Achievement with heart.
Year 9 Curriculum Overview Spring Term 2024
Year 9 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 9 Curriculum Overview Spring Term 2024
Art The aim of the art department is to engage, inspire and challenge our students, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to experiment, invent and create their own works of art, craft and design. We give our students creative frameworks within which they have a space to explore their own ideas, record their experiences, and ultimately produce distinctive, idiosyncratic outcomes. This term the students will complete a project which teaches techniques used to create complex repeat designs. Inspired by natural plant forms and the artists and designers of the 19th Century Arts and Crafts Movement such as William Morris and William De Morgan, students will create and paint their own repeat designs. Starting by simplifying plant drawings to their essential forms, they will create bold drawings which will then be transformed, focusing on particular elements, into a repeating, tessellating design. This project will build their confidence in the use of colour harmony and interaction, as well accurate use of image manipulation and use of the light box.
Key contact Eve Blackwood Head of Art eb@hchnet.co.uk
Computer Science This term, students will be studying computational thinking and logic. At the end of this unit all students should be able to be able to ask logical questions to solve problems, know the common Boolean operators and logic gates, understand what an algorithm is and create a sequence of instructions to achieve a goal. Most students will be able to understand how Boolean operators can be represented in written expressions and Venn diagrams, be able to complete truth tables for logic gates and circuits, understand how loops can be used to refine algorithms to reduce the number of instructions required, and understand how abstraction and decomposition can be used. The concepts of compression and data representation are also introduced. Student progress will be measured via regular exercises and a final assessment.
Key contact Andrew Evans Head of Computer Science aev@hchnet.co.uk
Year 9 Curriculum Overview Spring Term 2024
Drama This term we continue to introduce students to the elements of GCSE Drama by focusing on devising Drama. Students will be given the stimulus of fast fashion and sweat shops to create an original piece of Drama. Students will learn about non- naturalistic practitioners and how to use their techniques to create a piece which they will perform for their peers at the end of the term. Students will need to complete independent research to create monologues which will help to give a range of perspectives on the issue.
Key contact Alice Goodman Director of Performing Arts ago@hchnet.co.uk
English Spring 1 and Spring 2: They will be studying Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. The main focus of their study of Romeo and Juliet will be analytical, but this will be interspersed with creative writing opportunities. This will provide a strong foundation for the study of Macbeth in Y10 for GCSE and is an opportunity to engage with one of the best plays ever written! The spring 1 assessment will be in the same format as the assessment last half term; they will be given an extract from Romeo and Juliet and be asked to write an analytical essay in response to a question. The spring 2 assessment will be in the same format.
Key contact Chloe Fabregas Head of English cfa@hchnet.co.uk
Lille, France HCH French Trip
Year 9 Curriculum Overview Spring Term 2024
FLAM (Français Langue Maternelle) 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 serialized 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.
Key contact Aurore Duvollet Head of FLAM acd@hchnet.co.uk
French Four periods Set 1 This term we will continue our work using Tricolore 3 and our preparation for the DELF examination in June. We will practice talking about leisure activities, when you were younger, saying how life has change, learn about francophone countries in Africa, learning about TV, cinema and books, learn about famous French people, understand information about school life in France, describe your school, discuss school subjects, aspects of school life and plans for the next school year. In terms of grammar, we will revise the imperfect tense, the perfect tense, use expressions of time. We will also focus on the grammar required for the DELF exam. Set 2: This term, the students will carry on their work with their main textbook: Tricolore 2. We will first learn to describe someone’s appearance as well as people’s possessions. We will then move on to talk about body parts and expressing how one’s feels, including visits to the doctor’s. The next unit will deal with meeting people and going out. Assessment will be carried out at the end of each unit, with precise guidance for revision published on Teams a week before the test.
Key contact Clarisse Gheur Head of Languages clg@hchnet.co.uk
Jurassic Coast, Dorset HCH Geography Trip
Year 9 Curriculum Overview Spring Term 2024
Geography The students will build upon the work they completed on Africa, and continue to reflect upon global inequality, by delving deeper into development studies this term. They will become familiar with a variety of statistical indicators of development, working to improve numeracy and use of graphs. Students will further their understanding of poverty, including the struggles faced by the poor in various contexts, and consider the reasons for its occurrence. The gender dimension of these issues will also be discussed. The role of a variety of ‘global players’ will be studied, including the United Nations and its Sustainable Development Goals. Assessment will be through tests of terminology and the use of data and discursive writing.
Key contact Tom Roberts Head of Humanities twr@hchnet.co.uk
History The term will be spent studying the First World War. We begin by considering the long and short-term causes, including the development of a European alliance system during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This is followed by an in-depth exploration of trench warfare and the psychological effects such conditions had upon soldiers. Students will conclude the term by studying the reasons for Germany’s surrender and the terms of the Treaty of Versailles. Homework will be set once a week and there will be two in-class assessments throughout the term. These will feature GCSE-style questions that will help prepare those wishing to opt for the subject in Year 10.
Key contact Tom Roberts Head of Humanities twr@hchnet.co.uk
Pompeii, Italy HCH Classics Trip
Year 9 Curriculum Overview Spring Term 2024
Latin This term students are going to continue working towards OCR GCSE and the OCR entry Level certificate the pupils will revise the nouns and adjectives they have met already met in 1st, 2nd & 3rd declension; and the verbs, all conjugations in present, perfect and imperfect tenses for regular verbs. They will meet: The future tense, of regular and irregular verbs. The genitive, dative, and ablative cases with and without prepositions 3rd declension adjectives with noun-adjective apposition, Adverbs from adjectives pluperfect tense (Ch 5) Personal pronouns and possessive adjectives We will continue to explore the history and mythology of early Rome, extract of the Aeneid and the early Roman heroes through translation and comprehension stories.
Key contact Victoria Rwabeh Teacher of Latin vrw@hchnet.co.uk
Mandarin In the spring term, Year 9 pupils will mainly focus on learning the topic of shopping, including buying fruit and vegetables at the supermarket, talking about buying clothes, using the present continuous tense at the department store, talking about online shopping, learning about the shopping experience 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. During the spring term, students will learn and practise popular Chinese songs and perform in the Chinese New Year assembly and enjoy watching other year'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 9 Curriculum Overview Spring Term 2024
Maths This term students will be learning about standard from, surds and bounds as newly introduced topics, and revising previously learnt work on area and volume. After half-term, they will be learning averages and range, percentage increase and decrease, direct and inverse proportion, sets and Venn diagrams and finally, arc length and sector area.
Key contact Nick Edwards Assistant Principal, Head of Maths ned@hchnet.co.uk
Music Pupils study the roots of British Pop Music in the 1960's and 1990's, and the social upheaval that lead to Protest music in the 1960's. Pupils learn the key musical feature of Pop music, including chord sequences (I vi IV V), melodies (catchy melodies), rhythm (text setting), modality (major and minor), and form (structures of Pop songs), as well as learning about key Brit Pop and Protest music musicians. They learn to listen to, analyse, create and perform Pop music. Students will complete the unit writing meaningful lyrics to a topic that is relevant to them. Learning the 4 chords used in Pop music will enable students to transfer this to other genres. They will learn how to find a lead sheet and learn their own choices of contemporary music. This unit will be very practical, giving them the skills to go on and learn other songs that they enjoy.
Key contact Rosalind Ridout Director of Music rri@hchnet.co.uk
Team Building Day September 2023
Year 9 Curriculum Overview Spring Term 2024
PE In the spring term, the students will focus on the core skills of basketball, golf and indoor climbing. The lessons will be taught off-site in their form groups at St Mary’s University, Sandown Golf Centre and 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 challenge their physical ability through problem solving challenges 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: Body image | Eating disorders | Child sexual exploitation | Abusive relationships Peer pressure | Porn – is it real? | Contraception | Consequences of unprotected sex British community, religion and culture | Immigration, the UK and diverse communities 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
Year 9 Curriculum Overview Spring Term 2024
Science Chemistry Year 9 students will begin their Chemistry GCSE with the topic Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table. Students will look at atoms, elements and compounds, mixtures and separation techniques, the development of the atomic model and the structure of atoms, using this information to calculate relative atomic mass. They will then move on to look at electronic structure and the development of the Periodic Table before delving deeper into the metals and non-metals and different groups of the periodic table. Following the completion of the first GCSE topic, students will move on to C2: Bonding, Structure, and the Properties of Matter. In this unit, students will use their understanding of atoms to delve into the world of bonding – ionic, covalent and metallic. They will investigate the properties of compounds, including small molecules, polymers and structure and bonding of a range of carbon-based compounds, concluding the topic with a look at the uses of nanoparticles. Biology This half term Year 9 will be studying the topic of cell transport. They will explore the concepts of diffusion, osmosis, surface area to volume ratio and active transport. They will carry out a practical looking at movement of water in plant tissue. In the second half term, the students will study the topics of cell division. They will look at DNA, chromosomes, the cell cycle and mitosis. This will then move onto non-communicable diseases where they will interpret data, learn about cancer and causal mechanisms of diseases. Students will be assessed after each unit with an end of topic assessment. Physics From January Yr9 are beginning science GCSE content. The first chapter we will meet in physics is Energy. Students will need to work through calculations as well as consider and evaluate different methods of large-scale energy production. After half-term we will move forward into progressing our knowledge and understanding of electricity and build on the work covered before Christmas.
Key contact Thomas McCarthy-Ward Head of Science tjmw@hchnet.co.uk
Granada, Spain HCH Spanish Trip
Year 9 Curriculum Overview Spring Term 2024
Spanish During the spring term, the students will learn the following topics: They will continue to develop the sophistication and expressiveness of their phrasing, syntax and vocabulary in order to form and express their opinions both in first person presentation and responsive conversation. Their spring 1 assessment before half term will be in oral and written formats on the studied topics. In spring 2 they will study the language around leisure: free time, hobbies, sports and music. They will use the present tense and a range of new vocabulary in connection with these topics. They will talk about their preferences and will learn about the most popular sports and music in Spain and South America. Their assessment will be in both oral and written formats on the studied topics.
Key contact Clarisse Gheur Head of Languages clg@hchnet.co.uk
Looking ahead
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