ENGLISH
In the first half term, year 9 will be exploring news stories and the art of reporting in order to develop their writing skills. After the October half term, year 9 will be reading the play ‘A Christmas Carol’ in order to develop their comprehension skills. There will also be a focus on spoken language in the context of role plays to support understanding of characterisation.
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
Chemical Reactions – The aim of the first part of this theme is to develop an understanding of what is meant by the phrase chemical reaction or chemical change. Pupils will then go on to find out about the processes that are used in making many everyday materials, they will explore energy changes in chemical reactions and we will be looking at reactions between acids and alkalis.
Electricity at Work – During this theme pupils find out about static electricity, magnets and magnetic fields. They will make electromagnets and will explore the different ways in which the electromagnetic effect is used in everyday devices.
UNDERSTANDING OUR WORLD – HUMANITIES
Pupils will be understanding more about the experiences of slaves and those who worked in the factories during Victorian times. They will look at how slaves were captured, transported and lived once they arrived in the Americas and getting to think about how they felt about this. They will then compare their lives with those who worked in the textile factories during Victorian times.
Also they will be looking at the Geography of Our Stuff and our relationship with the rest of the world. They will be looking at where our ‘stuff’ comes from, why they have so much ‘stuff’ and what effects this has on our environment and those people who make it.
UNDERSTANDING OUR WORLD – RELIGION AND ETHICS (R AND E)
Thinking about God and creation – Who or what is God? Pupils will be looking at the world around us, trying to appreciate many features of nature and linking our work to an understanding of the natural world. They will consider God as the creator in different religions and also find out how we can look after the environment – considering waste and recycling in fun activities! Pupils will use key questions to help them to join in discussions and write down their ideas.
ART
The theme this term is Life Events – pupils will be exploring the work of artists who have portrayed a range of life events. We will look at paintings, prints, photographs and digital images to see how visual images can be powerful tools that get reactions and show ideas, beliefs and values. Pupils will then go onto consider their ideas and feelings about an event in their own lives as the starting point for a final piece. They will explore how colour and tone can have an impact of the mood of their work.
DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY
Pupils in years 9 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 research types of chairs and then move on to complete a model of the stools. We will then look at flat-packed furniture and purchase a stool from IKEA which pupils will work in pairs, getting stuck into changing the real stools into whatever their imagination inspires them to design. The next project will be for pupils to create a ‘push to make’ electrical circuit based on a book of their choice, but focusing on a specific age range.
Pupils will be asked the question, ‘What would you like to design to change someone’s life for the better’?
DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY – TEXTILES
Pupils will be asked the questions, ‘Why do we recycle and how it is good for the environment’?
PERFORMING ARTS – MUSIC
Colour, fire and surprises – Pupils will be concentrating on surprises in music, finding out about the key words of timbre, texture and structure in musical terms. There will be plenty of opportunities to play a range of instruments – tuned and untuned, recorders, keyboards and percussion. Each lesson will include singing, listening and performing activities and assessments will be based around On the Track – a train journey.
PERFORMING ARTS – DANCE
Elements of dance – This term, pupils will be focussing on the four key elements of dance, Action, Space, Dynamics and Relationships. Pupils will need to bring their PE kit to lesson as they attend lessons exploring these key words, studying and taking inspiration from professional work and choreographing their own routines.
PE
Healthy active lifestyles will be the main focus of the term, delivered through netball, swimming and health related fitness lessons. Motor skills and team work will be developed in netball, as well as developing a better understanding of rules and tactics of a team game. Students will become more confident in their ability in the water during swimming lessons and will be set challenges to overcome, whilst also working on their water fitness. Health related fitness lessons will allow the students to monitor their own progress and record data.
SOCIAL SKILLS
Lessons will be delivered on a rotation of theory, discussion/circle time, and practical activities to allow for learning and practice.
During the first term pupils will be developing their Self-awareness. This will begin by building group cohesion and establishing group rules and expectations, followed by helping the group learn about themselves and each other. This includes being able to identify what I am good at, but also what I would like to improve on. Then pupils explore emotions, thoughts and behaviours of themselves and others.
PSHE
Looking good, feeling great: Pupils will focus on looking after themselves and feeling their best, linking their work to one of the Citizenship modules, ‘Body image’. Pupils will learn about eating disorders and discuss influences from the media. They will also consider relationships, families and how these change as they grow up. The Relationships and Sex Education programme for Year 9 is also included in this module and parents receive notification when this is taking place.
PASSPORT FOR LIFE
Pupils in year 9 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
In Home Economics, the pupils 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 9 Pupils focus on foods from ‘around the world’. They look at what people choose and combine different foods to make meals and snacks. Pupils will gain an understanding that a range of factors determine what is eaten throughout the world. Diets vary between individuals for reasons such as availability, preference, resources, time, culture and religion.
PASSPORT FOR LIFE – OUTDOOR LEARNING (FOREST SCHOOL)
In Outdoor learning (Forest School) the pupils 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 9 the main theme throughout the lessons will be developing our relationships and team work. Some of the activities throughout the year will include den building, fire lighting, cooking and exploration. The students will also be introduced to using tools such as knives, loppers and saws.