Curriculum Information

Summer 2017-18

Year 8

Non Mihi, Non Tibi, Sed Nobis

English (Mr David Geary and Mr Chris Terry)

This term student will begin the term by continuing their unit studying the play “An Inspector Calls”. This unit will focus on the features of this genre and also in depth character studies. Pupils will also look at how different dramatic devices such as dramatic irony, dialogue and stage directions are used for effect. They will also further practice their analytical reading skills. In the second part of the term the class change gear and focus on non-fiction travel writing. The class will identify the features of this genre and which differ language devices are used in this type of writing. Students will then produce their own piece of travel writing using these features and devices as success criteria.

Maths (Ms Yogeswari Boghan and Mr Shahrul)

This term, students will be learning five main topics: Sequences, functions and graphs, Transformations,

Ratio and Proportion, Area, Perimeter and Volume and Probability. The inter-related topics are Fractions,

Decimals and Percentages which will be covered in combo. These components are all underpinned by

problem solving questions which will provide a comprehensive structure for the application of mathematical

skills. Besides that, mental strategies are also a key part of the Numbers topic. The students will also be

exposed to actual Secondary Cambridge Checkpoint questions and mark schemes as part of their continuous

preparation for the exams when they reach Year 9.

Malay Language (Mrs Rabiahtul Bazariah and Mrs Sathiawathi Sinnathamby)

Throughout this term, Year 8 students will be working on the topics of ‘Dunia Semakin Cangggih’ and ‘Pengangkutan Alaf Ini’. They will be developing their skills in these four areas: listening, speaking, reading and writing. They will learn how to write in paragraphs in a creative way, form their own opinions and learn how to take ownership of the language they are learning. They will continue to work in groups as well as independently, to expand their grammar in order to further improve their grasp of knowledge in this language. There will also be project based learning on the title “Isu Pengangkutan di Negara Kita”.

Sejarah (Mrs Rabiahtul Bazariah)

This term, students will be exposed to various interesting topics about Malaysia, namely the Rubber Industry in Malaysia and the Importance of a Multi-Racial Society in Malaysia. We will also cover aspects of the history of Malaysia, Ethnic Relations, Architecture, Socialisation and Etiquette. There will also be opportunities for some project based learning. Students will be able to gain knowledge about Malaysian society from different perspectives and this will help children to develop these skills needed in the modern world: to look beyond the headlines, to ask questions properly and to have the confidence to express their own opinions.

Personal, Social and Health Education (Ms Jacee)

This term will focus on the final two Round Square IDEALS; Leadership and Service. The Leadership unit will focus on makes people inspirational leaders and how students can emulate these skills and achievements in their own lives. Students will choose a famous leader who piques their interest and research their life and work and present this to the rest of the class utilising both their literacy and oracy skills. Meanwhile, the Service unit will introduce the students to the concept of voluntary work and the

voluntary sector. Students will research the aims and work of different Malaysian voluntary sector

organisations and present their findings to the rest of the class

French (Mr Michael Hayes)

In this last term, Year 8 will be looking at the body and holidays. They will be using the perfect tense to express themselves in the past as well as combining present and future tenses. We will also be discussing likes and dislikes and a variety of holiday vocabulary. After half term, we will continue with the perfect tense and learn the irregular verbs that take different auxiliaries. We will also see some key verbs in the imperfect tense. This will be done through the topic of holidays and travel. Year 8 will practise all four skills: reading, writing, speaking and listening.

Science (Mr Anthony Binger and Mr John Foo)

BIOLOGY: Students will be developing their knowledge of transporting chemicals in humans. They will be learning the components of the circulatory system and their functions, the components of the respiratory system and their functions, gaseous exchange, the effects of smoking, and aerobic respiration. Besides, students will be studying also what constitutes a fit and healthy lifestyle and how behaviour and health can be affected by diet, drugs and disease.

CHEMISTRY: In ‘Material changes’, students will further their knowledge concerning the different types of rocks and the Rock Cycle. Students have been working on this for several weeks and the results of their inquiry research project are due for submission at the end of May.

PHYSICS: Students will be studying ‘Forces and Magnets’. They will be learning about magnetism including magnetic and non-magnetic materials, magnetic poles, magnetic field from magnet or from a current, and making an electromagnet.

History (Ms Maryam Wallace)

This term students will be studying the Causes of WWI. They will learn about the reasons why the world went to war in 1914 including the Assassination of Franz Ferdinand, the Unification of Germany, The Arms Race, nationalism and the alliance system. Pupils will use their contextual knowledge of the topic to develop their skills, further, in analysis of sources and essay writing. Pupils will finish the topic with a look at whether lessons have been learned from the ‘Great War.’

Mandarin as a 1st Language (Mrs Pang Sook Yee)

Students will learn about argumentative method, which included argument, evidence,

demonstration. They will explore debate method to strengthen their argumentative tasks. They

will improve their Chinese vocabulary through reading, presentations and spelling tests. This term,

we also aim to improve their narrative skills and writing skills by reading model essays and

composition. At the end of the term, students will be able to write compositions of around 400

words.

Mandarin as a 2nd Language ( Ms Soon Saw Imm)

This term, students will expand their vocabulary on the topics of food, drink and hobby. The

emphasis will be on the writing, speaking and reading components. Students will also be asked to

read mandarin articles, and to elicit the implied meaning as well as make deductions of the

writer’s purpose. Vocabulary in context will also be introduced as a means of developing students’

writing skills on specific topics. Other than writing skills, students will also be working in groups to

discuss various topics. Students will practise listening through the Chinese Made Easy CD. At the

end of this term, students will be expected to write 40-80 words using appropriate vocabulary and

sentence structures.

Performing Arts (Ms Ellie Saunders)

Music: This term, year 8 are continuing their compositional skills through a composing with chords unit. They will be expected to work within a key and compose using the appropriate primary chords. We will develop keyboard and guitar skills whilst using improvisation skills to develop melodies. Finally, pupils will expand their notation skills using music notation software.

Drama: The pupils will be looking at a drama unit entitled ‘Superheroes’ whereby the pupils will explore character-led narrative using their own imagination. By developing their own plays, the pupils will explore stereotypical heroes and dramatic techniques used to create contrasts within scenes.

As part of the PA curriculum all KS3 pupils will visit Penang Performing Arts Centre on Friday 4th

May to watch a production of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.

Art and Design (Mr Mohd Shahrul Hasfis)

This term, year 8 students will earn about Batik art craft, they will learn about batik ‘canting’ and

tie and dye batik. To finish their artwork, they will learn a few skill such as drawing, pattern

making, and design simplifying and final painting. They also will use a new media and material such

as batik wax, batik pen, fabric dye and much more. Students also will learn about local legend and

myth as part of their batik design research.

Geography (Mr Jeffrey Elliott)

This term students will be learning all about the natural resources that we use from the

environment. We will be investigating which resources we use and how we use them. After this,

students will investigate the impact of resource extraction on a number of environments and how

these impacts can be reduced. To conclude, students will look at the future of resource extraction

and how we as a society and have a more healthy relationship with the environment.

Humanities (Mr Jeffrey Elliot)

This term the class will embark on a unit of study exploring topics under the umbrella of “Global

Perspectives”. This unit consists of two parts: the first will explore the unit of how we are

connected on a global level while the second will focus on issues surrounding migration. The pupils

will explore a new set of skills in this unit including conducting online research; giving

presentations to their peers; debating global issues and further strengthening their argumentative

essay writing skills.

ICT (Mrs Haniza Hussin)

The Year 8 students will learn few new things during this term. They will learn flowcharting. Flowcharting is a concept used to illustrate one or more workflow of events and processes. Creating set of instructions to control events such as pedestrian crossing, traffic lights and Snake and Ladder game are among the activities planned for the first half of the term.

Nevertheless, the second half of the term too stores quite a number of interesting lessons. Students will be exposed to the wider aspects of ICT and its safety issues. Here, students will learn about plagiarism and copyright issues. In addition, they will also learn the impact of ICT in the contexts of real world.

Physical Education (Ms Rowan Barrow, Mr Dennis Lee and Mr Vinod Khanna)

During this term, students will participate in a variety of Fitness tests and develop understanding of the components of fitness. Students will learn which training techniques will help to improve strength and fitness for each component. Students will gain understanding of basic sports science while using various training principals and methods. During the second half of term, students will be learning about the new sport of Floorball. Floorball is one of the fastest growing sports across the world. Similar to indoor hockey students will develop hand-eye coordination and agility as they plan and strategies to work together as a team. Students will look into improving stick control, defending and gameplay. Both groups will participate in a Swimming unit, where they will learn how to be safe and confident in the water using swim and survive techniques. They will learn how to enter and exit the pool safely and begin to complete activities designed to develop their swimming techniques and strength to play Waterpolo.

Business Studies (Ms Lily Ho)

In the Summer term students will examine the process of selection and recruitment of staffing

within a company. They will investigate the process of recruitment, from advertising to

interviewing, and learn how they can “sell” themselves to become the better candidate when

applying for jobs. Students will also look at how managers can motivate staff and how this can

affect the morale of workers.

Upcoming Events

10 April First Day of Summer Term

18 April – 26 April Checkpoint Exams – Year 6 & Year 9

30 April – 1 May Labour Day holiday

18 May Teachers Day

26 May – 3 June Mid-Term Break

11 June – 22 June End of Year Assessment

14 June – 17 June Hari Raya break

27 – 28 June School Production : High School Musical

4 July Transition Day

13 July Graduation and Prize Giving ceremony

13 July Last Day of School