BOE APPROVED 2/14/12
Curriculum Scope & Sequence
Subject/Grade Level: ENGLISH/GRADE 7
Course: GRADE 7 ENGLISH –ON/ABOVE LEVEL
Unit
Duration Common Core
Standards
Transfer Goal(s)
Enduring
Understandings
Short Story
9 weeks
Students will be able to
independently use their
learning to demonstrate
knowledge of an author’s
use of characterization, so
that in the long run on
their own they will be
better able to understand
human nature and the way
that people deal with
conflict, which often
reveals their true
character.
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RL.7.1
RL.7.2
RL. 7.3
RL. 7.4
RL.7.5
RL.7.6
W. 7.2
W. 7.4
W.7.5
W.7.9
SL.7.1.a
SL.7.1.c
SL.7.1.d
SL.7.2
SL.7.3
SL.7.4
L.7.1.b
L.7.2
L.7.3
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Essential Questions
A short story is

purposefully brief and
deliberately crafted

using certain
elements of fiction to
give a desired effect
for close reading and
interpretation.

A short story shows
character conflict and
the reader vicariously
experiences these
conflicts.
Analyzing short
stories will help
students to
understand other
literature and real-life
situations.
In order to be
effective, writing
must site specific
evidence and detail
from text.
Why do we study the
short story?
What is learned from
the character's
conflicts, and how
can this be applied to
real life?
What effects do
certain elements of
fiction have on a
story?
Unit
Duration Common Core
Standards
Transfer Goal(s)
Enduring
Understandings
Essential Questions
The Outsiders
6 weeks
Students will be able to
independently use their
learning to formulate
opinions about the
meaning of "an outsider"
and its relation to social
class enabling them to
better understand and
tolerate those who are
different from themselves.

There are universal
aspects to human
nature that apply to
all social classes and
we are all a part of a
social hierarchy.
A social hierarchy is
often used to define a
person or group of
people.
Family can be defined
in both a traditional
and non-traditional
way.
Each person decides
the value of his or her
own life.

Good readers
understand that
literature mimics life
and strives to teach a
lesson.
Everyone is different
and we must be more
tolerant and
compassionate about
those who are.
A good reader will
see that one’s

RL.7.1
RL.7.2
RL.7.4
RL.7.6
RL.7.7
RL.7.10
W.7.1
W.7.2
W.7.5
L.7.1.b
L.7.2
L.7.3
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

Chernowitz!
6 weeks
RL.7.1
RL.7.2
RL.7.3
RL.7.4
RL.7.6
W.7.2
W.7.4
W.7.5
W.7.10
Students will be able to
independently use their
learning to examine the
complexity of human
nature and recognize the
need for tolerance and
compassion for those who
may be different in some
way.

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




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What makes me feel
like and "insider" or
an "outsider?"
How will being a part
of a social class affect
my life?
Are there social
classes represented in
my hometown?
Is there anything that
makes one life worth
living more so than
another?
What makes a family?
How is literature like
life?
Can people be neatly
categorized into
groups?
How can one derive
something positive
out of being a victim?
Unit
Duration Common Core
Standards
Transfer Goal(s)
Enduring
Understandings
perspective can alter
their life and
influence others.
SL.7.1.a
SL.7.1.c
SL.7.1.d
SL.7.2
SL.7.3
The Endless
Steppe
5 weeks
RL.7.1
RL.7.2
RL.7.3
RL.7.4
RL.7.10
L.7.3
L.7.6
W.7.3.d
W.7.4
W.7.6
Essential Questions
Students will be able to
independently use their
learning to demonstrate
understanding for human
capacity in regard to
overcoming adversity and
apply it to their own lives
and/or the lives of others.



Human beings have
the ability to adapt to
any situation.
Good readers
understand that
literature mimics life
and strives to teach a
lesson.
A character's
perspective can alter
the life a reader.



How can literature
change some ideas
about life?
To what extent are
human beings capable
of adapting?
How can literature
help us understand
life?
Unit
Duration Common Core
Standards
The Adventures 8 weeks
of Tom Sawyer
Old Yeller
5 weeks
Transfer Goal(s)
Enduring
Understandings
Essential Questions
RL7.1
RL.7.2
RL.7.3
RL.7.4
RL.7.6
W.7.2
W.7.3.a, c, d, e
W.7.4
W.7.5
W.7.10
L.7.1.b
L.7.2
L.7.3
L.7.4.a, c, d
L.7.5
L.7.6
SL.7.2
Students will be able to
independently use their
learning to:
 Acquire insight into
the responsibilities of
being mature by
following the journey
of an adolescent.
 Assess the behavior of
others and its effect on
the world.

Maturity is an
ongoing process in a
person's life.
Material opportunities
do not always equal
happiness.
It is human nature to
fear the unknown.
Fiction often mimics
life and its conflicts.
Using a variety of
sentences types
correctly develops
lively and effective
personal style.
Reading is often a
springboard for ideas
in writing.

RL.7.1
RL.7.2
RL.7.3
RL.7.4
RL.7.7
SL.7.1.a, c
SL.7.2
Students will be able to
independently use their
learning to recognize the
need for maturity(theme)
and apply it to the lessons
learned in their life.
Adapting to life may
mean sacrificing your
humanity and
becoming tough.
True love and respect
may come as a result
of maturity.
Maturity may be
achieved through
experiences in life.
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Does maturity ever
come to a halt?
Do material
opportunities always
make a person happy?
Do superstitions quell
human’s fear of the
unknown?
How does this classic
novel apply to the life
of kids today?
Why do we vary our
writing style (i.e.,
sentence variety)?
How does the reader
benefit from reading a
classic?
How can having to
adapt to life situations
shape me as a human
being?
How is respect
earned?
What may be gained
through life’s
experiences?
Unit
Duration Common Core
Standards
Transfer Goal(s)
Enduring
Understandings
Essential Questions
Poetry
6 weeks
Students will be able to
independently use their
learning to:
 Appreciate the value
of poetry as a form of
literature and an aspect
of communication and
self-expression.
 Identify poetic devices
so that they will be
able to recognize them
in other forms of
literature and use them
in their own writing
and oral
communication.


Why has poetry
remained such a
popular form of
expression throughout
history?

How is poetry
different from prose?

Do poets send a
message through their
poems?

How can poetry help
me express myself?

How can poetry be
viewed as a liberating
form of expression?
RL.7.1
RL.7.2
RL.7.4
RL.7.5
RL.7.10
L.7.3
L.7.5
L.7.6
W.7.3.b, d



Poetry is one of
mankind's oldest
forms of expression.
Poets use many
structures to send
their message
Like all works of
literature, poems have
a theme.
Poetry can be a
liberating method of
expression and
creativity.