ENGLISH
In the first half term, year 7 will be securing their basic literacy skills whilst writing to describe themselves. They will become secure using Clicker to record their work. They will look at biographies and use their reading and comprehension skills to find out about other people.
Later in the term they will look at artistic works to develop their creative writing skills. They will use the Foodscapes series by Carl Warner. They will use their five senses to describe scenes and use their imagination to write descriptions and short stories.
MATHS
In maths we continually develop the core skills of number- place value, counting, ordering, arithmetic and times tables. Problem solving skills are developed. Money and time skills are regularly developed to improve functional skills.
The pupils have regular sessions using RM Easimaths. Some will start to use MyMaths and other ICT resources.
Additionally, this term there will be topics on shape, measures, patterns, sorting data, fractions, area, capacity and mass.
UNDERSTANDING OUR WORLD – SCIENCE
Healthy Lifestyles – In this theme the girls do lots of practical activities to do with food and digestion. They also explore other aspects of health and fitness.
Classifying Materials – In this theme we explore the properties of different materials and the way in which some of these properties can be explained using the idea of particles.
UNDERSTANDING OUR WORLD – HUMANITIES
This term pupils will be looking at what life was like during the Middle Ages. They will be investigating where people lived, especially castles, and who lived in them. They will be finding out about what life was like for different groups of society such as the rich and poor.
This term year in Geography pupils will be focusing on getting to know the UK in more detail; its places and regions and the different types of settlements that make up the United Kingdom. They will be investigating different types of settlements, their physical features and what they offer to people who live there.
UNDERSTANDING OUR WORLD – RELIGION AND ETHICS (R AND E)
What makes things special? – First of all pupils will consider what is meant by Religion and Ethics. Pupils will then have the opportunity to share things they have already learned and to think about things that are special to them. Pupils will look at special stories, celebrations and people and follow some children on their own special visits too. They will use key questions to help them to join in discussions and write down their ideas.
ART
Art in Year 7 has three themes across the year. In Autumn, the focus is portraits. The pupils will focus on different techniques to produce their own art using a range of resources and skills such as water colour, shading with pencils, collage and acrylic paint. Discussion and forming opinions about their own art and the work of others is a large part of the curriculum as a means of developing self -reflection and appreciation of the world around them.
DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY
Pupils in years 7 spend half of the year working with Resistant Materials and half with Textiles. Half of the year group start in September with Resistant Materials and half with Textiles. The groups then swap areas after the February half term.
DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY – RESISTANT MATERIALS
Pupils will begin the year by spending three weeks looking at the different areas of Design and Technology – understanding design in society; designing and making & evaluating.
Pupils will then focus on resistant materials for the next term and a half. Pupils will be introduced to safe practice in the workshop and the use of hand and machine tools. Projects will be based around the theme of ‘designing for myself’. Pupils will make a key-ring from acrylic, a hook using the Hegner saw and pillar drill and a final project of a photo frame.
DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY – TEXTILES
Pupils will begin the year by spending three weeks on a mini skills project or ’Focused Practical Tasks’, allowing them to access the use of the sewing machines and other pieces of small equipment. They learn about the types of equipment and how to use them successfully. During this time, they make a chicken.
They will learn how to use a commercial pattern and make a winter hat based on the theme of ‘animals’. They have to choose an animal and design their hat around this.
They also about the fabric decoration technique of ‘applique’ to decorate their hats. Alongside this pupils will investigate from where fibres and fabrics come and how important it is to choose materials carefully for different uses.
PERFORMING ARTS – MUSIC
Making Music – Pupils will be concentrating on key words – rhythm, duration and ostinato. There will be plenty of opportunities to play drums and tuned percussion instruments as well as recorders and Boomwhackers! Each lesson will include singing, listening and performing activities and assessments will be based on Machine Music.
PERFORMING ARTS – DANCE
Elements of dance – This term, pupils will be focussing on the four key elements of dance, Action, Space, Dynamics and Relationships. They will be encouraged to take inspiration from professional work and choreograph their own routines.
PE
Pupils will learn how to organise themselves efficiently for physical education lessons and understand the importance of taking part in regular exercise. Activities this term will be made up of a programme of basic skills, multi skills and a selection of mini games. The skills will be developed through a range of activities and will be applied during mini games.
An emphasis will be placed on team-building and developing social relationships through practical experiences. Pupils will experience using our swimming pool and rules and regulations that surround it.
SOCIAL SKILLS
Pupils will be split into smaller groups and receive a rotation of Social Skills, Occupational Therapy, and Speech and Language Therapy. For the Social Skills classes pupils will talk through what they have covered in Occupational Therapy and Speech and Language Therapy and it will be reinforced in a circle time format. Following this, pupils will play games or do team building exercises in order to build friendships with the other pupils, learn/practise social and emotional skills, and become accustomed to the style of Social Skills lessons ready for year 8 and 9 when the classes are much larger.
For the Occupational Therapy Classes pupils will cover expectations about appearance in school, which includes the school dress code, buttons and dressing, and hair tying. In the second part they will explore learning where things are in school, which will include finding routes around school, using maps and navigating around the school.
For the Speech and Language Therapy Classes pupils will cover Classroom Skills, which includes listening skills, showing you are ready to work, respecting others, indoor and outdoor voice and learning teachers’ names. They will also explore how to use their visual timetable, bag packing, homework diaries, and asking for help.
PSHE
New to the school – This module provides an introduction to the school and to Citizenship. There will be opportunities for pupils to find out what the school is like, how it functions as well as its rules. They will then think about friendships and relationships and begin to consider their future challenges and choices, both personal and in school.
PASSPORT FOR LIFE
Pupils in years 7 spend half of the year working in Home Economics and half in Outdoor Learning (Forest School). Half of the year group start in September with Home Economics and half with Outdoor Learning (Forest School). The groups then swap areas after the February half term.
PASSPORT FOR LIFE – HOME ECONOMICS
The pupils working in Home Economics will focus on basic cooking and food preparation skills. Pupils will learn how to work safely in the kitchen as well as developing, an understanding of what Home Economics is and learn the important hygiene and healthy eating rules. They will learn about basic nutrition and the importance of a balanced diet. Pupils will cook a wide range of dishes from a variety of simple recipes. Pupils will gain independence in the kitchen and begin to discuss the skills they are learning.
Year 7 pupils will focus on the importance of a healthy diet. They will learn that it is made up from a variety and balance of different foods and drinks, as depicted in the ‘Eatwell’ Guide. They will be able to identify and classify unfamiliar dishes according to the 5 groups depicted in the Eatwell guide.
PASSPORT FOR LIFE – OUTDOOR LEARNING (FOREST SCHOOL)
The pupils working in Outdoor Learning (Forest School) will be outside in the woodland area having a hands-on opportunity to learn about the natural environment through directed tasks and play. They will be guided to use their own initiative to solve problems and cooperate with others. The students will be given a large amount of freedom in their learning.
In year 7 there will be a large focus on organising ourselves and being prepared for each lesson as well as becoming familiar with the rules and ready for learning. The main theme throughout the lessons will building relationships and team work. Some of the activities throughout the year will include den building, fire lighting and exploration.