ENGLISH

Overall Aims: The students are becoming competent communicators in a variety of genres and styles. They are able to produce texts for a variety of audiences and purposes adjusting their language accordingly. Further, Year 8 students are able to produce significant projects using multi-media including, but not limited to, Word, PowerPoint, Access, Clip Art, Publisher, Adobe, Photoshop, Internet, Emails, Blogs, Wikis and Web-Site creation. Their writing shows evidence of drafting, proofing, editing, peer evaluation and critical reflection.

Specific Learning Outcomes – the child will;

·            Become confident ‘risk takers’ continually extending their vocabulary and the range of language tools they incorporate into their writing. This is reflected in stories that capture the imagination and show evidence of drafting, proof reading, editing, revision and final drafting.

·            Be developing their vocabulary and the language tools they incorporate in their speaking and writing. [e.g. Idioms, Metaphors etc]

·         Compose and write more complex stories incorporating a more descriptive language, scene setting, and creating a beginning, middle and end in order to engage the reader more fully.

·         Strive to create greater meaning and persuasion through the selection of the most appropriate vocabulary and sentence structure, [e.g. Student Council, School Newsletter, Multi-Media presentations.]

Typical Activities

·           Major Assignments and/or Projects on a variety of themes.

·            Directed Reading / Independent Reading, [DR / IR].

·            Sustained Silent Reading. [SSR]

·            Major Book Report.

·            Researching given topics and topics of interest with the objective of being able to compile a report for presentation.

·            Major contributions to the school newsletter including editing, formulation of articles, reports and editorials.

Formative assessment: Devising and grading daily homework, regular fluency tests, maintaining anecdotal records that comment on classroom participation and the compilation of regular writing tasks and conversation activities that promote an English Speaking Environment, [ESE].

Summative assessment: Weekly quizzes, mid-term test and an ‘End of Term’ examination.

MATHEMATICS

Overall Aims: Year 8 students are able to determine which operation or series of operations are required in the solving of problems and are able to create problems for peers to solve. Year 8 students are looking at mathematics as a life skill and are fully conversant with all four sub-strands and can solve complex problems. [An example could be a problem involving time and distance and the student understanding that the mathematical concept is velocity and then using this idea to accurately solve the problem.]

Specific Learning Outcomes – the child will;

·            Be able to compare, order, and simplify integers

·            Be able to compare, order, and simplify expressions with exponents

·            Be able to estimate and use fraction in the basic operations

·            Be able to solve/write equations and inequalities

·            Be able to write and use ratios to solve problems

·            Be developing a repertoire of skills and knowledge facts in order to be able to work mathematically to solve more complex mathematical problems.

·            Be able to record data from an event in a variety of forms including pictorially, symbolically and numerically and apply this to create Chance & Data predictions.

·            Be conversant with the use and operation of scientific calculators.

Typical Activities

·            Developing scientific calculator skills.

·            Creating and solving mathematical puzzles.

·            Hands-on activities requiring mathematical intervention.

·            Tackling mathematical stories such as treasure maps with standard and non-standard units of measure.

·            Using math skills to create visual representation of 3 dimensional objects incorporating a side view, plan view and rear view, [Mechanical Drawing].

·            Complex problem solving activities requiring multi equation operations using all 4 operations.

Formative assessment: Devising and grading daily homework, regular fluency tests, maintaining anecdotal records that comment on classroom participation and the completion of a mathematics project showing the inter-relationship of mathematical operations.

Summative assessment: Weekly quizzes, mid-term test and an ‘End of Term’ examination.

SCIENCE

Overall Aims: Further consolidation of Scientific Inquiry, Biology, Chemistry and rudimentary Physics. The students are introduced to the seminal works of scientists including the works of Nicola Tesla, Max Plank. Extension work in Science will be a concentration of time and effort in Physics and Chemistry with the children conducting experiments in the Science Lab.

Specific Learning Outcomes – the child will;

·            Gain an appreciation of scientific methodology and the need for accuracy.

·            Understand that experiments need to be conducted in controlled environments and that result repetition is required if a hypothesis is to be validated.

Typical Activities

·            Experiments.

·            Exploring scientific concepts and applications.

·            Identification and classification activities.

·            Drawing conclusions form experiments and adapting these to current events and news items in a persuasive and educated manner. Exploring the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of things to find the ‘fix’.

Formative assessment: Devising and grading daily homework, maintaining anecdotal records that comment on classroom participation and the completion of a science project examining Evolution, Environment and Survival.

Summative assessment: Weekly quizzes, mid-term test and an ‘End of Term’ examination.

ARTS

Overall Aim: To develop the children’s interpretive skills in the formulation of a variety of art works that incorporate mixed media, three-dimensional work, collage and sculpture.

Specific Learning Outcomes – The child will;

·         Develop own artistic style in a variety of forms and media.

·         Develop gross and fine motor skills.

·         To appreciate how colour, shape and form can be used to create different genres and styles of art.

·         To develop a work ethos valuing the attributes of planning, designing, process and persistence in the creation of art pieces over a period of time.

·         An appreciation of the art skills required in developing an individual style of expression.

·         Complement the class teacher’s goals in improving spoken English.

·         At times working as an individual, or in a group to

·         Build on communication and team skills.

Typical Activities

·         Creating sculptures using wire and other found material

·         Drawing and planning

·         Colouring, shading and tinting pictures

·         Display of completed projects

·         Creating functional art

·         Working with recycled products.

·         Presentation of completed projects

Formative Assessment: The children’s work is monitored on an ongoing basis with anecdotal records kept that reflect the child’s application, work habits, creativity, interpretation and use of materials.

Summative Assessment: ‘End of Term’ examination

HEALTH & PE

Overall Aim: Children fully understand the need for team work, cooperation and communication if they are to succeed as members of a team and are displaying the appropriate behaviours and attitudes in order to achieve this.

Specific Learning Outcomes – The child will;

·         Participate in a variety of sporting activities and games.

·         Understand healthy living concepts such as hygiene, food pyramid and appropriate social and emotional health issues.

·         Work to develop team skills and individual sport specific skills to complement a team’s efforts.

Typical Activities

·         Playing a variety of games such as soccer, basketball, hockey, cricket, table tennis and other games as may be introduced from time to time.

·         Look at similarities and differences in various ball games from around the world such as Petanque, Bocce, Golf, Gaelic Football etc.

Formative Assessment: The children’s work is monitored on an ongoing basis with anecdotal records kept that reflect the child’s application, work habits, creativity, interpretation and use of materials.

Summative Assessment: ‘End of Term’ examination

HUMANITIES

Overall Aim: The children will complete two major assignments, the first about a country of their choice and the second, a period in history.

Specific Learning Outcomes – The child will;

·         Research several countries and then choose one for their assignment.

·         Begin to understand that we are all on a continuum and that all countries have a history.

·         Begin to appreciate different periods in history such as the renaissance, stone age and industrial revolution.

Typical Activities

·         Create maps for different purposes, e.g treasure maps, maps showing industry, trade routes, animal migration etc.

·         Use Internet based map service such as Google Maps to plan a vacation itinerary.

Formative Assessment: The children’s work is monitored on an ongoing basis with anecdotal records kept that reflect the child’s application, work habits, creativity, interpretation and use of materials.

Summative Assessment: ‘End of Term’ examination

COMPUTER STUDIES

Overall Aim: The students study in these senior years goes beyond computers as they explore the notion of enterprise and entrepreneurship [E&E]. There is the understanding that E&E is critical to the future of Thailand and that their own future is directly linked to their ongoing study and competency as enterprising entrepreneurs.

Specific Learning Outcomes – The child will;

·         Look at modern day value adding opportunities.

·         Complete a project designing a hypothetical labour saving device.

Typical Activities

·         Work in the computer lab using the mouse, keyboard and audio visual attributes to create individual and pair pieces off work.