Parent letter term2 2017

1. Secondary Topics
Term 2 2017
English
S1 /S2
 Reading Stone Cold by Robert Swindells, a book that focuses on the plight of
homeless young people. Although it is set in London, the difficulties people
face are not unique to that location and can be found in many major cities in
the UK.
 Pupils will be exploring characterisation, structure and language as well as
producing writing in a range of forms such as letters, articles and diaries.
S3
 Studying the poetry of Carol Ann Duffy in preparation for National 5. We have
started the term with “War Photographer”.
 They will also be reviewing their portfolios of evidence, which may be entered
for National 4 at the end of this school year.
S4
 Redrafting their creative essays and continuing to explore 6 short stories
in Hieroglyphics by Anne Donovan, which is their National 5 Scottish text.
 They will be thematically linking these stories and working on how to structure
a critical essay.
Mathematics and Numeracy
S1
 Number – Decimal fractions and formal written methods
 Algebra – Equations
 Number – Fractions, Decimal fractions, percentages
 Holistic testing
S2
 Expressions and Equations –Algebra introducing brackets
 Data and Analysis – Averages
 Fractions, Decimal Fractions and Percentages – Adding and subtracting
fractions
S3
 Angle, symmetry and transformation – Congruent and Similar shapes

2.  Properties of 2D shapes – Pythagoras
 Properties of 2D shapes –Trigonometry
 Angle, symmetry and transformation – Circles 2, (Tangents, Arcs and sectors)
S4 Unit 2 – Relationships
 Determining the equation of a straight line, given the gradient
 Working with linear equations and inequations
 Working with simultaneous equations
 Changing the subject of a formula
 Recognising and determine the equation of a quadratic function from its graph
Sciences
S1/S2 Science:
 Biological systems
 Atoms, elements and compounds
S3 Chemistry:
 Atomic structure and bonding related to properties of materials
 Chemical changes and structure
o Covalent and ionic bonding
o Chemical formulae
o Acids and bases
S3 Biology:
 DNA and the production of proteins
 Proteins
 Genetic engineering
 Respiration
S3 Physics
 This term the S3 students will be looking at Radioactivity. They will investigate
the different types of emissions from radioactive sources as well at looking at
nuclear power stations and considering equations related to the dosage
received by people working with radioactive sources. This topic will tie in with
other subjects such as Chemistry. We will also consider the Chernobyl
explosion and its subsequent effects on health and the environment.

3. S4 Biology:
 Transport systems – Plants
 Transport systems – Animals
 Absorption of materials
Social Subjects: Geography
S1/S2
What is going on under the Earth?
 What is the earth made of?
 Where do volcanoes and earthquakes occur?
 What happens at plate boundaries?
 What are earthquakes?
 What are volcanoes?
S3
Global Issues: Health:
 AIDS ( distribution, cause, effects and treatment )
Global Issues: Hazards
 Structure of the Earth
 Crustal Plates and Plate Boundaries
 Volcanoes ( Causes, Impact, Management )
 Earthquakes ( Causes, Impact, Management)
 Tropical Storms ( Causes, Impact, Management )
S4
Global Issues: Hazards
• Structure of the Earth
• Crustal Plates and Plate Boundaries
• Volcanoes (Causes, Impact, Management)
• Earthquakes (Causes, Impact, Management)
• Tropical Storms (Causes, Impact, Management)
National 5 Coursework: (for those students working towards a National 5
qualification). 1 hour exam using information gathered during the National 4 AVU
completed last Term.
National 3 Study: (for those students working towards a National 3 qualification).
Processing and write up of information collected over the Summer/October 2017
break.

4. Social Subjects: History
S1/S2
 Early peoples 10,000BC – 600AD in Scotland and Britain (1 week)
 Civilisations: including choices from The Ancient Egyptians, People of The
Indus Valley, Ancient China, Romans (4 Weeks)
 A History Mystery: (2 Weeks)
This will give students the opportunity to
o Develop skills of question formulation, deduction, reasoning, group work
and structured writing.
S3/4
Module: The Atlantic Slave Trade 1770-1807 (Scottish Topic)
 Britain and The Caribbean
 The Captive’s Experience and Slave Resistance
 The Abolitionists Campaigns:
1. Origins of the Abolitionist Movement & its increased support within &
outside Parliament
2. Role of key players in the Abolitionist Campaign, such as William
Wilberforce
3. Arguments of the Abolitionists:- Christian, Humanitarian & Economic.
4. Methods used by the Abolitionists
5. Defenders of the Trade
6. Reasons for the Delay in the abolition of the Trade
7. Reasons for the eventual abolition of the Trade
 Assessment
National 4 Value Added Unit & Preparation for National 5 Exam Essay
 National 4 – Personal Project completed in class & at home. No
examination, internally marked
 National 5- Preparation for a one hour essay conducted under exam
conditions, externally marked. Essay topic chosen by student with
guidance
Health and Food Technology
S1
 This term the students in S1 will be looking at the energy contents of food and
how this relates to their physical activity and well being. They will be using the
Explore Food program, which enables them to calculate the energy and

5. nutrient content of the foods that they cook. We will then go on to look at the
individual nutrients within foods and how these can affect our health
S2
 This term the students will be starting a new unit called 'Skills in Food and
Textile Preparation'. This term we will be revising our food hygiene knowledge
and understanding, considering how to make recipes healthier and looking at
cookery processes and how these can be used to make our food healthier.
S3/4
 This term the S3 students will be working on a project that is a food product
design task. They will be devising questionnaires, collecting data and
analysing it in order to come up with a new food product. S4 are beginning
their SQA practical exam on food product development; this is worth 50% of
their final grade, all of which must completed within school under supervised
conditions.
Practical Cake Craft
 This term we shall be concentrating on working towards the formal practical
SQA exam as soon as the exam details are published. The exam will be
independent work that must be completed with lots of detail and informative
comments. While we wait for the publication of the exam brief we will be
practising exam techniques and revising for the written exam.
French
S1 French topics:
School subjects:
 Learn about school subjects. Say what your favourite subject is. What you
like/don’t like/hate/find OK.
 Give your opinion about school subjects and teachers. (eg. I don’t like
maths because the teacher is too strict, etc...)
 The French school system
The Time:
 The 12h and 24h clocks – Speaking about your school timetable.
Clothes:
 Talking about what you’re wearing at school and at home – different types
of clothes.
 Revision on colours and adjectives (rule of the agreement)

6. Animals & pets :
 Decriptions of pets (eg: J’ai un chien qui est petit et mignon)
 Widen the topic to wild animals (whale, otter, tiger, lion, seal, etc...) +
description.
S2 French topics:
Visiting a city / Tourist attractions:
 Saying what you did in Paris.
 The perfect tense of regular and irregular verbs.
 Understanding information about a tourist attraction.
 Saying where you went and how
 Perfect tense using the verb ETRE / Asking a question at the perfect tense
S3 French topics:
Sport and health
 Parts of the body / J’ai mal à… au…aux…
 Talking about sport
 Using « Il faut… »
 Healthy eating
 Using the future tense
 Making plans to get fit / Describing levels of fitness
Music
 S1/2 – Solo Performing/Christmas music
The S1/2 music course this term focuses on solo performing, and also
performing in the way of preparing some music for the Christmas concert
Pupils will be required to document their practice regime on both instruments,
including target setting and goals. 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. A video recording of
individual and group performances will be made for pupils to self-assess and
peer assess with the aim to identify strengths and areas for improvement
Pupils will also perform as a group for the Christmas concert. They will be
expected to work together, and at times unsupervised to successfully
rehearse and perform an item for this year’s event.

7.  S3/4 – Instrumental Music - History/Solo Performing
S3 Pupils will be completing a Classical-style composition. This will be the first
assessed composition in their portfolio this year and will be the first of two
compositions to complete the unit.
Both S3 and S4 will also be developing an understanding of Classical music
concepts, which they will use when completing their composition.
Finally, pupils will continue their studies in Performance. Pupils will regularly
practise on two instruments and this will culminate in a performance day
where pupils will perform to each other/teachers. They will self-reflect on their
performance highlighting areas for improvement together with aspects they
thought went well. I will be looking for participants for the Christmas Concert,
and this is a good way to increase experience in performing and build
confidence.
Art & Design
S1/2
Still Life continued...
S3
Continuing with Shore for the Expressive Unit and Stronsay for Design Unit
S4
Music-Based Still Life for Expressive Unit. Music Festival Poster for Design Unit.
PE
S1-S4
 Football and gymnastics, and possibly introducing parkour.

8. Health and Wellbeing
S1/2
As we continue to move through the year, this term in health and wellbeing the focus
for learning will still be around the individual’s mental, emotional, social and physical
wellbeing. The programme this term will include work on:
 Restart a heart day and first aid
 Anti-bullying week
 International men's week
 Careers
 Substance misuse
 Media influences
 Your body
They will as always be encouraged to celebrate success and look to the future in
planning their own next steps, through the use of their logs and target setting. S2
will continue to have time to build their portfolio of evidence for the Achieve
programme.
S3/S4
As we continue to move through the year, this term in health and wellbeing the focus
for learning will still be around the individual’s mental, emotional, social and physical
wellbeing. The programme this term will include work on:
 Restart a heart day and first aid
 Anti-bullying week
 International men’s week
 Personal identity and stereotypes - links to LGBT
 Substance misuse – alcohol awareness week
They will as always be encouraged to celebrate success and look to the future in
planning their own next steps using their logs and target setting. Support will also be
available for the S4 group in helping them through the demands of the national 4 and
5 requirements; including prelims.