GALEN CATHOLIC COLLEGE
YEAR 8
ELECTIVES INFORMATION
FOR 2007
In Year 8 all students will study a “CORE” of subjects including:
• RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
• ENGLISH
• LOTE: EITHER ITALIAN FOR 2 SEMESTERS OR
INDONESIAN FOR 2 SEMESTERS
• SOCIAL STUDIES
• MATHEMATICS
• SCIENCE
• PHYSICAL EDUCATION
• HEALTH EDUCATION (for ONE semester)
• INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (for ONE semester)Each semester students will have a choice of 1 ‘ELECTIVE’ from both the Arts and Science/Technology blocks making a total of 4 elective units for the year.
Please read the descriptions of each unit and indicate your preferences on the Electives Selection Sheet
YEAR 8 ELECTIVES 2007
Students study 1 elective each semester from the following choice of Arts units:
ART ELECTIVES :
In the Art course students will study: The basic principles of Design; Harmony & Contrast, Unity & Dominance, Symmetry & Assymmetry, Repetition & Variety, Expression & Composition. The History and Appreciation of artists and their cultures is also covered. Practical work illustrating the above will be experienced as students develop skills and a folio of developmental work in a range of materials and artforms from drawing, painting, ceramics and printmaking.
Year 8 drama involves students in a range of learning activities which include the following: exploring a variety of dramatic styles including role-playing, improvisation, characterisation and mime, the development of script-writing and script interpretation techniques, using a range of performance skills to communicate with an audience such as rehearsal techniques, blocking stage movements and exploring a range of performance spaces, learning skills for analysing and interpreting drama performances, using the stagecraft elements of costume and props to enhance performance.
VISUAL COMMUNICATION & DESIGN - ILLUSTRATION & CARTOONING
In this unit students will learn a variety of illustration techniques specific to particular audiences. They will also investigate some cartooning techniques and different cartooning approaches such as storyboards. The course will also cover other Visual Communication devices such as representational drawing and diagrams.
VISUAL COMMUNICATION & DESIGN - INTERIOR DESIGN
This unit focuses on drawing using 2D & 3D techniques especially one and two point perspective relating to interior design and 3D model-making. During these units students will further develop their skills with a variety of media and Graphic illustration, rendering & construction techniques.
The media occupy an important place in our society and provide one of the biggest influences in our lives. The media provide information and entertainment and teach values and behaviours. This unit aims at introducing a more critical approach to the media. Students explore key concepts through a range of practical and analytical activities, including a film study, writing and making a radio show and exercises with magazine production.
Students participate in practical musical activities, extending their level of aural perception and increasing their understanding of music as a means of expression. They extend their musical knowledge as they re-create the works of others and compose short works. Students learn to prepare musical works for performance, using rehearsal and evaluation. They discuss their responses to works they have listened to and performed, and evaluate their own performances. Students learn to recognise and use musical symbols to interpret the works of others, and to record their own composition. Students develop an appreciation of the ways music is made in particular cultural and historical contexts.
Students can use their skills & talents, individually and in groups from various artistic areas to create Multi-Arts pieces. The exact content of the course can be negotiated between the students & the teacher. Multi-Art pieces could be produced for school or community projects, Jazz Festival, senior or junior production or school assemblies and take the form of a mural, artwork, sculpture or advertising posters. Emphasis is placed upon co-operative learning within groups.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY ELECTIVES
Students study 1 elective each semester from the following choice of Science/Technology electives:
FOOD & TECHNOLOGY
Students will be given the opportunity to correctly use utensils and equipment, demonstrate skills in food preparation and techniques, understand the function of mechanical, chemical and biological raising agents, understand the structure and importance of dietary sources of protein, identify the rights and responsibilities of consumers (labeling, advertising) and are expected to work in a safe and appropriate manner.
In this course students will produce between 3 and 6 scientific pieces of work. These will come from the following areas: experimental research, information essay, creative writing, working models and inventions, posters, games, computer programs, science photography and video productions. Students will follow their own scientific interests as they develop these projects using animals, plants, chemicals or scientific equipment. Students will have the opportunity to submit their pieces of work to the Science Teachers’ Association of Victoria Science Talent Search. Students may then travel to Melbourne to present their entries.
This unit looks at how human and technical elements work together to achieve a result. For examples, electronic alarms, bicycles, combustion engines, electronic alarms and communication networks are all developed by humans to achieve a purpose. Students will learn about existing basic mechanical systems involving rigid structures, levers & pulleys and basic electronic systems involving simple circuits, electric motors and various electronic controls. Students will have the opportunity to investigate, design and construct a product to solve a set problem and then evaluate how well it works.
Year 8 Textiles is an introduction to fibres & fabrics through investigating, designing, producing and evaluating practical work. Students will become competent in the understanding & use of the sewing machine; they will use a variety of materials & processes to create products and explore a range of fabric embellishment techniques such as dyeing, printing, embroidery & painting.
Year 8 Materials & Technology involves students in a range of learning activities which include the following: investigating the appropriateness of a variety of processes and products, design awareness and aesthetics (balance, form, shape and colour), devising possibilities and alternatives through the design and problem solving process, producing items that are useful and demonstrate the required skills, becoming skilled in the safe and appropriate use of hand and power tools, a knowledge of existing and new materials (manufactured boards), materials testing, maintaining an organised workbook including notes, processes, sketches and evaluation, a weekly journal of work completed and new experiences, a knowledge of health and safety issues and reflecting on results and outcomes.
Language Other Than English ELECTIVES :
NOTE: Students who choose a LOTE study it for 2 semesters.
All students are required to study either Indonesian or Italian for 2 semesters. Students build upon the language and cultural aspects begun in Year 7, improving their writing, reading, speaking and listening skills and geographic knowledge. Students are advised to choose the language in which they feel most confident. A special letter will be sent home during Term 4 to allow students to indicate their choice because some Year 7 students have only begun to study a LOTE this term and need more time to decide their preference. Students who completed their language study in term 2 this year will have already chosen their preferred language at the end of that term.