Curriculum
In Year 7 all students follow the same course of study, with the exception of 7 Blue, Yellow and Red who study extra Visual Arts, Drama, Music, accelerated Chinese or Academic extension. This curriculum is designed to provide a wide range of experiences in all key learning areas. Emphasis is placed on English, Mathematics and Science.
Although students are taught by the different specialist subject teachers in specialist rooms, they remain in the same class grouping throughout the year. This provides a degree of stability and assists the new students to settle into High School routine.
- English
- Music
- Mathematics
- PDHPE
- Science
- Art
- History/Geography
- Sport
- Technology
- Language
English
In English, students work on developing skills in writing, reading, listening, viewing and speaking. Writing will concentrate on the development of paragraphs, spelling, using correct punctuation, the writing of dialogue and writing in both the first and third person with an emphasis on drafting and redrafting. Wide reading is encouraged and specific novels are studied in depth. Each student will give a speech in class and participate in a public speaking contest. A television unit examining the impact of television on 21st Century lives will be studied to develop the students’ discernment as viewers.
Mathematics
The Year 7 course consists of the following strands:
Number
Language of number, basic number skills, decimals, directed numbers, fractions, whole number theory.
Geometry
Plane shapes, solid shapes, using geometrical instruments, angles, triangles and quadrilaterals.
Algebra
Introduction (through patterns), algebraic expressions, operations in algebra
Measurement
Length and time, area, mass and volume
Problem-solving
Contents of problems will come from such areas as number, estimation, combinatorics, geometry and logic.
Science
All students study science in Stages 4 and 5 which correspond to Years 7 and 8, and Years 9 and 10.
The course over the four years aims to develop scientific knowledge and understanding, skills and values and attitudes within the broad, traditional disciplines of chemistry, physics, biology and earth sciences. Students learn about the need to conserve, protect and maintain the environment, the use and role of technology and how to select resources to solve problems.
History
History is a compulsory subject for all students in Stage 4 and will occupy 100 hours of study in Year 8.
The syllabus is comprised of a series of inquiry questions which will be related to the study of Ancient Societies.
Following a unit, Introducing History, students will study either Ancient Mesopotamia or Ancient Egypt in one term and Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome in the other.
Geography
Year 7 students will study Geography from a global perspective. This world Geography course uses geography as a vehicle to facilitate investigation of the world. Areas to be studied are:
Introduction – What is Geography?
Global Environments
Within these areas the topics to be considered may include:
- Investigating the World
- Environments and Communities
- Mountain Lands
- Deserts
- Tropical Forests
Technology
Technology is a mandatory course of study for Years 7 & 8. Students undertake a series of problem solving exercises, based closely on the Industrial Design process.
They are required to complete a minimum of six design problems, from a variety of context areas. These include: electronics technologies, food technologies, graphics technologies, information technologies, metals technologies, polymer technologies, textiles technologies, timber technologies, mixed material technologies.
Within this context students complete approximately 50 hours of hands on computer studies and will explore the implications of computer technology.
Language
Each Year 7 class has 3 periods of language per week. It is intended that a new language will be introduced each term.
The aims of the Year 7 language course are to:
- introduce the students to the study of Italian, French, Chinese and Japanese
- teach the students useful communicative skills in each language
- instill in the students an enthusiasm for the language, the country and its culture
- promote an awareness of Australia as being a multi-cultural and multi-lingual society
The course content will equip students with the language skills needed in particular situations such as conversing with friends, asking and giving information, finding places in towns, ordering food and drinks and so on. The emphasis is on speaking and listening. The study of the culture of each country is included so the students will develop an understanding of the people, their culture and their country.
Music
Music aims to give students the opportunity to be involved in the performance art of music within class and, if they wish, as an extra curricula activity.
Year 7 students learn to perform on guitar, bass, drums and voice. Music theory taught is enough to support the performance standards we aim at in practical work. Listening and Musicology studies develop aural skills and introduce students to the broader musical culture.
PDHPE (Personal Development Health and Physical Education)
Students in Year 7 will have 3 periods per week devoted to PD/H/PE. This subject is concerned with development of the whole person and the improvement of quality of life of all.
The 10 content strands that will be covered over Year 7-10 are as follows:
- Self and Relationships
- Movement Skill
- Individual and Community Health
- Lifelong Physical Activity
The above areas are theory based. However, participation in regular and varied physical activity is an inherent component of the syllabus.
Visual Arts
Our Year 7 program is entitled 'The Year of Discovery', and is based on discovery of self, of environment, of media, and of form. The experiences are intended to increase perception of the real world, to heighten responses and to improve manipulative skills and organisational abilities. Students should develop a critical awareness, and be able to evaluate the work of the other artists, and their own work. The work for the year may be summarised as follows:
- Making marks upon a surface – an exploration of the variety of approaches, methods and techniques of drawing and painting.
- Constructing a Form – an exploration of 3D, of multiple view points and multiple surfaces.
- Graphics – an exploration of graphics and graphic techniques.
There will also be a theory component that involves assignment and class work based on Art History and Art Criticism.
Sport
Carnivals are held in Athletics, Swimming and Cross Country.
Students who are successful can then represent the school at the Zone Athletics, Swimming and/ or Cross Country Carnivals.
Sport for all students is held each Monday between recess and lunch. Students participate in a set sport program throughout the year. There are Knock Out sports that students can try out for as well the GATS sporting program. The GATS sporting program includes: basketball, futsall, tennis and table tennis.
