Year Seven
English
Our Year Seven Students have come back to start Term Four with great excitement and enthusiasm. And we're not surprised with the direction of English this term.
Do you know what Harry Potter, Katniss Everdeen, and Frodo Baggins have in common?
They all follow the hero archetype AND the common theme of the Heroes Journey- or the Monomyth.
Students will be spending time exploring the journey characters take on their quest for meaning and to become a hero. They will also consider how these aspects are seen in everyday people, drawing comparisons between celebrities such as LeBron James and Spiderman, or Malala and Katniss.
In the coming weeks, Students will be applying their knowledge to different characters through the viewing of the text 'Moana'.
We look forward to sharing more with you in the next newsletter.
Food Technology
In the first session of Food Technology, the Year Seven Red group of students learnt about hygiene and safety in the kitchen and a basic introduction of how to measure both wet and dry ingredients accurately. The students were introduced to the four C’s of Cooking: Clean, Chill, Cooking and Cross Contamination. (It would be helpful if parents could also discuss with your child how you do this in your own home when cooking.) After the theory part of the session, the students then explored the Food Tech room, where they became familiar with the workings of a kitchen and an introduction to fire safety.
Over the next month, the students will be making a selection of baked items, using their skills of measuring both wet and dry ingredients and being introduced to using the oven safely and correctly. Also the students will use knives to prepare a variety of dishes, from risotto to pizza.
A Reflection- Hayli Hew
In Food Tech last term, our group (7-3 Orange) learned the rules of the kitchen and how to bake/ cook simple things like cookies and pizza. We practised skills like measuring, mixing and our knife skills. We also learned how to make our food look presentable on a plate and how to choose and arrange it. Overall, Food Tech was really enjoyable and I can’t wait to see what we do next year.
Robotics and Coding
A brand new term begins and two fresh groups of Year Seven students have started to learn to code in Python. Coding supports students to develop logic, attention to detail, critical thinking and creativity, whilst learning a skill that is used across many different industries.
For many students, learning to code in a text-based programming language is a new experience. Following popular tradition, students have started out by writing a program to display the text "Hello, world!" They have then gone on to draw ASCII art graphics, which are pictures comprised of text characters and symbols.
Science
We are excited to kick off this term with a thrilling Earth and Space Science unit for our Year Seven Students!
During this term, this engaging curriculum will have them exploring the wonders of our planet Earth and Moon. They will study about how Earth’s position in the Solar System makes it a habitable planet.
In Term Four, Students will delve into the study of solar and lunar eclipses, tides, and seasons of planet Earth. In addition to this, students will learn about the phases of Moon and will create their own Moon diary. For this exploration, students are expected to take a picture of the moon each night for 28 consecutive days and paste it or draw the Moons phases on the sheet provided. In the classroom, Students will model lunar phases using their favourite Oreo’s for hands-on learning.
Students are encouraged to read about Earth and Space Science at home to complement classroom learning. To ignite their curiosity, they can observe night sky to spot stars, constellations, and nearby planets and later discuss their observations with teachers, family, friends or peers.
Visual Art
As we embark on the final term of the school year, it's with great enthusiasm that we welcome our final Year Seven cohort to the world of Visual Art. Our Year Seven Students have already begun their journey by delving into the intricacies of design. We've introduced them to the building blocks of design, exploring concepts like line, shape, colour, texture, and form. These elements are the very foundation upon which all great works of art and communication are built.
To make this learning experience even more engaging, our students have been investigating how these elements and principles manifest in the real world. They've analysed advertisements, dissected movie scenes, and even looked at the layout and design of books and magazines. It's been a journey of discovery, helping them understand how design plays a crucial role in effective communication.
In addition to these lessons, Students have also taken an important step towards creating a positive and productive learning environment. They've come together to craft an essential agreement for their conduct in the art studio. This agreement ensures that every student feels safe and secure, enabling them to embrace their inner risk-takers as they embark on creative endeavours. It's about fostering an atmosphere where creativity knows no bounds.
We're excited to see how this new cohort will apply their newfound knowledge of design elements and principles in their end-of-term assessment task.
We are also excited to promote the below Art showcase for Homestead Senior Secondary College. I am sure students would love to visit our neighbouring school to get an idea of what senior Art looks like.
Health and P.E
This term for Health, Students will explore the impact of drugs on individuals, families and communities focusing on what are drugs; including prescription drugs, bush and alternative medicines, energy drinks, caffeine, tobacco, alcohol, illegal drugs and performance-enhancing drugs. During Physical Education, Students will participate in striking and fielding sports including Baseball/Softball and Cricket. Over the coming weeks, Students will have the opportunity to participate in three Baseball sessions run by Baseball Victoria.