Year 9 Programs - Semester Two

English

In Term 3 students study the novel ‘Looking for Alibrandi’ by Melina Marchetta. Through research, class discussion, questioning and detailed written responses, students develop their analytical skills. Their oral presentations and essay writing will manipulate language features to express complex ideas, creating innovative texts for specific audiences. These texts respond to important ideas interpreting and integrating them from other texts as well as from ‘Looking for Alibrandi’. They edit for effect, selecting vocabulary and grammar that contributes to the precision of their written and verbal output, using accurate spelling and punctuation. Students also focus concurrently on improving their grammar skills in the first semester so that they can express their thoughts accurately and succinctly in any genre or form of communication.

In Term 4, students study the film ‘Rabbit Proof Fence’. They analyse and explain how images, dialogue and film techniques are used to explore themes. Students evaluate, compare and integrate ideas and information from their historical research with the film text. Students combine spoken and visual presentation techniques to show how the film makes meaning and explores key themes like justice, belonging, alienation, prejudice, perseverance and family. They finish by constructing a detailed written essay that compares themes in the film to their previous study of ‘The Simple Gift’.

Mathematics

In Year 9 Mathematics, students will be using an online learning environment to support their individualised development. This online learning environment is called Maths Pathways. Maths lessons will be tailored precisely to what each individual student is ready to learn. Students will be filling in gaps in prior learning or working on extension activities. As part of the curriculum, students will be involved in a learning cycle which lasts for a fortnight. In each learning cycle, students work on their own program along with engaging in Rich Tasks, which have a focus on problem solving and real world applications. Rich Tasks will either be individual tasks or activities that require students to work in small groups. They will focus on building a growth mindset towards their maths learning. Towards the end of each term, students will also participate in a Rich Project Task.

Inquiry

Students will explore the key question ‘How can social change be created?’. Initial explorations of current social issues within society will expose students to a wide range of possible answers to this question. Explicit skills such as question writing, research and data gathering and visible thinking routines will be taught. Students will then enter into an Inquiry process to answer the key question via an area of personal interest. The completion of a common assessment task at the end of the unit will give students an opportunity to showcase their learning. The unit concludes with a reflection phase where students critique their approaches to learning with the goal of future improvements.

Humanities

During Term Three in Economics students focus on Work and Work Futures. They research the way the work environment is changing in contemporary Australia and analyse the implications for current and future work. Students analyse the reasons why and how the work environment is changing and discuss the implications this has for individuals, businesses and the economy. Students discuss ways that this may be achieved and the enterprising behaviours and capabilities that could be developed by individuals to assist the work and business.

During Term 4 students will focus on the study of Civics and Citizenship. Students will discuss challenges to and ways of sustaining a resilient democracy and cohesive society Students will learn to describe the key features of Australia’s court system, including jurisdictions and how courts apply and interpret the law, resolve disputes and make law through judgements.  Using a variety of criminal and civil case studies they will be able to discuss the key principles of Australia’s justice system, including equality before the law, independent judiciary, and right of appeal. 

Science 

Students observe ecosystems and explore the relationship between a community of organisms and their environment. They will learn how organisms respond to changes in their environments, with a focus on the central nervous and endocrine systems. Students will be analysing the balance that must be maintained by human bodies in sensing changes and responding to threats in order to survive. They investigate multi-cellular organisms in further detail and that their internal workings are interdependent and coordinated systems. Students will explore the development of the theory of plate tectonics and examine the various evidence used to justify the theory. Students will analyse the location of the plates on the Earth's crust and make connections to the likelihood of natural disasters. They will further explore how human activity has also influenced the frequency and severity of natural disasters. Students will engage in further discussion and research to determine the major effect of plate tectonics on the shape of the Earth over the next 50 million years and beyond. 

ELECTIVES

Over the course of Year , students complete two electives selected from each of the areas of; Physical Education, Performing Arts and Technology.

For subject details see the electives listed on the Electives pages..