Core Curriculum
Students develop interpersonal and communication skills through classroom activities. In addition, students participate in the library reading program. They engage with literary texts and learn to analyse and respond to texts studied in class. They will also learn to write a variety of text types.
Topics Studied:
Autobiography
Mythological Stories
Poetry
Text Study: A Walk in the Dark by Jane Godwin
Film Study: Whale Rider by Niki Caro
Assessment Tasks:
• Text Response
• Writing Folio
• Creative Writing
• Oral Presentations
• Language Analysis
Duration: 8 hours per fortnight
Health and Physical Education focuses on students enhancing their own and others’ health, safety, wellbeing and physical activity participation in varied and changing contexts. Research in fields such as physiology, nutrition, biomechanics and psychology inform what we understand about healthy, safe and active choices. Health and Physical Education offers students an experiential curriculum that is contemporary, relevant, challenging, enjoyable and physically active.
Topics Studied:
Minor Games
Team Sports (Basketball, Netball and Soccer)
Football Codes
Rythmic Movement
Puberty
Respectful Relathionships
Assessment Tasks:
Practical Reports
Folios
Presentations
Tests
Duration: 6 hours per fortnight
The Humanities course includes four main areas of study: Civics and Citizenship, Economics and Business, Geography and History in different contexts at each year level. The study of Humanities encourages and challenges students to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to question, understand and contribute to the world in which they live.
In History, key skills gained include document analysis, the use of historical sources as evidence, chronology, cause and effect, as well as change and continuity. In Geography, students develop skills relating to data collection and analysis, interpretation of maps, graphs and visuals, and the application of geographic concepts.
Topics Studied:
History: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures; Ancient Societies of Europe, Africa or Asia (10,000 BCE - 600 CE)
Geography: Liveability and Water
Economics: Consumer and Finance Literacy; Rights and Responsibilities of Consumers
Civics and Citizenship: Key Features of Democracy and Democratic Values
Assessment Tasks:
Practical Reports
Projects
Topic Tests
Duration: 6 hours per fortnight
Students consolidate their numeracy skills, extend their ability to present and interpret statistics, study shapes and angles and are introduced to algebra through practical activities set in everyday contexts wherever possible. They undertake a range of investigations and solve practical problems. Computer software is used in some of these investigations.
Topics Studied:
Positive Integers and Place Value
Measurement
Fractions, Decimals, Percentages
Statistics and Probability
Negative Integers
Algebra
Equations
Assessment Tasks:
End of Topic Tests
Projects
Duration: 8 hours per fortnight
Students are introduced to scientific inquiry methods, lab safety, and how science contributes to society. Students use the particle model to understand matter's structure and properties, classify living organisms with dichotomous keys, and study ecosystems and human impacts. They investigate the sun, moon, Earth's seasons, eclipses, and resource sustainability. Additionally, students examine forces and motion through everyday machines and tools. Foundational science skills in measurement, fair testing, and data analysis are embedded throughout.
Topics Studied:
Chemistry: Being a Scientist; States of Matter
Physics: Forces and Machines; Renewable and Non-Renewable Resources
Earth and Space Science: Seasons, Eclipses, Tides
Assessment Tasks:
Formal Practical Reports
Project Work
Topic Tests
Duration: 8 hours per fortnight
Languages
Français:
In their first year of CNED French, students read a wide variety of text types ranging from poetry to theatre and mythology. They consider alternative worlds through imaginative and science-fiction, whilst also gaining a valuable metalinguistic understanding of the French language.
Histoire-Géographie:
In Humanities students are able to consider how the past has—and continues to—influence the future. For Geography in particular, they study Water Scarcity, Climate Change and Food Sources. Whereas in History the focus is on the development of urban societies, monarchy in France, and the concept of Humanism.
Topics Studied:
Poetry
Vipère au poing by Hervé Bazin
La petite sirène by Hans Christian Andersen
Les fourberies de Scapin by Molière
Le seigneur sans visage by Viviane Moore
À la croisée des mondes by Philip Pullman
La quête d'Ewilan by Pierre Bottero
Assessment Tasks:
CNED Devoirs
Orals
Writing Tasks
Workbook
Duration: 8 hours per fortnight (French), 2 hours per fortnight (History-Geography)
Students develop their foundational understanding of French through units of work focused on self-introduction, family and friends, and leisure activities. They strengthen their cultural awareness of the French-speaking world through the completion of a research project on a chosen Francophone country. In addition to the mainstream program, the language of instruction is generally French. This applies to both French and Humanities classes. For French, students complete an additional unit of work on Francophonie and geography.
Topics Studied:
Francophonie
Greetings and Salutations
Leisure Activities
Film Study: Une vie de chat
Text Study: Les trois mousquetaires (comic book) by Alexandre Dumas
School
Assessment Tasks:
Practical Reports
Projects
Topic Tests
Duration: 6 hours per fortnight
Students develop their foundational understanding of French through units of work focused on self-introduction, family and friends, and leisure activities. Students strengthen their cultural awareness of the French-speaking world through the completion of a research project on a chosen Francophone country. Text and film studies are undertaken to promote a greater sense of connection to French cultural phenomena.
Topics Studied:
Francophonie
Greetings and Salutations
Leisure Activities
Film Study: Une vie de chat
Text Study: Les trois mousquetaires (comic book) by Alexandre Dumas
School
Assessment Tasks:
Poster Profile of a Country
Oral Presentation
Oral Interview
Reading and Listening Comprehension Test
Writing Task
Duration: 6 hours per fortnight
The Japanese Immersion program recognises current research and best practice teaching in Language acquisition that immersion is not only the most effective method of language learning but also provides significant cognitive benefits also. Students have the additional benefit of studying Science in Japanes. This stream is open to all students. No prior knowledge of Japanese is required. More advanced students are given the opportunity to complete the Year 7-10 program in 3 years instead of 4.
Year 7 Level:
Students develop their foundational understanding of the scripts of Japanese, with an emphasis on hiragana and kanji. Units of work include self-introductions, family and friends, and leisure activities.
Year 8 Level:
Students develop and fortify their understanding of hiragana, katakana and kanji scripts. Units of work include daily routines, school life and hobbies.
Both levels develop their cultural understanding of Japan and the Japanese-speaking community through assessments such as a cultural research task. The language of instruction is generally Japanese. This applies to both Japanese and Science classes.
Topics Studied:
Nice to meet you
My Friends
My Family
My Town
My Week
At the Restaurant
Assessment Tasks:
Practical Reports
Projects
Topic Tests
Duration: 6 hours per fortnight
Students develop their foundational understanding of the scripts of Japanese, with an emphasis on hiragana and kanji. Units of work include self-introductions, family and friends, and leisure activities. Students also learn about Japan and the Japanese-speaking community, as well as communication in the classroom.
Topics Studied:
Nice to meet you
My Friends
My Family
My Town
My Week
At the Restaurant
Assessment Tasks:
Oral Presentations and Interviews
Reading and Listening Comprehension Tests
Written Tests
Creative Projects
Duration: 6 hours per fortnight
Arts
Through the course students develop confidence in their ability to devise performances and adapt existing scripts. They will learn about drama terminology as they rehearse and act on feedback from peers to refine the presentation.
Students keep an up-to-date journal, analysing, interpreting and performing their concepts and ideas into a practical performance and research other practitioners to enhance their overall understanding. They will be exposed to different types of drama, from Australian Indigenous performances to Ancient Greek Theatre allowing them to develop an appreciation of different social and cultural contexts.
Topics Studied:
Mime Scene
Ancient Greek: Script and Performance
Assessment Tasks:
Mime Scene
Ancient Greek Fairytale Script and Performance
Duration: 4 hours per fortnight
The Visual Arts subject nurtures cultural understanding, imagination and creativity. Students develop a folio of artworks based on a range of visual responses inspired by the study of art styles linked to traditional and contemporary art practices. They will also develop skills in art criticism and analysis through a range of verbal and written responses based on the study of artists and their artworks.
Topics Studied:
One-Point Perspective Drawing
Colour Scheme Painting
Ceramic Task
Assessment Tasks:
Lino Painting: Inspired by Deanne Gilson
House Painting: Inspired by Howard Arkley
Still Life Drawing from Observation
Duration:
Technologies
Students will be experiencing and gaining skills in file management and sharing in a networked environment. They will learn computer programming, gaining fundamental knowledge in algorithmic thinking. Students will be analysing and evaluating data from a range of sources, using spreadsheet software to model solutions and create information. This will also develop their functional skills in the use of application software.
Topics Studied:
Computer handware and Network
Cyber Security Concepts
Data Collection, Analysis, and Evaluation
Python Programming Basics
Assessment Tasks:
Networked Environments
Google Applications
Problem Solving through Coding
Duration: 4 hours per fortnight
This is a practical and theoretical unit of study that introduces students to the kitchen and basic food technology skills with emphasis on hygiene and safety. Students explore dietary models and how these can be used to assess their diet. Students develop the ability to read and follow a recipe and produce their own. Food Technology increases student awareness of time management skills and explores Sustainability and Farming.
Topics Studied:
Kitchen introduction and Safety Procedures
Health and Nutrition
Practical skills
Assessment Tasks:
Health and Safety Poster
Recipe Modification
Practical Test
Duration: 4 hours per fortnight
Students will explore the development of robotic systems and the role of robotics in industry and society now and in the future. They will gain an understanding of the components of a robotic system and how these components work together to perform various tasks. Through the modification and programming of a robotic system, they will learn how to control a robot’s function in situations that reflect real-world problems.
Topics Studied:
Introduction to Robotic Systems
Robots in Society
Components of Robotic System Procedures
Problem Solving with Robotics
Assessment Tasks:
Robots in Society
Robotic Systems and their Control
Building and Programming a Robot
Duration: 4 hours per fortnight