Dear Incoming Seventh Grade A.I.M.S. Students and Families,
We are looking forward to your arrival in August to the seventh grade. The seventh grade
teachers; Mr.Waddell, Mrs. Clark, Mrs. Huey, Ms Tyler, Mrs. Singh, and Mr. Mastroianni, are
enthusiastic to work with you. By this point, you have adjusted to the middle school setting and
have successfully completed your first year in Columbus City Schools. Seventh grade is a very
rigorous academic year; we focus of our instruction on developing you into an independent and
well-rounded student. You will be expected to excel in all of your core subjects, along with the
Arts.
In preparation for the seventh grade, please complete the enclosed work packet by the first
day of the 2014-2015 school year. These assignments will NOT be accepted after September
5, 2014. We have carefully created these assignments to help you be better prepared for
entering the seventh grade. You have made the excellent choice of attending our academic
institution, and these projects were created in order for us to keep up our strong academic
focus and standards. The work you complete will be averaged into your first quarter grades for
the seventh grade.
We hope you have a relaxing and enjoyable summer, and we look forward to your return to
A.I.M.S. in the fall.
Sincerely,
7th Grade Team
7th Grade Supply List:
All materials listed below will be required by all 7th grade teachers. In addition to the required
items, each specific teacher has items they are requesting for their specific subject areas. All
supplies are expected on the first day. This is an initial supply list and it will be the
responsibility of your student to monitor and replenish their supplies as needed.
Plenty of pencils
Blue or black ink pen
Loose leaf notebook paper- will be used in several subjects
4 glue sticks
Erasers
Highlighters
Colored pencils
Fine tip marker set
Ruler – 12 inches long
Red pen for correcting papers
Folders to secure documents for each class
2-4 G flash drive
Ear buds for testing (they will remain at school with the homeroom teacher, so do NOT
buy expensive ear buds)
Tissues for homeroom teacher (4 boxes)
Mr. Waddell (Reading/Language Arts & Social Studies) 3 folders, 3 spiral notebooks (100
pages)
Mr. Mastroianni (Math & Social Studies) Grid paper, graphing notebook, 2 single subject
spiral notebooks, calculator (Texas Instrument TI30 or greater)
Mrs. Huey (Science & Social Studies) 2 composition notebooks Not Spiral
Green 3 ring binder and plenty of paper and 1 folder for Social Studies classes
Mrs.Singh (Math and Science) 3 ring binder, 12 mechanical pencils, loose leaf paper,3
subject dividers, 1 grid paper tablet, 2 one subject 200 page Non Perforated notebook,10
erasable blue/black pens, basic scientific calculator, hand sanitizer, agenda book/student
planner
Mrs. Clark (Reading/ Language Arts & Social Studies) composition notebook, pencils, 1
inch binder style notebook with loose leaf paper and 2 folders to fit in the binder(for
social studies).
Book Review Format for Summer Novel 7th grade
(Miss Sadeckas students have a different assignment…..see below)
1.
Design a cover page depicting a scene or character from the story or illustrate the overall theme or mood
of the story. GLI 0507 Mood or Meaning
2. On another sheet of paper, write the following: (make sure that you put headings before each section
and underline these headings)
Characters GLI0501 Interactions and Conflicts
Give a short description of the main characters and explain the interactions and conflicts between them.
Setting GLI 0502 Setting
Describe the Setting (Where and when the story takes place)
Point of View GLI 0504 Point of View
Tell the point of view of the story. (Who is telling the story?)
Problem/Solution GLI 0503 Plot
What is the main problem or conflict in the story?
How is the problem solved?
Climax GLI 0503 Plot
Describe the most exciting point of the story?
Personal Reaction
What did you think of the story? Why did you like or dislike it? Would you recommend it to next year’s
seventh graders? Name at least one way in which you related to the story. Also, identify your purpose for
reading. (To find out, understand, interpret, to enjoy, or to solve problems.) GLI 0301 Purposes for Reading
******On this second piece of paper, the characters, setting, point of view, problem/solution, and climax
should be clearly written and be supported with references from the story. The personal reaction should be one
paragraph.
******You can get these books at the Columbus Metropolitan library at www.cml.lib.oh.us or through Barnes
and Noble at www.barnesandnoble.com.
7th Grade
Suggested Summer Reading List
Reading consistently over the summer is crucial to
developing lifelong readers. The books and authors in
each reading list are suggestions only. However, we
Absolutely Normal Chaos-Sharon Creech
An American Plague-Jim Murphy
Among the Hidden-Margaret Peterson
Haddix/any in series
Babysitting Is a Dangerous Job-Willo Davis
Roberts
Backfield Package-or any title by Thomas J.
Dygard
Because of Winn-Dixie-Kate DiCamillo
Black Beauty-Ann Sewell
The Body in the Library-Agatha Christie
The Brave-Robert Lipsyte
Call of the Wild - Jack London
A Caribbean Mystery-or any Agatha Christie
Catch That Pass-or any title by Matt Christopher
Catherine, Called Birdy-Karen Cushman
Cheaper by the Dozen-Frank B. Gilbreth
Christy-Catherine Marshall
The Contender-Robert Lipsyte
Crash-Jerry Spinelli
Crazy Lady-Jane Leslie Conly
Crispin-Avi
The Dark Is Rising-Susan Cooper/any in series
Devil’s Arithmetic-Jane Yolen
Dicey's Song-or any title by Cynthia Voight
Doom Stone-Paul Zindel
The Dragon's Boy-Jane Yolen
Eleanor Roosevelt:A Life of Discovery-Russell
Freedman
Dragon’s Gate-Laurence Yep
Eldest-Christopher Paolini
Ella Enchanted-Gail Carson Levine
Eragon-Christopher Paolini
The Face on the Milk Carton-Caroline B. Cooney
A Family Apart-Joan Lowry Nixon
Finding Buck McHenry-Alfred Slote
Freak the Mighty-W.R. Philbrick
Gathering Blue-Lois Lowry
A Gift of Magic-Lois Duncan
The Giver - Lois Lowery
The Great Fire-Jim Murphy
The Greatest: Muhammed Ali-Walter Dean Myers
Halfback Tough-or any title by Thomas J. Dygard
Harris and Me-Gary Paulsen
Harry Potter the Sorcerer's Stone-J. K. Rowling
Harry Potter the Chamber of Secrets---Rowling
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of AzkabanRowling
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire—
Rowling/any in series
Hatchet-Gary Paulsen/any in series
The Haymeadow - Gary Paulsen
Hero and the Crown-Robin Mckinley
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy-Douglas Adams
Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler’s ShadowSusan Campbell Bartoletti
Holes-Louis Sachar
Homecoming-Cynthia Voight
Hoops-Walter Dean Myers
The House of the Scorpion-Nancy Farmer
Kira-Kira-Cythnia Kadahata
Let the Circle Be Unbroken-Mildred Taylor
Letters from Rifka-Karen Hesse
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe-C. S.
Lewis/any in series
hope that parents will be active participants in their
children’s summer reading and will encourage setting
individual goals. Summer reading accomplishments will
be celebrated in each school in the fall.
Little Women-Louisa May Alcott
A Long Way from Chicago-Richard Peck
Loch-Paul Zindel
The Man in the Brown Suit-Agatha Christie
The Man Who Loved Clowns-June Rae Wood
Messenger-Lois Lowry
The Midwife's Apprentice-Karen Cushman
The Monument-Gary Paulsen
Mr. Tucket-Gary Paulsen
Murder in Mesopotamia-Agatha Christie
Murder on the Orient Express-Agatha Christie
My Sergei: a Love Story-Ekaterina Gordeeva
Old Yeller-Fred Gipson
Olive’s Ocean-Kevin Henkes
One Fat Summer-Robert Lipsyte
The Phantom Tollbooth-Norton Juster
Princess Academy-Shannon Hale
Raptor, Rats, or other Paul Zindel books
Rebound Caper-or any title by Thomas J. Dygard
Redwall-or any title by Brian Jacques
Reef of Death-Paul Zindel
Rifles for Watie-Harold Keith
The River-Gary Paulsen
The Road to Memphis-Mildred Taylor
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry-Mildred Taylor
The Runner-Cynthia Voight
A Single Shard - Linda Sue Park
The Slave Dancer-Paula Fox
Soccer Duel-Thomas J. Dygard
A Solitary Blue-Cynthia Voight
Something Upstairs-Avi
Squashed-Joan Bauer
A String in the Harp-Nancy Bond
A Summer to Die-Lois Lowry
Summer of the Monkeys-Wilson Rawls
Summer of My German Soldier-Bette Greene
Surviving the Applewhites-Stephanie Tolan
Sword of Shannara-Terry Brooks
Tale of Despereaux - Kate DiCamillo
Tarot Says Beware-Betsy Byars
The Terrorist-Caroline B. Cooney
Time for Andrew-Mary Downing Hahn
To Be a Slave-Julius Lester
The Tripod Trilogy-John Christopher
The Trumpet of the Swan-E.B. White
The Undertaker's Gone Bananas-Paul Zindel
Up a Road Slowly-Irene Hunt
The Upstairs Room -Avi
The Voice on the Radio-Caroline B. Cooney
Wait Till Helen Comes-Mary Downing Hahn
Wanted-Caroline B. Cooney
War of the Worlds-H.G. Wells
Watership Down-Richard Adams
The Westing Game-Ellen Raskin
Whatever Happened to Janie-Caroline B. Cooney
White Fang-Jack London
A Wrinkle in Time-or any by Madeleine L'Engle
A Year Down Yonder---Richard Peck
The Year of Impossible Goodbyes-Sooknyul Choi
Code Orange –Caroline B. Cooney
Elijah of Buxton – Christopher Paul Curtis
7th grade summer reading project (Sadeckas)
Dear incoming 7th graders and families,
"Did you know by reading four or more books over the summer, kids can avoid the ‘summer slide,’ or gap in
academic skills, when they return to school in the fall." (Instructor Magazine, Summer 2011)
Arts IMPACT Middle School requires a summer reading project for all incoming 7th graders. There are many
benefits to summertime reading including increased exposure to vocabulary and improved analytical thinking,
memory, and writing skills. Our main objective in requiring this extended reading however is to build classroom
community through the sharing of personal reading.
Each student is required to read over the summer and choose one fiction or non-fiction book to share with the
class in a clever, unique way (this is not a book report) during the second week of school, students should be
sure to choose books with content appropriate for their age and personal reading level. Please read something
new. Literature that has been studied or read aloud in class is not acceptable.
Presentation ideas:
Puppets/character sketches
Flip books
Plot diagrams
Posters
Dress as a character
Props to tell the story
Diorama
Timeline
Foldable
Creative ideas encouraged
Absolutely no PowerPoint presentations, please
Keep in mind that visual aids should be easy to transport and serve to enhance the presentation. Please be sure
they pack well and will not cause an inconvenience on the bus. Project presentations will be graded according to
the rubric attached with the assignment sheet. We are excited about meeting you/your child in September and
getting to know our students through their reading selections. Avoid the "summer slide" by leaping into great
literature!
Sincerely,
Miss Sadeckas
Summer Reading Assignment
~Read several books this summer!~
Choose one to use for a presentation the second week of school.
This is NOT a book report!
*Create a prop of your choosing to use mindfully during your presentation:
Puppets/character sketches Flip books
Plot diagrams Poster
Dress as character Diorama
Timeline Foldable
*Come up with your own, all creative ideas encouraged! 
~But, absolutely NO PowerPoints will be accepted!~
*Use notes for your talk/presentation.
*Find quotes from the book which have personal significance to you and make reference to them during your
presentation.
*Be sure to use your prop during your talk.
*Your talk must be at least 3 minutes in length but not longer than 5 minutes. This will be strictly enforced!
* Do NOT give away the ending of your book!!!
* Start with something that will grab our attention. NOT: “The book I read was…”
* End with a “clincher” that leaves us with something to think about. NOT: “That’s it.”
*Be prepared to give your presentation!
A
B
C
Prop
Exceeds
presentation
ideas. Prop is
creative and
mindfully
integrated into
the
presentation.
Adequately
meets
presentation
ideas. Prop is
used during
presentation but
not integrated
throughout.
Barely meets
presentation
requirements.
Prop not used
in presentation.
Content
Used quotes or
information
from text
explaining
significance to
them
personally.
Used quotes or
information
from text but
little or no
personal
significance
was explained.
Book
referenced only
by title and/or
characters.
Planning/
Effort
There is
evidence of
excellent
planning/effort
by the student.
There is some
evidence of
planning/effort
by the student.
There is little
evidence of
planning/effort
by the student.
Post
Provided well
stated, detailed
answers
Provided
answers to
questions.
Provided vague
answers to
questions.
Student’s
presentation is
2-3 minutes in
length.
Student’s
presentation is
over 1 minute,
but less than 2
minutes in
length.
Student’s
presentation is
less than one
minute in length
/or goes over 3
minutes
Presentation
Q&A
Time
Examples
7TH GRADE Math Summer Engagement Project
Arts Impact Middle School 7th Grade Math Summer Project
Your project is to make a mini poster (no larger than 8.5” X 14”) or PowerPoint that fully
describes a math topic chosen from the list below.
Topics (choose one)
Surface Area of a Right Triangular Prism
Surface Area of a Right Rectangular Prism
Finding and Using Unit Rates
Finding and Using Vertical and Horizontal Distance on the Coordinate Plane
Your project must include:
A title for your topic, a definition of your topic, a numerical or symbolic calculation or example,
a visual representation of the topic in a real life example, and your reflection telling what you
learned about the topic. You will also present and explain your topic to the class when you
return to school.
Artistic Component
Your project must include color and artwork that you have created yourself. Your project will
be graded using the rubric on the next page.
Resources
You may choose any books, websites, or other resources to learn about your topic and to find
ideas for displaying your learning. Do not just copy what you find. Examples of online
resources include:
NCTM Illuminations http://illuminations.nctm.org/
Classzone.com
Learnzillion.com
KahnAcademy.org
ExploreLearning.com [Enroll in Class 4GWUYDRQKC]
4
3
2
1
Graphics Clarity
Graphics are all in
focus and the
content easily
viewed.
Most graphics are in
focus and the
content easily
viewed.
Some graphics are
not in focus or the
content is not easily
viewed.
Many graphics are
not clear or are too
small.
Graphics Relevance
All graphics are
related to the topic
and make it easier to
understand.
All graphics are
All graphics relate to Graphics do not
related to the topic
the topic.
relate to the topic.
and most make it
easier to understand.
Artistic
Component
Several of the
graphics reflect a
exceptional degree
of student creativity
in their creation
and/or display.
One or two of the
graphics reflect
student creativity in
their creation and/or
display.
The graphics are
No graphics made
made by the student, by the student are
but are based on the included.
designs or ideas of
others.
Content Accuracy
At least 4 accurate
facts are displayed
on the poster.
3 accurate facts are
displayed on the
poster.
2 facts are displayed 1 accurate fact is
on the poster.
displayed on the
poster.
Knowledge
Gained
Student reflection
shows complete
understanding of the
Mathematical
Standard intended by
the Title.
Student reflection
shows mastery of
the Mathematical
Standard intended
by the Title.
Student reflection
shows 50% to 75%
understanding of the
Mathematical
Standard intended by
the Title.
Student appears to
have insufficient
knowledge about the
Mathematical
Standard intended
by the Title.
Title
Title clearly
describes the
Mathematical
Standard and is quite
creative.
Title clearly
describes the
Mathematical
Standard
Title has some
relationship to the
Mathematical
Standard.
The title is not clearly
visible or does not
describe the content
of the poster well.
CATEGORY
Cultural Event Reflection
7 Grade Social Studies Summer Project
Guidelines
th
For this assignment you will be required to attend or participate in a cultural event within the community. The event
should focus on one of the culture populations that we will explore in the in 7th grade this year; African, Asian, Middle
Eastern, European; such as Egypt, Greece, Italy, Japan, and China. You can check over the summer, there are various
cultural festivals throughout the city that you are encouraged to attend. The Greek festival occurs during Labor Day
weekend so if you haven’t completed your cultural event by the time school starts you may do so then.
Your task is to experience an aspect of culture that is different from your own identity. This assignment should stretch
your comfort zone and give you direct knowledge about a particular aspect of culture with which you are currently
unfamiliar. Your involvement in this event must span at least 1 hour (preferably 2). Write an essay including a reflection
on your experience. We encourage you to take notes and photographs on what you experience, see and how you feel
throughout the event. Also, if appropriate, take time to interview other participants, volunteers, or organizers of the
event to incorporate in your writing their perspective along with yours. You may use the following questions to guide
your reflection. View the questions as a starting point, but do not simply answer them in list format.
• How would you describe the event you attended/participated in?
• Why did you choose this event? Where was it located?
• Explain in detail, incorporating your photos, what your experience was like?
• What new knowledge (personal/factual) have you gained as a result of this cultural event?
• What significance does this culture mean to you now? Compared to before the event?
Writing Guidelines
•
•
Double-spaced, 12-pt font, Times New Roman
One inch margins on all sides• 2-4 pages… which means no less than 3 pages in length
•
Include pictures in the reflection that were taken at the event.
7th Grade Firefly Science Project
Due: September 5, 2014 No Exceptions
(Students are encouraged to bring it in on the first day of school.)
Possible topics:
How are fireflies affected by rainy weather?
Do cooler temperatures cause the number of flashing fireflies to
decrease?
What time of the evening do different firefly species flash?
Any other testable question.
The Scientific Process Presentation Board
1.Project promotes grade appropriate analytical thinking
2.
Project is centered around a testable and original ideas
3.Project demonstrates scientific creativity
4.
Student’s growth and learning is evident
5.
Presentation board contains all sections
6.
Presentation board is neat and legible
Components for Successful Investigation
Created and Investigated a question or problem
Formed Prediction or hypothesis
Designed a procedure to test hypothesis using
measurement
Had logical steps to do the experiment (detailed enough
to repeat)
One changed (manipulated) variable
One measured (responding) variable
Indicated how often measurements should be taken and
recorded
Included multiple trials
Recorded measurements
Accurately collected and analyzed data using graphs and
charts
Drew a conclusion and clearly explained why
prediction/hypothesis was accepted or rejected
Answered experimental question with a conclusive
statement
Made comments about success and effectiveness of the
experimental procedure
Made suggestions for changes in experimental procedure
and/or possibilities for further study
Display board contains all sections:
▪ Title
▪ Researcher name
▪ Question/Problem
▪ Prediction/Hypothesis
▪ Materials needed
▪ Variables
▪ Numbered procedures
▪ Data graphs/charts
▪ Conclusion
▪ Report
-Sections on board organized like a newspaper so they are easy
to follow
-Text font large enough to be read easily (at least 16 point)
-Title is eye-catching and large enough to be read from across
the room
-Pictures and diagrams effectively used to convey information
about project
-Quality of the work is clearly evident.