SUMMER TERM 2012

English:
The term will begin with the continuation of the work on Shakespeare, focusing on Macbeth. Year 8 will reconstruct animated dramatic scenes using Kar2ouche software. The boys will practise the skills required to complete the Common Entrance Examination. Poetry analysis will be revised for the final examination, as well as prose comprehension and composition.  Research for the Author Matrix and contributions to the publication of recommended author booklets will help to broaden literary horizons. The boys will compile visual presentations of an autobiographical retrospective combining words, images and sound through PowerPoint. They will also take part in extensive preparations for the production of the school play.

Maths:
All Y8 take part in the UK Junior Maths Challenge on Thursday 26th April. Any certificates will be awarded about 6 weeks from the day of the competition. The follow-on Junior Olympiad, for any who manage to qualify, takes place on Tuesday 12th June. As their end-of-year exam, pupils will sit a paper including Y9 topics such as trigonometry, standard index form, further inequalities, introductory quadratic equations, set notation and Venn diagrams, nth term for non-linear series, and recurring decimals to common fractions.  A revision guide and sample papers have been distributed and will be worked through in classes and for preps. The final attainment grade will reflect performance in both the UKJMC and the Y9 exam paper. The Olympiad Club will continue to operate on Wednesdays after school and some class time can be allocated to helping Olympiad candidates prepare. Pupils may continue to book tutorials with me and they may also make use of peer tuition.

Science:
The boys will continue with their revision programme for the summer C.E. exam this term, focusing on forces and motion in Physics, properties of metals and acids in Chemistry and organ systems in Biology. After the exams they will cover photosynthesis and energy transfers. They will then study some preliminary GCSE work in Physics and Chemistry in preparation for Year 9.

French:
The pupils will be preparing for the summer CE exam until half term and then they will tackle further preliminary GCSE language work such as the Conditional and Pluperfect Tenses. Their knowledge of topics will be extended to include depth and detail. They will continue to follow a foundation course in German and Spanish to help them with language options at their next school. There will be a short progress test (20 minutes) in their chosen second modern language in the exam period.

Geography:
This term the boys will be preparing for their final exam and looking at a range of smaller topics such as tourism.

History:
This term the boys will be preparing for the summer examinations and also studying some of the key aspects of post medieval British history in preparation for their studies next year.

Classics:
In Classics, the entrance students will be finishing their course, Alexia. Classical scholars will complete their CEE 2 / CAS Greek in Noe and will then revise the Latin CAS constructions. All the boys will prepare for the summer CE examinations using past papers. After the examinations, the boys will study Roman history.

RS:
Boys will polish last term’s presentations on Holy Books, will plan their showcase Assembly.  They will revive their interpretation and evaluation skills in preparation for the end of term examination.

DT: The boys will be spending this term researching, designing and constructing a prototype vehicle. The boys will be using electronics, wood and metal working skills as well as manipulating plastics to bring their concept cars to the market.

ICT:
In ICT, Year 8 will fulfil the duties of the band manager in the music project that was started last term.  They will create a promotional movie and sound track to advertise their group. This integrated activity will also involve using spreadsheets when they will have to plan the band finances. For example, this will include changing variables, finding output values, including the use of Goal Seek function, creating formula and using of absolute/relative cell referencing.

Music:
This term in Year 8 the boys will be continuing their develop their understanding of Record Labels and will begin to plan the launch of a Northwood Prep Record Label.

Drama:
This term the boys will continue to rehearse for the school production of ‘Ernie’s Incredible Illucinations’, which will not only be performed in The New Barn Theatre in June, but will also be accompanied by a première screening of an independent film version which will be shot on location by a professional film crew during Expedition Week. Y8 boys will learn about the process of film-making from each side of the camera, both as actors and by undertaking technical roles within the production team.

PE:
In Physical Education the boys will be given the opportunity to improve on the skills which they learnt in Year 7. We will be basing our athletics programme on a combination of the English Schools Athletics Award and the National PE and School Sport Programme (TOPS). Students will build on techniques previously introduced in both Track and Field events. After Sports Day this year the boys will be given a “Leavers’ Choice” of P.E. activities for the final three weeks.

Games:
The boys will be given the opportunity to improve their skills and tactical understanding of cricket by participating in a variety of games-based skills practices and small-sided games. Emphasis will be placed on recognising the strengths and limitations in the performance of others in the team with a view to boys using this information supportively in team play.