Super Curriculum Guide - Year 13
What is the ‘Super Curriculum’?
• The curriculum is what you study and learn in your lessons
• The extra curriculum is the things you do in school that have nothing to do with your lessons – sports, clubs, volunteering for example.
• The super curriculum is what you do outsideofschoolonyourown to go into greater detail about what you have learned in class; for example, you have read a ghost story in class and in your own time you might:
o Read another story by that author
o Try one by a different author
o Research the author’s life and work
o Visit a place associated with the author.
The ‘Super Curriculum’ provides you with a range of activities that take your regular curriculum further. These activities can take many forms including reading, watching videos online, downloading podcasts, attending lectures, visiting museums or entering academic competitions.
Engaging in super curricular activities will help you develop a love for your favourite subject or subjects. Developing a passion for a particular subject, or subjects, can begin at any time so we have provided a list of potential activities that students can try from KS3 - KS5. This list is not exhaustive but merely an indication of the possibilities available to students.
You may come up with some ideas of your own, so these suggestions may just help to get you thinking! We hope you enjoy exploring what interests you and going beyond the classroom on your own.
When you apply to university, admissions tutors will be looking for evidence that you are passionate about the subject. You will no doubt have a long list of things that you do out of school that are unrelated to the course you intend to study, this may be sport, music, or drama, and these are extra-curricular. Universities will look for this kind of thing because it demonstrates a range of useful skills such as time management, leadership, teamwork and so on.
However, they will also want to hear about what you have done that goes above and beyond the IGCSE or A level curriculum in the subject you are planning to study. If you really want that university place, this is an opportunity to show admissions tutors that you are better qualified than anyone else
Reading Activity
Trip or Visit
Writing Activity Internet Activity
Watching Activity
Listening Activity
Research activity
Creative Activity
Student-led Task
Listening to song Task
Borrow a book from the Art Library on a specialism you want to explore further eg. Lithography, Photographers’ Sketchbooks, Intaglio printing, Acrylic painting.
Visit Open Days at universities or online for Arts Degrees or Foundation Courses.
Listen to the Grayson Perry Reith Lectures.
Watch episodes on HENI Talks
Take up a 30-day drawing challenge or A Drawing a Day for a Year. Such as Inktober or Portrait Challenge.
Read the relevant sections of The Story of Art by G H Gombrich and Ways of Seeing by John Berger
Attend a Life Drawing class in your local area or online through the Royal Academy of Arts.
Use Apps such as Photoshop Mix. Snapseed and Adobe Draw to develop your photography and editing skills and digital drawing.
Read the subscriptions in the Art Department such as Frieze magazine, Aesthetica, Crafts and Art Monthly to keep up to date with the Art World.
Create a digital portfolio of your artwork or website.
Use the Tate forum as an inspiration. https://www.tate.org.uk/tatecollective/showcase
Attend a free course at MOMA online to develop your critical understanding and History of Art.
Use the Apps Google Arts and Culture and the Art Story to enhance your contextual links.
Use The Drawing Projects book to develop your confidence in drawing and observational skills.
Follow galleries and artists on social media so you know about current exhibitions, projects and workshops.
Use the Tate gallery’s student resource section to help you generate research and ideas for your exam theme.
https://www.tate.org.uk/ar t/student-resource/examhelp
Biology
Visit Belgium’s Museum of Natural Sciences Belgian Museum
Read The Double Helix by James D. Watson
Explain how the vaccines against COVID-19 have been developed Help species diversity at home by planting a flower box
Use the ‘Britannica School’’ website to write a report about Alexander Fleming
Read Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind
Sign up for the Biology competition https://ukbiologycompetitions.org/
Visit the Smithsonian virtual museum tour https://naturalhistory.si.edu/visit/virtualtour
Review an article or an experiment from the www.rsb.org.uk/
Watch David Attenborough: A Life ON Our Planet and write a short review
Watch Human Planet and explain influences humans have upon the ecosystem www.imdb.com/title/tt1806234/
Participate in the Year 12 Biology Trip to the Gredos Centre www.gredoscentre.com
Read 3 articles on current discoveries in Science www.iflscience.com/
Make a revision quiz on Kahoot or Socrative! for a topic and ask to use it in class
Review an article from Biological Science Review
Listen to a BBC Radio ‘World of Business’ podcast
Perform ratio analysis on the financial statements of a well-known PLC
Prepare a SWOT analysis for a local company
Bank of England www.bankofengland.co.uk
Create a diagram summarising strategic management
Business Studies
‘Viral Marketing: The Science of Sharing’ by Karen
Nelson-Field
Lead a revision session for your class on your favourite Business topic
Create a ‘how to’ poster for one of the quantitative techniques on the A Level syllabus
Choose a PLC and track the price of its shares on the stock market https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/
Watch an episode of ‘Mary Portas Queen of Shops’ on YouTube
Watch a TED Talk about strategic management
Read a newspaper article about business and create a short synopsis
Research government controls on business in your home country
Make a revision quiz on Powerpoint or Kahoot! for a topic and ask to use it in class
‘Effective Strategic Leadership: The Complete Guide to Strategic Management’ by Adair
Visit the Faraday museum in London www.rigb.org/visitus/faraday-museum
Join the group Analytical Chemistry Techniques and review one of their articles
Use the ‘Britannica School’’ website to write a report about Linus Pauling
Research the history of Graphene www.graphene.manchester.ac.uk/
Design an experiment to investigate a variable influencing the rate of a chemical reaction
Chemistry
Review the history of Otto Hahn and his contribution to nuclear fission
Design an experiment with household products to explain a concept studied in Y13
Cite des Sciences et de l’industrie, Paris www.cite-sciences.fr
Review an article or an experiment from the www.rsc.org/
Watch Periodic Table of Elements by Jim Al-Khalili on Youtube www.youtube.com/
Watch episode 12 of the TV series Cosmos and explain the influence of CO2 emissions
Get a tweet recognised by an influential scientist
Read 3 articles on current discoveries in Chemistry www.iflscience.com/
Make a revision quiz on Kahoot or Socrative! for a topic and ask to use it in class
Write a report relating an A2 topic and one of the Nobel prizes in chemistry in the 1990s
In Code: Charles Petzold
Read this book In Code, author Charles Petzold asks the question: What do flashlights, the British invasion, black cats, and seesaws have to do with computers?
Where it all started
Watch the Ted Talk by Kevin Slavin on how Algorithms run our lives
https://www.ted.com/talks/kevin_slavin_h ow_algorithms_shape_our_world
Learn about University Courses
Not sure what a university Computer science degree involves? Check out this information from Manchester University for their BSc Computer Science:
https://www.manchester.ac.uk/study/unde rgraduate/courses/2020/00560/bsccomputer-science/course-details/#courseprofile
Computer Museum at the faculty of Computer Science, Stuttgart
Plan a visit to the Computer Museum Universitaet Stuttgart, Institut fuer Softwaretechnologie Universitaetsstrasse 38, 70569 Stuttgart
How to get there: by train or car, open every Tuesday afternoon by appointment http://computermuseum.informatik.unistuttgart.de/
Computer Science
Raspberry Pi
Why not get yourself a credit sized computer? There are so many projects you can complete with this tiny computer. Take a look here for inspiration:
https://projects.raspberrypi.org/en/
Learn Coding
Develop your programming skills by challenging yourself to complete as many tasks as you can, from Recursion to Java:
https://www.codecademy.com/
Choosing a university for Computer Science:
This league table for 2020 gives information on the best universities for Computer Science
https://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.c o.uk/league-tables/rankings/computerscience
A Computer that works like a brain: Kwabena Boahen
Watch the Ted Talk on why Computers could be reconfigured to work like a human brain:
https://www.ted.com/talks/kwabena_boah en_a_computer_that_works_like_the_brai n?language=en
Need Python Support?
Try this series of 67 tutorials that will take you right from the beginning to advanced Python programming
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEgO04 7GxaQ
Prepare for University
Develop your C++ or Java programming skills with these tutorials, languages used by many University courses and employers
https://www.learncpp.com/cpp-tutorial/afew-common-cpp-problems/ https://www.learnjavaonline.org/
IBM: Quantum Computing
Read through this IBM site all about Quantum computing to be aware of the next steps in the evolution of Computers:
https://www.ibm.com/quantumcomputing/learn/what-is-quantumcomputing/
How does A.I function?:
Give this simulation a try to help you understand how A.I. learn, grow and communicates: A.I.
Perform a monologue of your choice using Stanislavski’s system for actors. Consider how your character is feeling and understand why.
Read a new play and share your director’s concept with your teacher.
Write a short review of one piece of work you have performed, focusing on how adjustment of technical theatre could enhance the performance.
Organise a theatrical evening on a theme of your choosing. This could be anything from an improvisation evening to a rehearsed reading.
Drama
Create a Squeeze Duet (including RBT), based on the work by Frantic Assembly perform it in an unusual location, film it and share it using Teams.
Use ‘No fear Shakespeare’ to familiarise yourself with the plot of a Shakespeare play you have never read.
Design a Set model box (diorama) for a play you have watched. Think about appropriate materials, colours and sizes that can be used to create symbolism.
Perform a song from musical theatre, film it and share it using Teams.
Watch a musical theatre performance online.
Listen to a radio play to see how performers use vocal techniques to create character.
Through a discussion with your teacher, organise a ‘lunchbox theatre’ event in school to demonstrate something you have been working on in lesson and a lunch time.
Create a theatre project for younger pupils in lunchtimes, to help develop experience of direction and space management.
Complete an Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) in Economics
Run an “Investor Challenge” club –promote to students in KS3/4/5.
Research a developing, emerging and a developed country and compare standards of living https://www.worldometers.info/wo rld-population/population-bycountry/ https://oec.world/en/profile/countr y/blr/
Listen to a Economics podcast https://www.intelligenteconomist.c om/economics-podcasts/
Tweet about Economics and follow others that do. Share any interesting articles or create a blog.
Economics
Watch one of the following films: The Big Short, Laundromat, Freak economics, Inside Job
Lead a revision session for your class on your favourite Economics topic
Enter the following Competitions: 1. The Marshall Society (Cambridge University Economic Society) essay/article competition 2. Young Economist Essay Competition run by the Royal Economic Society 3. Generation euro student award
Become an Economics Captain and take on additional responsibilities to promote Economics.
Watch episodes on the Economist Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/chan nel/UC0p5jTq6Xx_DosDFxVXnW aQ
Go and visit either: Bank of England, EU Commission (Brussels), ECB (Frankfurt)
Read a newspaper article from the Economist and write a short synopsis
Look at the economic news on the BBC or Guardian website –apply Economic theory in the form of a report or poster https://www.bbc.com/news/busi ness/economy https://www.theguardian.com/b usiness/economics
Choose a book to read from the. Write a short summary of what you have learnt
Read the Economics Review and write a synopsis of what you have learnt
Watch film and / or drama productions of the texts you are studying.
Research a literary genre an author or period, e g: Gothic, Dickens, Romanticism.
Try reading some short stories as an introduction to new writers
Read the quarterly journals EnglishReview and eMagazine to supplement your English studies.
Try the book ‘Best European Fiction 2020’ – or any other year - as a way of discovering new writers.
English
Take the opportunity to visit the various theatres in Luxembourg to see live drama.
Read at least one other text in the same literary genre or style to one you are studying.
Read contextual literature around the texts you are studying. These can be found in L001
Use the online resource and revision site Connells Guides to enhance your learning and broaden your understanding of the texts studied at A Level.
Write an article for younger students about a text you have particularly enjoyed.
Read, or better still, watch a Shakespeare play.
Read for pleasure on a historical topic that interests you to improve your contextual knowledge. Ask your teacher for advice.
Visit the Poetry library at the Southbank Centre: https://www.poetrylibrary.or g.uk
Visit the website of the British Library and explore the vast array of resources available to enhance your studies.
Subscribe to The Times Literary Supplement. https://subs.thetls. co.uk
When you take a trip/holiday make notes/take photos of the impacts of tourists and the management in place there.
Read ‘After Geoengineering’ By Holly Jean Buck.
Download the ‘World Factbook’ App to have a world of statistics at your fingertips.
Read ‘Postmodern Geographies’ by Edward W Soja
Visit the Smithsonian volcano website to keep informed about current eruptions https://volcano.si.edu/
Geography
Read ‘Prisoners of Geography’ By Tim Marshall.
Read ‘Climate Leviathan’ by Wainright and Mann.
Download and listen to a podcast from BBC4 ‘From our own correspondent podcast’.
Visit the Royal Geographical Society website and find out how to become a Geography Ambassador.
Watch ‘Blood Diamond’ a film about civil war and the battle to control resources in Sierra Leone.
Watch a Congo: A journey to the heart of darkness to understand more about this fascinating and troubled country.
https://www.youtube.com/wa tch?v=43xTvpxWLW4
Watch and review a TEDTalk about sustainability.
Write an essay for the Royal Geographical Society annual competition.
Select the hardest past paper essay question you can find, answer it and submit it – all without use of the mark scheme.
Read ‘Burning up’ By Simon Pirani
History
Create timelines on both of your topic
Read: Martin Luther King Jr, Peter Ling from the Challenge Library
Read: The Lost Empire, Serghi Plokhy, from the Challenge Library
Read: ‘The Rise and Fall of Communism’ by Archie Brown, from the Challenge Library
Read: Revolution, 1989: Victor Sebestyen, from the Challenge Library
Read for pleasure on a historical topic that interests you. Ask your teacher for advice.
Read: The Debate on Black Civil Rights in America, Kevern Verney, from the Challenge Library
-Watch: Roots (2016), The Color Purple and ‘12 Years a Slave
Watch: The Fog of War. Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert McNamara
Read a novel about Civil Rights such as ‘The Help, ‘The Color Purple’ or ‘To Kill a Mockingbird.’
Borrow a History Today or Modern History Review magazine from the Challenge Library
Read: Barack Obama Trilogy Dreams From My Father, The Audacity of Hope, A Promised Land
Watch: Lincoln, Selma, 42, and Tuskegee
Watch: Read: ‘The Cold War’ or ‘We Now Know’ by John Lewis Gaddis
Watch CNN Cold War documentaries.
Research ‘The Calculus Wars’
This is the bitterest mathematical dispute in history. What was the dispute? What is the evidence for both concerned? Whose side are you on?
Mathematical Art
Get inspired by this video showing mathematical art masterpieces on Desmos, and create your own!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v =MWmnXUXfFOg
L'Hôpital’s Rule
Watch this Krista King video with examples on limits.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v =uhxGH7OhrIM
Differential Equations
What are they and what are they used for? How do you verify (or find) their solutions?
The Riemann Hypothesis
The greatest unsolved problem in mathematics.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=d6 c6uIyieoo
Mathematics
How to Study for a Mathematics Degree by Lara Alcock
Helpful guide to those transitioning from high school mathematics to university mathematics. It has lots of tips on how to do proofs, etc.
Cantor’s Infinities
Watch this lecture on infinities: highlight includes Hilbert’s ‘Infinity’ Hotel’.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v =SqRY1Bm8EVs
The Basel Problem
Research the Basel problem. What is it? Why is it so named? Which mathematicians have provided a proof of the problem?
The Map of Mathematics
This video shows how pure mathematics and applied mathematics relate to each other and all of their subtopics.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v =uhxGH7OhrIM
Euler’s Exponentials
Watch this lecture on Euler and e.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v =VIADThf8gjE
Complex Partial Fractions
See how the power of algebra is opened up with the help of complex numbers.
https://nrich.maths.org/2380
Towards Higher Mathematics by Richard Earl
Bridges the gap to university-level mathematics. Many proofs are provided to better equip students for the transition to university.
Fundamental Theorem of Algebra
Numberphile video proof of one of the most important theorems in maths.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v =shEk8sz1oOw
How to Think Like a Mathematician: A Companion to Undergraduate Mathematics by Kevin
Houston
This book will help you develop an arsenal of techniques to help you unlock the meaning of theorems, proofs, etc.
An Imaginary Tale: The Story of √-1 by Paul J.
Nahin
Learn how mathematicians dealt with the complex number i, in this interesting mix of calculus and history.
Produce ‘alternative videos’ in addition to your main promo clip using formats such as lyric video, visualizer, single-take, teaser, unwrapping (see this guide post on musividz)
Take on a producer role, coordinating each Y10, 11, 12, 13 group’s radio work, and ensuring that they and Ara have up to date details on the show schedule
Use the mediareg blog for wider reading on regulation cases and issues in the press, film, music and other media industries
After watching a film at home assess whether it meets the criteria of the Bechdel Test, or quiz others on whether popular films pass or fail
Create a short written, illustrated guide to any aspect of your Media Studies learning for a nonspecialist, incorporating this into coursework blogs
Media
Present episodes of the twicemonthly B122 Show on Radio Ara, reflecting some Media learning and journalistic endeavour eg vox pops
Mentor KS4 students to assist them with their initial experiences of radio broadcasting, or AS students to help with blogging techniques
Use the musividz blog to research trends within the music industry, including regularly updated posts like the 2021 industry overview
Watch playlists, such as charts, of music videos to practise identifying and analysing media language and representations
Use social media and/or survey sites to research issues through opinion polls and to seek audience feedback on coursework rough/sample cuts
View and assess past student coursework productions and blogs, noting particular features you admire or might seek to improve
Use the wide range of library and classroom books to engage in further reading around your coursework or exam topics
Using boxofficemojo.com assess the budget and box office/distribution of the last 3 films you viewed, or to add to discussion at home
Use the selection of music video directors DVDs (eg Spike Jonze, Michel Gondry) to do a case study of an auteur’s style
Create jingles for the B122 Show, or logos/artwork for other Media productions; contribute to the show’s marketing eg through posting on the Insta account
MFL (French/German)
Watch one newsflash daily on French or German TV and summarise in 2-3 line(s) two of the issues mentioned.
Borrow one French/German film from our library and write a short review on it.
Produce a short video or audio podcast on two cultural aspects/traditions in France or Germany.
Find a famous French/German band or singer and write a short presentation of them. Afterwards pick one song and listen to it.
German A Level: Watch a documentary about the reunification of Germany. What triggered the fall of the wall in 1989?
Visit or research a town/city in Germany or France and describe it briefly. What is the importance of this place? Why is it famous for?
Go and watch a French play at the TOL or TNL.
www.theatres.lu
Read a French novel (not studied in class) and write a summary of 120150 words.
Research how the school systems are different in France or Germany? What about applying to university?
French A Level: write an essay 300350 words on one of the following topics:
Alternative measures to prison: how to punish criminals more effectively? How to make society more inclusive (to fight social exclusion)?
Listen to a French radio station for one hour a day. Ex. L’essentiel, RTL France, NRJ, RFM, Fun Radio, France info.
Research the recent changes in society (new immigration laws, social inclusion). What main changes have been implemented? How are they seen by the population?
Go to the local cinema and watch a film in French/German (with subtitles in English). https://kinepolis.lu/fr
Visit the BibliothèqueNationale in Kirchberg and find out how to borrow books. www.bnl.lu
German A Level: research the role of Germany in the EU. How has it evolved? What is the current German strategy regarding the expansion of the EU?
Music
Listen to Radio 3 or Classic FM Use Auralia regularly to help train your listening skills.
Listen to two different composers from the same era and compare and contrast.
Enter yourself for Grade 5 or 6 Theory.
Apply for a summer school or workshop over the summer. There are lots of online courses on www.futurelearn .com/courses
Watch an opera screening at the cinema such as MET live.
Research an area of interest to publish in the school newsletter.
Audition for an AMIS ensemble or for a European Youth Orchestra or Chorus.
Watch a performance of the Rite of Spring
Make a playlist of the 10 most important works for your first instrument or voice tape and listen to as many versions as possible. Can you learn all of them?
Go to a concert at the Philharmonie or Conservatoire.
Set up a lunchtime concert.
Join a Music club. Help organise in school concerts. Arrange parts for a school group to improve
PE
Research the best PE degree courses in the UK on UCAS
The Last Dance (2020) Netflix
Become a qualified referee/umpire in a sport of your choice
Volunteer to help coach in PE lessons or an after school sports club.
Read a sports biography/autobiography
Read the Journal of Sport and Exercise Physiology online.
Icarus (2017) Bryan Fogel, Netflix.
An internationally famous sports venue in Europe. A live sports match or tournament in Luxembourg/Europe.
Become a qualified First Aider Write a diet and exercise plan for one month in a sport of your choice
Listen to sports podcasts to widen your interest in a range of different sports
Research the history of the Olympic movement
Volunteer in a community sports club.
Keep a training log for one month
Visit Mars! https://accessmars.withgoogle.co m/
Investigate a range of career opportunities for physics graduates
Physics
‘The Theory of Everything’ directed by James Marsh
‘Quantum: A guide for the perplexed’ by Jim Al-Khalili
Use the ‘Britannica School’’ website to write a report about Nikola Tesla CERN, Geneva https://home.cern/
‘Cosmos’ by Carl Sagan
Museum of Flight, Seattle https://museumofflight.org/Explo re-The-Museum/Virtual-MuseumOnline
Read about the Nobel prizes in physics; the scientists and their discoveries
Create a physics video in the style of ‘Minute Physics’ or ‘Vsauce’ (from YouTube).
‘QED: The Strange Theory of Light and Matter’ by Richard Feynman
Galileo Museum, Florence https://catalogue.museogalileo.it /index/IndexObjectsByRoom.htm l
Read 3 articles on current discoveries in Science www.iflscience.com/
Make a revision quiz on Kahoot or Socrative! for a topic and ask to use it in class
‘Trespassing on Einstein’s lawn’ by Amanda Gefter
Use the ‘Britannica School’’ website to write a report about Carl Jung
Watch the film ‘Shutter Island’ about schizophrenia
Take part in some research online
www.plymouth.ac.uk/research/psychol ogy/online-studies
Watch the film ‘One flew over the cuckoo’s nest’ about schizophrenia
Produce a piece of display work depicting a psychological theme of your choice
Psychology
Create a simulation to be used in the mock court room!
Listen to a podcast related to clinical and behavioural psychology
http://thepsychfiles.com/about-thepodcast/
Visit a clinic or hospital to gain insight on the work of a clinical psychologist.
Find 10 facts about Eating Disorder behaviour
Read a Psychology Review magazine and write a summary of an article
Watch the TED Talk about the reliability of eyewitness testimony by E. Loftus
www.ted.com/talks/elizabeth_l oftus_how_reliable_is_your_m emory
Recommend a book of your choice that can be added to the psychology section in the school library
Carry out two activities from the BBC science website
www.bbc.co.uk/science/human body/mind/index_surveys.sht ml
Make a podcast (3 minute) about Psychological Formulation
Watch one of these films about schizophrenia
• Beautiful mind
• Awakenings