Mathematics: 7th Grade
Core Question 1:
What can I do to help my child prepare for 7th grade?
Math Facts
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Addition and multiplication facts --Use Fact Triangles as an engaging way to practice math facts.
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Example of Fact Triangles:
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A fact family is a collection of four related facts linking two inverse operations. For
instance, the following four equations represent the fact family relating 2, 7, and 9 with
addition and subtraction.
2+7=9
9–2=7
7+2=9
9–7=2
To use the Fact Triangles, you can cover one of the numbers and ask your child to give you
an addition or subtraction (or multiplication or division) fact that has the hidden number as
an answer.
Algorithms for addition, subtraction,
multiplication, division
To review algorithms learned in elementary school,
visit the Everyday Mathematics Free
Family Resources website. Select a grade and then an
operation to view examples and animations.
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Review 6th grade concepts posted in the 6th
grade parent portal section.
Core Question 2:
What will my child learn throughout the year during 7th grade? What can I do
at home to support what’s being learned at school?
Problem solving--In 6th grade, students will start being asked to think about mathematics in a different
way and they need to be prepared to think about and reflect on the methods and ideas they use to solve
problems.
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Getting Started: What do you need to find out? What do you need to know? What terms do
you understand or not understand? Have you ever solved a similar problem?
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Working on the Problem: How can you organize the information? Do you see any patterns or
relationships that will help solve this? Can you describe a strategy you can use to solve this?
Can you make a drawing to explain your thinking?
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Reflecting on a Solution: Has the question been answered? How do you know your solution is
reasonable? How can you convince me that your answer makes sense? What did you try that
did not work?
Do More Math at Home
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Point Out Real-World Mathematics:
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Have Your Child Explain What They Learned:
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Talk about how you use math at work or home. For example, bake with your child and
talk about measurement in the context of increasing or decreasing a recipe.
Involve your child in tasks that require computing, measuring, estimating, building,
problem solving, and reasoning. For example, talk about mathematics while shopping.
Calculate discounts prices, talk about unit rates, and estimate how much you are
spending.
Look for activities that require your child to use their mathematical skills such as
building scale models, cooking, planning trips, and playing logic games.
Read Math Curse, by John Scieszka, with your child.
Invite your child to explain what was learned in class
Give them an opportunity to clarify their thinking, to practice new skills, and to
communicate
mathematically.
Look for Games and Articles:
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Using games and activities is another way of teaching and/or reinforcing mathematics
skills and thinking. Play games like Math Bingo, Yahtzee, Monopoly, Cribbage, fraction
games, puzzles, and more.
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Many articles have data that might interest your child. Share them and talk about what
the numbers mean.
Share Strategies:
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Have your child share their strategies for problem solving, mental computation, and
estimation.
Share your strategies with them.
7th Grade Concepts
Solve problems involving scale drawings.
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Construct triangles with given properties
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Understand and use similarity of figures to solve problem
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Analyze proportional relationships and use them to solve real-world problems
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Compute unit rates
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Decide whether two quantities are in a proportional relationship
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Identify the constant of proportionality in tables, graphs, and equations
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Add, subtract, multiply, and divide integers
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Factor and expand linear expressions
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Move flexibly between tables, graphs, equations, and situations for linear relationships
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Volume and surface area of prisms, cones, cylinders, and spheres
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Solve problems about area and circumference of a circle
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Find theoretical and experimental probabilities
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Draw inferences about a population from a random sample
Core Question 3:
How do I monitor my child’s progress and learning throughout the year? What
resources can I use to order to do this?
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Have your child share his or her mathematics notebook with you.
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Look over your child’s math homework and make sure all questions are answered and that
explanations are clear.
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Encourage your child to share different methods they have discovered with you as a way to help
them make sense of what they are studying.
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Ask your child’s teacher if they have a class website for you and your child to reference.
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Check the district’s parent portal to access your child’s grade and monitor their progress toward
the grade level Essential Learning Goals for mathematics.
Resources
CMP Parent Guide - Parent letters and guides for each CMP Unit
CoolMath4Kids.com - Math-related Games
Dositey.com - Free programs for students
Figure This! - Offers fun math challenges for families
FunBrain.com - Mathematics Games
Lure of the Labrynth - a learning game designed specifically to help teach pre-algebra to middle school
students
Sample Math Problems - a treasure chest of all types of mathematics problems
Note: Denver Public Schools provides these websites as a suggestion for additional content and does not
assume responsibility for the quality or content provided.