Super Curriculum Guide - Year 7
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 outside of school on your own 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.
Key to Activities
Reading Activity
Writing Activity
Watching Activity
Listening Activity
Research activity
Trip or Visit
Internet Activity
Creative Activity
Student-led Task
Listening to song Task
Art
Exhibit some of your artwork in your home or a public space.
Invite your family to see the work.
Celebrate a female artist for International Women’s Day on 8th March by recreating one of their artworks.
Use the Google Art and Culture App to discover new artists from around the world.
Take part in drawing events such as Inktober and share your outcomes with somebody.
Enter an International Art competition.
Read 13 Artists Children should know published by Prestel.
Watch an inspiring series such as The Great British Sewing Bee, Next in Fashion or Project Runway.
When on holiday visit a local gallery or museum.
Borrow a book from the Art Library such as ‘Just Draw It’ and Just Paint It’.
Create an artwork or poppy for Remembrance Day on 11th November.
Join an Art Club in or outside of school. Encourage your peers to come along and try a new technique.
Use an app such as Adobe Draw to experiment with digital media.
Make your own sketchbook using different types of paper. Try experimenting with different media on the various surfaces.
Use The Art Story App to deepen your knowledge and understanding of art movements.
Create an artwork that celebrates Earth Day on 22nd April.
Where it all started
Watch the TedTalk on birth of the modern computer from its 16th century origins to the hilarious notebooks of some early computer engineers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EF692 dBzWAs
Listen to a Computing Podcast
Learn about a whole range of topics including: artificial intelligence, cloud computing, data security and the advent of computing
https://player.fm/podcasts/Computers
Learn about KS4 & KS5 Courses
Watch videos, complete resources, view their mini websites and explore the glossaries
http://www.teach-ict.com/
Unisys Computer Museum Belgium
Plan a visit to the Computer Museum NAMIP Henri Blès Street 192A, 5000 NAMUR
http://www.nam-ip.be/NAM-ip-Coll2.html
The British Informatics Olympiad
Enter the computerprogramming competition
http://www.olympiad.org.uk
Computing
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 building websites to analysing data:
https://www.codecademy.com/
Doddle Learn
Why not complete the mini quizzes on algorithms, programming basics, binary, Boolean logic, flowcharts and logical operators.
Attend a Coding Workshop
Based in Kirchberg and offers weekend sessions. Starts with simple drag and drop programming and then creating your own animation, story, game or mobile application!
http://www.workshop4me.org/calendar.ht ml
Real Lives: Alan Turing
Read this book by Jim Eldridge about the famous code breaker and computer scientist.
Join a Coding Club
Why not join a club out of school? It will allow you to develop skills such as learning to program, improving numeracy, problem-solving, design, creativity and collaboration skills
https://codeclub.lu/
Prepare for GCSE
Develop your Python 3 programming skills and HTML coding by challenging yourself to complete as many tasks as possible on Snakify. There are over 200 exercises and video clips.
https://snakify.org/en/
The Universal Computer: The Road from Leibniz to Turing
Read through this book by Martin Davis on the origins of the computer and the mathematicians involved.
The Year 2100
Image that it is the Year 2100. What will the world be like? How will technology have changed? What new inventions will have been created?
Sketch a picture of a large city giving a perspective on what you think 2100 will look like.
History of Computing
Watch the short computing videos from the YouTube channel playlist below https://www.youtube.com/user/crashco urse
Drama
Perform a monologue as either Romeo or Juliet. Explain how you feel about not being able to be with your true love. How does this make you feel? What do you plan to do?
Learn how to operate the lighting and sound desks in Barthel Hall to assist with technical theatre.
Visit a local theatre or another school to see a performance and feedback to your class about how you found the performance.
Use the website http://www.dialectsarchive.com/ to research an accent. Can you work to master this accent? Maybe you can think of a performance that you could incorporate it into.
Use the website www.digitaltheatre.com to view plays and listen to audio scenes to develop your understanding of theatre.
Design a costume on paper for any character from a play you have watched. Think about appropriate materials, colours and sizes that represent something about the character.
Watch a live theatre performance at any theatre and spend 15 minutes talking to someone about it. What did you like? Which actor/actress stood out? Why? What star rating would you give the show?
Attend one performance on the Arts extracurricular schedule up around school. Feedback to anyone who took part in the event.
Work as a ‘Wardrobe manager’ for a week, supervising our costume and props cupboard, signing in and out any items which are being used by groups. As this is a real job in the industry it would be a good experience to see another side of theatre!
English
Read another autobiography as a comparison with ‘I am Malala’.
Learn a poem you particularly like by heart.
Research Shakespeare’s life OR the Globe Theatre OR some of his plays
Visit one of the castles in Luxembourg, such as Vianden or Bourglinster, and use it as the setting for your own fairy tale.
Enter the COBIS Poetry Competition.
Think up a fun activity for this year’s Spelling Bee.
Research speeches made by famous people to support good causes
Investigate a fairy tale and see how different versions of it you can find.
Volunteer to teach your English class a new - and useful - word next lesson!
Watch a production of Midsummer Night’s Dream that you have not seen in class.
Design a front cover for a book you have read this year.
Having read Skelling, try and read one other Magic Realism text, such as…TheBorrowers,Cosmic or Time TravellingwithaHamster.
Read one new book from the school library every month.
https://www.youtube.com/user/ OSMapping Watch videos on map skills
Continue to use Atlases and maps outside of the classroom.
Use google maps to find 10 unusual places on Earth. Name the country they are in and the direction and distance to the nearest town
Make a Papier Mâché model show a river valley and the contour of the land. You could base it on a real place you have visited on a map you have found.
Take a trip to the Centre of the City of Luxembourg to help you write your city report.
https://www.justarrived.lu/en/pr actical-information/luxembourgcity/centre/
Geography
National Geographic Magazine https://www.nationalgeographic.co m/magazine/
Keep a weather diary. Get a guide and a diary book from your Geography teacher. You could keep a diary for where you live and compare it to somewhere else in the world.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v =JKT7cSFf2ic Evolution of Settlements
Use BBC bitesize as a revision tool. https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/sub jects/zrw76sg
Create a detailed map of where you live using the map skills you have learned during the first term. Get an OS map grid from your teacher.
Take a trip and visit the River Moselle. What different activities can you do?
https://www.visitluxembourg.com/ en/where-to-go/the-moselle
https://www.youtube.com/user/G eographyNow General Geography knowledge
Create a detailed A3 map of a fictional island using the map skills you have learned during the first term. Get an OS map grid from your teacher.
Write a travel report about a trip you have to the beach over the summer holidays.
Create a scrapbook that shows news events about flooding and rivers over a set period of time.
Medieval Lives, Terry Jones https://www.youtube.com/watch?v= QquhNTBfpdw&list=PL_13O8xhsOCZ JBRSdvrqpstrLU7ofpZRC
Read a book on The Battle of Hastings in the Library by MK Lawson, Jim Bradbury or Gillian Clements
Find out what a town or village was like in England in 1069 http://opendomesday.org/
Domesday Book, Melvyn Bragg’s In Our Time 17.04.2014 https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/ b040llvb
Visit Bouillon Castle https://visitwallonia.com/engb/content/castle-bouillon-medievalgem-wallonia
History
Measly Middle Ages, Horrible Histories
Create your own heraldic coat of arms
1066: A Year to Conquer England, BBC Documentary series.
(Some battle re-enactments) https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=h-Vrd20tKF0
Research how castles were built and make your own medieval castle.
https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=HGH2bteGpTA
Medieval Apocalypse, BBC documentary on the Black Death https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=NyzWAx_gbF4
Visit a medieval festival in Luxembourg
‘Worst Jobs in History’, Medieval Times
https://www.youtube.com/watc h?v=t4tTUXdK7-0
Research medieval manuscripts and create your own medieval illuminated letter.
Visit Vianden Castle
One of many medieval castles in Luxembourg https://castle-vianden.lu/gb/
Visit the Luxembourg City Museum https://citymuseum.lu/en/
Sir Cumference Series
Read about the knight named Sir Cumference, who solves mathsrelated challenges that pose threats to his family and kingdom.
Learn about John Nash
Read this article about the mathematician who inspired the movie, A Beautiful Mind.
School of Hard Sums
Entertaining look at solving some popular problem solving activities.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v =zSyJda3-DP8
Learn about Algebra
Read this article about the uses and history of algebra, the ancient mathematical language.
This is Not a Maths Book
Read this activity book by Anna Weltman to learn about geometry topics, whilst tapping into your art skills.
Mathematics
Towers of Hanoi
Investigate this famous mathematical puzzle from 1883.
On myiMaths, in the library dropdown box select GamesPuzzles-Towers of Hanoi.
A Brief History of Pi
Watch this video to learn about the history behind the amazing number,
Number Sequences Puzzle
Try to find the next number in all of these sequences.
Paul’s Children Puzzle
Try to solve this puzzle about the age of Paul’s children.
The Fibonacci Sequence
Research this most famous mathematical sequence. Who is it named after? Where can it be found in real life? What is the link to the film ‘The Da Vinci Code’?
Higher or Lower?
Use your probability skills to predict whether the next card will be higher or lower.
On myimaths, in the library dropdown box select Games-Probability.
Read Family Math
Read Family Math by Jean Kerr Stenmark, a book that focuses on reallife maths problems that can be solved using common objects such as cups and cards.
The Story of Mathematics
Look through this book by Anne Rooney. Choose several of the sections contained within and learn about some mathematical history.
Isaac Newton
Where did he grow up? Which university did he attend? What is his connection with the Royal Mint? What is his greatest contribution to mathematics?
Areas and Volumes of Similar Shapes
Read this page from BBC Bitesize to learn about the relationship between the areas and volumes of similar shapes.
MFL (French/German)
Watch one newsflash a day on RTL Express and summarise in one line the different reports.
https://5minutes.rtl.lu/photos-etvideos/rtl-express-fr
Watch your favourite film in German/French with English subtitles OR borrow one French/German film from our library and write a short review on it.
Try to eat healthy for one week and keep a diary where you describe what you have eaten each day (French or German).
Find a famous German band and write a short presentation of them. Afterwards pick one song and listen to it.
Watch the daily ARTE Journal Junior and summarise the different news reports in one headline (for each)
https://www.arte.tv/fr/videos/RC014082/arte-journal-junior/
Visit a town/city in Germany or France and order food/drinks in a café or restaurant.
Go to Trier in Germany and visit 3 famous places (Porta Nigra, Dom, Hauptmarkt), take a picture there and write what you have done in German.
Read one French magazine and pick 3 facts you have learnt and explain them in French.
Ex.: Géo Ado Çam’intéresse OkapiorPhosphore
Find a city in Germany and create one quiz with 12 questions on KAHOOT or QUIZIZZ.
https://kahoot.com/ https://quizizz.com/
Create a vocabulary booklet and add each day 5 new words that you will look up in a dictionary (French or German)
Listen to one podcast a week on the website ‘Coffee break German’ https://radiolingua.com/category/c offee-break-german/
Take one photo each day of your holiday and create a timeline with the photos and write one sentence for each photo.
Go to the local cinema and watch a film in French with subtitles in English.
https://kinepolis.lu/fr
Visit the BibliothèqueNationale in Kirchberg and find out how to borrow books. Make a selfie in front of the Bibliothèque and post it on Instagram. www.bnl.lu
Research 5 important traditions in France or Germany and produce a poster with them. Add some interesting details. When? How? Why?
Music
Create a large coloured poster, diagramming the ukulele and it’s parts.
Watch a Youtube documentary on a IZ, the famous ukulele player from Hawaii.
Take a free voice or instrument lesson on Youtube
Write an original song.
Participate in an Open Mic event.
Find a great tutorial of a new STEP, learn it, and teach the class!
Watch a live music event and write a review
Watch a music review for an album you have never listened to before.
Create a timeline of the different musical styles
Create a poster that displays MAD-TSHIRTS and writes about the elements of music.
Take a video of you playing through major and minor scales on ukulele!
Give a friend music lessons on the instrument you play.
Write a glossary of Rhythm musical terms and definitions.
Audition for the AMIS festival
Compose a fanfare
Develop the habit of watching TED talks regularly
TED began in 1984 as a conference where Technology, Entertainment and Design converged, and today covers almost all topics from science to business to global issues.
Volunteer Your Time
This does not have to be out of school. You could see if any help is required in the library, school office, with your Head of Key Stage or your Form Tutor. If out of school why not help a next door neighbour or an elderly relative.
Download the CALM
App
This promises to help you sleep better, boost confidence and reduce stress and anxiety, all with the help of guided meditations, soothing music, and bedtime stories
https://www.calm.com
21 days of a healthy habit.
Choose a healthy habit to follow for 21 days. Sleeping for 9 hours, exercising, cutting on junk food, drinking 8 glasses of water or any other from the list. Rules, ideas and motivation, here: 21-days
PSHE
Mindful Mini-Courses
Each course offers video, audio, and transcripts so you can choose your favourite way to engage with each practice.
https://www.mindful.org/practicemindfulness/
Read the News
The news provides information and general knowledge. The news provides information about a country's economic situation, sports, games, entertainment, trade and commerce. Reading the news will widen your outlook and will enrich your knowledge.
Join an Extra Curricular Club
Whether this is to explore an interest, improve academic performance, meet new people, learn essential life skills or make your free time more productive –whatever the reason why not learn something new!
Global issues
Find a documentary regarding one of the global issues studied between weeks 1-5 and write an essay about it.
Raise Money for Charity
There may be a specific charity that you wish to support. If raising money requires time and/or resources at school then write a brief rationale about what you want to do and pass this to your Head of Key Stage for approval.
Learn to be Reflective
Reflective practice is a tool for improving your learning as a student and life experiences. Although it will take time to adopt the technique of reflective practice, it will ultimately save you time and energy. https://www.skillsyouneed.com/ps/reflectivepractice.html
Random Acts of Kindness
Live and breathe kindness, share knowledge and lead by example. Try to provide at least one random act of kindness daily
https://www.randomactsofkindness.org
Enter a Student Competition
There are several reasons why participating in a competition is a worthwhile activity, you learn lots, have a better chance of winning than you think and can gain valuable experience for your CV.
https://studentcompetitions.com/competition s
PE
Write a short article (50 words) about your favourite sport/player.
Watch a major sporting event on TV or the internet. Write a 50 word report about what happened.
Listen to a sports podcast. Take a screen shot and send it to your teacher as evidence.
Lead a warm-up or cool down during a PE lesson.
Read about a sports event on the internet. Write a 50 word report about what you learned.
Attend a live sporting competition or match at an elite level. Take a photograph as evidence.
Attend a Sports Club regularly in school.
Go to the library and select a sports book to read. Write a 50 word report about what you learned.
Go to a local Sports Club to watch/play a live game. Take a photograph as evidence.
Create a two page scrapbook of any sport, sportsperson or sporting event from social media.
Watch a sports programme on Netflix. Write a 50 word report about what you learned.
Write a report of a sports match or event you attended. Send it to your PE teacher.
Science Super Curriculum - Year 7
Walk the ‘Planetary Trail’ in Schifflange Planetary Trail "De Saturn" - Explorer Luxembourg
Watch 3 videos from ‘Crash Course Kids’ on YouTube
Use the ‘Britannica School’’ website to write a report about Elizabeth Blackwell
‘Why Don’t Penguins’ Feet Freeze?’ by New Scientist
‘100 things to know about Space’ by A. Firth, A. James & J. Martin
Create a science video of an experiment at home. Visit this website for ideas www.stevespanglerscience.com
Luxembourg Science Center, Differdange www.science-center.lu
Watch 3 videos from ‘Smart Learning for All’ on YouTube
‘The Blue Planet’ from the BBC (narrated by David Attenborough)
Euro Space Center, Transinne, Belgium www.eurospacecenter.be
Find out facts about 3 endangered species from the ‘IUCN Red List’
Make a revision quiz on Powerpoint or Kahoot! for a topic and ask to use it in class