Grade 7 ELA Ontario Curriculum Standards

Literacy Connections and Applications

Demonstrate an understanding of how the seven transferable skills (critical thinking and problem solving; innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship; self-directed learning; collaboration; communication; global citizenship and sustainability; and digital literacy) are used in various language and literacy contexts.

Demonstrate and apply the knowledge and skills needed to interact safely and responsibly in online environments, use digital and media tools to construct knowledge, and demonstrate learning as critical consumers and creators of media.

Apply language and literacy skills in cross-curricular and integrated learning, and demonstrate an understanding of, and make connections to, diverse voices, experiences, perspectives, histories, and contributions, including those of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit individuals, communities, groups, and nations.

Foundations of Language

Apply listening, speaking, and non-verbal communication skills and strategies to understand and communicate meaning in formal and informal contexts and for various purposes and audiences.

Demonstrate an understanding of foundational language knowledge and skills, and apply this understanding when reading and writing.

Demonstrate an understanding of sentence structure, grammar, cohesive ties, and capitalization and punctuation, and apply this knowledge when reading and writing sentences, paragraphs, and a variety of texts.

Comprehension: Understanding and Responding to Texts

Apply foundational knowledge and skills to understand a variety of texts, including digital and media texts, by creators with diverse identities, perspectives, and experience, and demonstrate an understanding of the patterns, features, and elements of style associated with various text forms and genres .

Apply comprehension strategies before, during, and after reading, listening to, and viewing a variety of texts, including digital and media texts, by creators with diverse identities, perspectives, and experience, in order to understand and clarify the meaning of texts.

Apply critical thinking skills to deepen understanding of texts, and analyze how various perspectives and topics are communicated and addressed in a variety of texts, including digital, media, and cultural texts.

Composition: Expressing Ideas and Creating Texts

Plan, develop ideas, gather information, and organize content for creating texts of various forms, including digital and media texts, on a variety of topics.

Apply knowledge and understanding of various text forms and genres to create, revise, edit, and proofread their own texts, using a variety of media, tools, and/or strategies, and reflect critically on created texts

Select suitable and effective media, techniques, and tools to publish and present final texts, and critically analyze how well the texts address various topics .

analyze and explain how transferable skills can be used to support communication in various cultural, social, linguistic, and domain-specific contexts, and apply them when reading, listening to, viewing, and creating texts of various forms

evaluate and explain how transferable skills help them to express their voice, be engaged in their learning, and implement a plan to develop their capabilities and potential

evaluate and explain their rights and responsibilities when interacting online with appropriate permission, and make decisions that contribute positively to the development of their digital identity and those of their communities

demonstrate an understanding of how to navigate online environments safely, manage their privacy, personal data, and security, and interact in a way that supports their well-being and that of others, including seeking appropriate permission

conduct research, considering accuracy, credibility, and perspectives, with a focus on misinformation, disinformation, and curated information, to construct knowledge, create texts, and demonstrate learning, while respecting legal and ethical considerations

evaluate the use of the various forms, conventions, and techniques of digital and media texts, consider the impact on the audience, and apply this understanding when analyzing and creating texts

demonstrate an understanding of the interrelationships between the form, message, and context of texts, the intended and unintended audience, and the purpose for production

select and use appropriate digital and media tools to support the design process and address authentic, relevant, real-world problems by developing and proposing innovative solutions

communicate and collaborate with various communities in a safe, respectful, responsible, and inclusive manner when using online platforms and environments, including digital and media tools, and demonstrate and model cultural awareness with members of the community

analyze and explain how the knowledge and skills developed in this grade support learning in various subject areas and in everyday life, and describe how they enhance understanding and communication

demonstrate an understanding of the historical contexts, contributions, lived experiences, and perspectives of a diversity of individuals and communities, including those in Canada, by exploring and analyzing the concepts of identity, self, and sense of belonging in a variety of culturally responsive and relevant texts

analyze themes explored in First Nations, Métis, and Inuit cultures to demonstrate an understanding of the varied identities, perspectives, relationships, legacies, truths, and ways of knowing, being, and doing

analyze various effective listening skills, including understanding when to ask relevant questions and how to respond to the contributions of others in group discussions, and use these skills in formal and informal contexts and for various purposes

select and use a variety of listening strategies before, during, and after listening to comprehend information communicated orally and non-verbally, seek clarification, and develop a relevant response appropriate to the context

identify the purpose and audience for speaking in formal and informal contexts, and choose appropriate speaking strategies to communicate clearly and coherently

identify and use oral and non-verbal communication strategies, including expression, gestures, and body language, and analyze the ways in which these strategies support understanding or communication, including how their use may vary across cultures

use precise and descriptive word choice, including varied adjectives and adverbs to elaborate, a variety of sentence types, cohesive and coherent sentences, and the active or passive voice as appropriate during formal and informal communication, to support audience comprehension

use generalized knowledge of the meanings of words and morphemes (i.e., bases, prefixes, and suffixes) to read and spell complex words with accuracy and automaticity

demonstrate an understanding of a wide variety of words, acquire and use explicitly taught vocabulary flexibly in various contexts, including other subject areas, and use generalized morphological knowledge to analyze and understand new words in context

read a variety of complex texts fluently, with accuracy and appropriate pacing, to support comprehension, and when reading aloud, adjust expression and intonation according to the purpose of reading

use their knowledge of sentence types and forms to construct sentences that communicate ideas effectively, including using and creating complex sentences that combine phrases and clauses to express relationships among ideas

demonstrate an understanding of the functions of parts of speech in sentences, including indirect objects and predicate nouns, predicate adjectives, participles, and adverbial phrases, and use this knowledge to support comprehension and communicate meaning clearly

use their understanding of the meaning and function of capitalization and punctuation to communicate meaning clearly and coherently, including the use of colons to introduce a quotation after a complete sentence, semicolons to separate two independent clauses, commas to set off conjunctive adverbs, and ellipses or dashes to indicate an omission, a pause, or a break

read and comprehend various complex texts, using knowledge of words, grammar, cohesive ties, sentence structures, and background knowledge

analyze a variety of text forms and genres, including cultural text forms, and explain how their characteristics help communicate meaning

analyze text patterns, such as cause and effect in an expository text, and text features, such as a bibliography and accessible fonts, associated with various text forms, including cultural texts, and explain how they help readers, listeners, and viewers understand the meaning

analyze and compare how images, graphics, and visual design create, communicate, and contribute to meaning in a variety of texts

identify various elements of style in texts, including voice, word choice, word patterns, and sentence structure, and analyze how each element helps create meaning and is appropriate for the text form and genre

identify the narrator's point of view, including first, second, or third person, in a variety of texts, providing evidence, and explain how using an alternative point of view would change each story

read, listen to, and view various forms of texts by diverse First Nations, Métis, and Inuit creators to make meaning through Indigenous Storywork about First Nations, Métis, and Inuit histories, cultures, relationships, communities, groups, nations, and lived experiences

identify and explain prior knowledge from various sources, including personal experiences and learning in other subject areas, that they can use to make connections and understand new texts

identify a variety of purposes for engaging with texts, select texts from diverse creators that are suitable for the purposes, and explain why the selections are appropriate

make predictions using background knowledge and textual information, pose questions to check whether their predictions were correct, and, if not, adjust their understanding

select suitable strategies, such as visualizing, reading ahead, asking questions, and consulting references and other texts or sources of information, to monitor and confirm their understanding of various texts and solve comprehension problems

explain how the ideas expressed in texts connect to their knowledges and lived experiences, the ideas in other texts, and the world around them

summarize and record the main idea and supporting details in various texts, and draw well-supported conclusions

explain and compare how various strategies, such as visualizing, making predictions, summarizing, and connecting to their experiences, have helped them comprehend various texts, and set goals to improve their comprehension

describe literary devices, including foreshadowing, allegory, and symbolism, in a variety of texts, and explain how they help create meaning and are appropriate for the intended purpose and audience

make local and global inferences, using explicit and implicit evidence, to develop interpretations about various texts and to extend their understanding

analyze complex texts, including literary and informational texts, by evaluating, synthesizing, and sequencing relevant information and formulating conclusions

analyze cultural elements that are represented in various texts, including values, rituals and ceremonies, architecture, art, and dance, by investigating the meanings of these elements, making connections to their lived experience and culture, and sharing their interpretations with others

explain explicit and implicit perspectives communicated in various texts, including narrative texts, provide any evidence that could suggest bias in these perspectives, and suggest ways to avoid any such bias

explain how various topics, such as diversity, inclusion, and accessibility, are addressed in texts, analyze the insights or messages conveyed, and identify different positions presented

assess the influence of historical periods, cultural experiences, and/or socio-political conditions and events on texts created by First Nations, Métis, and Inuit individuals, communities, groups, or nations, and how they relate to current lived experiences

compare the critical thinking skills they used when analyzing and evaluating various texts, identify the skills that best supported their understanding, and explain why they were effective

identify the topic, purpose, and audience for various texts they plan to create, and analyze why the chosen text form, genre, and medium suit the purpose and audience, and how they will help communicate the intended meaning

generate and develop ideas and details about various topics, such as topics related to diversity, equity, and inclusion and to other subject areas, using a variety of strategies, and drawing on various resources, including their own lived experiences

gather and synthesize information and content relevant to a topic, using a variety of textual sources and appropriate strategies; evaluate the quality, bias, and accuracy of information; verify the reliability of sources; and record the creator and source of all content created by others

classify and sequence ideas and collected information, using appropriate strategies and tools, and identify and organize relevant content, taking into account the chosen text form, genre, and medium

explain and compare how the strategies and tools used helped them develop ideas and organize content for texts of the chosen forms, genres, and media, and how they helped them improve as a text creator

draft complex texts of various forms and genres, including narrative, expository, and informational texts, using a variety of media, tools, and strategies

write in cursive fluently, with a personal style, and apply word-processing skills with some fluency, automaticity, and proficiency to improve the accuracy and effect of texts

establish a personal voice in their texts, using language and elements of style to express their thoughts, feelings, and opinions about a topic, and using a tone appropriate to the form and genre

identify the point of view, perspectives, and bias conveyed in their texts, and explain how their messages might be interpreted by audiences with different perspectives

make revisions to the content, elements of style, patterns, and features of draft texts, and add, delete and re-sequence sentences to improve clarity, focus, and coherence, using various strategies and seeking and selectively using feedback

edit draft texts to improve accuracy and style, checking for errors in spelling, punctuation, grammar, and format; edit digital texts using word-processing software, including spell- and grammar-checkers

produce final texts, selecting a variety of suitable techniques and tools, including digital design and production tools, to achieve the intended effect

publish and present texts they have created, using various media and tools, and analyze how their choices helped them communicate their intended message

compare how various strategies and tools helped them communicate their intended message when publishing and presenting texts, analyze how their texts address various topics, and suggest steps for future improvement as a text creator

Language

Literacy Connections and Applications

Transferable Skills: demonstrate an understanding of how the seven transferable skills (critical thinking and problem solving; innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship; self-directed learning; collaboration; communication; global citizenship and sustainability; and digital literacy) are used in various language and literacy contexts

analyze and explain how transferable skills can be used to support communication in various cultural, social, linguistic, and domain-specific contexts, and apply them when reading, listening to, viewing, and creating texts of various forms

evaluate and explain how transferable skills help them to express their voice, be engaged in their learning, and implement a plan to develop their capabilities and potential

Digital Media Literacy: demonstrate and apply the knowledge and skills needed to interact safely and responsibly in online environments, use digital and media tools to construct knowledge, and demonstrate learning as critical consumers and creators of media

evaluate and explain their rights and responsibilities when interacting online with appropriate permission, and make decisions that contribute positively to the development of their digital identity and those of their communities

demonstrate an understanding of how to navigate online environments safely, manage their privacy, personal data, and security, and interact in a way that supports their well-being and that of others, including seeking appropriate permission

conduct research, considering accuracy, credibility, and perspectives, with a focus on misinformation, disinformation, and curated information, to construct knowledge, create texts, and demonstrate learning, while respecting legal and ethical considerations

evaluate the use of the various forms, conventions, and techniques of digital and media texts, consider the impact on the audience, and apply this understanding when analyzing and creating texts

demonstrate an understanding of the interrelationships between the form, message, and context of texts, the intended and unintended audience, and the purpose for production

select and use appropriate digital and media tools to support the design process and address authentic, relevant, real-world problems by developing and proposing innovative solutions

communicate and collaborate with various communities in a safe, respectful, responsible, and inclusive manner when using online platforms and environments, including digital and media tools, and demonstrate and model cultural awareness with members of the community

Applications, Connections, and Contributions: apply language and literacy skills in cross-curricular and integrated learning, and demonstrate an understanding of, and make connections to, diverse voices, experiences, perspectives, histories, and contributions, including those of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit individuals, communities, groups, and nations

analyze and explain how the knowledge and skills developed in this grade support learning in various subject areas and in everyday life, and describe how they enhance understanding and communication

demonstrate an understanding of the historical contexts, contributions, lived experiences, and perspectives of a diversity of individuals and communities, including those in Canada, by exploring and analyzing the concepts of identity, self, and sense of belonging in a variety of culturally responsive and relevant texts

analyze themes explored in First Nations, Métis, and Inuit cultures to demonstrate an understanding of the varied identities, perspectives, relationships, legacies, truths, and ways of knowing, being, and doing

Foundations of Language

Oral and Non-Verbal Communication: apply listening, speaking, and non-verbal communication skills and strategies to understand and communicate meaning in formal and informal contexts and for various purposes and audiences

analyze various effective listening skills, including understanding when to ask relevant questions and how to respond to the contributions of others in group discussions, and use these skills in formal and informal contexts and for various purposes

select and use a variety of listening strategies before, during, and after listening to comprehend information communicated orally and non-verbally, seek clarification, and develop a relevant response appropriate to the context

identify the purpose and audience for speaking in formal and informal contexts, and choose appropriate speaking strategies to communicate clearly and coherently

identify and use oral and non-verbal communication strategies, including expression, gestures, and body language, and analyze the ways in which these strategies support understanding or communication, including how their use may vary across cultures

use precise and descriptive word choice, including varied adjectives and adverbs to elaborate, a variety of sentence types, cohesive and coherent sentences, and the active or passive voice as appropriate during formal and informal communication, to support audience comprehension

Language Foundations for Reading and Writing: demonstrate an understanding of foundational language knowledge and skills, and apply this understanding when reading and writing

use generalized knowledge of the meanings of words and morphemes (i.e., bases, prefixes, and suffixes) to read and spell complex words with accuracy and automaticity

demonstrate an understanding of a wide variety of words, acquire and use explicitly taught vocabulary flexibly in various contexts, including other subject areas, and use generalized morphological knowledge to analyze and understand new words in context

read a variety of complex texts fluently, with accuracy and appropriate pacing, to support comprehension, and when reading aloud, adjust expression and intonation according to the purpose of reading

Language Conventions for Reading and Writing: demonstrate an understanding of sentence structure, grammar, cohesive ties, and capitalization and punctuation, and apply this knowledge when reading and writing sentences, paragraphs, and a variety of texts

use their knowledge of sentence types and forms to construct sentences that communicate ideas effectively, including using and creating complex sentences that combine phrases and clauses to express relationships among ideas

demonstrate an understanding of the functions of parts of speech in sentences, including indirect objects and predicate nouns, predicate adjectives, participles, and adverbial phrases, and use this knowledge to support comprehension and communicate meaning clearly

use their understanding of the meaning and function of capitalization and punctuation to communicate meaning clearly and coherently, including the use of colons to introduce a quotation after a complete sentence, semicolons to separate two independent clauses, commas to set off conjunctive adverbs, and ellipses or dashes to indicate an omission, a pause, or a break

Comprehension: Understanding and Responding to Texts

Knowledge about Texts: apply foundational knowledge and skills to understand a variety of texts, including digital and media texts, by creators with diverse identities, perspectives, and experience, and demonstrate an understanding of the patterns, features, and elements of style associated with various text forms and genres

read and comprehend various complex texts, using knowledge of words, grammar, cohesive ties, sentence structures, and background knowledge

analyze a variety of text forms and genres, including cultural text forms, and explain how their characteristics help communicate meaning

analyze text patterns, such as cause and effect in an expository text, and text features, such as a bibliography and accessible fonts, associated with various text forms, including cultural texts, and explain how they help readers, listeners, and viewers understand the meaning

analyze and compare how images, graphics, and visual design create, communicate, and contribute to meaning in a variety of texts

identify various elements of style in texts, including voice, word choice, word patterns, and sentence structure, and analyze how each element helps create meaning and is appropriate for the text form and genre

identify the narrator’s point of view, including first, second, or third person, in a variety of texts, providing evidence, and explain how using an alternative point of view would change each story

read, listen to, and view various forms of texts by diverse First Nations, Métis, and Inuit creators to make meaning through Indigenous Storywork about First Nations, Métis, and Inuit histories, cultures, relationships, communities, groups, nations, and lived experiences

Comprehension Strategies: apply comprehension strategies before, during, and after reading, listening to, and viewing a variety of texts, including digital and media texts, by creators with diverse identities, perspectives, and experience, in order to understand and clarify the meaning of texts

identify and explain prior knowledge from various sources, including personal experiences and learning in other subject areas, that they can use to make connections and understand new texts

identify a variety of purposes for engaging with texts, select texts from diverse creators that are suitable for the purposes, and explain why the selections are appropriate

make predictions using background knowledge and textual information, pose questions to check whether their predictions were correct, and, if not, adjust their understanding

select suitable strategies, such as visualizing, reading ahead, asking questions, and consulting references and other texts or sources of information, to monitor and confirm their understanding of various texts and solve comprehension problems

explain how the ideas expressed in texts connect to their knowledges and lived experiences, the ideas in other texts, and the world around them

summarize and record the main idea and supporting details in various texts, and draw well-supported conclusions

explain and compare how various strategies, such as visualizing, making predictions, summarizing, and connecting to their experiences, have helped them comprehend various texts, and set goals to improve their comprehension

Critical Thinking in Literacy: apply critical thinking skills to deepen understanding of texts, and analyze how various perspectives and topics are communicated and addressed in a variety of texts, including digital, media, and cultural texts

describe literary devices, including foreshadowing, allegory, and symbolism, in a variety of texts, and explain how they help create meaning and are appropriate for the intended purpose and audience

make local and global inferences, using explicit and implicit evidence, to develop interpretations about various texts and to extend their understanding

analyze complex texts, including literary and informational texts, by evaluating, synthesizing, and sequencing relevant information and formulating conclusions

analyze cultural elements that are represented in various texts, including values, rituals and ceremonies, architecture, art, and dance, by investigating the meanings of these elements, making connections to their lived experience and culture, and sharing their interpretations with others

explain explicit and implicit perspectives communicated in various texts, including narrative texts, provide any evidence that could suggest bias in these perspectives, and suggest ways to avoid any such bias

explain how various topics, such as diversity, inclusion, and accessibility, are addressed in texts, analyze the insights or messages conveyed, and identify different positions presented

assess the influence of historical periods, cultural experiences, and/or socio-political conditions and events on texts created by First Nations, Métis, and Inuit individuals, communities, groups, or nations, and how they relate to current lived experiences

compare the critical thinking skills they used when analyzing and evaluating various texts, identify the skills that best supported their understanding, and explain why they were effective

Composition: Expressing Ideas and Creating Texts

Developing Ideas and Organizing Content: plan, develop ideas, gather information, and organize content for creating texts of various forms, including digital and media texts, on a variety of topics

identify the topic, purpose, and audience for various texts they plan to create, and analyze why the chosen text form, genre, and medium suit the purpose and audience, and how they will help communicate the intended meaning

generate and develop ideas and details about various topics, such as topics related to diversity, equity, and inclusion and to other subject areas, using a variety of strategies, and drawing on various resources, including their own lived experiences

gather and synthesize information and content relevant to a topic, using a variety of textual sources and appropriate strategies; evaluate the quality, bias, and accuracy of information; verify the reliability of sources; and record the creator and source of all content created by others

classify and sequence ideas and collected information, using appropriate strategies and tools, and identify and organize relevant content, taking into account the chosen text form, genre, and medium

explain and compare how the strategies and tools used helped them develop ideas and organize content for texts of the chosen forms, genres, and media, and how they helped them improve as a text creator

Creating Texts: apply knowledge and understanding of various text forms and genres to create, revise, edit, and proofread their own texts, using a variety of media, tools, and strategies, and reflect critically on created texts

draft complex texts of various forms and genres, including narrative, expository, and informational texts, using a variety of media, tools, and strategies

write in cursive fluently, with a personal style, and apply word-processing skills with some fluency, automaticity, and proficiency to improve the accuracy and effect of texts

identify the point of view, perspectives, and bias conveyed in their texts, and explain how their messages might be interpreted by audiences with different perspectives

make revisions to the content, elements of style, patterns, and features of draft texts, and add, delete and re-sequence sentences to improve clarity, focus, and coherence, using various strategies and seeking and selectively using feedback

edit draft texts to improve accuracy and style, checking for errors in spelling, punctuation, grammar, and format; edit digital texts using word-processing software, including spell- and grammar-checkers

Publishing, Presenting, and Reflecting: select suitable and effective media, techniques, and tools to publish and present final texts, and critically analyze how well the texts address various topics

produce final texts, selecting a variety of suitable techniques and tools, including digital design and production tools, to achieve the intended effect

publish and present texts they have created, using various media and tools, and analyze how their choices helped them communicate their intended message

compare how various strategies and tools helped them communicate their intended message when publishing and presenting texts, analyze how their texts address various topics, and suggest steps for future improvement as a text creator