Start here · Grade 7
What to teach in Grade 7
Start at Unit 1. Grade 7 is where neural networks are taught explicitly (7.DA.2) — Unit 3 is the centrepiece and Unit 2 is its prerequisite. Run Units 2 and 3 together if you can only run two. Unit 6 carries the Grade 7 Impacts standards on AI in the professions (7.IC.5) and self-to-field fit (7.IC.3), and runs fully unplugged.
Recommended sequence
Pacing and adjustments below are the Grade 7 rows from each unit’s teacher guide — the same numbers a teacher sees when they open the guide.
| Unit | Title | Active time | Adjust for Grade 7 |
|---|---|---|---|
| U1 | From Silicon to Chips | 2 × 45 min | Add a 2-gate combo ("AND then NOT"); write the if-statement in real syntax |
| U2 | What Machine Learning Really Is | 2 × 45 min | All 8 cards; add the supervised/unsupervised/RL sort and the neuron weight-tuning beat (7.DA.2) |
| U3 | Neural Networks by Hand | 3 × 45 min | Students build a 2-neuron layer; tune weights on 2 challenge cards |
| U4 | Bias, Data Quality, and Evaluation | 2 × 40-45 min | Use the 12-row dataset; convert accuracy to a percentage; groups do the breakdown |
| U5 | Security, Privacy, and Digital Citizenship | 2 × 40-45 min | Add the physical vs. digital sort and "name the threat" (7.CYB.1) |
| U6 | AI at Work | 2 × 40-45 min | Add the profession verdict round on three professions with a written reason (7.IC.5) and the private "what I'm into" inventory (7.IC.3) |
Virginia CS SOL coverage for Grade 7
Grade 7: 6 of 15 Virginia CS SOL codes addressed (40%).
From Sand to Agents — K-12 Artificial Intelligence is a supplemental AI curriculum, not a complete computer science course. Every code below is listed — the ones this curriculum addresses and the ones it does not. Each claim points to the unit that earns it, so you can open the lesson and check.
| Strand | Addressed |
|---|---|
| Algorithms and Programming | 1 / 4 |
| Computing Systems | 1 / 2 |
| Cybersecurity | 1 / 1 |
| Data and Analysis | 1 / 2 |
| Impacts of Computing | 2 / 5 |
| Networks and the Internet | 0 / 1 · not covered |
Addressed (6)
| Code | Standard | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 7.AP.2 | The student will plan and implement algorithms that include sequencing, loops, variables, user input, conditional control structures, and functions using a block-based or text-based programming tool. How this is met: Met via the optional code build, or a full guided hand-trace (Material F) where devices are unavailable. | U3 |
| 7.CSY.2 | The student will apply computational thinking to troubleshoot and document hardware and software-related problems. | U1 |
| 7.CYB.1 | The student will differentiate physical and digital security measures that protect electronic information. | U5 |
| 7.DA.2 | The student will explain the process and application of computational thinking in machine learning. | U2, U3 |
| 7.IC.3 | The student will identify individual preferences, skillset, and experiences and determine how these relate to a chosen computer science career field. | U6 |
| 7.IC.5 | The student will evaluate the effect of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in various professions. | U6 |
Not covered (9)
These Grade 7 standards fall outside what this curriculum teaches. Most are programming-tool, networking, or screen-time standards that a general computer science course covers and an AI curriculum does not.
| Code | Standard |
|---|---|
| 7.AP.1 | The student will apply computational thinking to design programs to accomplish a task as a means of creative expression or scientific exploration. |
| 7.AP.3 | The student will use the iterative design process to create, test, and debug programs using a block-based or text-based programming language. |
| 7.AP.4 | The student will apply proper attribution when incorporating other sources into original work. |
| 7.CSY.1 | The student will design projects that use computing devices to collect and exchange data. |
| 7.DA.1 | The student will utilize computational tools to visualize and evaluate data to draw conclusions and make predictions. |
| 7.IC.1 | The student will assess the national and global impact of computing technologies. |
| 7.IC.2 | The student will describe and explain the impact of screen time on interactions with others. |
| 7.IC.4 | The student will identify and apply strategies to prevent personal and public works from being pirated and plagiarized. |
| 7.NI.1 | The student will describe and explain why protocols are essential in data transmission. |