Achievement with heart.
Year 8 Curriculum Overview Spring Term 2024
Year 8 Curriculum Overview Spring Term 2024
Contents Art Computer Science Drama English FLAM French Geography History Latin Mandarin Maths Music PE PSHE Science Spanish
Achievement with heart.
Year 8 Curriculum Overview Spring Term 2024
Art A landscape painting project using a limited palette. The students will be tasked to use imaginary colours based only on tonal information; this will be refined by the inclusions of ‘Cloissonism’ to intensify these colours. They will practice in use of grading colour intensity, hue and tone; and develop their ability to judge relative tonal values and their importance in compositional balance. This project builds directly on their last, giving the students the opportunity to use their colour knowledge in imaginary ways, gaining more insight and confidence. They will take inspiration from the landscape paintings of the German Expressionist painter Gabrielle, Munter, and explore the expressive qualities of nonnaturalistic colour.
Key contact Eve Blackwood Head of Art eb@hchnet.co.uk
Computer Science This term students will learn about the core concepts of computational thinking, programming and computer systems through unplugged activities and learning with the BBC micro:bit. The objective is to understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science – computational thinking. They will gain practical experience of writing computer programs to solve problems, using input sensors and output devices (light and sound). They will create prototypes, algorithms, flowcharts and pseudocode, and test and debug solutions. The concepts of selection and iteration will be highlighted, as well as hardware and software. Students will be assessed using an online MS Form quiz, and a practical challenge in class showcasing their newly learned skills.
Key contact Andrew Evans Head of Computer Science aev@hchnet.co.uk
Year 8 Curriculum Overview Spring Term 2024
Drama We will start this term by exploring devising techniques to create Drama around the theme of refugees. Students will examine the topic through physical theatre, montage, and mime and narration. They will need to complete independent research to create monologues to explore different perspectives and develop characters. Students will be assessed on their creative input into lessons. In the second half of the term students will use what they have learned to create characters for the school production of Alice in Wonderland. In this multi-disciplinary unit students will learn all the different facets of putting on a production, starting with script writing, and then looking at how to design, direct and act key scenes from the story.
Key contact Alice Goodman Director of Performing Arts ago@hchnet.co.uk
English This term (Spring 1 and Spring 2) they will be studying Liccle Bit by Alex Wheatle. In Spring 1, they will study chapters 1-15 with a creative writing focus. In Spring 2, they will read chapteartrs 16-26 with an analytical writing focus. Their Spring 1 assessment will include a fiction creative writing task where they will be expected to write a story or description. The Spring 2 assessment will be an analytical response to a question with an extract from Liccle Bit. About the book: At school, Lemar, aka Liccle Bit, deals with typical teenage life—crushing on a girl, goofing off with mates, and doodling in books. Home on the South Crongton Estate, his mum's exhausted, his sister struggles as a single mother, and his dad lives across London with a new family. Art offers Lemar an escape, drawing attention from his crush, Venetia King. Yet, he also catches the eye of South Crongton's notorious gangster, leading him down an unwanted path of running errands. Alex Wheatle dives into younger readers with a gripping, witty plot, capturing the teenage experience alongside the humanity and tragedy of some of London's impoverished youth.
Key contact Chloe Fabregas Head of English cfa@hchnet.co.uk
Lille, France HCH French Trip
Year 8 Curriculum Overview Spring Term 2024
FLAM (Français Langue Maternelle) Cinquième (5ème) In the Unité 2, the students are invited to delve into childhood and adolescence narratives by exploring classic works such as Mark Twain's "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer," Madame de Ségur's "A Good Little Devil," Marcel Pagnol's "My Father's Glory," Roald Dahl's "Boy," Romain Gary's "The Promise of Dawn," Gilles Paris's "Autobiography of a Zucchini," and Hervé Bazin's "Viper in the Fist." The focus is on analysing the relationships between young protagonists and their surrounding world, discovering the presence of humour in these narratives, and examining various literary techniques employed in the selected works. The unit also emphasises the opportunity to deepen understanding of different literary genres and to review fundamental principles of syntactic construction, including both simple and complex sentence structures. Additionally, it encourages a revisit of essential tenses, such as the present and past simple indicative, crucial for narrative construction. Parallel to the unit, students will have to independently read 'Vipère au poing' by Hervé Bazin in its entirety in the edition provided by the teacher. The end-of-unit assignment will focus on this work. In the next unit (Unité 3), through narratives from various epochs, students will discover how from the demigod of Antiquity to superheroes, our imagination has invented heroic figures that carry both the reflection of the society in which they exist, and constants that transcend time. Quatrième (4ème) We will study the evolution of print media. Indeed, since its birth in the 17th century, the press has constantly evolved, following the technological advances in printing and changes in the historical context. Supported by the industrial revolution (the first rotary printing machines were born in the 1860s), the press experienced significant growth in the 19th century. This development is observed in numerous novels that depict the world of journalism. That is why we will approach the subject by reading excerpts from novels whose authors also worked as journalists. In fact, many writers published serialised novels in newspapers to earn a living or maintain their lifestyle. However, by the end of the 19th century, print media no longer had the same issues: the historical and political context had consequences on the press, which echoed the voices of authors expressing their commitment to a cause dear to them. Students will then discover that the profession of a journalist continues to evolve. This sequence will also be an opportunity to work on the letter, specifically the open letter intended for publication in a newspaper. The end-of-unit assessment will focus on this.
Key contact Aurore Duvollet Head of FLAM acd@hchnet.co.uk
Year 8 Curriculum Overview Spring Term 2024
French Four periods: This term, the students will work towards the Diplome d’études de Langue française (level A1 or 2, according to the individual level of students). We will work around every day life topics such as my free time, my school or my holiday as well as reinforce particular grammar points: present, past and future tense. Assessments will involve DELF exam past papers in order for the students to get ready, should they sit the exam in June. Two periods: In unit 3 we will work on school and routine. We will learn how to describe a morning or an evening routine, talk about daily activities, talk about what you do and don't want to do, talk more about school and describe a school trip or a day in a French school. Our cultural focus will be to find out about Louis XIV. we will work on the following grammar: use of the verbs to learn and to understand, make comparisons, use of some reflexive verbs, use of reflexive verbs in negative sentences, use of the verb to want, including in negative sentences, use the verbs to say, to read and to write. Unit 4 is about family, we will learn how to describe yourself and others, greet and introduce people, talk about staying with a French family, discuss helping at home, talk about the past, use expressions of time, talk about presents and what you have done recently, describe a visit, talk about choices, talk about television and books, describe a favourite programme or book. In terms of grammar, we will focus on the following: the formal and informal way to address people, the use of the perfect tense, the use of ce, cet, cette followed by a noun.
Key contact Clarisse Gheur Head of Languages clg@hchnet.co.uk
Jurassic Coast, Dorset HCH Geography Trip
Year 8 Curriculum Overview Spring Term 2024
Geography Evidence of recent atmospheric warming will be presented and discussed this term as the Year 8 enhance their understanding of ‘climate change’. Students will gain an understanding of long-term and recent fluctuations in global temperature, and the causes of this. A range of terms and concepts will be introduced and we will consider the ways in which humans have been altering the composition of the atmosphere and how these link to rising levels of development. The impacts of climate change (observed and predicted) will be studied, including flood risk in the UK. Finally, they will be able to discuss their opinions on a range of responses to the issue: considering what can be done to ‘mitigate’ and to ‘adapt’. Assessment will include data-response questions, extended writing and structured class discussion.
Key contact Tom Roberts Head of Humanities twr@hchnet.co.uk
History The term begins with a return to the Stuart age during the reign of Charles I. Students will assess the main causes of the English Civil War and study the key turning points throughout the conflict. We will then come to understand how and why Charles came to be put on trial by parliament and executed for tyranny and treason. The term will end with an enquiry into the English Republic, which lasted until the restoration of monarchy in 1660. Homework will be set once a week and there will be two in-class assessments throughout the term. These will feature questions that require an ability to critically assess the value of primary source material.
Key contact Tom Roberts Head of Humanities twr@hchnet.co.uk
Pompeii, Italy HCH Classics Trip
Year 8 Curriculum Overview Spring Term 2024
Latin In Latin, we will be looking at early Roman Christianity, Roman town planning sanitation and hygiene, slaves and the free as our cultural topics through reading evaluating and analysing sources in translation. We will be looking at irregular verbs (esse, velle, nolle, malle, posse) optionally with a variety of tenses and uses of the ablative, genitive, and dative cases from all 3 declensions (with 3rd declension adjective agreements). We will be covering vocabulary from chapters 4 – 7. There will be both a comprehension and translation assessment in February and March. Year 8 will also be writing a practice cultural interpretation piece to be submitted for the Latin Entry level certificate.
Key contact Victoria Rwabeh Teacher of Latin vrw@hchnet.co.uk
Mandarin In the spring term, Year 8 pupils will progress to the next level of the Chinese learning – Jinbu 2 textbook. Students will mainly focus on holiday topic studies, including talking about weather, different countries and languages, where to go on holidays, different means of transport, learning to use pastime markers to talk about where they went on holiday, and learning about holidays in China. Students will be able to write and read the relevant key vocabulary of the topic. A vocabulary quiz will be carried out once a week and the end of term exam will be assessed via listening, speaking, reading and writing exercises related to the term topic we learn. Students will learn and practise popular Chinese songs and perform in the Chinese New Year assembly and enjoy watching other's groups of students’ Chinese New Year’s performances to celebrate the cultural festival together.
Key contact Shirley Xue Wang Teacher of Mandarin sxw@hchnet.co.uk
Year 8 Curriculum Overview Spring Term 2024
Maths This term, students will be introduced to the index laws and standard form. Following this, they will be revising linear graphs of the form y = mx + c and learning how to write sequences and find the nth term of an arithmetic sequence. After half-term, students will be revising ratio from Year 7, including sharing quantities in a given ratio and then learning how to construct scale drawings using a ruler, compass and protractor. Please ensure students are prepared with the relevant equipment.
Key contact Nick Edwards Assistant Principal, Head of Maths ned@hchnet.co.uk
Music In spring term, students will study the roots of Blues music. Pupils will learn the key musical feature of blues music, including chord sequences (12 bar blues), melodies (call and response), rhythm (swung rhythms, syncopation), modality (major, minor, blues scales), and form (AAB 12 Bar Blues Structure), as well as learning about key blues and jazz musicians. They learn to listen to, analyse, improvise and perform blues music. The unit will be very practical and finish with a Blues performance in pairs. Once learning the three chords used in Blues music, students will be able to use this knowledge as a foundation of learning other Pop and Rock songs that also developed from these chord patterns. In the final weeks of spring term, we will then begin preparation for the Year 7/8 Production. The students will be creating their scene in Drama and in Music, the students will be composing the music to accompany their Alice in Wonderland drama scene using the Tech Lab.
Key contact Rosalind Ridout Director of Music rri@hchnet.co.uk
Team Building Day September 2023
Year 8 Curriculum Overview Spring Term 2024
PE In the spring term, the students will focus on the core skills of basketball and golf. They will also get an opportunity to experience a taster session of indoor climbing. The lessons will be taught off-site in their form groups at St Mary’s University, Sandown Golf Centre and the taster session at Elmsbridge Xcel. In basketball, the students will learn about the rules of the game and refine their skills in passing, shooting and dribbling. In golf, they will learn about the different shots, how to play them and the rules of the game. In the indoor climbing taster session, the students will get an opportunity to experience problem solving challenges at await them as they move through different levels on a wall. Students will be taught the correct technique to perform the skills and will learn through individual practice, partner work and group tasks to enhance their understanding of the different sports.
Key contact Janak Odedra Director of Sport jvo@hchnet.co.uk
PSHE This term we will be focusing on the relationships and sex education aspect of PSHE. We will explore the following topics: Consent | Contraception | The dangers of pornography | Sexting and image share danger STIs | Body image | Domestic conflict | British values – tolerance and anti-racism How do extreme leaders attract converts? | How can we prevent radicalisation and extremism? The lessons are predominantly discussion based, with group work opportunities. At the end of each half term there is a self-reflection lesson, allowing the teacher to assess understanding and for the students to consider their own learning and understanding. Due to the sensitive nature of the topics explored this term, teachers are encouraged to have an anonymous question box available for students. A reminder that parents have the option to opt their child(ren) out of the sex education lessons, a form has been sent out by Amy Burgess, please contact her if you have any further questions or to request copies of lesson plans and resources.
Key contact Amy Burgess Deputy Head Pastoral acb@hchnet.co.uk
Granada, Spain HCH Spanish Trip
Year 8 Curriculum Overview Spring Term 2024
Science During Spring 1, students will delve into the biology topic of "Biological Processes." They will explore how plants produce food via photosynthesis, studying leaf adaptations to enhance this process and the impact of minerals on plant growth. They will then progress to explore respiration, comparing aerobic and anaerobic respiration in animals and fermentation in plants. Additionally, they will focus on "Separation Techniques" in chemistry, investigating mixtures, their properties, solutions, and chromatography for substance identification. In Spring 2, students will commence their Physics module on energy, examining its presence in food, fuels, and various activities. They'll compare energy resources, their utilization in generating electricity, and explore energy, temperature, heat transfer, work, and power. Moving back to Biology, they will learn about ecosystems and adaptations, analyzing feeding relationships in food chains, the impact of these relationships on organisms, studying predator-prey interactions through graph interpretations, and exploring various organisms' adaptations in diverse environmental conditions within ecosystems.
Key contact Thomas McCarthy-Ward Head of Science tjmw@hchnet.co.uk
Spanish During this term, the students will learn about the following topics, and develop the complexity and sophistication of their expression, syntax and vocabulary in both oral and written contexts. The assessment will be on the topics covered with a mix of reading, writing, translation and spoken language. Hobbies (Talking about hobbies, using the present tense, the verb “gustar”, giving reasons why) Sports (The verbs “jugar” and “hacer”, using comparatives to increase vocabulary) Music (Using “que” to make longer sentences. Learning about popular Hispanic culture) Technology and social media (Comparing celebrity profiles on social media, using comparatives “Más/Menos”)
Key contact Clarisse Gheur Head of Languages clg@hchnet.co.uk