year 7 course booklet autumn term 2014 - city leicester … · · 2016-10-05be happy, be...

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Year 7 Course Booklet

Autumn Term 2014


Year 7 Course Booklet

Introduction

We have many parents and carers asking us what more can they do to support their child’s learning.

In this booklet, you will find information about:

what your child will be learning in each subject this term

an explanation of our Marking for Literacy policy

information about how you can support your child’s learning at home.

Your child’s planner contains lots of useful information including: timing of the college day, term dates,

uniform, policies on mobile phone and internet use, the Enterprise Passport; as well as a record of the

homework and independent learning tasks your child is set.

Please check and sign your child’s planner every week. There is also space in the planner for you to

write comments and notes to the staff.

Contents

p.2 – Introduction and contents

p.3 – English and maths

p.4 – Science and History

p.5 – Geography and Religious Studies

p.6 – French and Spanish

p.7 – Drama and Music

p.8 – PE and ICT

p.9 – Art and Product Design

p.10 – Textiles and Food Technology

p.11 – Personal and Social Enterprise and Marking for Literacy Guidelines

p.12 – Supporting your child to become an independent learner


English

Our Year 7 curriculum is original and organised into themes for each

half term. It provides students with a smooth transition from primary

school while also including challenge through a wide range of texts:

non-fiction, poetry, literature and plays, and topics which are new and

exciting for them. We also teach the Read Write Inc. (RWI) programme,

an extension of the phonics approach used at primary school, for students who need to secure their

ability to speak and read with fluency and expression. This programme also helps students to acquire

skills which will help them to write accurately and independently.

All students are formally assessed each half term and throughout lessons using the APP (Assessing

Pupils’ Progress) foci for reading, writing, speaking and listening.

Students are encouraged to read every day at home and will take part in the Accelerated Reader

programme, reading books and taking quizzes during registration time.

Maths

Mathematics throughout Year 7 is taught across a variety of

connected topic areas to help and develop students’ problem

solving and thinking skills. To assist in this, students will

usually be asked to complete weekly homework tasks related

to the work they are completing in class.

In the autumn term, Year 7 will study a range of mathematical

topics through two different themed units.

In the first half term students will explore their new school in “Getting to Know You”. They will use

mathematical ideas about shape and space to find out about the school building and find out

information about their classmates using data handling.

In the second half term they will explore mathematics related to the seasons through the “Winter

Wonderland” unit.

Year 7 students work in tutor groups for the first half term, and are then set into ability groups for the

remainder of their time at TCOLC. There will be assessments at the end of each half term in the

autumn, as well as self assessment activities throughout the units.

Students also have access to online resources to help with their mathematics, including the College’s

VLE and the extremely useful website MyMaths. Details of how to access these websites will be given

to students at the beginning of the year.

Autumn 1 Autumn 1

Homework Project

Autumn 2 Autumn 2

Homework Project

My World

All About Me

Novel

- Holes

- Diary of a Wimpy Kid

- Harry Potter & the

Philosopher’s Stone

Reading Diary


Science

KS3 science is made of 4 main areas:

Investigative skills

Life processes

Materials

Physical processes

The Course:

Assessment:

KS3 is primarily assessed through APP skills; these are skills such as planning and carrying out a

practical, recording results, drawing graphs, conclusions and evaluations. Topics will also be assessed

using tests and levelled assessments. Students’ final level can be from a level 2-7.

How parents can help:

Make sure you check that your child is revising for each topic test

Make sure your child is working on and completing the homework booklets given to them

Talk to your child about the ways in which different animals are adapted

Watch wildlife programmes about animal adaptations

Give your child access to the KS3 Bitesize website in order to revise

Buy your child a KS3 revision guide.

History

These are the topics students will be learning about in their History lessons in Year 7 autumn term:

Autumn Term Assessment opportunities:

Skills in History

Investigation: The Tollund Man

Norman England: Invaders and invasions

Baseline chronology assessment

What happened to the The Tollund Man?

(source analysis)

Homework:

Homework is an integral part of students’ learning and is seen as key to

developing their independent learning skills. It could be:

research a given or chosen topic

revise/prepare for end of unit tests

learn key words and phrases and subject specific spelling

produce leaflets/brochures/diaries/journals of given or chosen topic –

often ICT linked.

History websites:

Find sites that students might browse, either as part of their homework or just for fun:

www.activehistory.co.uk (students will have access details to this from their teacher)

www.historyonthenet.com

www.usborne-quicklinks.com

www.collegehistory.co.uk

Autumn Term

- Science introduction - Energy everywhere - Cells to organisms

MID YEAR EXAM-Week of December 4th

http://www.activehistory.co.uk/

http://www.historyonthenet.com/

http://www.usborne-quicklinks.com/

http://www.collegehistory.co.uk/


Geography

At The City of Leicester College we strive to make our students

aware about the world they live in, the challenges facing it and the

part that they can play in improving this space we call home.

We aim to develop the skills that will enable our students to understand the processes and patterns

that they see around them and to use the technology they have at their disposal to explore and explain

these phenomena. At KS3 we encourage them to be inquisitive, to ask questions about what is going

on around them and to interact with each other in our diverse community.

Year 7 Geography in the autumn term is all about colourful ITALY with its gondolas, fast cars, fashion

and pizza. Students will investigate the problems in the south of the country, the change in industries

and the characteristics that make Italians such interesting people.

Homework project:

GLOBAL WARMING and its effects on all of us.

Religious Studies

Leicester is a vibrant and unique city with much diversity of religion and

beliefs; therefore the aim of Religious Studies in the classroom is to

provide students with the stimulus to be open hearted and broadminded

and so prepare attitudes that are for life in a plural city and a wider world of diversity.

All students follow the Leicester Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education which allows students to

share their experiences and to learn about the religions and beliefs of our community from one another.

The syllabus aims to develop positive attitudes of respect towards people of all faiths and none but also

leaves space for all pupils to explore their own beliefs, values and traditions.

Festivals are studied when they occur; students are sometimes involved with whole school RS days,

visits to places of worship and faith visitors into the class room.

Students extend their knowledge of Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism, Islam and Hinduism, deepen their

understanding of religious and philosophical beliefs, explore the teachings and practices of a religion

and discover answers to a range of ultimate questions and ethical issues.

Autumn Term

‘What can we know?

An introduction to some big philosophical questions and different religious responses. This module

provides a look at the nature of religion and belief. It gives an overview of major world faiths and

includes a look at how ‘enterprise skills’ are necessary for R.S.

Assessments:

Take place once a term either at the end of a unit or after a 5 week module of study.

Homework:

Independent learning is an integral part of the course and is set regularly to encourage enterprise

skills such as researching independently, creative thinking and literacy.


Languages

We offer creative and stimulating lessons which cater for the various

learning styles of our students through the use of games, worksheets,

posters, languages websites, and authentic resources (e.g. magazines,

films, CDs). Students are assessed in the four skills: Speaking, Listening,

Reading and Writing at the end of each module and whenever teachers feel

it suitable to assess learning or to do a recap of learning.

Assessment:

Our students are in control of their learning and use their Assessment for Learning grids which they

complete in lessons so that they are always aware of their current working levels and can see the

progress they are making day by day.

Homework:

We believe that homework is a very important part of our students’ learning, therefore our teachers

ensure that each year group is being given the right amount of homework. We have a wide range of

homework activities e.g. research on a topic/ area of the country of the language your child is learning,

presentation to be performed in the class, completion of tasks on languages websites.

Community Languages:

We offer the possibility for students to take GCSEs in a range of community languages including:

Panjabi, Gujarati, Italian, Urdu, Polish, Turkish, Arabic, Dutch, Portuguese.

Trips:

We offer cultural/linguistic trips to France and Spain to support our students learning: recently we have

taken some of the students to Paris and Costa Brava to enhance their cultural knowledge of the

countries as well as developing their language skills.

Year 7 French

Autumn Term Module 1 C’est parti Greetings / numbers / months / days /

colours.

Module 2 Famille et copains Family members / pets / physical

description.

Year 7 Spanish

Autumn term Module 1 ¡Vamos! Introducing yourself / numbers from 1 to 31/

learning the Spanish alphabet / talking

about the classroom.

Module 2 En el instituto Talking about school subjects / saying what

you do in the lessons and introduction to

present tense / talking about teachers /

giving opinions and reasons / understanding

all adjective agreements / talking about

snacks.


Drama

Drama aims to cover a range of different skills. We encourage students

to be independent learners, challenging them to solve problems and

work together as a team in a safe and supportive learning environment.

We work with other faculties in cross curricular projects in order to

enhance students’ learning and understanding e.g. World War 1 Project in Y9.

Over the three years at KS3, drama introduces students to a structured learning programme that is built

upon each year. This in turn supports the KS4 curriculum so that students already have a strong base

to attain strong grades in GCSE Drama or BTEC Performing Arts. Students are issued with work

booklets that include written and research tasks to support learning within the classroom.

Assessment:

Assessments are undertaken each half term with tasks clearly outlined in booklets so that students are

encouraged to ‘Aim High’. This year we have introduced a devising unit that runs alongside the

examining body LAMDA and will give students the opportunity to take an exam in the summer term.

Extra curricular activities

In December there is the annual college production where students can opt to either perform or

become part of the back stage crew. In July there will be a KS3 drama production. Throughout the year

there is a lunchtime drama club for KS3 students to attend. Students are also given many opportunities

to go to the theatre throughout the year.

Music

In Year 7 students will be looking into the elements of music and

learning composition, performing, listening and instrumental skills.

The schemes of work include hip- hop, in which students learn

basic music technology skills using our Apple Mac suite and School

of Rock, where they learn an instrument independently and then

perform as a band at the end of it. This year lays the foundations for their instrumental skills to take

them through the rest of KS3.They will get the opportunity to try drums, bass, guitar and keyboard.

Homework

Homework is set for each unit and this could involve either a literacy research task or a practice task

which students may have to do in their own time in school. The homework is always written into their

booklets and is necessary to assist with their learning.

Assessment

Music is assessed half termly. Students will be made aware of their current working levels and set

targets at the start of each scheme as to what they need to do to improve this. Assessment is based on

their booklets, homework and a performance at the end of each term. Students will also receive

formative assessment regularly throughout lessons and when their booklets are marked.

Extra curricular

There are many opportunities for students to do extra curricular work in music. We have steel pans, a

school band, a music technology club, a school choir and the department is open every lunchtime for

students to rehearse. We also offer instrumental lessons on a range of instruments including drums,

bass, guitar, keys, vocals, sax, piano, violin, flute and clarinet.

Year

Group

Drama in the Work

Place

Cross

Curricular Historical

Subject

Specific LAMDA

7 What is Drama? Text based

project

Commedia

dell Arte Conventions

Stimuli based

devising project


PE

The PE department seeks to ensure all learners are given the opportunity to

develop a range of skills and techniques, personal skills and attributes

essential for a fit and healthy lifestyle through a variety of sports activities.

Students are encouraged to take responsibility within PE lessons to lead,

coach and officiate in activities, as well as perform.

Students are given two hours a week of Core PE lessons, covering a wide

range of activities that meet the requirements of the PE National Curriculum.

These activities include: Athletics, Rounders, Cricket, Tennis, Football, Netball, Table Tennis, Dance,

Gymnastics, Team building, Outdoor Education and Leadership, Health Related Fitness, and

Badminton.

Year 7 students receive half a term of Swimming to develop water confidence and swimming skills and

techniques following the Stage Award programme.

Students are encouraged to attend after school sport clubs through our extra curricular Sports

Academy programme where students can refine existing sports skills learnt in PE lessons and develop

their own fitness within their chosen sports.

With the success of the BTEC Sport Level 2 (KS4) and 3 (KS5) courses, BTEC Sport elements are now

being integrated into PE lessons at KS3 Core PE, to develop the vocational skills needed to prepare

students for KS4 and KS5 Sports courses offered later in their school careers.

ICT

The first year of ICT is broken up into five different units from which students will learn and develop a

variety of skills using generic software packages, such as:

Email software

Image Manipulation Software

Web Design Software

Spreadsheet Software

Animation Software.

Term Unit Description

Autumn

Unit 1 – Email and

Using Information

The purpose of this unit is to ensure students have the working

knowledge and skills to utilise Email and use the Internet to

conduct searches effectively. Some of the skills they will learn

from the unit are how to send, receive and delete emails.

Assessment:

Your child will show evidence via screenshots, classroom demonstrations, homework and independent

learning to illustrate and enforce knowledge of taught skills. By the end of all the units a portfolio of

work will be produced which will then be assessed against a National Curriculum level for ICT.

Homework:

You child will have independent learning and homework booklets to accompany each unit; please look

at these so you can help them with their progress as this will contribute greatly to their final unit level.


Art

In Year 7, students have one lesson of art a week and follow two art projects

through the year. The first project is based on the Pop Art movement with

students learning about colour theory, developing their painting skills and

learning about artists such as Andy Warhol and Claes Oldenburg. Students

explore popular culture linking in with the Pop Art work and this culminates in designing their own Pop

Art style shoe. This 2D design is taken into a 3D clay shoe piece which allows students to learn clay

skills such as thumb and slab pot techniques. They will also learn about the kiln and the use of glazes.

Assessment:

Students will be assessed on their practical skills, their generation and development of ideas and

analysis and evaluation of ideas. Literacy is also very important & students will develop the ability to

communicate ideas visually and verbally.

Homework

At the start of each half term students are given a homework task sheet with four art tasks relating to

the project they are studying. This will form part of their overall level for the subject. These tasks are all

different in an effort to encourage students to explore different areas of art and develop a variety of

skills. Tasks will include use of pencil and drawing skills, use of colour, artist research, analysing art

work, making sculptures and links to literacy. Students will choose two tasks which they have to

complete. This allows for some imaginative and in depth pieces of art work being produced.

Parents are encouraged to support the students with their homework tasks through discussing their

ideas. We also like to encourage students to visit local galleries and museums, which parents often

enjoy just as much as the students.

Product Design

The course is aimed at introducing and teaching pupils how products are

manufactured through a range of focused practical tasks. Students will use a

range of tools and machinery to design and make products using various

materials and processes. Students will be making Wooden Toys and Metal Bookmarks using various

hand skills as well as Computer Aided Design and Manufacture processes used in Industry.

Assessment:


analysis and evaluation of ideas. Literacy is also very important as designers need to communicate

ideas visually and verbally using a range of skills.

Homework:

Students are required to complete twelve homework tasks which use a variety of skills. Each homework

task should reflect at least 30 minutes of the students’ best work and should not include the time taken

to gather information or research. Homework should be presented appropriately to the task, for

example, on neat paper.

Parental support:

Please ensure that your child regularly completes their homework by the given deadlines and

ensure that work and homework is transported to and from school in a folder to ensure it is kept

neat. Work should not be folded.


Students benefit from regular practice at sketching so encouragement to sit and sketch from objects

in front of them will enable their design communication skills to improve.

Many students also benefit from collecting images, articles, photographs and samples such as

fabrics, postcards and leaflets. Encouraging your child to keep a folder or scrapbook of such items

of interest enables the student to build up a folio, which is personal to their own inspiration, and is

very useful when generating a personal response to design briefs.

Textiles

The aim of Year 7 Textiles is to introduce students to a range of practical skills designed to help

develop their motor skills, particularly hand to eye co-ordination. This will be done by working on a

practical project during lesson time. All students in Year 7 will have half a year in Textiles (1 lesson a

week). Students will build up their practical skills through a design & make project where they will

increase their knowledge & understanding of researching and textiles construction. Design and

practical work will be marked on a regular basis and the combination of those marks will be used to

judge progress.

Assessment:

Students will be assessed on their practical skills, their generation

and development of ideas and analysis and evaluation of ideas.

Literacy is also very important & students will develop the ability to


Homework:

There will be three home work tasks set over the course and each

will link into work done in the classroom

1. Researching their project

2. Collecting materials & resources for their practical work

3. Homework sheet based on their project

4. Taking practical work home to finish particular sections.

Parental support:

Students are expected to either make a contribution of £1.00 towards the cost of materials used, or

provide their own suitable fabrics & materials; this will be discussed with your child in lesson time.

Parents can also help by encouraging their child to sew & cut things out at home, therefore practicing

their skills.

Food Technology

The aim of Year 7 Food Technology is to introduce students to healthy

eating through a range of practical, theory and design lessons. All

students in Year 7 will have half a year in Food Technology (1 lesson a

week). Students will build up their practical skills through fortnightly

cooking lessons with the theory lessons enabling them to increase their

knowledge of food and design their own healthy products. Both theory

and practical work will be marked on a regular basis and the combination

of those marks will be used to judge progress.


Assessment:


analysis and evaluation of ideas. Literacy is also very important & students will develop the ability to


Homework

There will be three home work tasks set over the course and each will link into work done in the

classroom:

1. Sensory analysis of a product made by the student

2. A label for a product made by the student

3. Ensuring ingredients are organised and brought in for each practical lesson.

Parental support

Students are expected to bring their own ingredients for practical lessons and to enable this to happen

they will need the help of their parents. All students will be given a recipe book to bring home and keep

in a safe place. All recipes are adaptable to meet individual dietary needs. Parents can help their child

by ensuring they discuss recipes and that their child has the ingredients they need for each lesson.

Parents can also help by encouraging their child to cook at home, therefore practicing preparation and

cooking skills.

Personal and Social Enterprise (PSEnt)

Vision

To inspire and motivate your child to become an enterprising young adult

who is a successful, healthy, happy, critical consumer with a desire to make

a positive contribution to local, national and global communities.

The work we do also supports your child’s behaviour in school and relationships with peers and adults.

Autumn term

Focus Transition from primary school and rights and responsibilities as a student at TCOLC.

Topics

covered

Democracy (including student council elections)

Responsibilities

Health and well being

Skills

developed

Team work

Decision making

Leadership

How it is

assessed

All assessment is a mixture of peer, self and teacher assessment of written work,

contributions to discussions and presentations. We assess Enterprise levels and

record them in the Enterprise passport. All students will complete an independent

learning project that they are expected to work on outside of lessons.

Marking for Literacy

Abbreviation Meaning Next Steps


All of your child’s work should be marked for spelling, grammar and punctuation, using the grid below, to enable students to learn accurate written communication skills.

Supporting your child to become an Independent Learner

There are lots of ways in which you can help your child to become a self-motivated and independent

learner which will help them now and in the future.

Ask your child about their learning in college – get them to explain what they’ve learnt and how.

If your child asks you a question about their work, support them in finding out the answer for

themselves.

Check your child’s planner every week to ensure they are writing down, and completing, their

homework.

Check your child has the right equipment with them every day.

Encourage your child to revise for tests.

Support your child to use the internet safely and responsibly.

Draw your child’s attention to programmes on TV related to topics studied in college.

Encourage your child to read or watch the news and discuss local, national and global issues.

Allow your child to take part in trips organised by the College.

Encourage your child to get involved in some of the many clubs and extra-curricular activities

available at the College.

Ensure your child is a member of a local library and encourage them to visit it regularly.

Encourage your child to be creative and enterprising – to try new and different ways of doing

things.

Visit the many museums, theatres, galleries and festivals we are lucky to have in Leicester.

P

Punctuation error

Check your work and edit punctuation by adding in or taking away punctuation marks.

Sp

Incorrect spelling

Look at the word highlighted. Correct the word (use a dictionary if you need to) and learn this new spelling.

Gr

Incorrect grammar

Read through your work to check that your words make a complete and clear sentence.

//

Start new paragraph

Look at where a new paragraph should go. Decide why this new paragraph should start here. Look to see where it should end.

^ Omission – something missed out

Read your work to check what you have missed out e.g. word or phrase.

Cp

Capital Letter Check to see where you need a capital letter e.g. names, start of sentence, titles, I.

? Meaning unclear

Check that your sentence makes sense by reading it out aloud to yourself or a partner.

T

Incorrect tense

Look at the tense you begin with. You have made a switch in tense so check your verb endings and edit.

year 7 course booklet autumn term 2014 - city leicester … · · 2016-10-05be happy, be...

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