Year 8 Arts

In Year 8, all students will complete one Semester of both the following Arts subjects.

Year 8 Drama

The Year 8 course aims to provide students with the opportunity to devise, interpret and perform drama. Students learn the elements of drama and how to manipulate them to construct and structure narratives to communicate meaning. They learn a range of performance styles and theatrical conventions and apply these to convey status, relationships and intentions. Students identify and analyse how the elements of drama are used, combined and manipulated in different styles, and apply this knowledge in the drama they make and perform. They learn about theatre technologies and production areas and how they are applied in the creation of theatrical works. They evaluate how they and drama practitioners from different cultures, times and locations communicate meaning and intent through drama. 

Explore and Represent Ideas

Students will be able to: 

• Combine the elements of drama in devised and scripted drama to explore and develop issues, ideas and themes. 
• Develop roles and characters consistent with situations, dramatic forms and performance styles to convey status, relationships and intentions. 

Drama Practices

Students will be able to: 

• Plan, structure and rehearse drama, exploring ways to communicate and refine the dramatic meaning 
• Develop and refine expressive skills in voice and movement to communicate ideas and dramatic action in different performance styles and conventions. 

Present and Perform

Students will be able to: 

• Perform devised and scripted drama using a range of performance styles, maintaining a commitment to the role and applying stagecraft 

Respond and Interpret

Students will be able to: 

• Analyse how the elements of drama have been combined in devised and scripted drama to convey different forms, performance styles and dramatic meaning 
• Identify and connect specific features and purposes of drama from contemporary and past times to explore viewpoints and enrich their drama making.

Year 8 Visual Communication and Design

In Year 8 Visual Communication Design, students investigate the ways designers work, and experiment and develop their skills through the use of a design process. Students identify, analyse, interpret and evaluate visual communications and media. They use drawing conventions, a range of methods and materials as well as design elements and principles to communicate ideas. Students will also be introduced to Media concepts including moving image (film), typography and page layout seen in print and online media. 

Explore and represent ideas

Students will

• Explore and apply methods, materials, media, design elements and design principles to create and present visual communications Visual Communication Design practices
• Use manual and digital drawing methods and conventions to create a range of visual communications. 

Visual Communication Design practices

Students will

• Use manual and digital drawing methods and conventions to create a range of visual communications

Present and perform

Students will

• Develop and present visual communications for different purposes, audiences and in response to specific needs

Respond and interpret

Students will

• Identify and describe the purpose, intended audience and context in a range of visual communications from different historical, social and cultural context
• Identify and describe the use of methods, media, materials, design elements and design principles in visual communications from different historical, social and cultural contexts