Chilwell School KEY STAGE 3 CURRICULUM

Year 8 Humanities 2015/16

HISTORY Course Overview Pupils will study religious change during the Tudor period and consider which individual was the biggest villain in the Stuart period. Furthermore, there is a unit dedicated to understanding the impact of the British Empire with specific foci on slavery. Interpretation skills will be developed through a study of the French Revolution along with an evaluation of the impact of industrialisation upon the 18th and 19th centuries using source material. Homework Students will experience a range of learning tasks matched to the schemes of learning. These may include consolidation exercises, practice, preparation, research and independent projects. The tasks will involve the opportunity to work in a variety of styles (presentations, projects and extended writing) Assessment Frequent, regular and consistent assessment strategies are essential components of effective student learning. A variety of assessments will take place including formative and summative. End of unit assessments will ensure to test students’ understanding of the topics as well as giving them the opportunity to improve on their work. Useful Information Websites such as BBC Bitesize will contain useful information that will complement the topics. The Horrible Histories series also offer a wide variety of interesting and entertaining insights into many of the topics that will be studied throughout the year. Also visits to historical sites such as Southwell workhouse or Quarry Bank Mill provide a valuable and accessible experience of History first hand to build upon their understanding of the Industrial Revolution. However, one of the most useful activities for pupils is to discuss the various subjects with other people, especially older people, as this helps them to understand a broad range of opinions.

GEOGRAPHY Course Overview Year 8 pupils will develop skills focussed through topics which cover both Human and physical geographical elements. Human concerns include population issues both national and international, such as migration. Physical issues include coastal erosion and protection and biomes such as the rainforest. Using a series of enquiry questions, students will have the opportunity to use and develop their ability to describe, explain, reason, evaluate and analyse. Pupils will discuss questions that allow them to begin to develop reflective skills, seeing both the positive and negative sides to complex issues and solutions. Homework Students will experience a range of learning tasks matched to the schemes of learning. These may include consolidation exercises, practice, preparation, research and independent projects. The tasks will involve the opportunity to work in a variety of styles (presentations, projects and extended writing). Assessment Frequent, regular and consistent assessment strategies are essential components of effective student learning. A variety of assessments will take place including formative and summative. End of unit assessments will test students’ understanding of the topics as well as giving them the opportunity to improve on their work. Topics include protecting a coastal area with a limited budget, analysing migration to the USA. Useful Information Websites such as BBC Bitesize will contain useful information that will complement the topics. Watching natural history programmes about landscapes and wildlife will enhance their general knowledge and understanding. Similarly keeping up to date with topical events on the news such as deforestation or tourism issues will help provide understanding of conflicts and solutions and how issues are interconnected. One of the most useful activities for pupils is to discuss the various subjects with other people, especially older people, as this helps them to understand a broad range of opinions.

RE Course Overview Year 8 pupils develop an increased desire to explore the big questions of life. Using a series of enquiry questions that are based upon life issues, they will have the opportunity to use and develop their ability to describe, explain, reason, evaluate and analyse. Pupils will discuss questions such as; "Should we care for the environment?", "What happens when we die?" and "Are science and religion compatible?" Homework Students will experience a range of learning tasks matched to the schemes of learning. These may include consolidation exercises, practice, preparation, research and independent projects. The tasks will involve the opportunity to work in a variety of styles (presentations, projects and extended writing) Assessment Frequent, regular and consistent assessment strategies are essential components of effective student learning. A variety of assessments will take place including formative and summative. End of unit assessments will ensure to test students’ understanding of the topics as well as giving them the opportunity to improve on their work. Useful Information Websites such as BBC Bitesize will contain useful information that will complement the topics. However, one of the most useful activities for pupils is to discuss the various subjects with other people, especially older people, as this helps them to understand a broad range of opinions.