Year 8 Core Subjects
Students will be required to complete text responses, oral presentations and folio pieces over the year. A range of text types will be completed as part of the subject. These could include;
- Newspaper articles
- Recounts
- Stories
- Poetry
- Auto/biographies
- Essays
Students explore a range of issues and themes relating to the texts studied. Texts can be both written and/or visual. The choice of texts will vary depending on individual student needs and interests. All year 8 students will regularly complete homework tasks provided by their teacher. These tasks will form the basis for their Homework PLR result.
Health and Physical Education focuses on students enhancing their own and others’ health, safety, wellbeing and physical activity participation in varied and changing contexts. Health and Physical Education offers students an experiential curriculum that is contemporary, relevant, challenging, enjoyable and physically active.
In Year 8 all students will have the opportunity to participate in 2 practical and 2 theoretical units of Health and Physical Education per week. Content in these practical and theoretical components will be closely linked and successful completion will require effective involvement and the development of knowledge and skills in all aspects of the course. Individual achievement will be assessed according to standards set in the Victorian Curriculum.
The theory components will include Lifestyle Diseases, Drug and Alcohol Education, Games Conception, Relationships and Identity, and Sexual Education. Practical activities will include Fitness Testing, Invasion Sports, Games Conception, Net/Court Sports, Recreational Activities, and Minor Games.
Additionally, students will have the opportunity to select from a range of recreational activities in both Terms 1 and 4. Many of these activities will be run off campus and will aim to involve students in the wider community, with a focus on experiential learning.
The Humanities provide a framework for students to examine the complex processes that have shaped the modern world and to investigate responses to different challenges including people’s interconnections with the environment. As per the Victorian Curriculum, Humanities consists of the four subject areas of History, Geography, Civics & Citizenship and Economics & Business.
In History and Geography, students explore the processes that have shaped and which continue to shape different societies and cultures, to appreciate the common humanity shared across time and distance, and to evaluate the ways in which humans have faced and continue to face different challenges. At the Year 8 level, students complete the Geography depth studies Place & Liveability and Geomorphic Hazards. In addition to this, they complete the History depth studies Medieval Europe, The Renaissance, Voyages of Discovery and Feudal Japan.
Economics and Business explores the systems that shape society, with a specific focus on legal and economic systems. Students learn about Australia’s role in global systems, and are encouraged to appreciate democratic principles and to contribute as active, informed and responsible citizens. At the Year 8 level, these topics are integrated into the above depth studies.
The Year 8 mathematics course covers the standard Year 8 Victorian Curriculum. The curriculum is grouped into approximately 10 topics per year studied sequentially spread evenly over the two school semesters. An additional topic is introduced during Headstart week at the end of the year in preparation for Year 9. Students use a combination of book work, computer tasks and hands on activities to develop their mathematical skills. They are expected to complete work set in class for homework regularly. Students are assessed at the end of each topic, their book work and computer tasks are used to moderate their grades. Students are encouraged to progress through these stages of mathematical skill development:
- Consolidation of skills from previous years
- Mastery of essential numeracy skills
- Understanding of new topics
- Proficiency in new topics
- Ability to tackle more challenging mathematical problems independently with confidence
Science is studied for both semesters during Year 8. Students study science as six compulsory units in Year 8.
Semester 1
Students will use microscopes to investigate cells and living structures. They will explore how natural energy systems can be harnessed. Geology and the Earth’s structures will be covered.
Semester 2
In this semester, students will investigate sound and light and explore the mechanism of hearing and seeing. They will be introduced to the periodic table explore the difference between chemical and physical properties. Transport systems in humans and plants will also be examined.