Grade 8 students select THREE elective subjects that are full year courses.  Students can choose an elective for one year, even if they have not studied the 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 and Physical Education 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 8

 

The Arts

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

 

Technology

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

 

Other Courses

• French
• Outdoor Education
• Fitness for Girls
• High Intensity Training
• Practical Science

 

Drama  

In Grade 8, learning in Drama builds on the experience of the previous band. It involves students making and responding to drama independently, and with their classmates.  They explore drama as an art form. Students build on their understanding of role, character and relationships. They use voice and movement to sustain character and situation. They use focus, tension, space and time to enhance drama. They incorporate language and ideas and use devices such as dramatic symbol to create dramatic action and extend mood and atmosphere in performance. As they make and respond to drama, students explore meaning and interpretation, forms and elements including voice, movement, situation, space and time, and tension. They consider social, cultural and historical influences of drama. They evaluate the directors’ intentions and expressive skills used by actors in drama they view and perform. Students maintain safety in dramatic play and in interaction with other actors.

Students in Grade 8 Drama will look specifically at play-building, character development through script writing and scene creation, monologues or duologues. Students will also go to see a live performance and learn how to write critically about their experience.

Contact Teacher:  Ms Bree Crocker

 

Art

Grade 8 Art is a creative course engaging students in a range of art making themes, techniques and mediums. This course focuses on developing students’ skills and ideas through projects that continue to push their way of thinking and seeing.

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.

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

Other opportunities may also include: 

• Excursions to Art Galleries
• Artist Research
• Mixed Media
• Collaborative projects
• Engagement with Art Themes

 

Contact teacher: Miss Jessica Lewis and Ms Allison Jones

 

Photography and Digital Media

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

Students are given a variety of projects aimed to develop their camera, lighting and composition skills and techniques. They continue working with digital SLR cameras and developing their skills with projects in and around the college using both props and human subjects.

Students use editing software to create artworks, animations and installations out of their photographs. Students work closely with a visual diary to document their processes, research and analysis. They are given a range of projects throughout the year that continue building their photographic, film-making, animation and editing skills.

Other opportunities may also include:

• Camera skills
• Creative and professional camera use
• Creative photo editing

• Photography Excursions

• Multimedia

• Filmmaking and editing
• Photography and Film analysis
• Short film

 

Contact Teachers: Miss Jessica Lewis and Ms Allison Jones

 

Ceramics and Sculpture

Ceramics and Sculpture is an enriching course providing students with the opportunity to engage in a range of sculptural themes, techniques and display formats.

Students will continue to work in a range of traditional and alternative ceramic techniques and will further their knowledge of sculpting, firing and glazing their clay work. Students will also engage in sculptural projects in other mediums such as wood, fabric, plaster and found materials.

Students work closely with a visual diary to document their processes, research and analysis of artworks, which helps them develop their art theory skills. They experiment with a variety of 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
• Wheel throwing
• Sculpture analysis
• Mixed Media
  
  

Contact teacher: Ms Allison Jones and Miss Jessica Lewis

 

Music

Grade 8 Music is a one-year course in which students work with others to produce unique musical compositions and performances. Through the analysis of various musical styles, they form an understanding of Australia’s place in the musical world. Aural skills are developed further as students learn to manipulate notated and recorded music.

 

Topics covered include:

• Exploring Ensemble – performing in groups
• I Land on an Island – examining Australia’s musical imports and exports
• Manipulating Music – creating music with the aid of technology
• Searching for a Song – composing for voices and instruments

 

Contact Teacher: Mr John Barnes

 

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.

Contact Teacher:  Mrs Marcelle Ottaway

 

Technology

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.  

Students will develop the ability to create prototypes and work through the design cycle to refine products to a production level. Students in this class may have the opportunity to participate in projects such as; bluetooth speakers, drone production & racing, solar vehicles, wearable technology and student directed project based learning. 

 

Contact Teachers: Mrs Kate Bridge & Mr Russell Joyce

 

Woodwork

In the Grade 8 Woodwork course students study timber and the products that can be made from timber. Students learn about tree growth, milling and timber production. Students explore woodworking, joinery and fastening methods as they design and create a handmade box, an LED Lamp and an acoustic phone speaker.

 

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 Teachers: 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 8, students will build on previous skills, manufacturing wearable garments and exploring the design process in greater depth.

 

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

 

Digital Technology

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 8 students will begin to learn the Python programming language, and use it to create simple programs. They will build on the soldering skills developed in Grade 7 to construct permanent, functioning electronic circuits. In small groups,  using microprocessors such as Arduino and Raspberry Pi, students will be encouraged to take ownership of their learning, steering it in a direction of interest to them.

Contact Teacher:  Mrs Kate Bridge

 

Other Courses

French

French in Grade 8 continues on from Year 7 French, which is a pre-requisite for this course.  Using a variety of platforms ranging from online language programs, to more traditional text-books, students will deepen their understanding of the French language and culture.   Students will work towards increasing their confidence and ability in spoken French, with special focus on accent, and pronunciation.  Students will learn how to use basic tenses in order to communicate more effectively and accurately, and will work towards steadily increasing their vocabulary.   We will also continue our exploration of French culture through film, text and song, as well as personal research into topics of choice.  

Contact teacher: Ms Jill Britton

 

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 Teacher:  Mr James Hickey

 

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

Contact Teacher:  Mrs Marcelle Ottaway

 

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 Teacher:  Mr James Hickey

Practical Science

This course is designed to be a hands on fun way for students who like science to develop their skills further. Students will be exposed to developing skills in dissections, mapping and modelling, which they don’t get as much opportunity to do in core science classes. Students get the opportunity to complete a inquiry investigation into a topic of their own choice.

 

Contact Teacher:  Miss Amber Demir