Grade 7 students select THREE elective subjects that are full year courses.  Students can choose an elective for one year, but can continue their learning and extend their skills in Grade 8 after having taken the same elective in Grade 7.

Selecting Your Electives for 2021

At the start of the subject selection process students will be briefed on the course content for subjects.  They will be provided with log in information to select their courses on line.  Students are encouraged to seek more information from the teachers of elective subjects. 

It is a requirement of the Australian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (ACARA) that all students study Arts and Technology subjects until the end of Grade 8.  After choosing one Arts and one Technology subject, students have a free choice of their third subject.  The third subject can be from any of the Arts, Technology, Physical Education and academic extension subjects on offer.

Students are asked to select subjects beyond their first choices, as it may not be possible to provide every student with their first choice of electives. At times some subjects will not gain enough enrolments to be viable and some practical subjects have occupational health and safety requirements that limit class sizes.

Please Note: Students are advised to choose carefully as increased student numbers and timetabling restrictions in 2021 will mean that students are unable to change subjects after the start of the school year.

2021 Elective Subjects – Grade 7

The Arts

• Drama
• Music
• Art
• Ceramics and Sculpture
• Photography and Digital Media
• Dance

Technology

• Woodwork
• Digital Technologies
• Food Studies
• Practical Technologies –Workshop & Design
• Design in Textiles

Other Courses

• Fitness for Girls
• High Intensity Training
• Outdoor Education

The Arts

Drama

The Drama curriculum offers students a diverse series of learning opportunities, as well as developing an appreciation for the richness of this art form.  Students learn about Drama by participating in a broad range of activities including improvisation, role-play and text interpretation.  During lessons, students will be drawing on elements of dramatic play such as spontaneity, improvisation, imagination, role-play, exploration and free association of ideas.  Students in Grade 7 Drama will look specifically at play building through themes, character development through scripted scenes, theatre sports, monologues or duologues.

As part of this course, students in Grade 7 will go on an excursion to see live theatre.

Contact Teacher:  Ms Bree Crocker

Music

Grade 7 Music is a one-year course in which students rehearse and perform their own compositions and music of others. They learn to identify and analyse how the elements of music are used in different musical styles. Aural skills are developed, together with an understanding of music terminology and symbols.

Topics covered in the course include:

• Two Gether – learning to perform with others
• Tame That Tune – creating and notating melody
• Tech Trek - examining the use of technology in music production
• AmAsia – studying the diversity of Eastern and Western music

Contact Teacher: Mr John Barnes

Art

Grade 7 Art is a creative and enriching course providing students with the opportunity to engage in a range of art making themes, techniques and mediums. This course focuses on giving students the opportunity to play with and explore their artistic interests within projects that push their way of seeing and thinking.

Students will explore a variety of traditional and contemporary visual art techniques and presentation methods, working in a range of mediums such as drawing, painting, sculpture, mixed media and printmaking. Students work with a visual diary to document their processes, research and artwork analysis.

They are given several projects throughout the year that build their creative awareness and making skills.

Other opportunities may also include: 

• Installation
• Excursions to Art Galleries
• Artist Research
• Mixed Media
• Collaborative projects
• Engagement with Art Themes
• Art walks around the school

Contact teacher: Miss Jessica Lewis and Ms Allison Jones

Ceramics and Sculpture

Grade 7 Ceramics and Sculpture is a creative course providing students with the opportunity to engage in a range of sculptural themes, techniques and presentation formats.

Students will explore a variety of traditional and alternative ceramic techniques, learning to sculpt, fire and glaze their clay work. Students will also undertake sculptural projects in other mediums such as plaster, fabric, wood, hebel block and other recycled/found materials. Students work with a visual diary to document their processes, research and artwork analysis.

Students are given several projects throughout the year that build their hand building, sculpting and decorating skills.

Other opportunities may also include: 

• Sculptural decoration/presentation
• Installation
• Ceramic Excursions
• Artist Research
• Sculpture analysis
• Mixed Media
  
  

Contact teachers: Ms Allison Jones and Miss Jessica Lewis

Photography and Digital Media

Grade 7 Photography and Digital Media is a creative course providing students with the opportunity to engage in a range of photographic themes, styles and media presentation formats. 

Students are given a variety of projects where they can explore basic camera, lighting and composition skills and techniques. They are taught the basic functions of a digital SLR camera and are given the opportunity to develop their skills with hands on projects in and around the college. They can use editing software to create artworks and animations out of their images. Students work with a visual diary to document their processes, research and artwork analysis. They are given several projects throughout the year that build their photographic, film-making and editing skills.

Other opportunities may also include:

• Traditional camera skills
• Creative camera use
• Creative photo editing

• Photography Excursions

• Multimedia

• Filmmaking and editing
• Photography and Film analysis
• Stop-motion animation.

Contact teacher: Ms Allison Jones and Miss Jessica Lewis

Dance

Students will develop their knowledge of how ideas and intentions are communicated in and through dance. They will build on and refine their knowledge, understanding and skills of a variety of dance styles. Students will be making and responding to dance performances.  Students will have the opportunity to work with visiting dance choreographers and watching professional dance companies perform is also an exciting component of this subject.

Technology

Woodwork

The Grade 7 Woodwork course helps to build the essential skills needed to plan and create various woodworking projects. Projects introduced in Grade 7 provide opportunities to learn about identifying different types of timber, the shaping and finishing of timber and cutting and lamination methods. Students design and shape a spoon, a serving tray and picture frame.

Areas to be covered in this course include:

• Planning and design
• Properties and characteristics of materials
• Joint construction
• Use of adhesives and fixers
• Abrasives and finishing procedures
• Tools – use, care and maintenance
• Workshop safety

 Contact Teacher:  Mr Russell Joyce

Digital Technologies

Students taking this subject will experience a number of aspects from the Digital Technologies curriculum. Some of the topics covered may include;

• Learning about binary language 
• Investigating electrical conductivity using Makey Makeys and constructing simple circuits to transmit data.
• Programming robots.  
• Building basic computer programming language knowledge. 

In Grade 7 students will be learning how to code by making, using the BBC Micro-bit and a block-based programming environment. They will experiment with Lego mindstorms kits to test the abilities and uses of sensors to produce a desired outcome. Students will learn how to solder wires and components. This is a project-based subject; the idea is that by making physical objects, students create a context for learning programming and computer science concepts.

Contact Teacher:  Mrs Kate Bridge

Food Studies

Food Studies is a practical subject that aims to give students the opportunity to select and prepare food for health, pleasure and a possible career pathway.

Students are provided with the opportunity to:

• Learn and develop kitchen preparation and knife skills.
• Learn how to use and look after kitchen equipment and appliances.
• Develop an understanding of the need for safety and hygiene.
• Work independently and co-operatively in groups.
• Prepare nutritious and delicious meals while learning about food nutrients.
• Learn the roles of different properties of foods used in cooking, such as the use of eggs as a binding agent, raising agent, coagulant, emulsifier and as a main ingredient.
• Prepare recipes from different cultures of the world.
• Prepare food with herbs, spices and flavourings, such as apple pie, lemon shortbread and gingerbread biscuits.

Contact Teacher:  Mr Brian Green

Practical Technologies 

This subject is a workshop based subject where students will combine theory with a hands on construction and “maker space” style of education. 

It is a combination of materials design technology, digital technology and engineering. This class will have multiple teachers, with the opportunity to consult across the broader faculty in specialist areas such as Science and Mathematics. Students will undertake a number of scaffolded projects designed to encourage entrepreneurship, creative thinking and collaborative learning.

Students explore the design cycle, learn how to respond to design briefs and develop projects. Students in Practical Technologies will explore introductory engineering concepts as well as learn and apply problem solving techniques to develop practical solutions. They will work cooperatively to solve complex tasks in addition to design, plan and produce objects that fulfill a need for the modern consumer. 

In Year 7, students will have the chance to design and produce prototypes that will compete in robotic challenges. In addition to this students will have the opportunity to build using 3D printing, laser cutting and hands on building. Participants will learn the basic concepts of invention and innovation whilst demonstrating engineering design and problem solving skills.

Contact Teachers:  Mrs Kate Bridge and Mr Russell Joyce

Design in Textiles

Design in Textiles gives students the opportunity to develop knowledge and understanding of the functional and aesthetic aspects of design when applied to a variety of textile materials, methods, techniques and end-uses. 

Students will describe and analyse elements and principles of design in the following areas:

• Textiles (fabric uses, embellishments such as embroidery, iron on transfers, wearable technology)
• Furnishings (interior design)
• Costume (historical and cos-play)
• Textile arts (rendering, 3D printed objects such as light fitting, pencil holder)
• Non-apparel (glasses case, tote bag)
• Apparel (pyjamas etc)
• The design process
  
  
  

Students will design and manufacture items in areas  including:

• Needlecraft
• Sewing machine use
• Handicrafts
• Felting
• Yarn and wool manufacture

Students are required to maintain a record of their learning throughout the unit by developing a folio of work and a major design item. Items in the folio may include:

• Photographs and/or other images of their participation at various steps
• Descriptions of their activities at each step
• Personal observations
• Data and information relevant to the project
• Personalised step-by-step plan to produce the project

In Grade 7 students will participate in an introductory course that develops basic hand and machine sewing techniques and explore a variety of methods of manufacturing textile items.

Contact Teacher:  Mrs Kate Bridge

Other Courses

Fitness for Girls

A female focussed class introducing students to all aspects of fitness. This will cater for students wishing to improve their fitness and will incorporate a wide range of fitness and wellbeing options.  Aqua aerobics, amazing races, pilates, yoga, jazzercize and participation in a challenging mudrun are good examples of this exciting program.

The key focus is to help motivate and encourage the girls to become more active more regularly.

Contact Teacher:  Mrs Marcelle Ottaway and Miss Gemma Evans

High Intensity Training

A class for those that want to push themselves out of their comfort zone. This will be both strength based and aerobic fitness based. Sessions will be challenging so students must be prepared for challenging and stressful sessions.

Contact Teachers: Mr Peter Kay

Outdoor Education

A program that offers students the opportunity to challenge themselves in real-world scenarios, while learning to understand the natural environment around them. Our students have the chance to experience some of the beautiful landscapes that Tasmania has to offer, and learn how to interact with the natural world in a safe and respectful manner.

Contact Teachers: Mr James Hickey , Miss Gemma Evans and Mr Peter Kay