Queen Margaret College

Year 8 Japanese Programme 2023

Levels 1 and 2 of the New Zealand Learning Languages Curriculum

Phase 1 of the Middle Years Programme International Baccalaureate Unit Title Proposed assessment date

‘Me and my family’

‘Daily routine’

‘School life’

‘Likes and dislikes’

Course details

In the final two weeks of each Term, Students will be assessed on the language skills they have developed throughout the unit. Listening, reading, writing, and speaking will each be assessed twice during the year.

During the course of the year, students learn how to talk about themselves and others in a range of familiar situations. In class, they are encouraged to speak Japanese and work towards improving the other key skills of listening, reading and writing using the Hiragana alphabet. The topics covered give students exposure to a variety of contexts and situations related to their personal experiences. Concurrently with the teaching of language through topics, there is an introduction to Japanese culture and basic sentences. In addition, Students engage in elearning, using their laptops to record work on OneNote and to access various language learning resources. Students may study the following topics:

• Me and my family o Hiragana alphabet o Greetings and introducing yourself o Numbers from 0-100 and age o Classroom instructions o My family

• Daily routine o Like and dislike o Morning routine and breakfast o Transport

• School life o Subjects and opinions o My timetable and telling the time o Strengths and weaknesses

• Like and dislike o Describe your trip, past tense o Free time activities, hobbies o Birthday o Katakana symbols

Course Information

• In 2023 Year 8 Japanese is an option subject.

• Each class has 5 lessons per 10 day timetable.

Homework expectations

Students are expected to complete some homework during the week. Your child should be learning at home for a total of at least 45 minutes per weeknight across all subjects. The key to language learning is ‘little and often’.

Homework might include:

• Learning a number of words, verbs or phrases

• Reading and grammar exercises to do or a short paragraph to write

• Before an assessment, students will be expected to revise their notes or to practise their spoken language

• Revision of vocabulary learned in class with www.languageperfect.com

• Catching up on work missed due to absence

Head of Learning Area: Caroline Harding

Queen Margaret College

Year 8 Mathematics 2023

Level 4 of the New Zealand Curriculum

Year 2 of the Middle Years Programme International Baccalaureate

Unit Title

Proposed assessment date

Number

Problem Solving (Patterns)

Statistics

Geometry and Measurement

Algebra

Graphing

Course details

The academic curriculum for Middle School mathematics at Queen Margaret College has the New Zealand Curriculum as its foundation. The mathematical content of courses and the way we measure student progress with mathematical skills is taken from the New Zealand Curriculum. The IB Middle Years Programme informs our approaches to teaching and learning and the way that students engage with the mathematical content at a particular curriculum level.

The curriculum in Year 8 is designed as a continuing mathematical step from the Primary School through the Middle School and onto the Senior School. Classes are mixed ability, and teachers differentiate learning for individual student needs.

The main topics covered throughout the year are statistics, number knowledge and skills, geometry and measurement, and algebra. In Year 8, we encourage students to develop problem solving skills.

Course Information

• Mathematics is a compulsory subject in Year 8 with 7 lessons each fortnight.

• The Mathematics Help Room is staffed by teachers every week after school on Wednesdays. Students can attend to do their homework or receive some extra help.

• There will also be the opportunity to take part in the following activities and competitions:

✓ The Problem Challenge is held throughout the year (entry fee approximately $4.00). This is compulsory for Year 8 students.

✓ International Competition and Assessment for Schools (ICAS) for Mathematics (entry fee approximately $7.50).

✓ The Australian Mathematics Competition is held in August (entry fee approximately $7.50)

✓ The Kiwi Maths Competition is held in September (entry fee approximately $9.00)

• All students are registered for Education Perfect (Mathematics) as part of the Middle School EP package

• Year 8 will receive a subscription to an electronic MYP textbook at a cost of approximately $25. This is used for classwork, homework and for independent study.

Homework expectations

Students should complete at least 45 minutes per weeknight across all subjects.

Head of Learning Area: Matthew Kavanagh

Queen Margaret College

Year 8 Music Programme 2023

Level 4 of the New Zealand Curriculum

Year 2 of the Middle Years Programme International Baccalaureate

The Language of Music and Keyboard Skills

Mozart’s Music and Mine

Choose a Singer

Proposed assessment dates

First half year

Term 1 Week 6

Term 2 Week 1

Term 2 Week 4

Second half year

Term 3 Week 3

Term 3 week 9

Term 4 Week 3

The Guitar NA NA

Course details

The students further their understanding of how music is constructed and expressed, and continue to grow in theirknowledgeofcreatingandperformingtheirownmusic.

The students learn:

• A more developed understanding of musical elements and notation.

• Acquisition and application of basic keyboard skills including scales, triads and playing melodies

• How music from the past can influence music in the present

• Acquisition and application of basic compositional techniques to create, notate, and present an original set of variations using music software

• To listen to and identify a variety of vocal styles and genres

• Through researching a particular singer to appreciate how a singer communicates their music to an audience, and how the audience may respond

• Acquisition and application of basic guitar skills including chords, tunes and bass riffs, to a point of realization in performance

Course Information

• All students take Year 8 Music in 2023

• Students have 3 lessons per week for half the year

• A number of extra-curricular activities are available to all students

Homework expectations

Your child should be learning at home for a total of at least 45 minutes per weeknight across all subjects. The expectation in music is that most work will be completed in class. Occasionally a student will need to complete composition or research tasks at home in order to achieve at a high level.

Head of Learning Area: Tim Jenkin

Queen Margaret College

Year 8 Physical Education Programme 2023

Level 4 of the New Zealand Curriculum

Year 2 of the Middle Years Programme International Baccalaureate

Unit Title

Invasion Games – Netball/Basketball

Fitness – Exercise Science

Large Ball Games

Creative Movement – Māori Myths & Legends

Striking and Fielding – T-ball/Badminton

Proposed assessment date

Term 1, Week 8

Term 2, Week 6

Term 2, Week 10

Term 3, Week 5

Term 4, Week 5

* These assessment dates may be subject to slight variation

Course details

Students are provided with an exciting and enriched programme. The Physical Education department is committed to creating and maintaining a learning environment that recognises and acknowledges each student as having individual and metacognitive needs, by offering a high quality, broad-based curriculum. Students work cooperatively, demonstrating appropriate communication skills to achieve goals in social and competitive situations. The students learn about:

• Their own body’s capabilities through a number of fitness activities, with a specific focus to build on their performance from Year 7

• Movement compositions through dance/gymnastics and house music performances

• Developing enjoyment, self-confidence and complex movement sequences through athletics

• Factors that affect their physical, social and emotional well-being

• Health topics including personal identity, internet safety, adolescence, and nutrition

Course Information

• In 2023 Year 8 Physical Education is a compulsory subject

• Each class has 4 Physical Education lessons and 2 Health lessons per 10 day timetable

• Correct uniform to be worn per term. Failure to do so will result in the following:

• 1st time a warning

• 2nd time a luchtime detention

• 3rd time a Deans detention

Homework expectations

Your child should be learning at home for a total of at least 45 minutes per weeknight across all subjects. On occasion PE homework will include:

• Extra physical tasks

• Creation of routines

• Written tasks to support practical work

Head of Learning Area: Tarron Stead

Queen Margaret College

Year 8 Science Programme 2023

Level 3 of the New Zealand Curriculum

Year 2 of the Middle Years Programme International Baccalaureate Unit Title

Animal Adaptations

This topic assesses Criteria A

Science Fair

This topic assesses Criteria B, C and D

Forensic Science

This topic assesses Criteria A

Physical Science

This topic assesses Criteria B, C and D

Earth Science

This topic assesses ATL communication, research and thinking skills

* These assessment dates may be subject to slight variation

Course details

Proposed assessment date*

Test – Week 7, Term 1

Investigation – Weeks 4/5/6, Term 2

Test – Week 3, Term 3

Investigation – Week 9, Term 3 and Week 1, Term 4

Portfolio throughout the topic during Term 4

The aim of the Year 8 Science programme is to allow students to see what it takes to become an effective Scientist and appreciate how Scientists work. Students will build on skills covered in Year 1 of the MYP and develop them further to carry out scientific experiments and provide scientific reasoning to support their findings. They learn to independently research how Science affects us not only individually and locally but the Earth as a whole.

Course Information

• In 2023 Year 8 Science is a compulsory subject.

• Each class has 7 lessons per 10 day timetable.

• Each class covers 5 units over the year.

• Each unit topic will be approximately 6-8 weeks in length.

• Students are assessed on 4 key skills. These are Knowledge and Understanding, Inquiring and Designing, Processing and Evaluating, and Reflecting on the Impacts of Science.

Homework expectations

Your child should be learning at home for a total of at least 45 minutes per weeknight across all subjects. To achieve at a high level in this subject, students are expected to complete some homework during the week. Homework might include:

• Reading and researching science concepts studied in class

• Completion of assignments started in class

• Practising new skills learned in class

• Catching up on work missed due to absence

• Revising material covered in class in preparation for tests

Head of Learning Area: Rebecca Hickey