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Year 8

English

Autumn 1 - George Orwell Animal Farm:
Read classic novella and identify links to the historical context of text, plus opportunities for analytical and creative writing.

Autumn 2 - War Poetry:
Read a selection of war poetry by Wilfred Owen, Siegfried Sassoon and other poets. Link the context and implied meaning to the historical context. Compare multiple poems, focussing on language features, analysis and making meaning.

Maths

Negative numbers and order of operations (BIDMAS). Multiplication and division strategies including decimals. Powers and roots, including products of prime factors. Addition and Subtraction strategies. Rounding to significant figures.Using a scientific calculator. Algebra including simplifying, substitution, expanding brackets, factorising expressions. Fractions including addition, subtraction, multiplying and dividing, and finding fractions of amounts. Ongoing problem solving and investigative tasks.

Science

Safety in the Lab:
Recap how to conduct experiments and behave safely in a science laboratory, including use of a Bunsen burner.

Classifying Materials:
Explore the structure and properties of solids, liquids and gases.  Learn about the structure of the atom and the difference between elements, mixtures and compounds.

Breathing and Respiration:
Look at the structure and function of the lungs.  Learn the mechanism of breathing, what gaseous exchange involves and the process of respiration.

Geography

Asia:
Extend locational and spatial awareness of the world’s countries, with a focus on Asia.  Look in depth at world population and distribution, how and why populations change over time, referring to India and China.  Use choropleth maps to learn about climate, life expectancy, population and landscapes.

History

Autumn 1:
A study into the causes of the British Empire which includes looking at; America, India, Australia and Africa, the impact on colonies and how the Empire is remembered.

Autumn 2:
A study into the impact of Slave Trade from the Middle Passage, to arrival in America, the resistance seen and the abolition of slavery. Reflection on the lasting impact on society.

Creativity

Music - Film and Backing Music:
Explore how music sets the scene, gain insight into the melodic devices and structure of composers and compose own ideas.

Art – Photography:
Use Photopea to create digitally enhanced images. Look at the intricacies of cameras and ways to use them.

Design Technology – Product Manufacture:
Learn about natural disaster food relief. Design an emergency aid ‘drop bag’.

STEM – Fastest car:
Research, design and make a model F1 car. Compete in teams to create the fastest.  Who will win?!?

Food Tech – the Balanced Plate:
Develop cutting and cooking skills making a mixture of savoury and sweet dishes. Learn about food provenance and prepare a range of family meals.

Computing

Computational Thinking:
Apply key computational thinking skills to a range of problems and circumstances. Recognise the benefits of technology but also the steps needed to produce efficient and effective outcomes.  Understand how programs can be represented in code, pseudocode and as flowcharts to express and develop our thinking. Develop our knowledge of Python for programming and the basic syntax used including for selection.

French

Vocabulary for countries/cities/places, travel vocabulary (including the use of a dictionary), learn the verb ‘to go’ in the present tense, types of transport, write short sentences about a holiday, how to translate and understand written text.

PE

Football:
Skills, tactics, pattern of play and teamwork.

Gymnastics:
Group sequences based on a self-chosen theme.

Health Related Fitness:
Activities to promote HRF.

Basketball:
Skills, complex tactics and teamwork.

Handball:
Goalkeeping, attack and defending tactics.

Korfball:
Rules, tactics and patterns of play.

Lacrosse:
Goal scoring, space & tactics.

Tag Rugby:
Game play and teamwork.

Philosophy

Modern Society:
The place of non-religion and increasing numbers, understanding religious complexity in the western world.

Leaders:
Discover how faith & qualities influence; Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, Aung San Suu Kyi.

Ed4Life

Relationship and Sex Education:
Stereotyping, media image, self-esteem, positive/good relationships and self-identity, stability and happiness, consent and dangers (including online danger), teenage pregnancy and preventing STI’s.

Options

Pupils have the opportunity to complete additional learning in a variety of subjects/topics, choosing two. Information is sent out prior to the academic year.