Curriculum notes
Curriculum notes
Year 8 CE - Autumn Term 2008
ENGLISH
• To accompany the main teaching, pupils will work from two main textbooks: ‘English for Common Entrance’ (supplied by the department) and ‘English for Common Entrance Independent Study Book’ (pupils’ copy).
• For Paper 2 (Writing), the ‘Assessment Descriptors’ can be found in your child’s exercise book.
Comprehension for Paper 1
• Retrieve, deduce, infer and interpret
• Comment on writers’ use of language, purpose and viewpoint
• Effective use of quotation
• Personal responses
• Awareness of mark scheme
• Sift, plan, structure and write extended responses
Paper 1 Section A (Non-fiction)
• Travel writing
• Journalistic texts
• Discussion texts
• Auto / biography
Paper 1 Section B (Poetry)
• Revise / recognize poetic techniques
• Analysis of a range of poems
Paper 2 Section A (Studied Literature)
• Introducing essay writing skills
• Book study: thematic approach (‘Relationships’)
Paper 2 Section B (Writing)
• Descriptive
• Narrative
• Discursive
Grammar and Punctuation
• Revision of the following: paragraphing, nouns, adjectives, verbs, adverbs, pronouns, prepositions, conjunctions, basic punctuation, sentence structure
MATHEMATICS
• Addition and subtraction of fractions
• Algebra
• Multiplication and division of fractions
• Calculator work
• Graphs
• Speed, distance, time
• Equations (Standard tier) / Inequalities (Higher tier)
• Area and Volume
• Statistics
• Revision (Standard tier) / Pythagoras’ Theorem (Higher tier)
SCIENCE
• Reactions of metals with oxygen, water, acids and metal oxides
• Displacement reactions
• Reactivity series
• Review of chemical reactions
• Energy resources – renewable and non-renewable
• Generating electricity
• Conservation of energy
• Transfer of energy
• Series and parallel circuits
• Current and voltage
• Electrical components
• Electromagnets
FRENCH
• Revision of present and perfect tenses and the future (expressed by aller + infinitive only)
• Imperatives
• Adverbs
• Use of depuis
• Revision of topics set out in CE syllabus and covered in ISEB vocabulary learning book
• Oral preparation – discussion topics and role plays
• Developing reading, writing and listening skills
GERMAN
• Describing lost things
• School subjects (extension)
• Communication in the classroom
• Daily life at school
• Future plans
• Sport and hobbies
• Write and respond to invitations
• Excuses
• TV and radio (extension)
SPANISH
• Invitations / holiday arrangements
• In a train station
• Packing a suitcase
• Train travel – asking questions, getting information, making comparisons
• Talking about a region in Spain
• Giving opinions
• Giving and understanding directions
• Talking about food
• Weather
HISTORY
Early Modern Period
• The Battle of Bosworth Field – revise
• Henry VII
• Henry VIII
• Henry VIII and the Reformation
• The Dissolution of the Monasteries
• The Pilgrimage of Grace
• Continuing religious changes
• CE revision
• Mary I
GEOGRAPHY
• Plate tectonics – volancoes, earthquakes, landslides & tsunamis
• Rivers
• Fieldwork at Juniper Hall
• Settlement
• Locational knowledge
• O.S. map work
LATIN
• Comparative adjectives
• Superlative adjectives
• Pronouns
• Demonstrative pronouns
• Greek mythology
• Aspects of Roman history
• Translation and comprehension practice
RELIGIOUS STUDIES
Set CE texts of the Old Testament
• Abraham and Isaac
• Moses and the Ten Commandments
• David and Jonathan
• David and Bathsheba
• Solomon’s Wisdom
• Contemporary issues
ICT
• MS Excel Spreadsheet assignments involving formulae and functions
• Introduction to the history of the Internet and basic understanding of HTML
DRAMA
• Understanding the concept of collective authorship
• Gain knowledge of sub-text within a story
• Using the above, create a short play based on Colin Ward’s ‘Runaway Trial’ showing an awareness of the needs of an audience
MUSIC
• Keyboard composition and performance based on Eleanor Rigby
• Samba percussion
• Orchestral score reading using Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition
• Research a 20th century composer
• Graphic score based on Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man
ART
SLD
• Focussing in the language of drawing: to record, analyse and express ideas in a variety of media
• Exercises in perspective, use of tone, texture and the depiction of space and form and mood
• Translate into an A4 print
JRH
• Use Photoshop to digitally explore image manipulation before scaling up work and displaying it as a collage
• Theme will be ‘famous people and contemporary characters’
JLM
• Produce a range of observational studies and be introduced to the concept of abstract art
• Look at Kandinsky’s painting ‘Swinging’
• Working to music (different types) to allow the rhythm to have an effect on the work
• Use of various media
DESIGN TECHNOLOGY
• Design and make a contemporary clock based on the housing / body / element of the clock mechanism
• Looking at many different contemporary design shapes and forms in furniture, cars, planes etc. and also look at certain 20th century artists
• Challenging the making aspect of this project
• Pupils to make decision on fixings and how we attach one material to another
PSHE
• Welcome back and target setting
• Self esteem
• Fire safety
• Alcohol awareness
CITIZENSHIP
• School Council
• Voting
• Racism
• Bullying
• Immigration
• Road safety
• Personal safety