Year 8

Year 8 Subject List

Year 8 students study English, Mathematics, Science, Global Studies and HPE as their core subjects. They then choose one compulsory choice subject in Arts, Technologies and Languages. They also choose two additional choice subjects from HPE, Arts, Technologies and Languages.


English (full year compulsory) 

Mathematics (full year compulsory)

Science (full year compulsory)

Global Studies (full year compulsory)


Health and Physical Education (HPE) (1 semester compulsory of Health and Physical Education). Students can choose an additional semester of Elective PE. Students can also apply for the full year Sports Academy program (which replaces HPE and Elective PE).

Arts (1 semester compulsory): Students can choose Drama and Film or Art and Design. They can choose to study the other Arts subject as one of their choice subjects. Students also have the opportunity to do the Arts Academy: Dance Program for the full year or Arts Academy: Music program for the full year or Arts Academy: Visual Art program for the full year. 

Technologies (1 semester compulsory): Students can choose Food and Textiles, Woodwork and Metalwork or Robotics and Electronics. They can choose to study one of the other Technologies subjects as one of their choice subjects. Students can apply for the Innovators Academy which will allow them to study STEM (full-year subject).

Languages (1 semester compulsory). Students can choose French or German or Japanese. Students can choose to study an additional language as one of their choice subjects. Students can also choose to apply for the specialist language program and study the language for a full year*.

* Choice of subjects will only be offered where there are sufficient student numbers to form viable classes.

Read below for course information about compulsory subjects. For further details about choice subjects, please navigate to the individual subject tabs above.

English / Length: Full Year

Course Content

During the year, students extend their knowledge, understanding and skills in listening, reading, viewing, speaking, writing and creating. Through the study of novels, poems, narratives, plays and other texts, students will be explicitly taught how authors and creators make meaning. They will also reflect upon the ideas discussed, and develop their own interpretations. In creating texts, students will be given the opportunity to improve their literacy skills. 

Assessment

Students are assessed against the Australian Curriculum Achievement Standards. There will be a range of major assessment pieces involving the skills of writing, speaking, creating, viewing and listening. 

Additional Details

Mathematics / Length: Full Year

Course Content

Students will be following the three strands as laid out in the Australian Curriculum of Number and Algebra, Measurement and Geometry and Statistics and Probability. Emphasis is given to developing fluency skills through understanding, problem solving and reasoning abilities. The course will continue to develop student skills in number and place value, financial mathematics, real numbers, algebra, measurement, geometric reasoning, chance and data representation and  interpretation. Where possible, real-life examples and problem-solving skills will be used.

Assessment

In class assessment, topic tests and folio tasks.

Science / Length: Full Year

Course Content

Students will learn about the biological sciences (cells and body systems), chemical sciences (properties of matter, atoms and chemical changes), physical sciences (forms of energy) and earth sciences (rocks, minerals and plate tectonics). Students will learn through scientific inquiry and have the opportunity to further develop their skills and understanding of scientific inquiry through interdisciplinary units. 

Assessment

Students are assessed on both science understanding and science inquiry (practical). Assessment may include research work, inquiry tasks, practical lab work and oral and written responses. 

Global Studies / Length: Full Year

Course Content

During the year, Global Studies will provide students with an opportunity to explore their place in the world and to consider solutions to challenges we may face in the future. In History students will focus on the study of medieval Europe and the early modern world, while in Geography students will study landforms and landscapes, as well as how nations change. Economics and Business is also taught throughout the year.

Assessment

Students are assessed against the Australian Curriculum Achievement Standards. There will be a range of major assessment pieces using a variety of written, spoken and multi-modal forms which encourage students to question, think critically, solve problems and communicate effectively.

Additional Details