Year 8 News – Thursday 20 July 2023

Term 3 has commenced with many students looking refreshed and eager to engage in learning activities. We would also like to welcome Mr Ash Day into the Year Level Learning Leader position for Term 3.

Semester 2 has seen students starting the final electives subjects for Year 7/8 curriculum. The term has started with new topics in many subjects. Below is a summary of some – more subjects to follow in the next edition.

Veritas

Students will explore the early Church and the spread of Christianity, medieval social structures, and how major events such as the Black Death changed history. Learning activities will involve analysing sources such as the Bayeux Tapestry and artworks depicting Joan of Arc; comparing living in a castle to home life; and a feudal system simulation task. Students will complete a research assignment on a medieval civilisation of their choice: Europe, The Vikings, Japanese shoguns, or the Spanish conquest of the Americas.

Maths

During Term 3, the Year 8 students will focus on two main topics: Probability and Statistics, and Algebra. We will start by learning how to interpret and compare statistics, how to represent different data sets and how to determine if a data set is biased. This will help our Year 8s to start to think critically about what these numbers actually mean so that they can better understand the story behind the data. In the second half of the term, we will get into the nitty, gritty details of algebra, becoming comfortable with using substitution and applying the four operations with pronumerals. This lays the foundation for the skills that students will use later in subjects such as physics and chemistry.

Health

Students will investigate the structure and function of the cardiovascular system and respiratory systems. Students will also learn how two systems work together, forming the cardiorespiratory system, to allow the body to function at rest and during exercise. Students will develop a deeper understanding of the acute responses of the cardiorespiratory system during exercise and recovery, as well as the barriers and enablers to cardiorespiratory system health.