: Genetic Trait

• Draws conclusions using study information based on scientific information
• Understand the factors that influence human growth and development is dependent on genetics and the environment

Topic: Human Systems

• Draw and label the different parts of the organ systems of the human body. The 11 systems are nervous system, circulatory system, digestive system, endocrine system, excretory system, immune system, integumentary system, muscular system, respiratory and skeletal system.
• Identify, compare and contrast, and be able to explain how the different organ systems work as separate units while simultaneously work in unison with the organ systems in order to maintain homeostasis.
• Provide a claim, evidence, and reasoning to support explanations of how each model in the human body functions including how structure plays a role in the specific functions each organ system is designed to perform.
• Apply the scientific method in labs and understand the nature of science is ever changing and that knowledge obtained is also ever changing.

Topic: Diversity of Life, Ecosystems, Populations, and Communities

• Hypothesizes, classifies, and interprets data found from investigation and discovery experiments
• Understand the nature of plants and how both living and nonliving things all play a vital role in life.
• Recognize how organisms in ecosystems exchange energy and nutrients among themselves and with the environment on a macroscopic and microscopic level.

Topic: Engineering and Design

• Select a topic, problem, and hypothesis for the Innovative Science Project

Social Studies

Social Studies is an important tool in helping us understand our world today by learning about other cultures and world events. All classes include an examination of the impact of economics, politics, and social history on the development of societies. In Social Studies classes, at Christ Cathedral Academy, students are taught to use primary and secondary sources to analyze and evaluate the past. Student’s analysis of historical events and world cultures will help them become more socially conscious and globally aware citizens.

7th Grade History

World History and geography during the medieval and early modern eras. Students study the development and changes of complex civilizations. They identify and explore the similarities and patterns of these civilizations. Emphasis is placed on the fact that many of the civilizations developed concurrently and impacted each other.

All units include an examination of the impact of religion, economics, politics, and social history of the medieval and early modern eras. The Five Themes of Geography (location, movement, region, place, and human-environmental interaction) are woven into all the units, with emphasis on how geography affected the development of these civilizations.