Year 8 Curriculum Handbook
September 2013 to
July 2014
[Pick the date]
Dear Parent/Carers
The Joseph Whitaker School is always keen to work in partnership with parents and carers. We expect high
standards for all our students and aim to give them every encouragement and opportunity to reach their full
potential.
We are frequently asked by parents/carers how they can best help and support their children in school. The
information in this booklet not only describes subject content but also suggests resources and ways in which
you can help your child at home.
Joseph Whitaker is a homework setting school. With reference to this booklet, your child’s Organiser and
SIMS Learning Gateway we hope you too will be able to track and monitor this important part of their
education.
The information contained in this booklet is currently being amended in line with the introduction of the new
National Curriculum in September 2014.
www.education.gov.uk/schools/teachingandlearning/curriculum/nationalcurriculum2014
I would also like to draw your attention to important dates for Year 8, as follows:
19 December 2013
- Interim Report 1 to Parents
03 April 2014
- Interim Report 2 to Parents
01 May 2014
- Parents’ Consultation Evening
15 July 2014
- Full Report Issued
If you have any concerns your first point of contact is your child’s tutor, but we will always be happy to make
an appointment to see you should the need arise.
Yours sincerely
Mr D Bell
Vice Principal
Curriculum and Achievement
Subject:
English
Subject Information:
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6 hours teaching per fortnight.
Weekly homework
During the year students study the following topics:
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Prose Fiction – contemporary novel.
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Non-fiction texts – a range of text types including recounting, instructions,
non-chronological reports, explanations, persuasive and discursive writing.
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Poetry – a selection of contemporary and pre-1914 poetry.
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Media Study – a study of T.V. news.
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Drama – study of a Shakespeare play.
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Language development and change - further study of variety in English.
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A programme of work at word and sentence level.
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Speaking and listening work.
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Pupils continue to use the Accelerated Reader programme in library lessons.
Parents can help by:
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Supporting research, written or reading homework.
Supporting spelling strategies as covered in the year.
Supporting with drafting of assessments and encouraging good presentation
including information technologies.
Other resources which might help:
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Wide reading of a range of texts fiction and non-fiction.
Critical viewing of TV and film to encourage children to become pro-active,
rather than passive viewers.
A dictionary.
Subject:
Mathematics
Subject Information:
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6 hours teaching per fortnight.
2 or 3 x 20 or 30 minutes homework per week.
During the year students study the following topics:
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Integers, powers and roots.
Fractions, decimals, percentages, ratio and proportion.
Place value, calculations and calculator methods.
Solving problems.
Measures.
Sequences, function and graphs.
Equations and formulae.
Geometrical reasoning: lines, angles and shapes.
Construction.
Areas of triangles and quadrilaterals.
Volume and surface area of cuboids.
Transformations.
Loci.
Probability.
Interpret and draw statistical tables and diagrams.
Mean, median, mode and range.
Parents can help by:
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Encouraging mental arithmetic in everyday life (money, time) and in formal
practice, e.g. tables.
Supporting our homework system.
Checking Organiser for homework.
Ensuring each student has a calculator and other mathematical equipment
with them for each lesson.
Other resources which might help:
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Mathematics follows an adapted version of Kangaroo Maths.
www.kangaroomaths.com/kenny2.php?page=Kschemeks3
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Access to the internet: www.mymaths.co.uk. Login: whitaker. Password:
algebra
Revision books and software suitable for the age range are available from
local shops.
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Subject:
Science
Subject Information:
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6 hours teaching per fortnight.
1 x 20 minute reading homework per week.
1 x 20 minute written/research homework per week.
During the year students study the following topics:
“How Science Works” (Designing and carrying out reliable and safe
investigations).
Biology (SC2).
 Reproduction – pregnancy and birth.
 Population growth.
 Environment and pollution.
Chemistry (SC3).
 Chemical Reactions and Equations.
 Reactivity.
 Solubility.
 Acids, Alkalis and Neutralisation.
Physics (SC4).
 Forces.
 Motion.
 Electricity.
 Magnetism.
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All topics are taken from the National Curriculum and based on the
“Spotlight Science” course.
Parents can help by:
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Other
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Regularly referring to your child’s exercise book for topic content and
comments and talking with them about the work.
Check Organiser for homework and your child’s current level.
Helping them prepare for end of topic tests by oral questioning using
exercise book and the internet where possible.
resources which might help:
Science workbook (where provided).
KS3 Science revision guide (cost £2: 00) available from your child’s teacher.
CD Rom Dorling Kindersley ‘Test for Success KS3 Science.’
www.bbc.co.uk/education/ks3bitesize/
SAM Learning.
Subject:
Art
Subject Information:
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Carousel with Drama and Music.
2 hours teaching per fortnight.
1 piece of homework per fortnight.
During the year students study the following topics:
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Landscape - Looking at landscapes in art. Pupils research and collect ideas
and images in preparation for their own painting.
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Portraits - The main emphasis is on drawing. Pupils create observations in a
variety of materials paying attention to the detail and proportion. Pupils are
asked to evaluate their own work and the work of others.
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Decorative - Exploring a full range of working styles and techniques. Pupils
learn to repeat, enlarge and distort images. Clear links with artists are
made.
Parents can help by:
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Encouraging their children to discuss their ideas and opinions, values and
attitudes and feelings.
Visiting an art gallery/sculpture park.
Helping them to research information on artists.
Helping them to collect related images and materials.
Encouraging and ensuring that all homework is produced.
Pupils are expected to use a sketchbook and homework will include drawing,
research, resourcing and evaluating – please check this with your child.
Other resources which might help:
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Magazines, newspapers, books for information and inspiration.
Material from the internet or ‘Encarta.’
Basic equipment – 2B pencils, crayons and glue.
Subject:
Design and Technology
Subject Information:
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2 hours a week.
1 x 20 minutes homework per week.
The year is divided into five units, each 8 weeks long.
During the year students study the following topics:
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Unit 1 Textiles – students design and make a set of juggling bags using a
range of materials and finishing techniques.
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Unit 2 Food - students continue to develop their confidence in the kitchen
while studying basic nutrition, healthy eating and the safe use of the
kitchen.
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Unit 3 Electronics – students investigate the use of computer control in
the use of electronics. Pupils develop their programming skills to control a
variety of situations.
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Unit 4 Resistant Materials – students learn how to shape, join and finish
plastics in order to design and make a wall mounted clock.
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Unit 5 Graphic Products– students design and make a model of a new
takeaway restaurant using mainly card and a variety of graphical
techniques. They will also use ICT to produce menus and other advertising
information for their new food.
Parents can help by:
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Ensuring students have access to coloured pens, pencils, glue and scissors in
order to produce colourful and attractive design work.
Encouraging students to be imaginative and creative in their thinking.
Other resources which might help:
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Access to a computer and the internet.
Magazines and catalogues for research work.
Subject: Drama
Subject Information:
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Carousel with Art and Music.
2 hours teaching per fortnight.
Completion of Drama Diary after some lessons.
During the year students study the following topics:
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The Environment.
‘Rose Blanche’ – a story that takes place in WWII.
“Frankenstein” – scripted work.
They will learn to:
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Understand and demonstrate basic social and group skills.
Work in mixed groups of various sizes.
Understand use of space, movement and voice.
Devise, improvise and perform creditable characterisations.
Structure a presentation with a clear beginning, middle and end.
Understand the process of drama.
Use and understand technical vocabulary.
Use masks.
Be introduced to scripted theatre.
Reflect upon, evaluate and analyse their own and other people’s work.
Parents can help by:
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Encouraging their children to discuss their ideas and opinions, values and
attitudes and feelings.
Encourage them to listen to other people’s ideas and opinions.
Other resources which might help:
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To experience live performances of any format.
Subject: French
Subject Information:
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4 hours teaching per fortnight.
2 x 30 minutes homework per week.
During the year students study the following topics:
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Stories.
Secret agent.
Space.
Food.
Sport.
Fashion.
The following grammar is also taught for active use:
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Prepositions.
Regular and irregular verbs in the present tense.
The immediate future.
The past tense.
Reflexive verbs.
The partitive article.
Parents can help by:
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Testing vocabulary.
Listening to their children read aloud in French.
Listening to their children speak aloud in French.
Checking their Organiser to see that written homework is completed.
Helping students with the rules of French grammar.
Taking children to France!
Other resources which might help:
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A small English-French dictionary.
Subject:
Geography
Subject Information:
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3 hours teaching per fortnight.
1 piece of homework per fortnight (30 minutes).
During the year students study the following topics:
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Fantastic places.
Changing shape of Britain.
People moving.
Rainforests.
Vanishing resources.
Holiday.
Parents can help by:
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Encouraging their children to discuss their ideas and opinions, values and
attitudes and feelings.
Encouraging an interest in current affairs and current issues.
Encouraging map reading on car journeys. Using grid references.
Checking the Organiser for homework.
Helping to learn and understand geographical terms.
Other resources which might help:
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TV programmes about Geography – including geographical issues that arise in
the news, e.g. volcanoes and earthquakes.
Looking at how the local area has changed geographically.
Internet sites on geographical topics.
Use of a computer to aid organisation and presentation of assessment units.
Interactive software.
Read a newspaper.
Subject:
History
Subject Information:
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3 hours teaching per fortnight.
Homework tasks may be set weekly or fortnightly.
Pupils will be asked to complete all sorts of activities for homework. Staff
will always help pupils if needed and pupils are welcome to work in the
department at lunchtimes.
Our goal is that pupils will love writing and reporting about their discoveries
in a number of ways; they will produce poems, diary accounts, medical
entries, letters, postcards, scrap books, essays, PowerPoint presentations,
plays and songs to name a few.
During the year students study the following topics:
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Britain 1500 – 1750 - This is a continuation of the unit begun in Year 7. In
Year 8 we focus on the English Civil Wars, the reasons why Parliament won,
and the effects on Britain’s history. We aim to incorporate some timely
investigations such as The Gunpowder Plot in November. We also study
developments in science in the 1600s and the superstitious beliefs of this
period, such as witchcraft.
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Britain 1750 – 1900 - This unit deals with how Britain was transformed
into an industrial nation after 1750, and how this changed people’s lives. A
major focus will be the terrible conditions in which many people lived and
child labour in the 1800s.
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The Black Peoples of the Americas - This unit addresses the plight of
Africans during the Slave Trade and their eventual battle for freedom and
rights in the USA. The course concludes with a study of the importance of
Martin Luther King.
Parents can help by:
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Encouraging their children to discuss their ideas and opinions, values and
attitudes and feelings on the areas of study.
Encouraging reading - both fact and suitable fiction (the ‘Horrible Histories’
are useful books).
Visits – Newark is good for the Civil Wars, and industrial sites like Cromford
are good to learn more about the Industrial Revolution.
Checking the Organiser.
Helping to learn the historical spellings.
Ensuring pupils have checked their written work and met their targets.
Other resources which might help:
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TV programmes about History.
Library books about the Stuart monarchs, the Civil Wars, and the Industrial
Revolution.
Internet sites on historical topics – try www.bbc.co.uk/history
Subject:
Information Technology
Subject Information:
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1 hour teaching per week.
1 piece of homework per fortnight (approx. 20 minutes-set as appropriate).
During the year students study the following topics:
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Units which allow pupils to look at the ways IT can help with communication
through the design of a game. They will use Word Processing and DTP
software to produce different documents. They will explore databases and
search for information. Pupils will develop their skills in designing and IT
solution to solve a problem.
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Pupils will investigate flow-charting and use ‘Flowol’ to see how events may be
controlled.
Parents can help by:
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Looking at newsletters, invitations, logos etc and discussing their design
features.
Looking at the labels on foods, for example, and discussing the information.
Encouraging them to use the computer for their homework.
Other resources which might help:
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A computer and printer at home (this need not be an expensive model).
Computer magazines.
Subject: Music
Subject Information:
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Carousel with Art and Drama.
2 hours teaching per fortnight.
2 x 20 minutes homework (1 research, 1 evaluation) per unit.
During the year students study the following topics:
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Unit 1: Film Music: Investigating film scores and key composers through a
range of performing and listening activities.
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Unit 2: Spot the Dot Blues: Looking at the origins of The Blues and key
musicians in the Blues/Jazz world; includes improvisation activities together
with a range of listening and performing tasks.
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Unit 3: Programme Music: Composing and performing music that creates
images in the mind focusing on melody, texture, harmony and ostinati.
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Unit 4: La Fiesta Americana: Students look at the music of Latin America,
reinforcing their knowledge and understanding of music of different
cultures and traditions.
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Unit 5: Jingle Writing: Exploring how music is used to advertise products
in the media using real life examples giving students opportunities for
composition and performance.
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Unit 6: Impressionism: Learning how the texture, melody and harmony of
Impressionist music can be used to create different moods and effects.
All units involve performing, composing, listening and appraising.
Parents can help by:
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Encouraging your child to listen to a variety of musical styles.
Helping your child to find musical examples to supplement their
Coursework.
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Checking that homework has been understood, giving encouragement and
where necessary assistance.
Other resources which might help:
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Extra-curricular – involvement in one or more of the activities on offer in
the Music Department at lunchtimes/after school clubs.
Learning an instrument through the tuition scheme.
Access to the internet.
Subject:
Physical Education
Subject Information:
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4 hours teaching per fortnight.
During the year students continue to develop their skills in the following
activities:
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Games – football, netball, rugby, hockey, striking and fielding, badminton
and table tennis.
Gymnastics – students will be taught to develop specific gymnastic
techniques and to perform these consistently. They will be required to
create, plan, perform and evaluate sequences on both the floor and using
apparatus.
Dance – students will be taught set dances as well as creating their own
phrases. They will develop planning, performance and analysis skills.
Athletics – students are taught a range of running, jumping and throwing
techniques. They will learn the rules regarding the events and all relevant
safety procedures.
Students will be taught how to outwit opponents, replicate actions and sequences
accurately, explore and communicate ideas and concepts, perform at maximum
levels, identify problems and overcome challenges.
Students will also get chance to develop their leadership skills within a Sport
Education/Ur Sport module.
In all activities students will be taught to develop their knowledge of health,
fitness and safety.
Parents can help by:
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Ensuring students have the right kit.
Noting in the Organiser if students cannot participate and providing a
doctor’s note for a period longer than 4 lessons.
We recommend the use of shin pads for football and hockey and correctly
fitted mouthguards for rugby and hockey.
Students who are injured should still bring kit so they can take part as
coaches/leaders where the injury allows.
Other resources which might help:
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Extra-curricular – there may be an opportunity for students to further
develop their skills at lunchtimes/after school clubs. Students should
refer to information posted on the screens around school and in the OSHL
bulletin.
Subject:
Personal Social Health and Citizenship Education (PSHCE)
Subject Information:
 1 hour lesson per week
During the year students study the following topics:
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Safe and Healthy Relationships – Students look at what makes a good
friendship, the issue of bullying and the importance of internet safety.
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Equal Opportunities – Students explore the meaning of Racism and explore
the issues that Asylum Seekers and Refugees face.
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Environmental Issues – Students consider the importance of recycling and
explore the benefits of Fairtrade
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Personal Safety – Through a mini-soap opera written especially for schools
students begin to explore personal safety and peer pressure.
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Healthy Lifestyles – Students consider different mental illnesses, look at
body image and the media and find out about eating disorders.
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Rights, Responsibilities and Issues – Students find out how the law
affects young people, take part in a youth court role play and consider the
consequences of crime.
Parents can help by:
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Encouraging their children to discuss topical issues at home, help students
to accept different viewpoints, justify arguments, and express themselves
clearly.
Check students organisers.
Discussing with them the PSHCE module being followed and show them
where it is occurring in everyday life.
Encourage students to watch the local and national news.
Other resources which might help:
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Discussion of relevant newspaper articles or TV e.g. issues raised in Soaps,
Sitcoms or documentaries.
Use of the internet – websites linked to the topics being studied.
Subject:
Religious Studies
Subject Information:
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2 hours teaching per fortnight.
1 piece of homework per fortnight.
Our goal is to equip pupils with the knowledge and understanding of various cultural
and religious practices.
Pupils are encouraged to share their own opinions and values, whilst developing
respect for a range of different viewpoints.
During the year students study the following topics:
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Hinduism – This looks in detail at one of the six major world religions. This unit
explores their ideas about deity, worship and life after death. It also explores Hindu
stories and traditions and looks at festivals celebrated by Hindus. This unit consider
the beliefs and values held by the Hindu religion.
The Bigger Issues – this unit develops pupils’ skills of discussion, understanding and
analysis. It considers the big questions in life such as, what happens when we die and
why is there suffering in the world. Not only does this unit consider religious
viewpoint on the bigger issues but encourages pupils to develop their own ideas about
the bigger questions in life.
Islam – This looks in detail at one of the six major world religions. This unit explores
their ideas about deity, worship and life after death. It also explores the story of
the ‘Night of Power’ and the creation of the Qur’an. It considers the significance of
Muhammad (pbuh). This unit also considers the key tenets to the Islamic faith, the
“Five Pillars”. This unit consider the beliefs and values held by the Hindu religion.
Worship – This is a strictly individual research unit. It allows pupils to explore the
different building used for worship by the 6 major world religions. Pupils are
encouraged to research their local area and the importance of the religious buildings
within them. Pupils will be able to re-enact religious ceremonies and explore the role
of the place of worship.
Poverty and Wealth - This unit explores poverty and wealth around the world. It
looks at religious attitudes towards poverty and how we can support others. It also
considers religious attitudes towards wealth and the best use of money. Pupils will
research two religious charities which are at work today.
Parents can help by:
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Encouraging their children to discuss their ideas and opinions, values and attitudes
and feelings.
Looking through their child’s exercise book encouraging presentation and
organisation.
Encouraging personal research in the weeks leading up to assessments, including
virtual visits to places of pilgrimage and worship.
Helping them to prepare for assessment tests by encouraging revision and research.
Other resources which might help:
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Magazines, newspapers, books for information and inspiration.
Encourage them to be aware of the religious life in Nottingham through buildings,
culture, dress and food.
Relevant TV programmes.
Subject:
Spanish
Subject Information:
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4 hours teaching per fortnight.
2 x 30 minute homework per fortnight.
During the year students study the following topics:
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Personal information.
Classroom objects and classroom language.
School and diary routine.
Sports, hobbies and future plans.
Describing people and animals.
Your home and area.
Holidays.
Grammar:
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Gender.
Present tense.
Reflexive verbs.
Adjectival agreement.
Conditional tense.
Immediate future tense.
Recognising the past tense.
Parents can help by:
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Testing vocabulary.
Listening to their children read aloud in Spanish.
Listening to their children speak aloud in Spanish.
Checking their Organiser to see that written homework is completed.
Helping students with the rules of Spanish grammar.
Encouraging children to use their Spanish on a family holiday.
Other resources which might help:
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Spanish dictionary (Collins Easy Learning dictionary is especially good).
THE INTERNET
SOME USEFUL SITES:
www.samlearning.co.uk
www.bbc.co.uk/schools
www.s-cool.co.uk
www.antibullying.net
www.schoolzone.co.uk
http://www.literacytrust.org.uk/nyrp
http://familylives.org.uk/
http://www.learnthings.co.uk/
www.booktrust.org.uk
www.rsrevision.com
http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/Homework/religion/
www.languagesonline.org.uk
www.mymaths.co.uk
http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site
http://www.literatureforlads.com/p/a-z-reviews.html
http://www.lovereading4kids.co.uk/
http://www.meettheauthor.co.uk/home.html
http://bookzone4boys.blogspot.co.uk/
http://www.spinebreakers.co.uk/