Seventh grade students in the Cambridge Public Schools explore World History, Philosophy and Religion. At the end of the seventh grade, students will be able to:
- Describe the contributions of a range of civilizations, including Rome, Islamic civilizations, West Africa, India and China.
- Explain the impact of religion and philosophy on history and culture.
- Analyze primary and secondary sources to understand the author’s purpose.
- Write essays with clear arguments and ample historical evidence.
- Conduct historical research projects that draw on several sources.
| Units of Study |
Year-long Essential Questions |
| Ancient Israel and Judaism |
What do we believe and why?
Why should we learn people’s stories?
How do our beliefs shape our actions? |
| Ancient Rome, Byzantine Empire and Christianity |
| Islam to 1500 |
| West Africa and the Swahili Coast |
| Indian Civilizations, Hinduism and Buddhism |
| Chinese Civilizations, Confucianism, Legalism and Daoism |
All seventh grade students complete a range of Common Core-aligned writing assessments, including at least two Document Based Questions (DBQs) and a three to five page research paper with multiple sources and MLA citations.