Year 8 Enhancement
The program offers extension studies in English, Mathematics, Science and Humanities.
8 Enhancement English
Semester One
Students examine complex storytelling techniques through the study of Robert Louis Stevenson's novella 'The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde' wherein they will investigate the features of the gothic genre and complete a series of creative writing tasks to emulate the style of the author. Following this, students will undertake an analytical study of Peter Weir's film 'The Truman Show'. Students will be considering the intersection of thematic concerns and film devices to produce an analytical response to the film. Students will then spend time developing their oral presentation skills, writing a formal speech on a topical issue with an accompanying statement of intention.
Semester Two
In the second semester, students will examine the intricate language techniques applied in William Shakespeare’s tragedy ‘Romeo and Juliet’. Students will investigate the historical context, language construction and the literary features in a series of analytical tasks. Following this, students will explore a wide variety of poetry, including sonnets, haiku, villanelle, ballads and epic poems. Students will write a series of poems and look into the power of oral language in poetry through a study of slam poetry.
Assessment
Students will complete three common assessment tasks (CAT) in each semester. In Semester One, students will produce a gothic narrative of their own creation, an analytical video essay and a formal oral presentation on an issue of their choosing. In Semester Two, students will write an analytical text response essay, create a poetry portfolio and complete an oral presentation that is either critical or creative.
8 Enhancement Maths
Semester One
Students explore the concepts of rates and ratio, using these ideas to solve problems related to real life contexts such as best buys and speed. They also study measurement and pythagoras' theorem, solving a variety of problems involving side length of right angles triangles and further developing their understanding of perimeter, circumference, area, surface area and volume. Students considered statistics and learnt to distinguish between populations and samples, carry out statistical investigations and display and analyse results using a variety of statistical graphs and calculations. They continued to develop their understanding of algebra by learning further techniques of expansion, factorisation, substitution and transposition. Throughout all topics students applied their knowledge to solve a variety of problems.
Semester Two
Students further develop their understanding of probability through use of two way tables, Venn diagrams and tree diagrams. They study linear relationships, solving equations using backtracking and inverse operations, they explore linear graphs through plotting, sketching and consideration of gradient, midpoint and distance between points. The topic of geometry includes the consideration of angles, transformations, similar and congruent shapes. Students also explored financial mathematics by considering percentage increase and decrease, discounts, GST, wages and simple interest.
Assessment
Students will complete three CAT tasks per semester covering the Victorian Curriculum areas of Number and Algebra, Measurement and Geometry and Statistics and Probability. In addition to CAT tasks students will complete additional tasks as both formative and summative assessment. CAT tasks are a variety of topic tests, problem solving analysis, collaborative assignment or scenario based applications of the mathematics studied.
8 Enhancement Science
Semester One
Students spend time studying living systems, where the students analyse the relationship between structure and function at cell, organ and body system levels. They consider the many ways that one form of energy can transform into another and how energy efficiency can be calculated. Students also investigate the properties of sound and light, and perform experiments to demonstrate these properties.Throughout the semester students engage in a variety of practical tasks to develop key science skills.
Semester Two
Students study the reproductive systems of multicellular organisms to gain an understanding of how organisms reproduce and how reproductive technologies can assist with fertility. They conduct multiple experiments throughout the chemistry topic, to aid in their understanding of physical and chemical change and investigate where they can observe these in everyday life. Students also recognise that sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic rocks contain minerals and are formed by processes that occur within Earth over a variety of timescales.
Assessment
Students will complete two common assessment tasks (CAT) in each semester. In each semester students will undertake a scientific investigation as well as a variety of tasks which may include topic tests or a research project.
8 Enhancement Humanities
Semester One
Students will commence their study in Humanities with a focus upon history, particularly Medieval Europe and Renaissance Italy. Students will be undertaking research tasks, interactive simulations and a range of other activities in their study. Students will be expected to identify and explain patterns of change over time; considering how these societies differed through the use and evaluation of sources. In doing this, students will be interrogating sources that are modelled after the VCE History Study Design. Following this, students will be exploring the origins of democracy in an exploration of Ancient Greece before investigating modern democracy globally through case studies, simulations and debate. This unit will consider the role of legislation, laws, rights and freedoms to evaluate how this impacts wider society. This is done with close connection to the VCE Politics and Legal Studies Study Designs.
Semester Two
During the second semester, students will be investigating global landscapes and landforms, considering the impact of human action or inaction upon the environment. Students will focus on sustainability as they consider the causes of landscape degradation and the hazards of human action. In doing this, students will consider how humanity can minimise their harmful effects on places in the future in tasks modelled after the VCE Geography Study Design. Following this, students will be developing their consumer and financial literacy by exploring their rights and responsibilities in finance and economics. Students will be evaluating trends and applying their learning to a plethora of real-world inspired tasks that are modelled after the VCE Economics and Business Management Study Designs.
Assessment
Students will complete two common assessment tasks (CAT) in each semester. In Semester One, students will undertake a historical source analysis and will undertake a group project wherein they propose a law to better Australian society. In Semester Two, students will be undertaking a series of reports and case studies that investigate how we as a society can protect and preserve our natural landmarks and environment. Students will also be applying their understanding of consumerism and financial literacy in an assessment that applies the real world skills of budgeting and planning to achieve financial and organisation goals.