Course Directory
Our challenging standards-based curriculum emphasizes the development of essential skills, the understanding of important concepts, and the ability to apply learning to real-world problems.
Our curriculum includes courses of study for all students in English language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, world languages, music, visual arts, physical education, and health. In addition, students take grade-specific trimester courses in technology, research, and study skills which are designed to support their integrated learning experience.
Grade 7
Social Studies
The Social Studies curriculum at ASMS is a comprehensive and thought-provoking program that teaches students about their world: past, present, and preparation for the future. The courses are aligned to the learning standards established by the National Council for Social Studies (NCSS).
In all of the middle school courses, students learn to research, analyze, explore, and connect with social, political, economic, cultural, and historical texts and media. They use critical thinking to determine the value and validity of historical evidence, and they learn to present their work in written, digital, and creative formats. Students also learn to illustrate the connections and interactions of people and events across time from a variety of perspectives.
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Social Studies 7
The Twentieth Century World: Tolerance and Intolerance
The seventh-grade social studies course provides students with the opportunity to explore, from both a contemporary and a historical perspective, issues of tolerance and intolerance as they are evidenced in significant world events of the twentieth century. Topics include the Cultural Revolution, Indian Independence, the Holocaust, and Apartheid.
We begin with an introduction to anthropology, the study of what it means to be human. In this unit, students will explore our physical and cultural variation while also developing an appreciation of our shared humanity. This is a thread that will be followed throughout the remainder of the course. As we move through our twentieth-century world events, students will consider their multiple causes and effects, while pursuing questions such as: What happens when people are seen to be “others”? When our beliefs are different, is there a way to find agreement? What does it mean to be responsible for one’s actions? And how can one person peacefully make a change for good in their society? Students will address these questions through the lenses of geography, and the cultural, political, and economic factors influencing individual and national choices.