7th grade · K–8

What Should a 7th Grader Know?

Nobody can tell you what every 7th grade student knows; students differ, and so do states. What we can tell you exactly is what we teach. Below is the whole 7th grade list: 61 topics in eight subjects, in the order we teach them, each with the standard it addresses. It is a plan, not a test and not a legal standard — if your student is ahead in one subject and behind in another, that is ordinary.

61 topics8 subjects6,800 questions

Math

8 topics440 questionsSubject page

1. Proportional relationshipsConstant of proportionality; percent problems7.RP
2. Rational number operationsAdd, subtract, multiply, divide positives and negatives7.NS
3. Multi-step equations and inequalitiesEquivalent expressions; solve px + q = r7.EE
4. Multi-step problems with rational numbersFractions, decimals and percents; estimate to check7.EE.B.3
5. Scale drawingsScale factors and geometric constructionsGeometry (7.G.A)
6. Circles, angles, area and volumeCircumference and area; angle relationshipsGeometry (7.G.B)
7. Sampling and probabilityRandom samples; probability of simple and compound events7.SP
8. Comparing two groupsCenter, spread and MAD; informal inferences about populations7.SP.B

Reading

8 topics960 questionsSubject page

1. Citing several pieces of evidenceCite several pieces of evidence for what a story says and what it impliesReading: Literature (RL.7.1)
2. How a theme developsTrack how a theme develops across a story and write an objective summaryReading: Literature (RL.7.2)
3. How story elements interactAnalyze how setting shapes characters or plot and how elements affect each otherReading: Literature (RL.7.3)
4. Characters' different points of viewAnalyze how an author develops and contrasts the points of view of charactersReading: Literature (RL.7.6)
5. Two central ideas in one textFind two or more central ideas, trace their development and summarize objectivelyReading: Informational Text (RI.7.2)
6. How people, events and ideas interactAnalyze how individuals, events and ideas influence one another in a textReading: Informational Text (RI.7.3)
7. How a text is organizedAnalyze the structure of a text and how major sections contribute to the whole and to its ideasReading: Informational Text (RI.7.5)
8. Evaluating an argument's reasoningTrace and evaluate claims, judging whether reasoning is sound and evidence sufficientReading: Informational Text (RI.7.8)

English & Writing

8 topics960 questionsSubject page

1. Simple, compound, complex and compound-complex sentencesChoose among sentence types to signal differing relationships among ideasLanguage (L.7.1b)
2. Fixing misplaced and dangling modifiersPlace phrases and clauses within a sentence so they modify the right wordLanguage (L.7.1c)
3. Commas between coordinate adjectivesUse a comma to separate coordinate adjectives and leave it out for cumulative adjectivesLanguage (L.7.2a)
4. Precise language and cutting wordinessChoose language that expresses ideas precisely and concisely, recognizing and eliminating wordiness and redundancyLanguage (L.7.3a)
5. Narratives with point of view and precise detailEstablish a point of view, use precise words and sensory language, and craft a reflective conclusionWriting (W.7.3)
6. Informative writing with text structuresPreview what is to follow and organize with definition, classification, comparison/contrast and cause/effectWriting (W.7.2)
7. Arguments that acknowledge alternate claimsIntroduce a claim, acknowledge alternate or opposing claims, and support it with logical reasoning and accurate sourcesWriting (W.7.1)
8. Citing sources and avoiding plagiarismUse search terms well, judge credibility, quote or paraphrase, and follow a standard citation formatWriting (W.7.8)

Science

8 topics960 questionsSubject page

1. Signs of a chemical reactionCompare properties of substances before and after they interact to decide if a reaction occurredMS-PS1-2
2. Conservation of massAtoms are rearranged, not created or destroyed, so total mass stays the same in a reactionMS-PS1-5
3. Heat, mass and temperature changeHow the amount of matter and type of material affect the temperature change for a given energy transferMS-PS3-4
4. PhotosynthesisHow plants use light energy to make food, cycling matter and storing energyMS-LS1-6
5. Cellular respiration and using foodFood molecules are rearranged in chemical reactions that release energy for growth and movementMS-LS1-7
6. Food webs: matter and energy in ecosystemsModel how matter cycles and energy flows among producers, consumers and decomposersMS-LS2-3
7. The rock cycleModel how Earth materials cycle through igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rockMS-ESS2-1
8. Resources and population sizeEvidence for how the availability of resources affects the growth of organisms and populations in an ecosystemMS-LS2-1

History & Social Studies

8 topics960 questionsSubject page

1. Why did the Western Roman Empire fall?Weigh the relative influence of political, economic and military causes of the fall of the Western Roman EmpireHistory (D2.His.15.6-8)
2. The Islamic Golden AgeExplain why scholars of the House of Wisdom and the wider Islamic world are historically significantHistory (D2.His.3.6-8)
3. Gold, salt and the empires of West AfricaExplain how the geography of the Sahara and Sahel shaped the gold-salt trade of Ghana, Mali and SonghaiGeography (D2.Geo.11.6-8)
4. Feudalism, manors and the medieval ChurchDescribe how feudal ties, manors, guilds and the Church shaped daily life in medieval EuropeCivics (D2.Civ.6.6-8)
5. Magna Carta and limits on a kingExamine why Magna Carta was written in 1215 and how its ideas about law and rights spread over timeCivics (D2.Civ.3.6-8)
6. The Black Death and the price of laborExplain how the plague's huge death toll changed the supply of workers, wages and the medieval economyEconomics (D2.Eco.6.6-8)
7. The printing press and the spread of ideasExplain how Gutenberg's movable-type press changed how fast ideas of the Renaissance and Reformation spreadGeography (D2.Geo.7.6-8)
8. The Mongol Empire and the Eurasian exchangeExplain the causes of the Mongol conquests and their destructive and connecting effects across EurasiaHistory (D2.His.14.6-8)

Life Skills

7 topics840 questionsSubject page

1. Saving goals, compound interest and the basics of creditCompare simple and compound interest, set a savings goal and explain how borrowing and credit scores workSaving (Jump$tart)
2. Understanding and managing stressRecognize signs of stress in the body and mind and practice healthy coping tools, including asking for helpSelf-Management (CASEL)
3. Healthy relationships and personal boundariesTell healthy from unhealthy friendship behaviors, set limits respectfully and respect the limits of othersNational Health Education Standard 4 (NHES)
4. Cooking skills and food safetyPrepare a simple meal safely using kitchen tools, safe temperatures and cross-contamination rulesNational Health Education Standard 7 (NHES)
5. Decision-making: weighing risks and rewardsUse a decision framework to weigh short- and long-term consequences, especially under pressure from peersNational Health Education Standard 5 (NHES)
6. Career exploration: interests, skills and pathwaysConnect interests and strengths to careers and compare the education and training each one needsEarning Income (Jump$tart)
7. Supporting friends and asking for helpNotice when a friend or you may need support, respond with care and connect with a trusted adult or 988Relationship Skills (CASEL)

Entrepreneurship & Business Thinking

7 topics840 questionsSubject page

1. Accounts, compound interest and creditCompare simple and compound interest and explain how credit and borrowing costs workCouncil for Economic Education, Standard 12 (CEE)
2. Reading the income statementFind gross profit and net profit from revenue and costsCouncil for Economic Education, Standard 14 (CEE)
3. Competition and your competitive edgeExplain how competition shapes price and quality and write a clear unique selling pointEconomics (D2.Eco.6.6-8)
4. Selling online and staying safeCount the costs of online selling and apply rules for protecting information and spotting scamsCouncil for Economic Education, Standard 14 (CEE)
5. Contracts and fair dealingIdentify the parts of a contract and use ethical reasoning in business choicesCouncil for Economic Education, Standard 10 (CEE)
6. Markup, discounts and bundlesSet prices with markup percent and check profit after discounts and bundlesCouncil for Economic Education, Standard 8 (CEE)
7. Jobs, wages and skillsCalculate gross and net pay and explain how skills raise earning powerCouncil for Economic Education, Standard 13 (CEE)

Psychology for Kids

7 topics840 questionsSubject page

1. Stress and copingExplain the stress response and match coping strategies to stressorsNHES Standard 7
2. What drives us: intrinsic and extrinsic motivationUse autonomy, competence and relatedness to build motivationSelf-Management (CASEL)
3. Building and breaking habitsUse the cue, routine and reward loop to build and replace habitsSelf-Management (CASEL)
4. Thinking errors and cognitive biasSpot confirmation bias, anchoring and other thinking shortcuts and think more fairlyResponsible Decision-Making (CASEL)
5. Social influence and conformityExplain why people conform and how to stay true to personal valuesNHES Standard 2
6. Identity and self-conceptDescribe identity as many changing parts and write a strengths-and-values statementSelf-Awareness (CASEL)
7. How scientists study behaviorDescribe observation, surveys and experiments and judge whether evidence supports a claimAPA Scientific Inquiry and Research

What one lesson contains

Every topic in every subject follows the same five steps, then an answer key. Nothing changes between subjects, so a student always knows what comes next.

1. Quick CheckQuestions before you teach, to show what the student already knows. A high score means you can move faster.
2. Learn ItKey words, step-by-step teaching with lines you can read aloud, worked examples, and the mistakes to watch for.
3. We Do It TogetherQuestions you work through side by side. The answer and the reason it is the answer are printed right after each question.
4. You TryThe student works alone. Do a page a day, or as many as the student needs.
5. Show What You KnowNew questions at the end. Compare the score with the Quick Check to see the change.
6. Answer KeyEvery question has its answer and a short explanation, at the end of each topic, so a student can work without peeking.

Other grades

• What should a kindergarten student know?
• What should a 1st grade student know?
• What should a 2nd grade student know?
• What should a 3rd grade student know?
• What should a 4th grade student know?
• What should a 5th grade student know?
• What should a 6th grade student know?
• What should an 8th grade student know?

More

• Summer math workbook for kids going into 7th grade
• Flashcards: negative numbers, plus subject vocabulary
• Free: The parent's math guide
• Free: The parent's reading guide
• See the whole curriculum
• Workbook store
• Frequently asked questions

Questions parents ask