• An introduction to the Year 9 work covered in your child’s subjects, including the kind of homeworks which may be set.
• An approach to helping your child to spell those (and other words).  This is the approach which is most used by staff in school.
• Some ideas about helping with homework
• Some hints about using the Internet, Encarta and other ICT sources

If you have any further questions on subjects, approaches etc. in Year 9 do not hesitate to contact your child’s tutor, or myself.

Mr J Shepherd
Learning Leader - Year 9

ENGLISH

Unit 1: Short Stories (4 weeks)

Pupils will read a range of short stories, focusing upon the writer's craft.

Final Assessment Task: Pupils will write a short story of their own.

Unit 2: Wider Reading (ongoing)

Pupils will read a range of fiction and non-fiction, recording texts in their English book.

Final Assessment Task: Pupils will produce reviews, a talk and questions and answers on a chosen book.

Unit 3: Drama – Freedom (6 lessons)

This unit explores the issues of racism and prejudice. 1 lesson per week.

Final Assessment Task: Pupils develop a piece of drama around an incident of prejudice and write a diary entry capturing a character's feelings.

Unit 4: Male and Female Stereotypes (3 weeks)

Pupils will look at the portrayal of boys and girls in a range of fiction and non-fiction.

Final Assessment Task: Pupils will write an alternative fairy story.

Unit 5: Drama and Media: Shakespeare On Film (4 weeks)

Pupils will be introduced to the play that will be studied for SAT's in May. There will be a range of tasks exploring the story and themes, via text and film.

Final Assessment Task : Initial comparison of the set scenes from the SAT, focusing upon Motivation and Behaviour.

Unit 6: SATs Reading Paper (4 weeks)

Pupils will look at past papers and focus on the different types of questions asked and how best to answer them.

Final Assessment Task: Trial SATs Reading Paper

Unit 7: SATs Writing Paper Preparation (3 weeks)

Pupils will look at past papers and focus on the different requirements of the Shorter and Longer Writing tasks.

Final Assessment Task: Trial SATs Writing Paper

Unit 8: Shakespeare Revision (3 weeks)

Pupils will revise the Key Scenes that they are studying for SAT's in May, focusing upon the remaining Assessment Focuses.

Final Assessment Tasks: Formal essays on ‘Ideas, themes and Issues'. ‘The Language of the text, and ‘Text in Performance'.

Final Assessment Task : Trial SAT Shakespeare Paper

Unit 9: Novel (5 weeks)

Pupils will read a novel chosen by their teacher and undertake a number of activities exploring the narrative and the themes.

Final Assessment Tasks: Essay on themes and issues in the novel.

A range of Writing Tasks, linked to SATs

Unit 10: SATs Revision and Booster (4 weeks)

All elements of the SAT will be returned to, in preparation for the exams. Specific focuses will be identified and prioritised, based upon earlier performance.

Final Assessment Task : SATs in May

Unit 11: Theme Park (2/3weeks)

In groups pupils will design a theme park and related merchandise. They ‘pitch' it to the class, using ICT and Moviemaker. Related issues are debated.

Final Assessment Task: Groups present their theme park to the class and decide which is the best. (A GCSE speaking and listening grade will be given, to carry in to Year 10).

Unit 12: Poetry (2 weeks)

A range of poetry units has been developed. Pupils will study at least two poems and explore the skills required at GCSE.

Final Assessment Task: Spoken and written responses focusing upon understanding and meanings in the poems.

Unit 13: GCSE Preparation

Pupils will produce written coursework for Year 10 and try out same of the GCSE examination papers.

Significant Tasks: Pupils will write a letter, report or article that will be graded and put into their GCSE coursework folder for Year 10. A piece of imaginative writing may also be completed.

Examination

• Reading Paper – Three linked passages with questions
• Shakespeare – Answer one question upon themes, character or directing a scene
• Longer Writing Task
• Shorter Writing Task

MATHEMATICS

The mathematics syllabus in Year 9 consists of a series of topics linked to four attainment targets:

Attainment Target 1 Using and Applying Mathematics

Pupils are allowed to develop their thinking and analytical skills through appropriate tasks set within the other three attainment targets.

Attainment Target 2 Number and Algebra

Pupils spend approximately two weeks studying each of the following topics: Fractions, Decimals, Percentages, Place Value and Rounding, Ratio, Negative Numbers, Sequences and Graphs, Equations and Formulae, Integers, Powers and Roots

Attainment Target 3 Shape and Space

Pupils spend approximately two weeks studying each of the following topics: Shapes and Measures, Lines and Angles, Length, Area and Volume, Co-ordinates, Transformations and Constructions.

Attainment Target 4 Handling Data

Pupils will collect data using an appropriate method such as a survey, questionnaire or internet research. They will then present their findings using suitable diagrams. Finally they will analyse their results using appropriate statistical techniques.

Probability is taught as a separate topic.

Pupils are encouraged to express themselves orally, and through pencil and paper and calculator methods throughout the course.

ICT is increasingly used to enhance the study of mathematics.

Year 9 are taught in seven ability sets across the whole year. There is a mock SATs examination week beginning 19/2/06. The period from 7/3/06 until 25/04/06 will be concentrated revision for the SATs examinations working on past papers and workbooks. During the final half-term in the Summer Year 9 pupils will start their GCSE studies.

SCIENCE

The year is organised into the following modules:

Biology

• Environment and Feeding Relationships
• Ecological relationships
• Plants for Food
• Inheritance and Selection
• Fit and healthy

Chemistry

• Reactions of Metals
• Reactions of Acids
• Environmental Chemistry
• Using Chemistry

Physics

• Space
• Forces
• Energy
• Electricity

The majority of pupils will be taught each of the three subjects areas by a different specialist teacher.

Homework

A homework of approximately 3 x 20 minute should be set each week.

The following sorts should occur during the year:

•  Learning of key facts for end of module tests and SAT examination

•  Answering written questions, some drawn from previous test papers.

•  With prior permission from parent/guardian, carrying out simple experiments.

•  Research, using any available material e.g. books &/or computer software (including the internet).

DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY

During this year your child will be able to experience a taster of the key stage four subjects that will be available to them in Year 10. They will continue to build on the skills they have learnt in Years 7 and 8.

In Product Design they will work as a product designer, designing for the use of models to produce a prototype for photo enhancement products.

In Industrial Design the focus will be on smart materials and packaging. Designing a promotional product. Pupils will look at the social effects and the use of such goods. They will use computer aided design and graphic skills to enhance their capabilities.

In Electronics pupils will continue to develop their knowledge of the subject and building more complex circuitry resulting in the production of an electronic Heads ‘n' tails game.

In Food Technology pupils all focus on the commercial production of food items. A number of practical tasks will take place and the final product will be in the form of an airline meal. We will investigate the dietary requirements of different cultures and social groupings. Once again pupils will be asked to bring in ingredients during their time in Food Technology.

HUMANITIES

In Year 9 pupils study History, Geography and Religious Studies in separate subjects. They have at least one lesson a week of each.

In Geography pupils study River Systems, natural hazards and Brazil with special attention to the Rainforest

In History pupils study mainly 20th Century history and the role of Britain in the Modern World. Work centres around the nature and impact of two world wars. By way of contrast pupils also have an opportunity to study a non-Western Civilization – the native peoples of North America.

ICT

Information communication, handling and presentation, many aspects of ICT software capability structured in a ‘real-life' scenario, preparing pupils for on line assessment.

MEDIA STUDIES

In response to our specialist school status a Year 9 Media Studies course is timetabled alongside ICT. Students take two half-termly Media modules in rotation with the ICT modules described above. Lessons take place in the B24 Media Studies suite with 30 webcam-equipped PCs and multimedia equipment.

Students work on an extended digital media project with a strong emphasis on developing practical production skills. The project is to create the opening title sequence for a TV Situation Comedy based in a school. Software employed for this work includes Paint Shop Pro, MS Internet Explorer, Animation Shop, Windows Movie Maker, Dance EJay and Windows Media Player. Students work with still images, animations, multi track audio, and moving images captured using webcams or DV cams.

The purpose of this course is to develop general competence in digital multimedia production techniques and to provide a taster for the GCSE Media Studies course offered in Years 10 & 11.

Homeworks will be set at least every two weeks, some of which will be online e-elearning exercises.

MUSIC

The course is divided into three termly blocks. Each term is devoted to one extended project, which through the study of a particular topic concentrates on the National Curriculum assessment objectives of

LISTENING, COMPOSING AND PERFORMING

The topics run as follows :

Music and Media

Pupils learn to recognise that music can be used to enhance a visual image and will explore how to communicate ideas and messages through music.

MUSIC

The Concerto

Pupils develop the ability to recognise and use the different characteristics of the concerto. They will participate in the performance of solo and little sections of concerti and will be able to identify how the tradition has change over time.

The Song

ART

During Year 9 pupils will work from direct experience and from imagination. Emphasis will be placed on the development of an ability to select, record and analyse from first hand observation and on the increasing sensitivity and technical skill with which they express their observations, idea and feelings. .

Increasing emphasis will be placed on research and organisation in a sketch book of visual information relating to their own ideas and making connections with the work of other artists, designers and crafts people.

Pupils will be encouraged to modify, refine and improve work in progress and to experiment and explore materials and processes to this end. Pupils will explore their own ideas and respond to the work of other artists in two and three dimensions.

LANGUAGES – FRENCH & SPANISH

French and Spanish are offered to all pupils in Year 9, who are set according to ability with 4 sets on the C side. 3 sets on the I side.

Spanish lessons will be timetabled in half termly blocks throughout the year.

Set 1 will study Spanish in half terms 1 & 4

Set 2 will study Spanish in half terms 2 & 5

Set 3 will study Spanish in half terms 3 & 6

French will be taught in the remainder of language time.

FRENCH

The courses used are Metro 2 and 3 and the topics taught are :

• Leisure activities
• Routine
• Family
• Food and Drink
• Travelling

SPANISH

The course used is Listos 1 and the topics taught are

• House and Home
• Daily Routine
• Places around town
• Directions

In both languages:

Regular classroom based progress evaluation will take place and there will be end of module assessments in the four elements of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. ICT is widely used in both languages. Examinations will take place upon completion of the topics included in the textbook.

Homework should be:

2 x 40 minutes per week sets 1 and 2
1 x 40 minutes a week Set 3

ECM - EVERY CHILD MATTERS

In Year 9 the programmes of study in Every Child Matters are designed to encourage the pupils to achieve the five outcomes of the Every Child Matters Agenda. These outcomes are :

• Be Healthy
• Stay Safe
• Enjoy and Achieve through Learning
• Make a positive contribution to society
• Achieve economic well-being

Year 9 Topics

• The Media
• Careers Education
• Enterprise
• Healthy Lifestyles
• Topical Research

An approach to helping your child spell.
This is the approach most used by staff in school.

Teach your children to learn how to spell the easy way.

If they ask for a word, write it down and encourage them to

• look at the word
• say the word correctly aloud
• cover it up
• write it down
• check if it is right

Praise their effort – if it is right encourage them to use the word frequently until they are fully confident with its spelling .

If they get it wrong – praise the effort and encourage them to practise until they get it right.

Don’t just tell them how to spell a word.  Remember

• look
• say
• cover
• write
• check 

Some ideas for helping with Homeworking

Helping your children with their homework can ease their anxiety about school as well as help them to learn.

• check their homework diary each day
• negotiate a time for doing homework, eg. after tea
• decide together how much time your child can cope with spending on homework when it is set
• If they struggle with homework discuss ways of helping them with their teachers
• If they have difficulty remembering or recording homework legibily arrange with the school for someone to record it for them
• give as much help as you can but……
• don’t do the homework for them 

Some hints about using the Internet and other ICT sources

Homework research using a computer

During this school year the school’s website will continue to be developed to include links from subject pages to selected websites.

The school website's address is www.chsleftwich.com.
The Subjects Index page is at www.chsleftwich.com/subjects.htm
A specially-designed Internet Search page is at www.chsleftwich.com/search.htm - it includes over 40 useful research links, and an Internet Search box.

The Subject and Search pages are routinely used on our school web browsers.

Ideally, computer-based research shouldn’t simply consist of finding a large amount of information and printing it all in full. Pupils should attempt to select the most relevant information from the pages then copy and paste it into another application such as MS Word or Notepad. Notepad is normally found in the Accessories area of your PC.

To select, copy and paste text, carefully highlight the text you want, select Edit > Copy (or Ctrl + C), then go to MS Word or Notepad and select Edit > Paste (or Ctrl + V). You may need to adjust the appearance of text copied from webpages into MS Word. If this becomes too difficult, try pasting into Notepad instead.

To select and copy images from webpages, Right Click over the image and select “Save Picture As” from the menu that appears. You can now save the image on your computer for later use. You can also copy and paste webpage images using Right Click > Copy then Edit > Paste in Word or in a graphics program. However, neither of these techniques will work on Flash or Shockwave animations, which are often found on webpages and CD-ROMs.

A third technique for copying images from your PC is to take a “screenshot” with Alt + Print Screen. This takes a snapshot of the currently open window on your screen. This snapshot is stored in the computer’s clipboard and can be retrieved with Edit > Paste in either MS Word or in a graphics program where it can be edited.

If you want to use an Internet Search Engine, the most popular one in general use is Google which is organised and maintained by specialist editors. A Google search box is included on our Internet Search page.

If you are searching a Search Engine for more than one word, remember to link them with a plus (+) sign (eg Springfield+Simpson). If you want to search for two or more words that are normally found together (like names) then use quotation marks (eg “Homer Simpson”). To find images using a search engine like Google, make sure you click the “Image” tab before entering your search words. For recent news stories about a particular topic, go to BBC News via our Internet Search page and use the search box at the top of the BBC News page.