Queen Margaret College

Year 9 Japanese Programme 2023

Levels 2-3 of the New Zealand Learning Languages Curriculum

Phase 1-2 of the Middle Years Programme International Baccalaureate

Unit Title Proposed assessment date

Me and my family / School life

Daily routine / My town

My house and items

Like and dislike

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, the students learn how to talk about themselves and others in a range of familiar situations. In class, the students 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 the Japanese culture and basic sentences. In addition, they 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 ( Phase 1) o Hiragana alphabet o Greetings and introducing yourself o Numbers from 0-100 and age o Classroom instructions o My family

• Daily routine ( Phase 1) o Like and dislike o Morning routine and breakfast o Transport

• School life ( Phase 2) o Subjects and opinions o My timetable and telling the time o Strengths and weaknesses

• My town ( Phase 2) o Places in town o Describing your town o What you can do in town

• My house and items ( Phase 1 and 2 ) o Describe your house o Research traditional Japanese houses and modern houses.

• Like and dislike ( Phase 1 and 2) o Describe your trip, past tense o Free time activities, hobbies o Birthdays

Course Information

• In 2023 Year 9 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 60 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

Queen Margaret College

Year 9 Mathematics 2023

Level 4-5 of the New Zealand Curriculum

Year 3 of the Middle Years Programme International Baccalaureate Unit Title Proposed assessment date

Probability

Problem Solving (Patterns)

Number

Algebra

Geometry and Measurement

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 9 is designed as a continuing mathematical step from the Primary School through the Middle School and onto the Senior School. Classes are streamed, and teachers differentiate learning for individual student needs.

The main topics covered throughout the year areprobability, number knowledge and skills, geometry and measurement, and algebra. In Year 9, we aim to develop critical thinking skills and the ability to solve more difficult problems.

Course Information

• Mathematics is a compulsory subject in Year 9 with 8 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:

✓ 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 Junior Mathematics Competition is held in March (entry fee approximately $5).

✓ 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.

• All students will receive a subscription to an electronic MYP textbook ($25 approximately) and an NCEA Numeracy workbook ($10 approximately). These are used for classwork, homework and for independent study.

• A scientific calculator is required (preferably a Casio FX calculator).

Homework expectations

Students should be learning at home for a total of at least 60 minutes per weeknight across all subjects.

Head of Learning Area: Matthew Kavanagh

Queen Margaret College

Year 9 Music Programme 2023

Level 4-5 of the New Zealand Curriculum

Year 3 of the Middle Years Programme

Unit Title

Elements of a successful popular song

Create a piece using a DAW

Compose and record your own song in a group

Course details

International Baccalaureate

Proposed assessment date

First half year

Second half year

Term 1, Week 7 Term 3, week 4

Term 2, Week 1 Term 3, week 9

Term 2, Week 7 Term 4, week 3

The Music course in Year 9 is run conjunction with Drama as a Performing Arts Course. Students further develop their musical skills through investigation, application and collaborative performance.

The students learn:

• An understanding of musical elements and notation

• Listening skills to identify musical elements and features.

• Skills and understanding in creating music using a DAW

• Acquisition and application of compositional techniques to create, notate and present their own songs

Course Information

• All students take Year 9 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 60 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 compositions or practice performance tasks outside the classroom in order to achieve at a high level.

Head of Learning Area: Tim Jenkin

Queen Margaret College

Year 9 Physical Education Programme 2023

Level 4-5 of the New Zealand Curriculum

Year 3 of the Middle Years Programme International Baccalaureate

Unit Title

Maori concepts – Whanaungatanga

Parkour

Proposed assessment date

Term 1, Week 8

Term 2, Week 3

Functional Anatomy/physiology – collaboration unit with Science Term 2, Week 10

Invasion Games - Tchoukball Term3, Week 7

Striking and Fielding Term 4, Week 5

* These assessment dates may be subject to slight variation

Course details

The 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:

• How the body works and how our bodies respond to exercise. This unit is a collaboration unit with Science, requiring students to apply their knowledge across both subject areas.

• Identifying the pressures on peers when learning new and complex skills and help to promote positive outcomes through a variety of team games

• Movement composition through parkour

• Health topics including legal drugs – alcohol and tobacco, decision making, sexual identity, relationships, and body image.

Course Information

• In 2023 Year 9 Physical Education is a compulsory subject

• Each class will have 2 Health lessons a fortnight and Physical Education classes will be 5 periods a fortnight

• Correct uniform to be worn all term. Failure to do so will result in the following: o 1st time a warning o 2nd time a lunchtime detention o 3rd time a Deans detention

Homework expectations

Your child should be learning at home for a total of at least 60 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 9 Science Programme 2023

Level 4 of the New Zealand Curriculum

Year 3 of the Middle Years Programme International Baccalaureate

Unit Title

Energy

This topic assesses Criteria D

Plants

This topic assesses Criteria B and C

Human Body

This topic assesses Criteria A, B and C

Supermarket Chemistry

This topic assesses Criteria D

Light, The Universe and Everything

This topic assesses Criteria A

* these assessment dates may be subject to slight variation

Course details

Proposed assessment date*

Research task: Weeks 5/6, Term 1

Practical investigation: Weeks 2/3, Term 2

Test: Week 8, Term 2

Research Task: Weeks 9/10, Term 2

Research Task: Week 5, Term 3

Test: Week 9, Term 3

The aim of the Year 9 Science programme is to allow students to see what it takes to become an effective Scientist and appreciate how Scientists work, whilst also preparing the students to continue science in the Senior School. Throughout the year, they develop their knowledge of science ideas and concepts as they explore the skills and knowledge used by different types of scientists, whilst also learning to communicate science ideas appropriately. An important aspect of science is scientific methodology, and students develop their understanding of this by designing and carrying out investigations, and analysing and evaluating their results. 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 9 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 60 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