Year 8 Curriculum/Home Learning Information Autumn Term 1

Home Learning Guidance

Why Home Learning?

Home Learning [homework] checks that you have understood what you have done in class, and helps you prepare for something that you might be doing in the next lesson for that subject.

When doing your Home Learning activities you will learn:

Independence How to work at your own pace Organisation How to explore your own interests

What is Home Learning?

Home Learning could be any of the following: Preparing for a lesson Research - finding out facts Writing an essay or report Learning for a test

What if Home Learning is not set?

If Home Learning is not set you should do some background reading or research for the subjects in your Home Learning timetable.

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 Work] French/Spanish Geography History ICT RE Note: In addition to the above arrangements, subject teachers reserve the right to set extra home learning activities when the need arises

KSSC 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.

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. Provide feedback and return all Home Learning activities promptly. Provide help and support.

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.

Year 8 English
What will be studied this term
YR 8 will study a modern novel. For reading students will: Show an understanding of a modern novel 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 Autumn 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. A research project based around the Modern Novel will be set with differentiated additional skills based tasks given according to the needs of the group. Homework tasks and resources are available via the facultys website, BeENGspired, which can be found through the school website. 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, Character, Setting, Plot, First Person, Dialogue, Select, Quotation, Interpret, Presentation, Literacy, Features, Purpose And Context. Library BeENGspired Home reading Debate Mate (spoken skills) Bitesize

What needs to be done at home

What Key Language will be developed

Where can extra help come from

Year 8 Maths
What will be studied this term
During the Autumn term pupils in Year 8 will learn the following algebra topics: Define term, expression and equation and identify examples of each Use linear expressions to describe the nth term of simple arithmetic sequence Simplify linear algebraic expressions by collecting like terms Expand and multiply out single and double brackets using both integer and fractional coefficients Substitute positive integers into linear expressions Apply the rules of arithmetic to algebraic expressions

How will work be assessed

During the Autumn term students will complete a series of assessment activities and module 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.

What needs to be done at home

Home Learning varies across the department and will be issued by the class teacher. Students can also purchase a KS3 Mathswatch DVD from the school (3). The DVD contains video clips demonstrating with examples all of the algebra being taught through the term.

What Key Language will be developed

Term Expression Equation, Linear Expand, Like Terms, Re-Arrange, Substitute, Brackets

Where can extra help come from

In addition to the Mathswatch DVD, there are a number of online learning websites to choose from including

Useful Websites: www.bbc.bitesize.co.uk www.youtube.co.uk Nrich.maths.org

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
Still-Life
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 be taught some of the approaches to create a successful observational drawing. You will be given some guidelines designed to improve your drawing skills further and therefore improve the quality of your 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 via self, peer and teacher evaluations. You will develop an understanding of how to adapt and refine your work further, in light of evaluations. You will also create a response to the project based on both your understanding of what makes a successful still life and the work of the Cubist movement. 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. 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 Home Learning activities will be set on a half- termly basis as project work that relates to the theme.

How will work be assessed

What needs to be done at home

What Key Language will be developed

Contextual Contemporary Exploration Media Analytical Annotation

Where can extra help come from

Useful Websites: 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
COMEDY

In this unit students will learn to recognize and apply the conventions of Comedy. By the end of the unit, students will understand how to create comedy 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 self-assessment. 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 Rowen Atkinsons Guide to Visual Comedy to identify the conventions they will be covering in lessons. Watching a variety of comedy programmes and films will support the classroom based learning. Sound Effects can be downloaded from You Tube to be used in performance.

What Key Language will be developed

Overstatement/ Understatement, Appearance, Voice, Slapstick, Exaggerated Movement, Role Reversal, Magic Three.

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 En ville et la maison (In town and at home)
Places around town Asking for and giving basic directions Household tasks 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. 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

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

The present tense The verb aller (to go) The verb faire (to do/make) Developing more complex sentences

Where can extra help come from

Useful Websites: 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 - See Mrs Chapman in Room 21.

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

Year 8 Geography
What will be studied this term
Ecosystems What is an ecosystem and where do different biomes occur? What are the key characteristics of a desert ecosystem- plants, people, animals adaptation What are the key characteristics of a Savanna ecosystem- plants, people, animals adaptation What are the key characteristics of the Rainforest ecosystem- plants, people, animals adaptation What are the causes and effects of deforestation in the rainforest- levelled assessment Why are tourists attracted to different ecosystems Throughout the topic they will develop the following key skills: Communication skills Graphical and cartographical skills Technological skills including ICT and GIS Interpersonal skills through debate and discussion Literacy and Numeracy Problem solving Entrepreneurial and awareness of career opportunities 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. 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

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

Biome, Ecosystem, Abiotic, Biotic, Food Chain, Carnivore, Omnivore, Herbivore, Consumer, Decomposer, Predator, Prey, Deforestation, Slash And Burn, Adaptation,

Where can extra help come from

Useful Websites:
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
England 1500 - 1750 The Tudors The Reformation Henry 8th and the break with Rome. Why did the church change in 1536? Catholics vs Protestants What were the short and long term effects of this? Mary I The reign of Elizabeth I The Spanish Armada Mary Queen of Scots Gunpowder Plot

How will work be assessed

Industrial Revolution Assessment: Elizabeth 1 assessment- Self, Peer and Teacher assessed. The assessment will be marked according to the Schools assessment and feedback policy.

What needs to be done at home

Students will complete a project on the Mughal Empire in India An information sheet and guidelines will be provided The assessment will be marked according to the Schools assessment and feedback policy.

What Key Language will be developed

Reformation, Catholics, Protestants, Tudors, Power, Economic, Religion, sectarianism, Armada, Propaganda

Where can extra help come from

Useful Websites schoolhistory.co.uk www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk www.bbc.co.uk/schools www.learningcurve.gov.uk www.timelinetv.com

Year 8 ICT
What will be studied this term

Students will be completing an extended project that will be developed around the topic of Famous People. This initial project focusses on finding, awarding and presenting information. The programs that will be used include the Internet, Dreamweaver web design, and will introduce students to the basics of HTML programming. The project will develop independent enquirer and creativity skills.

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, both in terms of ICT understanding and ICT skills. 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

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

HTML, Template, Web Page, URL, Browser, Dreamweaver, App Div, Rollover Image, Hyperlinks.

Where can extra help come from

Researching existing websites and evaluating appearance, content and speed would be beneficial (as an additional home learning activity).

Year 8 PE
What will be studied this term
Rugby / Badminton / Hockey / Netball

Select and apply key skills that can be applied in various sporting 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 describe why physical activity is good for their health and well being To develop leadership skills by delivering practices in small groups.

How will work be assessed

During the first week of each activity students will be given a baseline line assessment of their current grade. Students 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 rugby or hockey 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 Where can extra help come from
School Library Home: Watch live games, highlights of appropriate events.

Accuracy Fluency

Understanding Performance Consistently Analyse

Useful Websites: www.rfu.com www.netballengland.co.uk www.ukbadminton.co.uk www.nationalhockey.co.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

A project based Home Learning activity will be issued during the Autumn term.

What Key Language will be developed

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

Where can extra help come from

Useful Websites: 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 Tapas y bebidas (Food and drink)
Opinions of different food and drink Where to eat or drink Ordering snacks Paying bills Comparing different food and drink 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. 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

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

What Key Language will be developed Main Grammar points

Using the verb tener Present tense verbs (particularly -er verbs) Revision of numbers/prices Reasons for opinions Developing more complex sentences

Where can extra help come from

Useful Websites: 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.

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