Year 8 Core Subjects 

In Semester 1, students begin with a unit on memoirs, in which they reflect on their own lives and experiences by developing a personal connections to various themes, presented through the medium of a memoir. This unit focuses on students developing critical and creative thinking, understanding the social world in which they live, as well as displaying a growth mindset. Following this, students focus on developing their reading and writing skills through the study of a series of short stories. Students learn how to interpret ideas and issues, develop dialogue, characters, plot and setting, and apply the language conventions of short stories. Students will create their own short story in response to a stimulus as their final piece. Finally, students complete a text study of the novel 'Tiger Daughter' by Rebecca Lim. This unit requires students to analyse the key themes in the text to further develop their essay writing and understanding of the text and characters.

In Semester 2, students study the collection 'Things a Map Won't Show You', which includes a range of different texts types such as short stories, poems and comic art. Students explore the depiction of different aspects of Australia and Australian culture from a range of perspectives. Additionally, students will complete an Analysing Argument unit, which requires students to think critically about the impact of persuasive language on different audiences. This unit analyses a variety of persuasive texts, identifying and discussing how language was used to position readers and viewers in particular ways. Finally, students will research, develop, and deliver a persuasive speech to their classmates about an issue they are passionate about.

Additionally, students build on their creative writing skills through the development of the Writer’s Notebook over the course of the whole academic year. This focuses on fostering a love of writing and critical thinking. 

Duration: 4 hours per week

In Semester 1, students focus on developing their reading and writing skills through the study of Markus Zusak's The Book Thief. Students learn how to interpret key themes and symbols in the text. They continue to develop their understanding of literary technique and language through consideration of concepts such as allegory and allusion, before presenting a literary analysis of the novel in the form of a text response essay. In the latter part of the semester, students study a range of texts in the media in order to critically analyse how language is used to position readers and to create their own persuasive texts. 

In Semester 2, students study a range of Indigenous Poetry. Students develop understanding of the features of poetry, and experiement with creating their own poems. In the latter part of the semester, students focus on developing their reading and writing skills through the study of several short stories in the unit, Stories of Imagination. Students learn how to interpret ideas and issues, identify and imagine a variety of settings and apply the language conventions of short stories. Students create their own short story as their final piece. Additionally, students will develop their speaking skills through the study of film, producing a speech in response to their chosen film text.

Duration: 4 hours per week

In Semester 1, students develop their understanding of fractions, decimal and percentages along with angles, shapes and objects, statistics and algebra. As part of these units, students work on their ability to reason, research and communicate effectively. During investigations, students explore ideas with the support of concrete materials and digital technologies, working in both individual and group scenarios. 

In Semester 2, students study linear relationships, as well as probability, measurement, percentages, ratios and rates. They apply their understanding to solve new and familiar problems and investigate concepts with and without digital technology, working in both individual and group scenarios. Students conduct investigations which develop their problem solving and reasoning skills. 

Duration: 4 hours per week

In Semester 1, students develop their understanding of algebra, index laws, scientific notation, congruency and statistics. As part of these units, students work on their ability to reason, research and communicate effectively. During investigations, students explore ideas with the support of concrete materials and digital technologies, working in both individual and group scenarios. 

In Semester 2, students study linear algebra, trigonometry and Pythagoras, financial mathematics, probability and the properties of 3D shapes (volume and surface area). Students apply their understanding to solve both new and familiar problems. They investigate concepts with and without digital technology, working in both individual and group scenarios. Students also undertake the ICAS Mathematics Competition to diagnose strengths and weaknesses of core mathematical skills and processes. 

Duration: 4 hours per week

In semester 1, students explore cells, body systems, and energy. They examine cell theory, identifying cells as the basic units of life and comparing specialised organelles such as nuclei, mitochondria, and chloroplasts. They investigate the structure and function of cells, tissues, and organs in plant and animal systems, analysing how organ systems like the circulatory and respiratory systems support survival. In studying energy, students classify different forms as kinetic or potential, explore energy transfers through conduction, convection, and radiation, and examine electrical circuits, discussing voltage, current, and efficiency. They also consider household energy use, analysing factors such as appliance choice and building design.

Throughout the semester, students develop scientific inquiry skills by conducting experiments, making observations, and using evidence to explain relationships between systems.

In Semester 2, students investigate Earth's dynamic nature through the theory of plate tectonics and the geological activity at divergent, convergent, and transform boundaries. They explore the rock cycle, understanding how sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic rocks form over different timescales and how their properties influence how they are used and mined. In Chemistry, students distinguish between physical and chemical changes, identifying signs of chemical change such as colour changes, temperature shifts, gas production, and precipitate formation. They also investigate and test for gases like oxygen, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen through hands-on experiments.

As with Semester 1, students apply and refine their scientific inquiry skills, collecting and analysing data, controlling variables, and drawing evidence-based conclusions.

Duration: 2 hours per week

In Semester 1, the curriculum focuses on the transmission of heritable characteristics from one generation to the next and how this involves DNA and genes. Students examine an animal’s response to a stimulus and how it is coordinated by its central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) and neurons transmitting electrical impulses.  Next, students explore sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic rocks and how they contain minerals and are formed by processes that occur within Earth over a variety of timescales. They further explore the theory of plate tectonics and global patterns of geological activity and continental movement.

In Semester 2, students investigate how energy appears in different forms, including movement (kinetic energy), heat, light, chemical energy and potential energy, and how devices can change energy from one form to another. They look at how light can form images using the reflective feature of curved mirrors, the refractive feature of lenses, and how light can disperse to produce a spectrum, which is part of the larger spectrum of radiation. They explore the properties of sound and how it can be explained by a wave model. Students then investigate electric circuits. They look at how they can be designed for diverse purposes and how they can be explained by the concepts of voltage and current. Students will investigate magnets and the field model, as well as how these are used in generating electricity. Finally, in Chemistry, students look at chemical change and how substances can react to form new substances. They explore the atomic structure, properties of elements and how they are organised in the periodic table. Chemical reactions involving rearranging atoms to form new substances are also explored.

Duration: 2 hours per week

In Semester 1, students begin the year studying Civics and Citizenship, where they develop their understanding of cultural diversity, government systems and the process of changing the constitution. Students explore what inclusivity looks like in society and how this may or may not be reflected within our legal system. Students then undertake two History units where they explore both Medieval Europe and the Spanish Conquest of the Americas. In Medieval Europe, students develop their understanding of the process of effective historical inquiry and begin to appreciate how the past has influenced the world we live in today. Students build on their historical knowledge and develop the necessary skills to recognise and explain patterns of change that influence different societies. When studying the Spanish Conquest of the Americas, students develop their ability to analyse and critically reflect upon historical sources. 

In Semester 2, students undertake the study of Business and  Economics, and Geography. In Business and  Economics, students build on their economic reasoning and interpretation skills by investigating areas such as economic systems, markets and government involvement in the economy. Throughout the study of Geography, students refine their geospatial skills, undertaking the study of the formation and significance of landforms and landscapes, as well as investigating the connection of people to different types of settlements in Australia.

Duration: 2 hours per week

In Semester 1, students study democracy in the 21st Century. They explore the role of political parties and representatives in the Australian political system while analysing social, cultural and technological factors that are challenging Australia's democratic values. In History, students consolidate their skills of historical inquiry through the study of modern histories. They critically appraise the significance of technological and societal developments from 1750 until today and explore the impact of the industrial revolution and social and economic transformation upon society. Students learn to frame research questions, analyse a range of historical sources and draw their own conclusions in order to interpret the relevance of historical events through case studies on the Industrial Revolution and Australian History. 

In Semester 2, students undertake the study of Business and Economics, and Geography. Students investigate the concept of global consumers and build upon their economic reasoning and interpretation skills through the study of globalisation, trade and employment. In their study of Geography, students refine their geospatial skills, including cartographic and research-based tasks. Students develop their knowledge and understanding of how people and places are connected, as well as the social, environmental and cultural influences on human well-being. These ideas are drawn from case studies concentrating on Australia, Asia and the Americas in particular.

Duration: 2 hours per week

In Semester 1, students develop skills in reading, writing, speaking and listening to French. They describe their own school life, learning how to communicate time, school subjects and express their likes and dislikes in French. Students then go on to explore clothing and fashion. Students improve their pronunciation, memorisation and presentation skills by participating in a poetry competition. Fundamental literacy skills are enhanced by broadening their knowledge of grammatical meta-language, focusing on specific aspects of language such as conjugating verbs in a range of tenses and exploring rich, descriptive language. Students enhance their knowledge and appreciation of French-speaking nations and cultures across the curriculum. 

In Semester 2, students enrich their communication in topics on the house and home, and animals. They build their ability to use regular and irregular verbs, prepositions of place and partitive articles to describe spaces, where they would like to visit and the animals which inhabit these places. Students get the opportunity to use their knowledge of French in a real-world context exploring the Melbourne zoo with a French lense. Their fundamental literacy is enhanced through a close analysis of how sentences are constructed, and they are encouraged to refine their listening and speaking skills in regular activities with peers and dialogue practice for assessment.

Duration: 2 hours per week

The French Immersion Program (Programme d’Immersion française) is offered to students who have a bi-lingual background in French and who would like to maintain and build on those efforts in bilingualism. There is a core focus on learning and applying French grammar and vocabulary, while studying authentic texts such as French poetry, newspaper articles, novels and films. The online grammar and vocabulary enrichment platform, Projet Voltaire, allows students to work at their own pace and from an appropriate level. Students will be required to undertake regular reading in French. Written French is extended through a range of tasks that will also prepare them for advanced French studies in the VCE or IB. Students in the French Immersion Program are encouraged to sit the DELF B2 exams in year-9. After year-9, French Immersion Program students generally accelerate into year-11 VCE French. French Higher Level is an appropriate option for bilingual students planning to study in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme in the senior years.

Duration: 2 hours per week + 1 hour after school extension 

Leadership focuses on students enhancing their own and others’ health, safety, wellbeing and physical activity participation in varied contexts. 

Students develop and refine a range of movement skills and personal understanding by participating in sailing, aquatics and diving, martial arts, fitness, team challenges and health education. 

Sailing is run by experienced instructors at the Australian Sailing’s training centre,  the Boatshed, on Albert Park Lake. Students will build upon their understanding from the Year 7 Sailing program. Aquatics will provide students with the opportunity to learn or practise their swimming and the basics of diving. Martial arts, team challenges and fitness units teach students about learning through movement, improving fitness, teamwork and building resilience. In Year 8, health education focuses on mental health and wellbeing, alcohol and other drugs, sexuality and sexual health.

Duration: 2 hours per week