Yr 8 Curriculm Information

Frequency of Home Learning Activities 2013/2014 Year 8

Frequency of Home Learning Subjects Activities Weekly Maths Science Fortnightly L4L PE Half-Termly Art Design & Technology English [ Extended Writing/Project French/Spanish Geography History ICT RE Work] Note: In addition to the above arrangements, subject teachers reserve the right to set extra pieces of home learning activities when the need arises Home Learning Expectations Students
To listen carefully to the Home Learning activity instructions in class. Copy down the Home Learning activity and deadline date into your planner Ensure that all Home Learning activities are completed and handed in on time Attempt all Home Learning activities to the best of your ability, paying attention to your subjects Minimum and Challenge Targets. Take care of your work presentation. Inform your Subject Teacher of any difficulties before the lesson so that further support can be given.

Parents/Carers
Provide a table, chair and a quiet place to work. Negotiate when Home Learning activities are to be done. Check the time spent on individual activity. Ensure that outside clubs do not affect the quality of work produced Check the presentation and content of all Home Learning activities being returned to school. Sign the planner each week. Provide the school with information about any problems through the student planner or by contacting the appropriate Subject Teacher/Achievement Leader directly.

Subject Teachers
Set Home Learning activities according to the Home Learning timetable. Give full and comprehensive instructions and ensure that students record home learning activities in planners Set deadlines for completed work and ensure that they are met. Mark and return all Home Learning activities promptly. Provide help and support.

Year 8 English
What will be studied this term
Year 8 will study either a modern play text, short story or modern novel to be decided upon by the teacher according to the resources available. For reading students will: Show understanding of a range of texts by selecting essential points and using inference and deduction where appropriate. In addition they will identify key features, themes and characters and select sentences, phrases and relevant information to support their views. Some will understand that texts fit into historical and literary traditions. They will retrieve and collate information from a range of sources. For speaking and listening: Students will adapt their talk to the demands of different contexts, purposes and audiences with increasing confidence. Their talk will engage the interest of the listener through the variety and liveliness of both vocabulary and expression. Students will take an active part in discussions, taking different roles and showing understanding of ideas and sensitivity to others. Some students will demonstrate their knowledge of language variety and usage effectively by using standard English fluently in formal situations.

How will work be assessed

During the summer term, students will complete a series of activities and unit tests. During the unit, your child will complete a controlled assessment to track their progress. There will be opportunities to improve the controlled assessment level when appropriate. Assessment activities and the controlled assessment will be marked according to the schools assessment and feedback policy and also the criteria outlined above.

What needs to be done at home

A half termly project will be set by the class teacher: a short story brought to life with interactive characters or research connected to the text studied. Differentiated additional skills based tasks will be given according to the needs of the groups. Homework tasks and resources are available via the facultys website, BeENGspired, which can be found through the school website.

What Key Language will be developed

Standard English used with text. Colloquial language used within modern text. Encouraging students to use and understand more ambitious vocabulary relating to the text. Language skills such as: Infer and deduce, analyse, explore, explain. Key words include (and not exclusive to): structure, language, dialogue, script, select, quotation, interpret, presentation, literacy, features, purpose and context. Library, BeENGspired, home reading, Debate Mate (spoken skills), Bite siz

Where can extra help come from

Year 8 Maths
What will be studied this term
During the summer term students will be taught the following topics. Transformations Students will reflect simple shapes in a mirror line and identify all the symmetries of 2-D shapes. Some students will solve problems using angle and symmetry, properties of polygons and angle properties of intersecting and parallel lines, and explain these properties. Place value, calculator methods, FDPRP, solving problems Students will recognise approximate proportions of a whole and use simple fractions and percentages to describe these. They calculate fractional or percentage parts of quantities and measurements, using a calculator where appropriate. Some students will evaluate one number as a fraction or percentage of another. They will understand and use the equivalences between fractions, decimals and percentages, and calculate using ratios in appropriate situations Sequences, functions and graphs Equations and Formulae Students will use simple formulae expressed in words. They will use and interpret coordinates in all four quadrants. They will construct, express in symbolic form and use simple formulae involving one or two operations. Some students will formulate and solve linear equations with whole-number coefficients. They could represent mappings expressed algebraically, and use Cartesian coordinates for graphical representation interpreting general features. Shapes Students will identify all the symmetries of 2-D shapes. When constructing models and drawing or using shapes, students measure and draw angles to the nearest degree and use language associated with angles. Students will know the angle sum of a triangle and that of angles at a point. Some students will solve problems using angle and symmetry, properties of polygons and angle properties of intersecting and parallel lines, and explain these properties. They will know and use the properties of quadrilaterals.

How will work be assessed

During the summer term, students will complete a series of assessment activities and unit tests. At the end of each term, your child will complete a controlled assessment to assess their progress. Assessment activities and the controlled assessment will be marked according to the schools assessment and feedback policy. Homework varies across the department and will be issued by the class teacher. The school also has a subscription to the website MyMaths your child can get the login details from their Maths teacher. You can also purchase a KS3 MathsWatch CDROM from the school this has lots of videos of Maths techniques and skills. It costs 3.

What needs to be done at home

What Key Language will be developed

Ratio Proportion Term Expression Equation Identities Formulae Functions Coefficients Inverse Operations Reflections Translations Rotations Sequence

Where can extra help come from

Internet www.mymaths.co.uk www.bitesize.co.uk www.youtube.co.uk For any other help, please do not hesitate to contact the Maths Team.

Year 8 Science
What will be studied this term
Electricity and Magnetism
How do we use conductors and insulators to make circuits? How do scientists represent an electric circuit? Electric current, how can we picture the flow of electric current in a circuit? How can we measure electric current? How can we change the current in a circuit? Cells and batteries: What does voltage mean? What happens when we use more than one cell in a circuit? How does the voltage affect the current in a circuit? Series and Parallel Circuits, What is the difference between series and parallel circuit? How does electric current flow in a series and parallel circuit? Dangers of electricity, what are the dangers? How can we use electricity safely? Measuring forces, what effects do forces have? How do we measure forces? How do we represent forces on a diagram? Bending and stretching: What causes us to have weight? How can we show the pattern when a force stretches a spring? Friction, what causes friction? What factors affect friction? Floating and sinking, why do some things float while others sink? Density: How can we find out the density of a substance? How can we predict which things will float? How do scientists learn about the planets? What would it be like to visit another planet? Phases of the moon. Why does the shape of the moon seem to change? What does the earth look like from the moon? The Seasons. How does the weather change during the year? Why does it change? Is it the same all round the world? Eclipses. What happens during an eclipse? How can we explain eclipses? How can we use a model to explain observations? All lessons include How Science Works and students modelling.

Forces and Energy

Solar System

How will work be assessed

End of topic test and regular informal classroom assessments The assessments will be marked according to the schools assessment and feedback policy. Identified pieces of home learning activities will be marked according to the schools assessment feedback policy and students will be made aware of this.

What needs to be done at home

Home work will be given each week. This will include modelling the solar system.

What Key Language will be developed

Conductors, Insulators, Current, Voltage, Ammeter, Voltmeter, Ampere, Voltage, Series Circuit, Parallel Circuit, Weight, Mass, Gravity, Kinetic, Potential, Thermal, Upthrust, Density, Friction, Orbit, Eclipse.

Where can extra help come from

BBC learning Science Teacher Other relevant Science websites The school library stocks many relevant books, see the read, return and recommend poster in the Science department

Year 8 Art
What will be studied this term
Illustrations During this term you will gain an understanding of some of the requirements of what is needed to improve your Level in Art You will learn the rules of human proportions and how by following these rules you can improve the quality of your human figure drawings You will begin to understand how to adapt and refine your work and develop it further You will also develop an understanding of what elements of the project have worked well and plan how they are going to develop their personally skills further You will develop an understanding of how to adapt and refine your work further, in light of evaluations. You will also create a storyboard or comic strip that shows your understanding both the human figure and perspective.

How will work be assessed

You will be given continuous verbal feedback and also given the opportunity to both self and peer assess. Formal major written feedback will be given on a half termly basis. All work will be marked in accordance with the schools assessment and feedback policy and students will be made aware of this.

What needs to be done at home

As a dedicated Art student you should be creating artwork and refining your skills all the times. The more time an artist spends on honing their craft the more successful the work they produce will become. Even when homework is not set students should be working on extending their portfolio further. General homework will be set every other week at present and it will relate to the starter activity that has been set in the lesson.

What Key Language will be developed

Contextual Contemporary Exploration Media Analytical Annotation

Where can extra help come from

Internet:

http://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/gcse-art-and-design-suite-j160-j167-from-2012/ http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/art/ http://www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-modern http://www.youtube.com/ It is also worth looking thought the many creative web sites available on the World Wide Web including Gallery sites and image sharing sites such as Flickr, Deviant art and many others. I would also suggest watching TV programmes based on art especially Sky Arts if possible.

Year 8 Drama
What will be studied this term
HORROR In this unit students will learn to recognize and apply the conventions of Horror. By the end of the unit, students will understand how to build tension in a performance and be able to use evaluation skills to enhance and develop performance/group work. During the unit, students will have the opportunity to work in pairs and groups, access the work of others and develop skills learnt in previous units

How will work be assessed

Students are formally assessed at the end of each term through a process of teacher, peer and selfassessment. Key pieces of class work will be marked according to the schools assessment and feedback policy. All performances are filmed for moderation purposes.

What needs to be done at home

Students can watch the film The Others and The Woman in Black to identify the conventions they will be covering in lessons. The novels The Woman in Black by Susan Hill and Dark Matter by Michelle Paver can be read to support students learning. Sound Effects can be downloaded from You Tube to be used in performance.

What Key Language will be developed

Pauses/Silences Isolated Locations, Sudden Noises/Movement, Dark Or Dim Lighting, Believability, Double Bluff, Victim, Music, Sound Effects.

Where can extra help come from

Parents/carers and students should watch quality television drama and documentaries and news programmes and encourage your child to read as much as possible. Parents/Carers and students should visit the theatre and/or watch performance work in other spaces/venues. Parents should encourage their child to participate in extra-curricular activities such as the school show, drama and dance clubs. Students should complete all homework set by the given deadline.

Useful website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/drama

Year 8 French
What will be studied this term Home
Time Daily routine Students will continue to develop the key skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing.

How will work be assessed

During the topic students will complete a number of short assessment tasks in addition to their regular classroom activities. The assessments will be marked according to the schools assessment and feedback policy. Identified pieces of home learning activities will be marked according to the schools assessment feedback policy and students will be made aware of this.

What needs to be done at home

Students need to continue to learn key vocabulary and revise the main grammar points. A homework project to reinforce the work covered in class will also be set.

What Key Language will be developed Main Grammar points

Telling the time The present tense (reflexive verbs) Developing more complex sentences and building texts

Where can extra help come from

www.linguascope.com (username and password available from MFL department) www.atantot.com (username and password available from MFL department) www.languagesonline.org.uk French magazines are available for students to borrow to help their reading skills. The MFL staff are also available after school Wednesday - Friday to offer any extra support needed.

Year 8 Geography
What will be studied this term
Weather & climate o How to measure the weather o Climate & climate graphs o Water Cycle o Types of rainfall & clouds o Forecasting o Seasons o Global warming Throughout the topic they will develop the following key skills: o Communication skills o Graphical and cartographical skills o Technological skills including ICT and GIS o Interpersonal skills through debate and discussion o Literacy and Numeracy o Problem solving o Entrepreneurial and awareness of career opportunities o Personalised and independent learning

How will work be assessed

Student progress will be measured using a range of assessments that will be held at the end of each topic studied. This piece of work is levelled and shared with the student to track and monitor their progress, in line with their MT (minimum target) and CT (challenge target). Within lessons the teacher will also use a variety of AfL (assessment for learning strategies) that will ensure the teacher is adapting activities to cater to the needs of all students and make sure progress is being made within individual lessons.

What needs to be done at home

Types of home study that will be set: Project based activities that compliment learning in school and the classwork which encourages the development of research skills and independent enquiry

What Key Language will be developed

Weather, Climate, Precipitation, Relief, Frontal, Convectional, Evaporation, Transpiration, Throughflow, Baseflow, Convection, Condenses, Percolation, Infiltration, Surface Run-Off, Stratus, Cirrus, Green House Effect, Sustainable, Pollution, Carbon Footprint, Renewable, Emissions

Where can extra help come from

AQA B- Geography Website http://web.aqa.org.uk/qual/newgcses/geo_landt/new/geography_b_overview.php Bite size Geography http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/geography/ S-Cool: Revision Website http://www.s-cool.co.uk/gcse/geography Learn on the net: Revision http://www.geography.learnontheinternet.co.uk/gcse/revision.html

Year 8 History
What will be studied this term
The Making of the U.K 1500- 1750 The Tudors and the reformation. Henry VIII and the Break with Rome. Catholics VS Protestants. Bloody Mary Elizabeth/Spanish Armada Some of the Y8 classes will study the Plain Indians and their lifestyle for the first half term. This is due to shortage of resources. They will then start on the reformation. How will work be assessed Students studying the Plain Indians will have to complete a levelled leaflet about the different aspects of the Plain Indians life. Reformation assessment essay will be a levelled essay on the Impact of the reformation in England. The assessments will be marked according to the schools assessment and feedback policy.

What needs to be done at home Project based homework: 1) To produce detailed biography of one of the Tudor/ Stuart Monarchs. Deadline: July 2013 2) Classes covering North American Indians will do a homework project on a famous Indian chief All research and write up to be completed at home and marked according to the schools marking and feedback policy. What Key Language will be developed Reformation, Religious conflict, Pope, Catholic, Protestant, Sioux, Tipi, Buffalo, Waken Tanka, Scalping Where can extra help come from There are many programmes on TV focusing on the Tudors and the Native Americans. Many programmes such as What have the Tudors ever done for us? can be found on You tube and BBC I player. Useful websites schoolhistory.co.uk www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk www.bbc.co.uk/schools www.learningcurve.gov.uk www.timelinetv.com Other information/Extra-curricular opportunities: Next year y8 going onto y9 will have opportunity to go to HMS Belfast trip to London during transition week.

Year 8 ICT
What will be studied this term

Students will be completing an extended project raising awareness of endangered animals. Scratch, an animation package, will be used as the basis for this unit and will introduce students to the world of programming.

How will work be assessed

The work will be assessed via circulation and assistance, peer-assessment, self-assessment. Once the final work has been produced, it will then be teacher assessed against Key Stage 3 levels. The assessments will be marked according to the schools assessment and feedback policy. Identified pieces of home learning activities will be marked according to the schools assessment feedback policy and students will be made aware of this.

What needs to be done at home

A Home-Based Independent Learning workbook (HBIL) will be issued on the first lesson of the unit. This supports the keywords introduced in this unit, and the gets students use them to explain what they have done in the unit.

What Key Language will be developed

Programming, Computer Language, Animation, Frames

Where can extra help come from

Practicing with the above packages, especially the RMAP on Kingsbury Smart, at home would also be beneficial (as an additional home learning activity).

Year 8 PE
What will be studied this term
Cricket / Rounders / Athletics / Softball

Perform at maximum levels in relation to height, speed and distance. Select and apply key skills that can be applied in various sporting situations (bowling, striking, fielding techniques). Learn how to observe and analyse performers identifying areas of strength and areas for development. To understand how to warm up effectively and the impact living a healthy life can have on the body. To develop leadership skills by delivering practices in small groups.

How will work be assessed

During the first week of each activity your child will be given a baseline line assessment of their current grade. Your son or daughter will then be assessed at the end of each unit and hopefully have made the required two sub levels progress (i.e. start grade of a 4c and an end grade of 4a for that sport). The assessments will be marked according to the schools assessment and feedback policy.

What needs to be done at home

To attain higher grade students will have to apply tactical knowledge in a game situation. Students are directed towards the library to read the rules, regulations and scoring systems for each sport. By simply watching games of cricket or athletics events will help students to understand the requirements of each sport and can see what the specific skills look like.

What Key Language will be developed Warm up Tactics Compare Techniques Accuracy Fluency Consistently Analyse Understanding Performance

Where can extra help come from

School Library Home: Watch live games, highlights of appropriate events.

Internet:

www.englandathletics.org/ www.roundersengland.co.uk www.ecb.co.uk www.basu.org.uk

Year 8 Religious Education

What will be studied this term
What it means to be a Jew:

Belief in God Moses and his influence Passover and its relevance for today The Sabbath Worship in the synagogue

How will work be assessed

Written assessments each half term. These will be marked according to the schools assessment and feedback policy. Students progress will be discussed with them verbally as well as in the form of written feedback.

What needs to be done at home

Research into the Ten Plagues of Egypt including the collation of pictures and images that they will be able to use in a newspaper report. Project based homework will be issued in the second part of term 1.

What Key Language will be developed

Shema, Mezuzuah, God, Moses, leader, plagues, Shabbat, Pesach, Torah, Bimah, Rabbi

Where can extra help come from

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/teachers/keystage_3/topics/re.shtml http://old.reonline.org.uk/ks3/topiclist.php?8-258 http://atschool.eduweb.co.uk/carolrb/judaism/judai1.html

Year 8 Spanish
What will be studied this term Tiempo libre (Free Time)
Free time activities Saying when and where activities are done Making arrangements to meet Discussing plans for the weekend Further developing opinions

Students will continue to develop the key skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing.

How will work be assessed

During the topic students will complete a number of short assessment tasks in addition to their regular classroom activities. The assessments will be marked according to the schools assessment and feedback policy. Identified pieces of home learning activities will be marked according to the schools assessment feedback policy and students will be made aware of this.

What needs to be done at home

Students need to continue to learn key vocabulary and revise the main grammar points. A homework project to reinforce the work covered in class will also be set.

What Key Language will be developed Main Grammar points

Revision of the present tense Irregular present tense verbs Using ir + infinitive to refer to the future Developing more complex sentences

Where can extra help come from

www.linguascope.com (username and password available from MFL department) www.atantot.com (username and password available from MFL department) www.languagesonline.org.uk Spanish magazines are available for students to borrow to help their reading skills.

The MFL staff are also available after school Wednesday - Friday to offer any extra support needed.

Year 8 Design and Technology

What will be studied this term During this half term students are going to undertake a project based around the market and design of a healthy option fast food chain. In this project they will investigate what the term healthy option could mean; they will look at different brand identities identifying the strengths and weaknesses. From this research they will then develop a corporate identity for their chain and model different aspects of the brand identity. The aim of the project is to develop creativity through looking at a real life problem. There will be opportunity for the students to do some product testing and evaluation through focused design and make activities. At the end of the project students will be expected to pitch their ideas to others in the form of a presentation.

How will work be assessed

There will be a number of different forms of assessment throughout the project. Students will be expected to produce a short report on brand identity and this will be marked against National Curriculum assessment criteria. Work will be looked at in terms of the method of communication and the depth of analysis. Students will be expected to design a brand identity for a food chain and use this identity in order to promote. This aspect of the work will be presented as A3 sheets and marks will be awarded for both the presentation and quality of the designs presented. Students will be doing a problem solving activity which will allow their practical skills to be measured. This will also be levelled against National Curriculum assessment criteria. Students communication skills will also be assessed during a presentation that they will give during the final week. Students as part of their final assessment will also complete an examination question to see how well they have acquired new knowledge.

What needs to be done at home

Students will be expected at home to Look at different brand identities and identify how shape and colour are used. Look at how brand identities change over time in order to keep them fresh. Collect images and samples of packaging, menus and displays from fast food stores. Look at adverts on posters and on television to see how things are promoted. Discuss their work with others so that they can start to develop their ideas.

What Key Language will be developed

Fast food chain, healthy option, target market, brand identity, logo, sustainable, appropriate, form, function, aesthetics, ergonomics, flat pack, materials, manufacture.

Where can extra help come from

Students will be able to get lots of information and support by looking at the internet and searching for the history of brand identities. By looking at websites like sporcle.com students will be able to plan games that help them with the recognition of different logos. These games are also available on a variety of tablets and smart phones. Students will also be able to gather a lot of ideas by looking at the fast food chains that already exist.