Year 8 Curriculum

Autumn 1 & Autumn 2

The work of Stanley Spencer

• Producing analytical drawings using a range of materials
• Observational drawing skills – the human face

Spring 1 & Spring 2

The work of Frida Kahlo

• Developing self-images using photography and computer graphic software.
• Understanding how artists say something about themselves through their work.
• Representing fears, aspirations and feelings through art as well personal views of the world.

Summer 1 & Summer 2

Abstract Expressionists

• The power of abstract art.
• How artists express their emotions.
• Studying the work of Van Gogh, Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko.
• How mark making and gesture can communicate emotion – investigating emotional literacy.
• We delve into the world of the Abstract

Autumn Term

Digital Creators Challenge

• Designing and making an app to help the local community

e-Safety: Online Safety – Sexting and Selfies and A Creator’s Responsibilities

Spring Term

Python Numbers

• Introduction to the common mathematical operators used in programming.
• To set up numerical variables and use comparison operators.
• Work with integers, floats and random numbers.
• Write the code for a simple adventure game.

Journalism in the 21st Century

• Wikipage and podcast programming.

e-Safety: Safe Online Talk and Which Me Should I Be?

Summer Term

Gaming Creator and Product Event

• Using knowledge and applying skills.

e-Safety: Gender Stereotypes Online

Autumn, Spring and Summer Terms

Lighting Design Project

• Research/design ideas development
• Drawing skill practice portfolio
• Revision for assessment including practice questions (GCSE style)

Visual overview of the texts studied across Years 5-8 (click image for larger view)

Autumn 1

Non-Fiction: Conflict

9/11 non-fiction topic and WW1 war poetry

• Recount – newspaper article
• Narrative – creative writing
• Poetry study and analysis

Autumn 2

Non-Fiction: Conflict

War Horse by Michael Morpurgo

• Character analysis essay.
• Creative writing – letter from the trenches. Writing with an image as a stimulus.

Spring 1 & Spring 2

Seminal World Literature: Shakespeare

Othello

• Analysis of Othello the character
• Understanding of the storyline
• Analysis of character behaviour
• Retelling the story
• Learning about witchcraft and the historical context
• In-depth understanding of key scenes and symbolism within the play

Summer 1 & Summer 2

Modern Fiction: Gothic Literature

Extracts from Frankenstein, Woman in Black, A Monkey’s Paw, Dracula and Twilight. Poetry: The Raven, Christabel

• Analysis of features of Gothic Literature
• Literary techniques and devices
• Comparison of two descriptive pieces
• Writing in the style of a Gothic narrative
• Creative writing inspired by a short film
• Transition assessment for QEHS.

Autumn Term

• Famille et domicile
• TV and film (media)

Spring Term

• Food and drink with transactional language

Summer Term

• Les vacances (holidays)
• Revision module – high school ready

Autumn

• Earth’s Resources
• Risky World

Spring

• Middle East
• Changing China

Summer

• International Development
• Tourism

Autumn Term

• The Slave Trade

Spring Term

• The Industrial Revolution

Summer Term

• The French Revolution

Mathematics at Hexham Middle School

At Hexham Middle, it is our goal to ensure that pupils are confident, resilient and fluent mathematicians. Our curriculum is built upon the core principles of developing fluent pupils who can articulate their thought processes and reason mathematically and approach problem solving with a systematic attitude. In all year groups, pupils progress through blocks of learning which are linked throughout the year to ensure that memory and retention of key concepts and skills is developed. Pupils spend longer learning one block now and this is to ensure they have time to make links to their prior learning, develop depth of understanding and remember their learning.

In every year group, pupils’ progress is assessed daily by teachers through varied means of formative assessment such as a quizzes and questioning. It is this assessment that powerfully informs planning so that all pupils progress through the curriculum content. Pupils complete topic assessments to identify gaps in learning and are supported to bridge any areas which require more focus. Regular arithmetic and fluency sessions ensure that pupils (across the school) are confident and fluent in mathematical recall and methods. They are also encouraged to reason (verbally and written) to demonstrate their thought-processes when explaining their understanding and problem solving. Pupils complete termly summative assessments and some external assessments to track their progress.

Autumn Term

• Ratio and Scale
• Multiplicative Change
• Multiplying and Dividing Fractions
• Working in the Cartesian Plane
• Representing Data
• Probability

Spring Term

• Indices
• Brackets, Equations and Inequalities
• Sequences
• Number Sense
• Standard Index Form
• Fractions and Percentages

Summer Term

• Geometric Reasoning
• Area and Volume
• Transformations
• Constructions and Loci
• The Data Handling Cycle
• Measures of Location and Dispersion

Autumn 1

Form & Structure

• The AABA form
• Finished & unfinished melodic endings (tonic – dominant endings).
• Composition of an AABA piece
• Assessed performance

Autumn 2

Beethoven & the 9th Symphony

• Study the life and works of Beethoven with a focus on his 9^th Symphony ‘Ode to Joy’.
• The expansion of the orchestra and development of the piano.

Spring 1

Blues

• The history and development of Blues music and its influence on other styles of music

The Guitar

• Playing 12 Bar Blues accompaniment patterns and solos

Spring 2

Rock ‘n’ Roll

• How Blues developed into musical styles such as Jazz, Rhythm & Blues and Rock ‘n’ Roll

Summer 1 & Summer 2

Baroque

• The development of music and the main composers during the Baroque period (1600 to 1750).
• Composition based on Vivaldi using a variety of ornamentation and sequential melodies.

Autumn 1

• Invasion Games 1:
  • Football
  • Netball

Autumn 2

• Run4 Fun
• Dance
• Gymnastics

Spring 1

• Invasion Games 2:
  • Hockey
  • Rugby

Spring 2

• Cultural Games:
  • Lacrosse
  • Aussie Rules
  • Handball

Summer 1

• Athletics

Summer 2

• Golf
• Cricket
• Volleyball

Autumn 1

• Business

Autumn 2

• Physical Health

Spring 1

• Careers

Spring 2

• Emotional Health

Summer 1

• Rights & Responsibilities at Work

Summer 2

• Learning to Learn

Autumn Term

• Science and Religion – introduction: how can we prove it?
• Religion in the World – introduction: what is happening to the environment?

Spring Term

• Beliefs about God and the meaning of life – introduction: what are ultimate questions?
• How has religion changed in Britain in the past, and now in the 21st century?

Summer Term

• Christianity through the creative arts – the Holy Trinity.
• Social and moral issues – presentations.

Autumn Term

Health and Lifestyle

• The content of a healthy human diet
• Calculations of energy requirements in a healthy daily diet
• The consequences of imbalances in the diet, including obesity, starvation and deficiency diseases
• How the digestive system works

The Periodic Table

• The physical and chemical properties of different elements
• The principles underpinning the Mendeleev periodic table
• The periodic table: periods and groups; metals and non-metals
• How patterns in reactions can be predicted
• The properties of metals and non-metals
• The chemical properties of metal and non-metal oxides

Spring Term

Energy

• Comparing energy values of different foods (from labels) (kJ)
• Comparing power ratings of appliances in watts (W, kW)
• Comparing amounts of energy transferred (J, kJ, kW hour)
• Domestic fuel bills, fuel use and costs
• Fuels and energy resources

Electricity and Magnetism

• Electric current in circuits
• Series and parallel circuits
• Potential difference, measured in volts
• Differences in resistance between conducting and insulating components
• Magnetic poles and magnetic fields

Separation Techniques

• Filtration
• Evaporation
• Distillation
• Chromatography 

Summer Term

The Earth

• The composition of the Earth
• The rock cycle
• The composition of the atmosphere

Ecosystems

• The interdependence of organisms in an ecosystem
• The importance of plant reproduction
• How organisms affect, and are affected by, their environment, including the accumulation of toxic materials