Year Seven – Spring Term 2016
Subject Information
The table below indicates the key areas of study to be covered in the National Curriculum Key Stage 3 subjects this term. In addition to this, is information relating to any homework that is set in subject areas and the deadlines for submission of the homework. Information such as this provides you with an opportunity to discuss with your child the work that he / she is doing in school and allows you to identify subject areas in which you can help and / or ask questions about the work they will be covering.
Central to the Year Seven Curriculum is the development of transferable Learning Skills such as team-working, listening, self-evaluation, organization, literacy, numeracy and ICT. These Learning skills are used across the curriculum and will be a regular feature in your child’s lessons.
Subject / Main themes, ideas and topics / Homework
English
English is a skills based subject and lessons include a variety of activities designed to stimulate your child’s creativity.
We develop students’ skills through a theme based curriculum. Within each half-term, students will explore and respond to a range of texts relating to a particular theme; these include poetry, prose, non-fiction, literary non-fiction and media. Texts covered will span the pre-twentieth, twentieth and twenty first centuries Year 7 themes comprise:
Piratology - Students will explore, through the study of a range of texts, the theme. They will explore both non-fiction and fiction texts, developing their own ideas and responses to the issues raised within them; they will complete a range of activities, both written and verbal.
Outsiders / A Novel - Students will read and study a novel which links to the theme of outsiders. They will focus on character, theme and structure. They will develop their reading and analytical skills through a range of activities.
All the skills learned in Year 7 are repeated in different formats throughout KS3. The skills learned will prepare students for KS4 and the requirements of the new GCSE curriculum. Throughout the year, specific reading, writing and speaking and listening skills will be covered and developed; these will be formally assessed in common assessments towards the end of each half term. / Across the year, students’ homework will have a very specific skills focus. We aim to improve students’ spelling, punctuation and grammar through a range of targeted tasks. Additional resources are available on Moodle and can be accessed by all students. Students will also have an accelerated reader lesson as part of their timetable; we therefore ask that you support your child in developing their independent reading. Research proves that those students who regularly read for pleasure are more likely to experience success in all curriculum subjects at GCSE and beyond.
Maths
Topics studied during the Spring term are:
Geometry and Measures
This topic introduces students to the geometrical conventions for lines, angles and shapes. This then leads onto calculating angles at a point on a straight line and in a triangle, and vertically opposite angles are also introduced. Finally coordinates in all 4 quadrants are introduced.
Statistics
This topic introduces the collection and organisation of data. It goes through the creation of data collection forms and questionnaires, as well as how to use frequency tables to collect data. Finally it shows how to conduct surveys and experiments.
Number and Measures
This topic links measures and number, reinforcing basic number work and orders of operations. Students then use numbers to estimate measures and to convert between different units.
Algebra
This topic starts with the introduction of square numbers and triangle numbers. Positive square roots are then considered. Students build on previous work on mappings to introduce representation of algebraic relationships as a graph. Some basic graphs, such as x = a and y=b are discussed and finally graphs of the form y = ax are explored.
Geometry and Measures
This topic introduces students to measuring and drawing angles to the nearest degree. The chapter then leads on to constructing triangles using a ruler and a protractor. Finally, the chapter summarises the properties of triangles and quadrilaterals in order to solve geometrical problems.
Number
This topic introduces percentages and calculating percentages of a quantity. Proportion and ratio is linked to fractions and division, leading to an understanding of how to solve best–buy problems. This then develops to division of a quantity using simple proportion or ratio.
Algebra
This module uses algebra to solve puzzle type questions. In each case, algebra is used to set up one or two equations using letters as variables. These equations are then solved to find the value(s) of the variable(s)
NOTE: All students should bring a pen, pencil, ruler and scientific calculator to each Maths lesson. / Homework is set once per week. Students will be given details of their homework by their Maths teacher which they should carefully write into their planner.
Science
This termstudents will continue the six week rotations of Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
Biology 2- food webs, bioaccumulation, ecological niches, pyramids of number and biomass, ecological sampling techniques and agricultural practices.
Chemistry 2- separation techniques, identifying substances, chemical reactions, word and symbol equations, oxidation and displacement, exothermic and endothermic reactions, the pH scale, acids and bases.
Physics 2- speed distance time graphs, relative motion, moments, gravity, Hooke’s Law, friction, pressure in fluids, opposing forces and equilibrium.
Across the disciplines students will also learn how to work scientifically by learning to: ask questions and develop a line of enquiry based on observations of the real world, evaluate data, showing awareness of potential sources of random and systematic error and understand and use SI units and chemical nomenclature. / Homework tasks are set weekly and should be recorded in the planner. Homework will include finding out type tasks, asking questions tasks and sometimes making tasks.
Students will complete two assessments every half term. The tests alternate between written questions and students demonstrating understanding of key concepts using a variety of styles.
Humanities
Humanities subjects (History, Geography and RS) will be taught on a rotational basis with students attending four lessons per week. The topics covered in each subject will be:
History -The Norman Conquest, the role of the church in society, the origins of parliament and life in Medieval England.
Geography- map skills, settlement, weather, farming, coasts and tourism.
RS-World Religions, Symbolism, Creation Stories, Science v Religion, Rites of Passage and Special Occasions in World Religions.
They will complete half-termly assessments in all the Humanities subjects. / Homework will be set regularly (and when appropriate) to extend learning from the classroom. This will depend upon the rotation of subjects but students should expect one per week. This should be written in their planner to enable parents to see what is expected.
ICT
Game Control
This unit provides an introduction to games design. It develops students understanding of how to writeinstructions in a sequence using flowcharts. This unit provides the theoretical building blocks for the next unit of work.
Scratch
This unit of work is called Scratching The Surface. Students are going to look at computer programming and how to create their very own computer game. Students complete week by week tutorials before finally designing, creating and evaluating their own game / Homework will be set when scheduled within the school calendar. The homework will not require students to have access to specific software packages and will be paper based.
Modern Foreign Languages
During this term we will work to provide the basic linguistic skills and background information necessary to communicate on the following topic areas.
Talking about brothers and sisters.
Talking about pets.
Giving information about family members.
Describing people’s appearance.
Talking about people’s characteristics.
Talking about free-time activities & sports.
Arranging to go out.
This will involve working in all of the four key skill areas of listening, reading, speaking and writing. / This may be in the form of vocabulary learning, reading or writing exercises or preparation of work for a subsequent lesson.
Art and Design
In this unit students will be developing a range of responses to a still life set up of packaging in a variety of shapes, colours and materials. They will learn about composition and be introduced to the use of a viewfinder. Cubism will be Introduced as a means of producing different, more abstract, outcomes and the use of lettering and text in Art will be introduced. Students will be using paint, collage, pastel and pencil crayons to explore colour including the concept of a limited palette. As work related learning the students will research the work of graphic designers (advertising, packaging and letter forms) as part of their homework for this unit. Other artists’ work to be studied will include; Lautrec, Braque, Gris, Picasso. / There will be several pieces of homework over the term, linked to the topic of Cubism and packaging, which involve researching artists, analysing existing pieces of art, drawing from observation and demonstratingskills they have learnt in class.
These vary between 1-2 weeks to complete and recorded in the student’s diary. Presentation is important and we ask students to think about this when producing homework.
Drama
This term sees the introduction of spoken drama, including improvisation and creating characters. Hot-seating and thought tracking techniques are introduced. Students will learn about tension within realistic scenarios and the use of dialogue to communicate in a range of ways. Vocal expression, use of sound and the technique of choral speaking in response to poems and literature will be explored. / Homework will be set when scheduled within the school calendar.
ICT
E-Safety – It is important that students fully understand the concept of online safety and what measures they can adopt in order to feel and stay safe online, in particular when using social networking sites. This unit will teach students how to ensure their online safety and develop their multimedia skills.
Scratch - Computer game development – This unit will introduce students to computer game development. By the end of the unit they should have produced a Pac man game using Scratch tools. / Homework will be set when scheduled within the school calendar. The homework will not require students to have access to specific software packages and will be paper based.
Music
Celebrating culture
Gamelan/Chinese
- understand the traditions seen in Indonesian/Chinese Music
- understand the context of Gamelan performances
- perform as a full-class as a Gamelan ensemble
- compose a Gamelan piece and perform it in a small group
-Discover how Music is used in the Chinese New Year festival
Compose and perform music using the pentatonic scale.
Latin American Music
-understand the features of flamenco, tango and samba
- understand the role of music in carnivals and street dances
- perform a full-class samba / Homework Examples
Gamelan/Chinese
- write a letter to a friend about your time on holiday in Indonesia
- review the Gamelan group performance, including positive aspects and targets for improvement
- Research into Chinese New Year
Technology
Students will have 2 D&T lessons per week. One of those lessons will cover Product Design (Resistant Materials, Systems & Control), the other Textiles and Cooking & Nutrition. While one class is studying Resistant Materials another might be studying Systems and Control, but all subject areas will be covered at some point during the year.
Students will develop core skills in graphics/drawing/modelling to develop designs in Product Design and Textiles. They will also develop their awareness of ingredient/material properties. They will find out about healthy eating in Cooking & Nutrition. They will develop skills in making products by hand, and learn to use machinery safely.
The course is based on a range of short focused practical task lessons particularly during Cooking & Nutrition, combined with longer design and make assignments to enable students to develop a range of skills. / Homework tasks will generally be set every two weeks. Extended homework may be set over a longer period.
Additional preparation will be necessary to be ready for Cooking & Nutrition lessons.
Physical Education
All students have two lessons a week, one lesson is an indoor lesson and the other is outside.
Boys will be covering FootballandTable tennis in the first half of the spring term andOAAandHandball in the second half.
The girls will be covering Rugby and Badminton in the first half of the spring term and Hockey and IndoorAthletics in the second half.
Pupils will build on and embed the physical development and skills learned in key stages 1 and 2, become more competent, confident and expert in their techniques, and apply them across different sports and physical activities. They should understand what makes a performance effective and how to apply these principles to their own and others’ work. They will develop the confidence and interest to get involved in exercise, sports and activities out of school and in later life, and understand and apply the long-term health benefits of physical activity. / Homework will be set when scheduled within the school calendar.