7th Grade
Middle school is vital for developing critical thinking and problem-solving strategies.
The online middle school program at Pathfinder Career Academy of Ohio is tuition-free. We designed our Ohio state-approved online middle school program with your child’s success in mind. We offer education for sixth, seventh, and eighth grade in our online middle school curriculum.
We strive to provide a relevant, engaging, and challenging online public school curriculum that is developmentally appropriate, meets their individual needs, and prepares them for high school.
* Course offerings are subject to change and may vary based on school staffing.
Career Awareness
Career awareness refers to an individual’s understanding of various career options, industries, job roles, and the skills required to succeed. It involves developing a basic understanding of the diverse array of careers available, their qualifications and educational paths, and the potential growth opportunities within each field.
Brixilated
Brixilated is a program that focuses on fostering career exploration, development, and college or career preparation through the integration of LEGO® kits into the curriculum. Our 7th grade department has collaborated with Brixilated’s Program Director of Impact and Learning, Jaqueline Strey, to include the following within their academic curriculum/project-based learning implementation – Enhanced Engagement, Creativity Promotion, Career Exploration, Career Development. The implementation of the Brixilated Builders Academy involves the following
Key steps: Curriculum Integration, Distribution of Kits, Guided Activities & Assessment
Program Impact: “Since the introduction of the Brixilated Builders Academy, teachers have reported noticeable improvements in student engagement, motivation, and enthusiasm. The hands-on nature of the program has sparked a renewed interest in learning historical concepts, leading to deeper understanding and retention of course material. Additionally, students have demonstrated enhanced teamwork and communication skills through collaborative building projects”. -Dr. Strey
Introduction to CTE
An “Intro to CTE” focus aims to expose students to the possibilities and benefits of pursuing a career through technical education, helping them make more informed decisions about their educational and career paths. It lays the foundation for students to explore specific CTE programs and pathways that align with their interests and goals. Intro to CTE will include defining career tech education, career pathways, skills development, industry exposure, educational pathways, hands-on learning, career exploration, and future opportunities. An in-depth introduction to CTE will prepare students to make an informed decision in their 11th grade year on what career pathway program they would like to pursue at Pathfinder Career Academy.
7th Grade Student Experience
7th grade is a year of exploration, innovation, and skill-building. Students will strengthen academic foundations, explore career pathways, and develop problem-solving, leadership, and social-emotional skills through project-based learning and real-world experiences.
Students will participate in academic coursework that connects classroom learning to real-world careers, integrating curriculum for social-emotional growth and teamwork. Listed are some examples of how Pathfinder’s academic and CTE teachers will incorporate real-world applications in your student’s coursework.
💡 English Language Arts (ELA) – Communication & Career Exploration
🧮 Mathematics – Financial Literacy & Real-World Math
🔬 Science – STEM Careers & Engineering Exploration
🌎 Social Studies – Economics & Career Development
🚀 Career Exploration & Readiness
Students will engage in structured career exploration activities to explore career paths and set personal goals.
✔ Naviance Interest Inventory – Self-discovery surveys to explore strengths, skills, and career preferences.
✔ Pathful Connect Activities – Virtual career exploration events, guest speakers, and industry insights.
✔ Career Exploration Elective – Introduction to the five Career Technical Education (CTE) pathways at Pathfinder Career Academy of Ohio:
- Health Science
- Teaching Professions
- Business Administration
- Information Technology (I.T.)
- Construction
✔ Career Journaling – Students will research careers, reflect on interests, and set academic goals for future pathways.
Students will engage in entrepreneurship, innovation, and career-focused projects that develop real-world skills.
🔹 Kidvation Global Curriculum – Students will design, develop, and pitch a product to a panel of industry professionals at the end of the year.
🔹 Soft Skills in Action – Group projects will focus on communication, leadership, and collaboration.
Throughout the year, students will strengthen 21st-century workplace and leadership skills, including:
- Problem-solving & critical thinking
- Time management & organization
- Collaboration & teamwork
- Verbal & written communication
- Creativity & innovation
- Adaptability & resilience
By the end of 7th grade, students will have:
✅ Explored various career paths and identified personal interests.
✅ Developed entrepreneurial, leadership, and pre-engineering skills.
✅ Applied STEM, creativity, and financial literacy to real-world projects.
✅ Strengthened essential employability and social-emotional skills.
Core Curriculum: Grade 7
ENGLISH 7
Middle school students are able to independently read increasingly complex text, as well as respond in writing to these same texts. Readings include classic short stories and a variety of fiction and nonfiction selections from the Harlem Renaissance, as well as a student- friendly version of Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Students will also have the opportunity to read and study a novel of their choice. Each unit in 7th grade Language Arts includes explicit instruction and practice in writing, grammar, morphology, spelling, and reading.
Grade 7 writing expands in scope and complexity, consisting of a robust series of unit- long writing activities that incorporate language skills and focus on developing craft and structure while incorporating and building upon writing skills learned in the earlier grades. These writing projects are intended to prepare middle school students for the writing they will do in high school, college, and the professional world.
The semester culminates with a project in which students apply the learning from the semester to complete a comprehensive activity. The projects are intended to promote independent learning as students make choices about work products and apply self- management skills to plan activities.
MATH 7
In this problem- based curriculum, students will build on their math skills through exploration. Throughout this course, students will use interactives and offline tools to explore math concepts. Students learn by doing math, solving problems in mathematical and real- world contexts, and constructing arguments using precise language. Students hear thoughts and ideas from their “virtual classmates” as they explore mathematical concepts and are encouraged to explain their thinking in writing throughout the course.
Students begin the year exploring relationships between figures as they examine scaled copies and scale drawings. This transitions into learning about proportional and nonproportional relationships as well as how to represent proportional relationships with tables, graphs, and equations. Next, students learn about relationships within circles: measuring circles and finding the area and circumference of a circle. Finally, students conclude their study of proportional relationships by studying proportional relationships with fractions, percent increase and decrease, and application of percentages. Additional course elements include real- world applications, discussions, graphic organizers, and unit projects.
SCIENCE 7
In this inquiry- based curriculum, students engage with science questions with the goal of explaining a phenomenon and/or solving a problem. Students begin by posing questions, developing models, proposing ideas for investigation, investigating and gathering data, applying data to answer questions and revise models, and then forming new questions to answer. They question, investigate, and build understanding as they read, complete interactive activities and simulations, and engage in virtual labs.
This semester begins with an investigation of bath bombs and the chemical reactions that happen when they are placed in water. Students will learn how matter can change forms while total mass remains the same. Next, students continue their study of chemical reactions as they learn about chemical reactions and energy. They investigate how to heat up food and how to create a flameless heater. Finally, they will explore ecosystems and how changing an ecosystem impacts living things. They will study the impact of various products on rainforests and on the plant and animal life within them. Additional course elements include readings, discussions, and unit projects.
State Specific versions available for: GA, IN, OH, PA, WV
SOCIAL STUDIES 7
This study of the history of the United States emphasizes how ideas, events, and philosophies have shaped the nation. Students will learn about America’s past while mastering the skills of historical interpretation. Study begins with the earliest arrivals of people and ends with the conclusion of the Civil War.
In addition to our core curriculum, Career Exploration will be integrated throughout the program. Students will investigate the world of work and relate careers to their interests, skills, and abilities. Students will begin to build their own personal development and habits of success. Students will focus on creating a sense of identity and purpose. Middle school students should be prepared to determine a career pathway or program of study as they matriculate into High School.
List of Possible Elective Courses:
MS Career Exploration I
How do you pick a career path when you’re not sure what’s even out there? This course allows you to begin exploring options in fields such as teaching, business, government, hospitality, health science, IT, and more! you’ll align your interests, wants, and needs to career possibilities, including the required education for each. Let’s find a pathway that works for you.
MS Career Exploration II
Imagine that it’s 20 years from now. What career do you see yourself in? What do you imagine that you’ll be doing? In this course, you’ll explore more careers and what it takes to succeed in different fields. You’ll learn more about what steps are needed to prepare for your career and how to compare the pros and cons of different career choices to find one that’s best for you.
MS Exploring Music
What comes to mind when you hear the word ‘music’? Do you think about your favorite band or artist? In this course, you’ll learn about how we hear music; how music affects our lives; essential elements of music like rhythm, pitch, and harmony; different musical genres; singing and your voice; various instruments; music composition; and the history and culture of music over the years.
MS Game Design
We love to play video games, but have you ever wanted to build your own? If you are interested in a career in technology but also want a creative outlet, Game Design might be the field for you. Learn how to build a game from the ground up in this interactive and hands-on course that will teach you all the ins and outs of making your own game.
MS Health
Our middle school health courses will help the student understand the importance of making decisions that will affect his or her physical, emotional, mental and social health. This course will provide students with the knowledge and resources they will need to make responsible informed decisions about their health. Students will have an opportunity to evaluate their own values, opinions and attitudes about health.
Physical Education
In this course, students are introduced to exercise and physical fitness and the general recommendations for physical activity, while examining the benefits of exercise, lifestyle choices that can help prevent disease, and tips for kick-starting a healthier lifestyle. Students will explore each type of fitness, include the benefits, and the federal guidelines for exercise in detail. Students will also learn about bones and joints and the functions of the skeleton, and the different types of movements that occur at various joints. Students will learn about the different types of muscle in their bodies, and how they are structured, with particular attention to the different types of muscle fibers. Students will explore the functions that muscles perform, how they work, and their interaction with the central nervous system and special considerations for safe and effective exercise.
Students will learn how the cardiac and respiratory systems work and interact with each other and about the different blood vessels that makeup the circulatory (vascular) system. Students will learn about the body’s energy systems and how eating and drinking relates to exercise. Finally, students will learn about the psychology of exercising.
Spanish
Open the door to all the possibilities of your Spanish language passport! Sip your virtual cafecito as you delve into topics like school, daily escapades, food preferences, nationalities, family, sports, music, clothing, transportation, and weather. On this journey you’ll unearth a trove of cultural gems, discovering the richness of different Spanish-speaking countries through breath-taking locations, unique celebrations, and cherished traditions. Your goal is to master the basics—the key to unlocking Spanish conversations. Are you prepared for this exciting new adventure?
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