Our Curriculum › Reading › 7th Grade
Reading 7
A year of 7th-grade reading across many genres: poetry, drama, historical fiction, speeches, mysteries, essays, graphic novels, biographies and media. Readers go deeper on theme, point of view, craft and argument, and read four named works.
180 lessons
One a day for a school year
9 units
Each opens to its lessons
4 classic works read
Some need a library card
Standards
Common Core Grade 7 reading
What's taught, unit by unit
Foundations: evidence, theme & point of viewDays 1–20
Citing several pieces of evidence, how theme develops, how story elements interact, rhyme and sound in poetry, a play's structure, contrasting characters' points of view, comparing a text to its film version, author's purpose and argument, and figurative language.
- 1 · Welcome to Reading 7: Citing Several Pieces of Evidence
- 2 · Analyzing Theme Development Over a Text
- 3 · How Story Elements Interact
- 4 · Analyzing Rhyme and Sound Repetition
- 6 · How a Drama's Structure Contributes to Meaning
- 7 · Contrasting the Points of View of Different Characters
- 8 · How an Author Develops Contrasting POVs
- 9 · Comparing a Text to Its Film or Audio Version
- 11 · Analyzing an Author's Purpose in Informational Text
- 12 · How an Author Distinguishes Their Position from Others'
- 13 · Evaluating an Argument: Sound Reasoning and Sufficient Evidence
- 14 · Analyzing Multiple Sources on the Same Topic
- 16 · Determining the Meaning of Figurative Language in Context
- 17 · Analyzing Connotation and Word Choice
- 18 · How Story Elements Reinforce a Theme
- 19 · Analyzing How a Poem's Form Contributes to Meaning
Plus 4 review days, not listed.
Historical fiction & literary devicesDays 21–40
Text structure, historical fiction set in World War I paired with primary sources, then symbolism, foreshadowing, irony, allusion, setting, character motivation, internal and external conflict, author bias, and combining information from several texts.
- 21 · Analyzing an Author's Use of Structure
- 22 · Determining Central Ideas in Informational Text
- 23 · Analyzing How Elements of a Story Fit Together
- 24 · Analyzing an Author's Craft: Word Choice for Tone
- 26 · Analyzing Historical Fiction Set During WWI
- 27 · Comparing Two Primary Sources from WWI
- 28 · Analyzing Symbolism
- 29 · Analyzing Foreshadowing
- 31 · Analyzing Irony
- 32 · Analyzing Allusion
- 33 · Analyzing How a Setting Shapes Historical Fiction
- 34 · Comparing Two Texts on the Same Historical Event
- 36 · Analyzing Character Motivation
- 37 · Analyzing Conflict Types: External and Internal
- 38 · Analyzing Author's Bias in Nonfiction
- 39 · Synthesizing Information Across Multiple Texts
Plus 4 review days, not listed.
Craft, voice & persuasionDays 41–65
Epigraphs, flashback, suspense and dialogue; extended metaphor, unreliable narrators, fables and allegory; mood, tone and empathy, with a memoir excerpt. Then a Civil Rights-era speech and persuasive appeals, and a media-literacy set on source credibility, fact vs. opinion and bias.
- 41 · Analyzing How an Epigraph Sets Up a Text
- 42 · Analyzing Flashback and Nonlinear Structure
- 43 · Analyzing Suspense-Building Techniques
- 44 · Analyzing How Dialogue Reveals Character
- 46 · Analyzing an Extended Metaphor
- 47 · Analyzing an Unreliable Narrator
- 48 · Determining an Author's Message in a Fable or Allegory
- 49 · Analyzing Point of View Shifts
- 51 · Analyzing Mood in a Text
- 52 · Comparing Mood and Tone
- 53 · Analyzing How an Author Builds Empathy for a Character
- 54 · Analyzing a Memoir Excerpt
- 56 · Analyzing a Civil Rights-Era Speech
- 57 · Identifying Persuasive Appeals
- 58 · Analyzing Repetition as a Rhetorical Device
- 59 · Comparing a Speech to Its Written Transcript
- 61 · Analyzing a Modern Informational Article
- 62 · Evaluating Source Credibility
- 63 · Distinguishing Fact from Opinion in Media
- 64 · Analyzing Bias in News Media
Plus 5 review days, not listed.
Novels, science fiction & mythDays 66–90
How a novel's chapters build, antagonists and character change, and a literary analysis paragraph. Works read: The Giver, To Kill a Mockingbird, Ray Bradbury's story The Veldt and The Hobbit. Also letters and diaries, satire, world-building, and myths from different cultures.
- 66 · Analyzing How a Novel's Chapters Build the Whole
- 67 · Analyzing an Antagonist's Role
- 68 · Analyzing Character Development Over a Novel
- 69 · Writing a Literary Analysis Paragraph
- 71 · Analyzing a Coming-of-Age Story
- 72 · Analyzing Cultural Perspective in Literature
- 73 · Comparing Two Coming-of-Age Stories from Different Cultures
- 74 · Analyzing an Author's Note or Afterword
- 76 · Analyzing How a Title Connects to Meaning
- 77 · Analyzing an Epistolary Text (Letters or Diary Format)
- 78 · Analyzing Humor and Satire
- 79 · Analyzing Multiple Genres on One Theme
- 81 · Halfway Milestone: Reading Reflection
- 82 · Analyzing a Science Fiction Excerpt
- 83 · Analyzing World-Building in Fantasy or Sci-Fi
- 84 · Analyzing Theme in Science Fiction
- 86 · Analyzing Mythology and Its Purpose
- 87 · Comparing Myths Across Cultures
- 88 · Analyzing Archetypes in Literature
- 89 · Analyzing the Hero's Journey Pattern
Plus 5 review days, not listed.
Mystery, survival & adventure storiesDays 91–110
How mysteries use clues, red herrings and twist endings, and whether the solution is fair; then survival stories (character vs. nature, resourcefulness, setting) and quest narratives (companions, perseverance, adventure stories from different eras).
- 91 · Analyzing a Mystery Story
- 92 · Analyzing How Authors Build a Puzzle for Readers
- 93 · Analyzing a Detective Character
- 94 · Predicting Outcomes Using Textual Evidence
- 96 · Analyzing a Reversal or Twist Ending
- 97 · Analyzing Red Herrings
- 98 · Evaluating the Fairness of a Mystery's Solution
- 99 · Comparing Mystery Conventions Across Stories
- 101 · Analyzing a Survival Story
- 102 · Analyzing Character vs. Nature Conflict
- 103 · Analyzing Resourcefulness and Problem-Solving in Fiction
- 104 · Analyzing Setting's Role in a Survival Story
- 106 · Analyzing an Adventure/Quest Narrative
- 107 · Analyzing a Companion or Sidekick Character
- 108 · Analyzing Perseverance as a Theme
- 109 · Comparing Adventure Stories from Different Eras
Plus 4 review days, not listed.
Essays, other media & biographyDays 111–140
Reading essays closely (structure, claim, counterarguments, analogies, statistics, expert evidence); graphic novels, infographics, audio stories and digital text; comparing one story across media; biography vs. autobiography; and how historical fiction is researched.
- 111 · Analyzing an Essay's Structure
- 112 · Analyzing an Essay's Central Claim
- 113 · Analyzing Counterarguments in an Essay
- 114 · Evaluating the Effectiveness of an Essay's Conclusion
- 116 · Analyzing Analogies in Nonfiction
- 117 · Analyzing Statistical Evidence in Nonfiction
- 118 · Analyzing Expert Testimony as Evidence
- 119 · Evaluating an Essay's Overall Persuasiveness
- 121 · Analyzing a Graphic Novel Excerpt
- 122 · Analyzing Visual Storytelling Techniques
- 123 · Comparing a Graphic Novel to Its Prose Version
- 124 · Analyzing Nonfiction Presented as Infographics
- 126 · Analyzing Podcasts or Audio Storytelling
- 127 · Comparing the Same Story Across Multiple Media
- 128 · Evaluating Which Medium Best Suits a Story
- 129 · Analyzing Digital Text Features (Hyperlinks, Multimedia)
- 131 · Analyzing a Biography Excerpt
- 132 · Analyzing How a Biography Shapes Its Subject’s Legacy
- 133 · Comparing a Biography to an Autobiography
- 134 · Analyzing How a Subject Overcame Obstacles
- 136 · Identifying Invented Plot vs. Real Setting Details
- 137 · Analyzing an Author’s Research Process
- 138 · Analyzing Why an Author Chose Historical Fiction
- 139 · Synthesizing a Year’s Worth of Reading Skills
Plus 6 review days, not listed.
Mixed review & book recommendationsDays 141–150
Review of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, drama and genres, then choosing and recommending a favorite book, reflecting on growth as a reader, and setting reading goals for next year.
- 141 · Mixed Review: Fiction Analysis Skills
- 142 · Mixed Review: Nonfiction Analysis Skills
- 143 · Mixed Review: Poetry and Drama Skills
- 144 · Mixed Review: Genre Analysis
- 146 · Choosing a Favorite Book to Recommend
- 147 · Writing a Book Recommendation
- 148 · Reflecting on Your Growth as a Reader
- 149 · Setting Reading Goals for Next Year
Plus 2 review days, not listed.
Going deeper: foils, frame stories & weighing evidenceDays 151–160
A short stretch of extension skills: universal themes, character foils, frame stories, synthesizing fiction with nonfiction, free vs. formal verse, dramatic monologue, weighing conflicting evidence, and a review of genres.
- 151 · Deepening Theme Analysis: Universal Themes
- 152 · Deepening Character Analysis: Foils
- 153 · Deepening Structure Analysis: Frame Stories
- 154 · Deepening Nonfiction Analysis: Synthesizing Across Genres
- 156 · Deepening Poetry Analysis: Free Verse vs. Formal Verse
- 157 · Deepening Drama Analysis: Dramatic Monologue
- 158 · Deepening Evidence Analysis: Weighing Conflicting Evidence
- 159 · Synthesizing a Year's Worth of Genre Knowledge
Plus 2 review days, not listed.
Final review, practice tests & celebrationDays 161–180
Mastery checks in fiction, nonfiction and poetry, three practice tests (literary, informational, vocabulary), final reviews, a reading presentation, celebration days, looking ahead to Reading 8, and a final reflection.
- 161 · Reviewing Complex Text Analysis
- 162 · Mastery Check: Fiction Analysis
- 163 · Mastery Check: Nonfiction Analysis
- 164 · Mastery Check: Poetry and Genre Analysis
- 166 · Practice Test: Literary Text Analysis
- 167 · Practice Test: Informational Text Analysis
- 168 · Practice Test: Vocabulary and Language
- 169 · Reviewing Reading Comprehension Strategies
- 171 · Final Review: Fiction Analysis
- 172 · Final Review: Nonfiction Analysis
- 173 · Final Review: Genres Explored This Year
- 174 · Preparing Your Reading 7 Presentation
- 175 · Presenting Your Reading 7 Journey
- 176 · Reading 7 Celebration Day: Favorite Books
- 177 · Reading 7 Celebration Day: Skills Showcase
- 178 · Looking Ahead: Preparing for Reading 8
- 179 · Final Reflection: A Year of Reading 7
- 180 · Congratulations! You Completed Reading 7!
Plus 2 review days, not listed.
By the end of the year, your child can
- Cite several pieces of evidence to support an analysis of a text
- Explain how a theme develops across a story and how setting, character and plot work together
- Compare how two characters or two authors see the same events
- Spot symbolism, irony, foreshadowing and allusion and explain what they add
- Judge an argument's reasoning, evidence and bias, and tell fact from opinion in media
- Compare a story across forms such as print, film, graphic novel and audio
Other 7th Grade subjects: Math 7 · Writing 7 · Science 7 · History 7