WHAT’S HAPPENING
What is happening in the curriculum in the Autumn Term?
Science – Pupils will study ‘How Science Works’, ‘What is Science’, ‘Important Skills’ ‘Observing and Measuring’ and ‘Investigating the human body’.
English – Pupils will follow a unit of work on ‘Food’ to include writing and oral work. This is followed by a mini unit on Shakespeare. After half term, pupils will concentrate on genre and journalism. Some pupils will be studying a novel in English sets, ‘Children of Winter’ by Berlie Doherty, ‘The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe’ by C.S. Lewis, ‘Why The Whales Came’ by Michael Morpurgo and ‘Dragonology’. After half term, English sets will study Autobiography and Biography. New this year is our Big Issues English lesson where pupils will look at persuasive and discursive reading, writing and debate.
Geography This term pupils are looking at their place in the world. They will be studying their villages, identifying problems and suggesting possible solutions. Later they will be studying physical, human and environmental aspects of Geography.
History In Year 6 we are studying the Ancient Egyptians. Our particular focus is on Egyptian everyday life; where Egyptians lived, how they communicated with each other, their beliefs and customs and how society worked. We will also focus on how archaeology has helped historians find out about the Egyptian civilization.
P.E. – This term pupils will take part in multi-skills activities (principles of fitness), sportshall athletics, introductory invasion games, gymnastics and dance.
I.C.T. – ICT work begins with a basic baseline assessment of the pupil’s abilities. We then introduce pupils to our desk-top publishing program “MSWord”, learning how to edit text, make changes to fonts, save and re-load work. The pupils produce a poster about themselves, incorporating digital images using both a camera and a scanner.
Music – During the first part of the Autumn term, Year 6 pupils will complete a Transition Unit of work which consists of performing, composing, listening and appraising. Pupils continue to learn about “What music is” studying the elements of music and developing their understanding of rhythm and notation through composing and performing, in groups and as a class. Pupils will also develop their vocal skills singing a variety of unison and part songs.
P.S.H.C.E. – Lessons this term are aimed at settling pupils in to their new environment, addressing their hopes and fears of Kirkburton Middle School and looking at, in particular, making friends and issues such as bullying. Pupils will continue to identify strengths, achievements and areas for improvement.
R.E. – This term we will be thinking about what we mean by a religion and finding some of the similarities and differences in the major world religions. This will be followed by work on festivals and red-letter days.
Art – The Art year begins by thinking about the assessment of art and what attributes pupils need to develop as artists. This is then followed by a drawing module, focusing on line linked to emotions. Pupils then study colour theory and the work of Kandinsky, producing an abstract painting.
French – Pupils will begin by learning/developing further their previous knowledge of greetings, names, months, numbers and the alphabet. They will talk about their brothers, sisters and pets in the second unit of work. To further link their language skills with their English Course, we shall be learning a café role play.
Design and Technology – As an introduction to their work in graphics, pupils will be learning how to draw objects in isometric, leading to them designing and making an acrylic egg holder and an aluminium coat hook.
Maths – Pupils will complete a variety of modules using the SMP Interact Maths scheme. The order of coverage may vary from class to class. These are (i) Number and Place value, (ii) Fractions, decimals, percentages and ratio, (iii) Shape, space and measure, (iv) Data handling and probability.
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Science – This term’s modules are “Cells” – the study of the basic blocks of life changes; “Changes – Solid Liquid, Gas” – introducing pupils to the particle model of matter and “Earth and Space”.
English – Pupils will be reading the novel ‘Holes’ by Louis Sachar, working on related reading, oral and written tasks. This work is planned according to the KS3 Framework. After half term, pupils will study the story ‘Christmas Carol’ by Charles Dickens and produce some ghostly tales of their own.
Geography – This term pupils are studying limestone. This will involve looking at physical features and formations in the classroom and at the Ingleborough show caves in the Yorkshire Dales. While on their fieldtrip, pupils will also be studying the village of Clapham. They will be completing a decision making exercise having been shown the site of a proposed hotel. In a role play, each pupil will give a speech either in favour or against the proposed development. The second unit of work this year is based on Italy. Pupils will study all aspects of the country both physical and human. This will include farming, industry, climate and the north south divide.
History – The Year 7 history curriculum studies the development of British political power from the middle ages to the twentieth century. We begin our studies learning about the significant change in political power in England in 1066 and The Battle of Hastings. Pupils will then study changing relationships between the monarchy and their subjects, Henry II and Thomas Becket, John I and the Magna Carta, Richard II and The Peasants Revolt.
P.E. – Activities undertaken in games and P.E. this term will include Multi-skills, Netball (girls), Football (boys and girls), Rugby (boys and girls), Gymnastics, Hockey and Dance.
I.C.T. – Pupils will be taught file management and the effective use of spreadsheets to investigate and amend a simple model. In Year 7 class groups, pupils will use the draw package ‘Logo’ and plan and design a tiling pattern with rotation symmetry.
Music – Pupils will study African Music this term. They will listen to a variety of African music; compose, perform and record their own version in groups; learn about the different instruments and develop their knowledge of the musical elements in this style of music. Pupils will also rehearse and perform a variety of African songs with rhythmic accompaniments.
P.S.H.C.E. – Our first module looks at ‘Keeping Safe’. We look at Road Safety and basic First Aid. Pupils then study ‘Sex and Relationships’, in particular the changing nature of relationships within the family as they grow older, the characteristics of loving, caring relationships and the emotional changes which take place at puberty.
R.E. – The religion studied this term in R.E. is “Hinduism”. We will be concentrating on how people show their beliefs, using a range of thinking skills.
Art – The Art year begins with a drawing module which concentrates upon the representation of “form” and “tone”, looking in particular at the work of Caravaggio. This will be followed by a study of African mask-making.
French – Vocabulary associated with the family, appearance and character will be learned this first half term. Then pupils will learn how to describe and talk about where they live.
Design and Technology – In “resistant materials” pupils design and make an electronic night light. In “food technology” the pupils design and make food as part of a main course.
Maths – Pupils are now mainly using the new Heinemann Connect course and will cover modules in the order suggested by the National Numeracy Strategy. An interactive maths programme called ‘Kaleidos’ provides much of the lesson resources. Main topics covered are number sequences, angle, fractions, probability, averages, expressions and formulae.
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Science - Pupils will be looking at food and digestion including studying the role of diet in a healthy lifestyle. This will be followed by a study of Respiration and Blood’ ‘Circulation’ together with ‘Elements’ (atoms and molecules).
English - Pupils will be studying a novel this half term: “Across the Barricades” by Joan Lingard ‘Friend or Foe’ by Michael Morporgo. After half term, pupils will complete work relating to ‘Knowledge About Language’. This work is planned according to the KS3 framework.
History - The Year 8 history curriculum studies how the lives, beliefs, ideas and attitudes of people in Britain changed during the medieval, early modern, industrial and twentieth century periods. We begin by studying the lives of ordinary medieval people and then consider how and why the city of London changed between 1660 – 1672.
Geography - This term pupils are studying ‘Tourism’. They will be looking at the growth of tourism both at home and abroad. Work will include analysing holiday brochures and case studies of Majorca and Kenya.
P.E. - Activities undertaken in games and P.E. this term will include Multi-skills and Sportshall Athletics, Netball (girls), Hockey, Basketball and Football (boys), Dance (girls) and Gymnastics (boys).
I.C.T. - Pupils will learn file management skills on the P.C. Network. They will use spreadsheet to develop ICT based models and test predictions by changing variables and rules.
Music - The work this term concentrates on listening skills and developing knowledge of appropriate musical vocabulary. We continue developing our vocal skills, enjoying a variety of songs from ‘Raise the Roof’ by Jon Raybould. There will be opportunity for solo and group performances.
P.S.H.C.E. - Our year begins with ‘Happiness and Health’, considering what makes us happy and feel good and how these things are linked to our self-esteem. The lessons which follow look at Careers Education and Financial Management – ‘What kind of person am I?’, ‘Which jobs would suit my personality?’, ‘Where can I find information and guidance?’ and ‘How do we manage money?’.
R.E. - Pupils will be studying ‘Special Places’ this term. This will include a visit to a local faith centre. The work will also involve looking at different types of pilgrimages.
Art - This year begins with looking at assessment in art and looking at developing sketchbook work. This is then followed by a drawing and painting module looking at the abstract artist Georgia O’Keeffe. Pupils will then produce an independent project on an aspect of Graphic Design.
French - Vocabulary concentrates upon clothes and fashion and different types of television programmes and films. Greater emphasis is put on grammatical skills, particularly in developing understanding of a range of verb tenses.
Design and Technology - Using resistant materials pupils will design and make an automaton and in Food Technology, pupils do experimental work on break leading to designing and making a bread. In textiles, they are designing and making a pencil case based on the theme of sweets.
Maths - Pupils are now mainly using the new Heinemann Connect course and will cover modules in the order suggested by the National Numeracy Strategy. An interactive maths programme called ‘Kaleidos’ provides much of the lesson resources. Main topics covered are integers, angles, probability, fractions, equations, formulae and measures.
