Year 8 Curriculum Statements for Year 8 2019/20

English

Course Content:

The Year 8 English Course Curriculum has a primary focus on the three aspects of language

acquisition, namely: Reading, Oral/Speaking, and Writing Skills.

The literature text for term 1 is ‘The Jungle Book’ By Rudyard Kipling. The text will be read in

conjunction with learning exercises pertaining to pronunciation; vocabulary; spelling; grammar;

themes within the novel; character building, development and descriptions; tension; symbols;

silent/self-reading; and text summary.

Grammar focus for term 1: nouns (common, proper, collective, countable, uncountable,

pronouns); articles (definite and indefinite); verbs (verb phrases, main verbs, auxiliary verbs,

simple and continuous present, past, and future tenses).

Oral/Speaking Skills will be practiced and assessed in the form of multiple project presentations,

as well as general classroom interaction and discussion.

Writing Skills will be practiced and assessed across multiple levels of the Year 8 Curriculum:

Comprehension-based question and answer; research projects; literature-based question and

answer; graphic novel; creative writing assignments; etc.

Resources:

‘The Jungle Book’ Rudyard Kipling

Grammar In Practice 4

Assignment subject matter/resources which are topic specific

Assessment:

Controlled Exam Component 30%

o 2 Grammar Exams

Nouns

Verbs and Articles

o 1 Literature Exam

Continuous Assessment Component 70%

o 1 Spelling Test

o 1 Research Project

o 2 Oral Presentations

My favorite book

Invention Presentation

o 1 Graphic Novel Assignment

o 2 Creative Writing Assignments

Character study: interview.

Detective story cover

Maths

Course content

In this term the course covers the number calculations with decimals, prime number, integers,

square, cubes and roots. In algebra students will extend their knowledge in constructing,

simplifying and expanding expressions and functions. In shapes the concepts covered will be

construction, congruency, symmetry and drawing nets. Topics covered in measures are units of

length, mass and capacity, area, volume and capacity, estimation and metric and imperial units.

Students will extend their knowledge in statistics by understanding discrete and continuous data

and finding averages and ranges of the collected data.

Resources

Text, Complete Mathematics for Cambridge Secondary 1-2

Section 1: Number and calculation 1

Section 2: Expressions and functions

Section 3: Shapes and mathematical drawings

Section 4: Length, mass and capacity

Section 5: Number and calculation 2

Section 6: Planning, collecting and processing data

www.myimaths/com which is an online interactive teaching tool

Further resources and links will be posted on SchoolBase.

Homework book, Complete Mathematics for Cambridge Secondary 1

Assessment

Homework- online on www.myimaths.com or photocopied sheets from the homework book-

15%

End of chapter test/quizzes- 25%

Mid-term exam- 20%

End of term exam-40%

SCIENCE (Physics)

Course Content

Students must study content that focuses on phenomena. Firstly students will study about how to

measure and graph the motion of everyday objects. We will look closely at what causes and

prevents the movement of vehicles and shapes. Our second topic will cover sound and its

different forms and uses. The third topic of Physics covers Light and how it moves. Finally we

will discuss magnetism and how it links with a planet’s poles.

Resources

Cambridge checkpoint science course book 8 and teachers resource disk.

o Chapter 10, Measuring Motion

o Chapter 11, Sound

o Chapter 12, Light

o Chapter 13, Magnetism

Further resources and links will be posted on school base.

Assessment

Physics is one third of science and therefore will have an equal weighting in the final grade for

the year. Physics will be tested once, with a half term test. This score will be added to the

Chemistry and Biology scores. Students will receive an in class year mark that will account for

60% of their final grade.

An end of year examination covering all three topics will account for the other 40%.

Chemistry

Course Content:

In year 8 the students begin the year term 1 with a unit of work dedicated to states of matter,

particle diffusion, Brownian motion and gas pressure. After 3 weeks this will be followed by a

study of elements and compounds, atoms, the periodic table, and writing formulas. By the sixth

week we will study compounds and mixtures, separating mixtures, chromatography, solutions,

and solubility. Our final course by week nine will be about materials changes, which includes

physical and chemical changes, burning, and reactions with acids, rearranging atoms,

conservation of mass and detecting chemical reactions. At the end of every unit there will be a

unit test and a practicum lab. The total time will be 15 weeks.

Resources Used:

Y8 Cambridge Checkpoint Science Coursebook

Glencoe and Phet Virtual Labs with lab reports

The schools chemistry lab for real life applications and practicum

Science chemistry simulations

The Quizlet website for making notes and flashcards to study

Assessment:

Work is assessed using UK National Curriculum.

Classwork is 30%

Homework is 30%

Tests and exams are 40%

SCIENCE (Biology)

Course Content

The biology course begins with an introduction to the process of photosynthesis where we will

discuss in details how plants use it to produce their own food, learn about organs that take part in

the process of photosynthesis. Our second topic covers the human digestive system. Within this

chapter students will learn about the specific function of each organ that belongs to digestive

system, process of absorption and importance of heathy diet. Our third topic covers the

circulatory system, we will study the heart structure and the mechanism of blood circulation in

the body. The fourth topic of biology covers Respiration processes. Lastly, we will look more in

depth at the reproductive system, discuss what happens to the egg cell and how embryo becomes

a baby. We will finish this chapter learning about the importance of healthy lifestyle.

Resources

Cambridge checkpoint science course book 8 and teachers resource disk.

o Chapter 1, Plants

o Chapter 2, Food and digestion

o Chapter 3, The circulatory system

o Chapter 4, Respiration

o Chapter 5, Reproduction and development

Further resources and links will be posted on a School Base or sent to the students’ online

groups.

Assessment

End of Unit tests: 30%

Class participation, assignments, experiments: 10%

End of biology course test: 60%

Biology is one third of science and therefore will have an equal weighting in the final grade for

the year.

MFL (Mandarin)

Content

Students will learn to write accurately in simplified Chinese characters, read and understand

written Chinese characters, communicate orally in Mandarin, and understand spoken Mandarin,

all at a beginner’s level.

Topics include tones, pinyin, strokes, rules of written Chinese characters, greeting, date, from the

textbook, students will complete two projects throughout the term.

Assessment Breakdown

Projects: 20%

Classwork/homework: 20%

Participation: 10%

Exam: 50%

Resources

Easy Steps to Chinese Textbook 1

Easy Steps to Chinese Workbook 1

History

Course Content

At the beginning of year 8 the students will do a small unit which will introduce them to some of

the more advanced skills they will be developing during year 8. After this they will begin the

first unit which is about the Transatlantic Slave Trade, this unit explores trade in African slaves

from West Africa to Americas during the 17th and 18th centuries. The students will look at the

how the trade worked, the conditions transporting slaves, slave auctions and life on slave

plantations. Proceeding from this will be a section on the issue of slavery during the American

Civil War. Following on from that unit they will look at the American Civil Rights Movement,

in the unit they cover such topics as Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, the protest movement and

the discrimination of black people in America. Whilst continuing the development of skills of

historical skills already picked up from Year 8 student now will begin developing the skills of

evaluations and analysis.

Resources Used

Year 8 History text book (SHP)

Slave trade (Hodder History)

The Peoples of America (Hodder History)

Teacher created resources

Level criteria for assignments

Assessment

Assignments – 70%

Controlled essay – 30%

Key Stage 3 students will be assessed according to the UK National Curriculum Level

Descriptions for Subjects 2010, as set out by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, as

established by the Education Act of 2007.

Assessment will be both formative and summative in nature and based on level descriptors.

Geography

Course Content

In term 1 they begin the year by doing a general unit of work on geography which covers a

variety of topics. For example, they will look at the differences between physical and human

geography, develop atlas skills and study climate around the world. They will be introduced to

basic map skills. They will develop map reading and map making skills, study Thai ordnance

survey maps and also conduct field work around the university grounds. During this term the

students will develop their competence in geographical skills, such as enquiring, using evidence,

presentation and communication skills. They will also develop a greater understanding of other

countries around world; appreciate the similarities and differences along with learning about

physical processes and how humans interact with the world.

Resources used

Geography 360 Core Book 3 (Heinemann)

Geo 1 - Geography for Key Stage 3 (Oxford)

Key Geography Skills (Oxford)

Key Geography Basics (Oxford)

Collins Student World Atlas 3rd Edition(Collins)

Teacher created resources

Level criteria for assignments

Assessment

Assignments/Projects/Tests during term – 70%

End of term test – 30%

Year 8 ICT

Course Content

Theory

Operating systems and computer skills

Data storage and algorithms for robots

Practical

Microsoft Word, Power Point Presentation, Excel

Refining code with AND/OR/IF

Resources

Compute-IT 2 KS3: Unit 1, 2, 3, 4

Online Binary Translator

Assessment

Takeaway homework 20%

Classwork 30%

Topic Tests and Exam 50%

Drama Key Stage 3

Course Content:

The Key Stage 3 Drama Course Curriculum has a primary focus on providing students with a

safe and supportive environment, which fosters self-discipline, group work, performance art

construction, confidence, and critical analysis of societal norms, conventions, and media.

Furthermore, Drama is closely intertwined with other disciplines and subjects, primarily English

and Media Studies, and aims to develop the student’s confidence in speaking and presentation

skills.

Drama Technique:

Drama techniques that will be explored include: freeze frame; thoughts aloud; body language;

role-on-the-wall; hot seating; script-writing; story-telling; narration; movement and gesture;

blocking; mime; role-play; stereotypes; character development; improvisation; duologue;

monologue; dialogue; rehearsal and performance; self-evaluation

There will be a focus on script and play reading; as well as student interpretation and

reenactment.

Topics

Bullying

Character

Circus

Storytelling

Text

Tinsel Truths

Shakespeare/The Diary of Anne Frank/Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

Resources:

Romeo and Juliet OR A Midsummer Night’s Dream William Shakespeare

Macbeth OR Twelfth Night William Shakespeare

Thirty Short Comedy Plays for Teens Laurie Allen

The Diary of Anne Frank Anne Frank (The British Library, Thomas Nelson Publishers)

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child JK Rowling 2016

Complete Drama KS3 Schemes of Work – Pearson Publishing Ltd.

Assignment subject matter/resources which are topic specific, and have been designed by

the subject teacher.

Assessment:

Key Stage 3 students will be assessed according to the UK National Curriculum Level

Descriptions for Subjects 2010, as set out by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, as

established by the Education Act of 2007.

Assessment will be both formative and summative in nature.

Thai - First Language IGCSE (TLC)

Syllabus aims

The aims are to enable leaners to read a wide range of text, fluently and with good

understanding, enjoying and appreciating a variety of language. Students will be assessed on

their ability to write accurately and effectively, using appropriate, standard language and also use

a rage of appropriate vocabulary.

Course content

วรรณคดและวรรณกรรม

การใชภาษาเพอการสอสาร

การใชค าทท าใหเหนภาพ/ความรสก

การเขยนพรรณนา/การเขยนบรรยายภาพ

เรองสน เราคอลกแมพระธรณ

การเขยนเรยงความในโลกจนตนาการ

การเลอกใชส านวนไทย (ความหมาย/ประเภท/ทมาของส านวนไทย)

สภาษตพระรวง (ตความ/คด วเคราะห)

การอานจบใจความส าคญ/ตอบค าถาม/การน าขอมลไปสรางงานเขยนตอ (บทความ non-fiction reading)

หนงสออานอกเวลาเรอง ความสขของกะท

Assessment Objectives

Reading Writing

Identify and interpret explicit and

implicit information and attitudes

Demonstrate understanding of how

writer use language and structure to

achieve effects and influences readers

Analyze, evaluate and develop facts,

ideas and opinions

Select and synthesis information for

specific purpose

Communicate clearly, effectively and

imaginatively

Sequence facts, ideas and opinions

Use a range of appropriate vocabulary

Use tone, style and register appropriate

to audience and context

Make accurate use of spelling,

punctuation and grammar.

Resource used:

Textbooks and exercise book for Mathayom1-6

Assessment:

Key Stage 3 students will be assessed according to the UK National Curriculum Level

Descriptions for Subjects 2010, as set out by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, as

established by the Education Act of 2007.

Assessment will be both formative and summative in nature.

Art

Course Content

The course begins for year 8 students with a focus on observational drawing. There is scope for

students

to choose their own subject matter, allowing for them to fully express their character in a creative

format.

They will develop skills in tonal drawing, and transfering that skill set into a portrait drawing

project. After

the midterm break, students will move into experimentation with colour, acrylic paints and the

technical

process of silk screen printing. There will again be an opportunity for the students to be

expressive and

creative in their productions. The term will finish with a look at nature, giving the students an

opportunity to

explore natural environments in a creative way. Here they can choose to apply their existing

knowledge of

silk screen printing and acrylics, or branch out into pastels or watercolour for their final project.

Project: Tonal Drawing, Portraiture

● Sketching and drawing techniques

● Tonal drawing, shadows, light and shade, 3d effects

● Proportion measuring, using guidelines

● Observation techniques

Project: Screen printing

● Use of acrylic colour paints, colour theory

● Layering paints using stencils

● Stencil production, cutting techniques

● Subject choice and exploration

Project Nature study

● Sketching from observation, light shadow, detail, proportion

● Formal composition and arrangements

● Flower press study

● Use of various media, pencils, charcoal, water colour, paints

The Art department assesses all work based upon student project work carried out in the

classroom.

Assessment is by means of National Curriculum levels. Assessment criteria being split into 4

primary areas.

Assessment

Presentation skills 25%

Problem solving ability 25%

Creativity 25%

Construction skills 25%

PE

Year 8

Athletics Starting Sprinting and Relay Middle and Long Distance Long Jump Triple Jump Shot Put

Football Passing Receiving Tackling Dribbling Heading Shooting

Basketball Dribbling Passing and receiving Shooting (lay ups) Shooting (set shots/jump shots)

Swimming Basic Pool Safety Water Confidence Freestyle Backstroke Breaststroke

Global Perspective

Course Content

Cambridge Global Perspectives is an innovative course focused on cultivating and developing

skills based on research, analysis, evaluation, reflection, collaboration, and communication.

Throughout this course, students will be able to link real world experience and context with their

academic studies. Cambridge Global Perspectives aims to create well rounded students who can

not only thrive in their academics journeys towards university, but also in their future careers and

everyday lives. In term 1, Year 7 and 8 students will learn two main topics: What Makes Us

Human? And How Connected Are We? These topics will be thoroughly explored through

several intriguing questions, short videos and research assignments. The main skills taught and

developed over these two topics are research and analysis.

Resources Used

Citizenship Textbook

What Makes Us Human? (Cambridge)

How Connected Are We? (Cambridge)

Teacher created resources

Level criteria for assignments

Assessment

Coursework (Presentations/Journals) – 80%

Homework & Class assignments – 20%

Key Stage 3 students will be assessed according to the UK National Curriculum Level

Descriptions for Subjects 2010, as set out by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, as

established by the Education Act of 2007.

Assessment will be both formative and summative in nature and based on level descriptors.

Music

The goal of this class is to continue to grow and learn basics and more substantial ideas of

musicianship. We will discover this through choral singing and solo and small ensemble work.

Through choral singing the students will discover how to read choral parts, clef’s, staff, lines and

spaces names in both treble and bass, grand staff, time signatures, note values, rest values, repeat

signs, Coda, dynamic markings such as p, pp, mp, mf, f, ff, staccato, legato, more indepth study

of music markings including crescendo, decrescendo, diminuendo, ritardando, and finally chord

work and triads. The students will also start to recognize scales and intervals through use of

Solfege, and daily warmups and team building exercises which will be taught by the teacher and

then lead by the students so they can build a framework of being responsible and building

confidence in leading others. Our choral selections for year 8 include a traditional Christmas

melody, and a piece from the musical theatre genre. The musical theatre piece will be done

collaboratively with year 9’s and teachers and administration, this piece will also enable them to

sing with a small band which will enhance their abilities of working with other types of

musicians. The spring recital will include a selection of choral works selected to broaden their

musical genre’s along with solo and ensemble work.

Resources:

Trinity College London Press – Theory of Music Workbook

Teachers Pay Teachers – online teacher resource from around the world

Musicnotes.com – internet resource for music

Youtube – Collection of various music and musicians to study germane to our work