Parent letter secondary topics term 4 2018 19

1. Secondary Topics
Term 4 (2018–19)
English
This term, S1 and S2's topic is "Knowledge about Language". They are learning
about the rules of grammar at level 3 of the BGE phase, which include: countable
and uncountable nouns; plural rules; infinitives, split infinitives and participles;
auxiliary verbs; active and passive voice; positive, comparative and superlative
adjectives; adverbs of place, time and degree; relative pronouns and clauses; linking
words; main, subordinate and adverbial clauses...and more!
S3s are honing their grammar skills by revising the rules learned in S1/2 and
focusing on the following: 10 rules of subject-verb agreement; dependent and
independent relative clauses; who vs whom; parentheses; hyphens; ellipses...and
more! Their level 4 outcome is to structure different types of sentences accurately
and effectively as appropriate to purpose and audience. This will ensure that when
they begin their first piece of discursive writing for National 5 they will be able to work
confidently and independently.
S4 are revising Sailmaker by Alan Spence, poetry by Carol Ann Duffy and practising
the different question types for the paper Reading for Understanding, Analysis and
Evaluation. The English examination is 9th May.
Mathematics and Numeracy
S1
 Converting: fractions, decimal fractions and percentages
 Construction of 2D shapes
 Angles and angle relationships of 2D shapes
 Money
 Holistic assessment
S2
 Fractions: addition and subtraction
 Circles 1
 Special numbers
 Coordination: location
 Probability
 Holistic assessment
 Start S3 level
S3 (moving into S4)
 The straight line
 Pythagoras

2.  Trigonometry
 Circles 2: Angles in a semi-circle, tangent and radius
 Similar shapes
 Level 4/N4 Assessment
S4
 Revision
Sciences
S1/S2 (until June)
 Rocks
 Pure as snow (separation techniques)
 Light lenses, magnification and beyond
S2 moving into S3
 Dependent on options
S3 Chemistry (moving into S4)
 Nature’s chemistry
 Homologous series: alkanes, alkenes, cycloalkanes
 Everyday consumer products
 Alcohols, carboxylic acids
 Energy from fuels
 Assessment
S3 Biology (moving into S4)
 DNA and the production of proteins
 Proteins
 Genetic engineering
 Respiration
 Assessment
S3 Physics
 This term we shall be continuing with our unit 'Dynamics and Space'. We shall
be considering velocity time graphs and acceleration, balanced and
unbalanced forces, Newton's Laws of motion, work and energy, and gravity.

3. S4 Revision/exams
S1/2 Social Subjects: History
During the first 6 weeks of this term students will be involved in the study of the
following topics:
The Age of Exploration (2 Weeks).
 Personal Project
The Industrial Revolution (4 Weeks).
 What caused the Industrial Revolution?
 Which new technologies transformed Industrial Britain?
 What was life like for children in Industrial Britain?
 Living conditions in towns and cities during the Industrial Revolution.
Once transition has taken place, students will be involved in the study of the
following for 4 weeks:
S1 (Former P7): What is History? (4 Weeks).
S2 (Former S1) Geography Transitions Task (4 Weeks).
Group/Personal Project following up work from the Interdisciplinary Day taking place
in June. Details of this will follow nearer the time.
History S3/4
During the first 6 weeks of this term students will be involved in the study of the
following topics:
Hitler and Nazi Germany 1918-1939
Weimar Germany 1919-29
 Germany 1918
 The Spartacists
 The New Constitution
 The Treaty of Versailles
 The Ruhr
 The Munich Beer Hall Putsch
Once S2 have transferred into S3 and if History has been chosen as an option,
areas of study will focus on the following topic:
The Atlantic Slave Trade 1770-1807 (4 Weeks)
 What is a Slave?
 What was the Atlantic Slave Trade?

4.  The British Empire & the Slave Trade
 What was Africa like before the Slave Trade?
 The start of the Slave Trade
 What were the effects of the Slave Trade on Africa?
 Captured in the Africa & Slave Factories
 The Middle Passage

Once transition into S4 has taken place, those students choosing to continue with
History will be involved with the study of the following:
Hitler and Nazi Germany 1918-1939 (4 Week )
Weimar Germany 1919-29 (continue)
 What were the Nazis?
 The Golden Age of Weimar
The Nazis’ Rise to Power 1929-33
 The Path to Chancellor
 From Chancellor to Dictator
Students will continue with this topic into the next academic year and will study:
Nazi Control of Germany
 Nazi Germany: Fear and Force?
 Opposition to the Nazis
 The Churches in Nazi Germany
 Jews in Nazi Germany
Nazi Social and Economic Policies
 Feeling good about being Nazi: the Nazis and Propaganda
 Hitler and the Youth of Germany
 Germany’s Economic Miracle: Was it for real?
S1/2 Social Subjects: Geography
During the first 6 weeks of this Term students will be involved in the study of the
following topic:
More about Scotland- The Weather
 How important is Scotland?
 Why is Scotland under pressure?
 What is Scotland’s most important resource?
 Why does it always rain in Scotland?
 How do we measure the weather?
 How does the weather affect people?
Once transition has taken place, students will be involved in the study of the
following for 4 weeks:

5. S1( Former P7 ) Geographical Skills
 Map Skills
 Geographical Information Sources
 Fieldwork Collection
 Fieldwork Analysis
S2 (Former S1) Geography Transitions Task (4 Weeks)
 Group/Personal Project following up work from the Interdisciplinary Day taking
place in June. Details of this will follow nearer the time.
S3/4 Geography
During the first 6 weeks of this term students will be involved in the study of the
following topics:
Coastal Environments (4 Weeks)
 Processes affecting the coastline
 Coastal erosion and features of coastal erosion
 Coastal deposition and features of coastal deposition
 Human activity along the coastline
 Optional :may also be covered in glaciation studied later;
o Conflicts which can arise between land uses within glacial landscapes.
o The management of these land use conflicts.
 End of Unit Assessment.
N3/4 Coursework Preparation (2 Weeks )
Students will be involved in preparation work for National 4 Coursework. They will be
required to choose an appropriate geographical topic that will allow research,
including individual fieldwork, to be carried out. Collection of fieldwork will be
required over the summer holiday. They will be expected to:
 Decide what information will be required to be collected to answer their topic.
 Decide upon the best methods to collect the information.
 Collect the information.
Once transition into S3 has taken place, those students choosing to continue with
Geography will be involved with the study of the following:
Development and Health (4 Weeks) (Former S2 Students)
 Measuring Development (Recap)
 Health:
o Diseases in ELDCs
o Diseases in EMDCs

6. o Malaria
o Heart Disease
o AIDS
During this Term students will study the following:
Revision (Weeks 1-6)
The current S4 will be using class contact time to revise.
Once transition into S4 has taken place, those students choosing to continue with
Geography will be involved with the study of the following:
Glaciation Environments (Weeks 7-10). (Former S3 Students)
 The formation of the following glacial features: Corrie, Truncated Spur,
Pyramidal Peak, Arête, U-Shaped Valley
 Land uses found in Glacial Environments
 Optional ( may also be covered in coasts ):
o Conflicts which can arise between land uses within glacial landscapes.
o The management of these land use conflicts.
French
S1 topics: Les Vacances (Holidays):
 Using “nous” to say “we”
 Learn about countries and speak about your holidays.
 Talking about getting to go out.
 Using « reflexive verbs » (singular)
 Buying drinks and snacks
 Using high numbers
S2 topics: Mon identité
 Talking about your personality – Adjectival agreement
 Talking about relationships – Practice with pronoun “on”
 Talking about music
 Giving opinions
 Talking about clothes
S3 French topics: Ma Vie (My life)
 My family
 Parents
 Relationships with others

7.  Hobbies and sports
 Health
RME
S1 topic: Personal search: the Natural World
S2 topic: Christianity
 The Church
 The Bible
 Beliefs in action
S3 topic: The Holy Books
Music
 S1/2 – Blues & Jazz/Performing
The S1/2 course this term will focus on Blues and Jazz Music and continue
studies in performing. Pupils will learn about the characteristics of Blues and
Jazz including the genre’s development from the late 19th
century to the
modern day. Pupils will also compose a blues-style piece based on the 12-bar
blues chord structure using notes from the blues scale. Pupils will continue to
practice their instruments on level specific pieces. Teacher input will come in
the form of short discussions with the pupil, and help will be given both
musically and in goal setting. Although there will be no formal assessment,
pupils will be expected to show improvement over the duration of this term.
There will be an in-class performance day toward the end of this term to give
the pupils the opportunity to showcase their improvement and performance
skills.
 S3 –Performing
This term S3 pupils will be working hard to prepare one or two pieces to be
recorded for assessment as a part of their National 3 course. Note accuracy,
rhythm, tempo and flow, dynamics and style need to be secure in every piece
for a successful performance. Pupils will also be expected to self-reflect on
their performances and highlight areas of strength, and also areas that need
improvement.

8. PE
S1-S4
In PE this term, all classes will be doing athletics.
Health and Wellbeing
S1 and S2
During the last term of the academic year, S1 and 2 pupils will have opportunities
access the health and wellbeing curriculum in a variety of contexts. The main focus
will, of course, be transitions as all pupils get ready to make a move into a new year
group. The focus for learning in the PSE lessons this term will be around the
individual’s mental, emotional, social and physical wellbeing and will include:
 Profiles and writing personal statements
 The festival of learning
As always, pupils will be encouraged to celebrate success and look to the future in
planning their own next steps. This will be recorded through the use of e-portfolios,
which they each personally take responsibility for. S2 will continue to have time to
build their portfolio of evidence for the Achieve programme.
S3
During the last term of the academic year, all S3 pupils will continue to have
opportunities to access the health and wellbeing curriculum in a variety of contexts.
The focus for learning in the PSE lessons this term; will be around the individual’s
mental, emotional, social and physical wellbeing and will include work on:
 Stress Control
 Taking responsibility for and planning the leavers assembly
 Profiles and personal statements
They will, as always, be encouraged to celebrate success and look to the future in
planning their own next steps. This is recorded using their e-portfolios, which they all
personally take responsibility for. Their continued contribution to the portfolio is
essential for them to successfully complete the legally required S3 profile. Additional
support will also be available as required in helping them through the demands of the
national 4 and 5 courses.
S4
Now that S4 are in their final term with us and have begun their study and exam
timetables, their focus in health and wellbeing will be on revision and strategies for
dealing with exam stress.

9. Health and Food Technology
Practical Cake Craft
Tech
Textiles
Art