Summer Activity Guide 2022
Contents 3
Welcome from Miss Butler
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Library
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Art
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Design & Technology
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Drama
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English
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Geography
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History
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Maths
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Languages
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Music
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Science
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NOV
Welcome to KGS On behalf of the First Year Tutors, Mr Simmons (Assistant Head of Year) and the whole of the teaching staff at KGS: welcome to Kingston Grammar School! We are looking forward with great anticipation to welcoming you to the KGS family in September. At KGS, each year our cohort arrives from over 70 different feeder schools and the teachers are used to quickly bringing everyone up to speed. However, if your child would like to continue learning over the summer holidays then they can refer to this booklet which is full of helpful tips and ideas from our Heads of Department. It is not compulsory for you to do these activities, but it may provide some challenges and enjoyment over the long summer break. Over the summer holidays, First Year students will take part in a shared reading project. On Familiarisation Day, you will receive a copy of The Boy Behind The Wall, by Maxmillian Jones. It sounds like a thrilling, adventure book which I can’t wait to read! We plan to run cross-curricular activities based on the book during the Autumn term where you will get an opportunity to discuss the book with your Tutor Group. I hope that you enjoy reading it over the holidays.
We would be delighted if all of you took part in the KGS Extreme Reading Competition. Send in a photograph of yourself reading The Boy Behind The Wall, in the most unusual place that you can think of. This may be at home or on holiday, in a quiet spot or a busy town, on the beach or up a tree! Wherever you decide, please make sure that your safety comes first and check with your parents before you take the photo. Get your thinking caps on! To enter, please email your image to Ms McBride, librarian@kgs.org.uk. We will remind you of the email address when you start at KGS in September. Finally, and should you still have any time to spare, perhaps you would like to keep a diary of your summer? Why not fill an A4 scrap book with simply some writing, drawings and photographs to document all of your activities. This is a great way for you to capture your summer holiday best moments and it’s a lovely opportunity for us to be able to offer praise when you bring them in at the beginning of September. I look forward to seeing you all very soon. Miss S Butler Head of First Year
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Library Read Up! Kingston
Questions
As a First Year at KGS, you will participate in a shared-reading project that is designed to help ease the transition into your new school and to help you prepare for your arrival in September. KGS staff will also be taking part and some of your lessons in the Autumn Term may include themes or links to the book. Since everyone will have read the same book, we will all have something in common to talk about! This year we are reading ‘The Boy Behind the Wall’ by Maximillian Jones.
1. What would you risk for a friend you’ve never met? Before reading the book, discuss what you think the strapline means. Think about what friendship means to you and what you might do. Once you’ve read the book revisit this question and discuss whether your thoughts have changed.
Things to do over the Summer: • Read the book! • Have a think about the answers to the questions below – we will discuss them at the start of the Autumn term. • Have a go at some secret lemon writing (see page opposite). Maybe try writing a letter to a new classmate. • Enter the Extreme Reading Competition. To enter, simply take a photograph of yourself (or ask someone to take it for you) reading a copy of the book in the most extreme place you can think of – the more unusual the better! Photographs can be submitted in September and more details will be provided nearer the time
2. The chapters in The Boy Behind the Wall are narrated alternately by Harry and Jakob. How does that affect the telling of the story? Do you think it is a good way to tell a story? Can you think of other examples of books being written in this way? 3. “Sometimes, when I’m feeling a bit nervous, I pretend to be one of the superheroes from my comic books.” Have you ever done this? Maybe not a superhero, but maybe you pretend to be someone else or think about having different characteristics. Do you think this is something that everyone does when they are nervous? In what sort of situation do you think this might be helpful?
Work well and be happy
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4. The Berlin Wall was pulled down in 1989, but there are still many walls in place around the world – in Belfast, the Western Wall in Jerusalem, the wall under construction along the US/Mexico
border and The Great Wall of China are just some examples. Use the book as a springboard to talk about how people might feel living in a divided city or country that still has historic walls. 5. Both Harry and Jakob have difficult relationships with their fathers. How do you think that affects their characters? They both seek out different role models to talk to – for Harry it is Dieter and their common interest of comics and for Jakob it is Dana and music – think about the effect that these people had on their individual stories. 6. Harry’s family have moved from America to West Germany. Think about arriving in a new place to live. How would you feel? If it was a different country, think about how different cultures might have an effect.
Activity: Secret Lemon Writing You can write secret messages just like Harry and Jakob! You will need: Lemon juice Cotton bud Plain white paper Lamp/light bulb Bowl/cup Method: 1. Squeeze the lemon juice into a small bowl and mix in a few drops of water 2. Dip the cotton bud into the mixture and write your secret message onto the white paper. 3. Allow the paper to dry (the writing will become invisible). 4. Reveal your secret message by holding it close to a light bulb.
Work well and be happy
7. Music plays a hugely important part in The Boy Behind the Wall. Think about the different genres of music that are mentioned throughout the story and why they have been chosen for different parts of the story. How does music make the characters feel?
The Science: Lemon juice contains carbon compounds that are colourless at room temperature. The heat from the light bulb breaks down the compounds and releases the carbon. The carbon oxidises when it meets the air and turns brown, making your secret message visible.
8. Think about how having mobile phones might have had an impact in the way the story unfolds. Discuss how helpful social media might be in helping to find Jakob’s real family.
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Art Welcome
Links to explore
September is an incredibly exciting time for the Art teachers at KGS. We are passionate about teaching our students how to draw and paint but not only that, we find it thrilling to learn so much from the new and creative ideas that you will bring to your new school too. Here are some websites you might like to explore and presentations, with information and activities, which will help to keep you thinking creatively before joining us. We can’t wait to get started.
Explore this Google arts page and find famous paintings dominated by particular colours. Perhaps you could make a picture to fit in with one of the groupings or copy your favourite.
Top tip Make sure that you have 2B and 4B drawing pencils at home to help with homework tasks and, if you get around to it, why not bring along your artwork from one of the activities listed here?
https://artsandculture.google.com/ color?col=YELLOW&hl=en Albrecht Durer was brilliant at painting realistic people and animals. Take a close look at his painting of a hare. Have you got a pet to draw? https://artsandculture.google.com/story/ uQUh0QSuBi_dgw?hl=en Explore the Tate Gallery’s children’s website of games, activities and quizzes. Why not do the ‘Draw a Sound Creature’ activity and bring your results to show us in September?
Work well and be happy
https://www.tate.org.uk/kids If learning about art is your thing, then here is a link to some free art history books: https://www.artystories.org/
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Art task 1 Create an observational study of selected kitchen equipment. Arrange some cutlery or kitchen utensils and draw them from life using pencil. Use the images on this page to inspire you. Challenge: Create an observational study in colour, use paint or pencil crayons. Capture the whole arrangement or a section of it. Task: Create a range of line drawings of kitchen equipment and overlap the drawings to create an interesting composition.
Work well and be happy Art task 2 Using a variety of different papers, create a collage of different items you may find in the kitchen. Take inspiration from the imagery on this page; use old book pages, newspaper, takeaway menus, coloured papers etc.
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Photography task 1 Create a colour wheel using food and objects you find in the kitchen. Put your items together and photograph them.
Photography task 2 Taking inspiration from the food photography opposite, take one food item and photograph it as it is being eaten or cut. Then collate the images to create a composition similar to those on this page. Remember the first photograph should be of the item as a whole.
Photography task 3 Photograph a range of kitchen utensils in different compositions; create patterns, create an arrangement, order them in size or colour.
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Design & Technology Welcome
Click here
I’m sure that you are looking forward to joining KGS in September and excited to join us here in the Design & Technology Department. For those of you who are new to the subject, you will be amazed at our extremely well-equipped workshops and impressive facilities. You will work on a wide range of design and make projects and quickly learn new skills where you can show us your creative talents. The department is very successful and a popular option choice for students as they progress through the school. We are passionate about our subject and look forward to sharing that enthusiasm with you.
Have a look at these Smallpeice Design and Technology challenges and have a go at building one. • https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=AWcrDTnehNc&feature=youtu.be • https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=NGE1PMTL08c • https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=KkIBeb51hW4&feature=youtu.be • https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=RifVlosGJLw • https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=cbWCoEaQ_FY • https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=AeGS8Rc8y3A
Join our club!
Read it, do it
Problem solvers wanted. We invite you to join our popular Technology Club where creative ideas are encouraged, fostered and rewarded. We have a wide range of design and make challenges waiting for you to try, where new skills are learnt in a fun, friendly and relaxing environment.
As an extra challenge, look at three products from home: One wood, one metal and one plastic. Take a picture, copy the picture into a Word document and explain three reasons why that product is made from that material. Good luck.
Please check out our robot ‘Frostbite’ on the BBC2 programme Robot Wars: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=ELaeirIZw8c&t=34s
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Drama Welcome
Watch this!
The Drama Department are very much looking forward to welcoming you to KGS. We have three fantastic locations for Drama: The Theatre, The Studio and The Green Room. There are many exciting opportunities for you to be either showcasing your talents on stage or working backstage on props, lighting and costume. You will have one Drama lesson a week, working on key skills: Creativity, Collaboration, Communication and Co-operation!
The National Theatre is showing a number of its productions online:
Top tip The main thing I would say for First Years is to observe people as much as possible, thinking about characters (eg, the way people move, walk and speak). Much of the First Year will be spent exploring how to create convincing characters through your voice, body language and interaction. You could even keep a record of all the wonderful characters you spot in your day-to-day life!
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https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/ nt-at-home The RSC has also made available a range of resources https://www.rsc.org.uk/at-home-withshakespeare
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NOV
English Virtual Travel! Fancy a writing challenge? Then try this… Try designing a postcard from a place you’d like to visit (real or fictional). Draw or design an image for the front, then write a message to a friend or family member on the back. Describe your imagined experiences and explain why it would be a fantastic place to visit. Send us your postcard (or alternatively, bring it into school during your first week), and the most imaginative will receive a prize! Send your postcard to:
The English Department Kingston Grammar School 70 London Road Kingston upon Thames KT2 6PY
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Read up! Some books are harder to “get into” than others, but don’t judge a book by its cover or its title and have a good attempt at reading something a little different from your usual choice. Some are fiction, some are non-fiction. You will have received a copy of our reading list but see below for some of our favourite books.
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott Following the lives of the four March sisters - Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy - the novel details their passage from childhood to womanhood and is loosely based on the author and her three sisters.
Wonder by R.J. Palacio I know I’m not an ordinary kid. I mean, sure, I do ordinary things. I eat ice cream. I ride my bike. I play ball. I have an Xbox. Stuff like that makes me ordinary. I guess. And I feel ordinary. Inside. But I know ordinary kids don’t make other ordinary kids run away screaming in playgrounds. I know ordinary kids don’t get stared at wherever they go.
Holes by Louis Sachar The book centres around an unlucky teenage boy named Stanley Yelnats, who is sent to Camp Green Lake, a juvenile corrections facility in a desert in Texas, after being falsely accused of theft. The plot explores the history of the area and how the actions of several characters in the past have affected Stanley’s life in the present..
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The Diary of Anne Frank by Anne Frank In July 1942, thirteen-year-old Anne Frank and her family, fleeing the occupation, went into hiding in an Amsterdam warehouse. Over the next two years, Anne vividly describes in her diary the frustrations of living in such close quarters, and her thoughts, feelings and longings as she grows up.
Boy by Roald Dahl As a boy, all sorts of unusual things happened to Roald Dahl. There was the time he and four school friends got their revenge on beastly Mrs Prachett in her sweet shop. There are stories of holidays in fishing boats, African adventures and the days of tasting chocolate for Cadbury. Roald Dahl vividly shares his memories; some are some are funny, some are painful, some are unpleasant. All are true.
When Hitler Stole The Pink Rabbit by Judith Kerr Suppose your country began to change. Suppose that without your noticing, it became dangerous for some people to live in Germany any longer. Suppose you found, to your complete surprise, that your own father was one of those people. That is what happened to Anna in 1933. She was nine years old when it began, too busy to take much notice of political posters, but out of them glared the face of Adolf Hitler, the man who would soon change the whole of Europe – starting with her own small life. One day, Anna’s father went missing. Then she herself and her brother Max were being rushed by their mother, in alarming secrecy, away from everything they knew – home and schoolmates and well-loved toys – right out of Germany...
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Geography Welcome
Fancy a challenge?
Everyone here in the KGS Geography Department is excited to welcome you to your Geography lessons in September. You will develop the knowledge and skills required to be geographical thinkers, to analyse and evaluate a wide range of fascinating global issues as well as explain processes happening in our physical environment.
As Geographers we really want to get to know and understand the world we live in. We need to be curious and always have a desire to find out more and know more. You can have a go at this: simply pick a place you want to know more about - it could be a country, such as China or Norway, or a large ecosystem like the Amazon Rainforest or Sahara Desert. Spend some time researching to see if you can make a one-page fact file on your chosen place.
Online content
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Atlas Skills https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/ ztqtyrd/revision/1 Map reading made easy https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/ documents/resources/map-readingmade-easy.pdf
Work well and be happy
Map reading activities and quizzes https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/ mapzone https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/ z6j6fg8/revision/1 Explore natural hazards https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/ zn476sg
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History Welcome
Top tip
At KGS History Department our First Years have fun lessons learning about lots of fascinating aspects of the medieval era including the Battle of Hastings, the development of castles, the Black Death, Thomas Becket, diversity in medieval England, the Crusades and much more! Check out these links for some useful resources.
From September our study of the medieval era will begin with a focus on the events of 1066 and the subsequent development of castles. We will even visit a castle during the Summer term of First Year. Do check out the important website links and think about what it would have been like to live in a medieval castle under Norman rule!
Online content Castles through Time https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/ castles/castles-through-time/ Life in a Castle https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/ castles/life-in-a-castle/ 1066 and the Norman Conquest https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/ learn/1066-and-the-norman-conquest/ BBC Bitesize on the Middle Ages https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/ zbn7jsg/articles/zwyh6g8 The National Archives, Time Travel TV https://www.nationalarchives.gov. uk/education/families/time-travel-tv/ introduction/
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Mathematics Welcome
Activities
All of us in the Maths Department are looking forward to welcoming you to KGS next year. During the first term we will be spending time going through topics that most of you will have seen at primary school - we just want to make sure that you are all using the same methods and have a secure understanding. Also, with so many new things going on as you start secondary school, we thought you would enjoy working on something familiar. After Christmas we move on to new material.
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Read up Over the summer get some practice in on the numeracy and geometry skills you have developed at primary school. The Fourth Grade module on the Khan Academy website is excellent practice with lots of tutorial videos and online quizzes.
Top tip You won’t need a calculator for Maths in the first term but if you are buying one early, we recommend the Casio fx-991-EX Class Wiz.
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Directions. When travelling somewhere familiar, turn into a sat nav and give directions and timings to the driver. If you go wrong find a solution and think of the best way to get back to where you want to go. Sport. Sports are the perfect chance to think about speed, scores, time and angles. Get competitive; try out different angles to score from, predict how many star jumps you can do in a minute. Explore the local area. Can you guess how many people live in your town, how far is the nearest airport etc? Try and explain your reasons for your answers then check your answers online. Estimation. Can you estimate how many bricks were used to build a local landmark? Hobbies. Can you think how maths comes into your favourite hobby? Journeys. Can you predict how many miles or kilometres you have travelled, how many are left and what time you should get to your destination?
Languages Welcome Learning languages at KGS is great fun! Languages are a life skill and, here in the KGS Languages department we offer a range of opportunities. In First Year, you’ll study two languages (French, Spanish, German or Italian) and there’s even an opportunity to learn some Mandarin. On top of learning the language, you will also learn about the culture, history, music and literature of each country where the languages are spoken. We can’t wait to say hello / bonjour / hola / halo / buongiorno / 你 好 to you in September.
Phenomenal Phrases: Discover what language is spoken in the country you’re visiting. Make a mini phrase book of the key words and expressions you might need. Remember to learn how to ask how to order food and where the loo is!
Holiday plans
Staying at home?
Are you going on holiday this summer? Here are our top tips for language learners abroad:
Staying at home but hungry for more? If you’re not going away but fancy taking your languages to a new level, check out our favourite language websites and apps:
Terrific Tourism: What are the key tourist attractions of your holiday destination? Do some research and collect some ideas of things you could do when you get there! Make a list and discuss with your family and friends! Incredible Investigation: Research the place you are going to! Make a poster about the culture. You could include information about the food, music, literature and history!
Sensational Speaking: Put your phrase book to use and seize every opportunity to chat to local people. Practice makes perfect here. Don’t worry if it feels a bit unnatural at first!
• Conjuguemos – Up your game by diving into vocabulary, grammar, listening activities and games of a range of languages. • Duolingo – learn foreign languages and get that daily streak going! • Linguascope – a beloved centre of games and vocabulary learning.
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Music Welcome
Top tip
We are very much looking forward to meeting you all and introducing you to a wide variety of interesting music from all around the world! We know that everyone has the capacity to enjoy listening to and making music and we are excited about the many ways you can do this at KGS!
BBC ‘Ten Pieces’ has a wealth of information about various pieces of classical music and composers and there is also a lot of information on the BBC ‘Bitesize’ website. If you are feeling creative you can have a go at some of the performing or composing ideas on the websites! We are going to be encouraging you to think about the component parts of different musical styles and what similarities and differences exist between genres. Why not start a listening diary listing some of the music you have heard over the summer and jot down a couple of sentences about why you like (or dislike!) a particular piece?
Have you listened to? Music in styles you might not be familiar with? This is very easy to do with apps such as ‘Spotify’ and ‘Apple Music’. Why not try searching for playlists in genres such as ‘Jazz’, ‘Hits from the Movies’, ‘Classical Essentials’ or ‘Reggae Classics’?
Listen online https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/tenpieces/ten-pieces-at-home/zjy3382 https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/ zmsvr82
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Science Welcome Science is fundamental to all walks of life and we very much look forward to spending time with you in our science laboratories as we delve deeper into this subject. The following links should help whet your appetite over the summer; the aim is that you arrive at KGS in September ready to learn more! Nick Arnold - Horrible Science Science with the squishy bits left in! They cover all sorts of topics. Of particular note: • • • • •
Vicious Veg; Nasty Nature Blood, Bones and Body Parts Painful Poison Microscopic Monsters Sharks; Frightful Flight and Bulging Brains!
The KGS Biology YouTube page for First Years https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4E3uGTfbAucenp3v9dJIowAvTin8Mppl Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell https://www.youtube.com/user/Kurzgesagt Lots of easy-to-watch animations about various science questions. Some more complex than others. Journey to the Microcosmos https://www.youtube.com/channel/ UCBbnbBWJtwsf0jLGUwX5Q3g Incredible footage of tardigrades and other microorganisms taken down a microscope. Bitesize https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/ zng4d2p Some short films and experiments for students to do at home from the Royal Institution https://www.rigb.org/families/experimental Some great ideas from the Royal Society https://royalsociety.org/topics-policy/education-skills/teacher-resources-and-opportunities/resources-for-teachers/science-at-home/
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Kingston Grammar School 70 London Road Kingston upon Thames Surrey KT2 6PY T: 020 8546 5875 E: enquiries@kgs.org.uk W: www.kgs.org.uk
