seymour.

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Middle School Curriculum 2018

2

Subj

ects

off

ered

at e

ach

year

leve

l (M

iddl

e Sc

hool

):

Year

6Ye

ar 7

Year

8Ye

ar 9

STEM

STEM

STEM

Core

:

GEM

GEM

GEM

Engl

ish

Chi

nese

C

hine

se

Codi

ng a

nd R

obot

ics

Hea

lth a

nd P

hysi

cal E

duca

tion

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chFr

ench

Dig

ital D

esig

nH

isto

ry

Hea

lth a

nd P

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cal E

duca

tion

Hea

lth a

nd P

hysi

cal E

duca

tion

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neer

ing

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hem

atic

s

Mus

icM

usic

Food

and

Nut

ritio

nSc

ienc

e

Stre

ngth

, Opt

imis

m a

nd J

ustic

eSt

reng

th, O

ptim

ism

and

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tice

Hea

lth a

nd P

hysi

cal E

duca

tion

Stre

ngth

, Opt

imis

m a

nd J

ustic

e

Visu

al A

rtVi

sual

Art

Lang

uage

– ch

oice

of C

hine

se O

R

Fren

ch O

R L

angu

age

and

Cul

ture

Elec

tive

s: c

hoic

e of

thre

e pe

r sem

este

r

Mus

icB

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ess,

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omic

s an

d th

e La

w

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ustic

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se^

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al A

rtD

ance

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ma

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h (L

earn

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Supp

ort P

rogr

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Film

and

Med

ia

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ritio

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ch^

Mar

ketin

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d D

esig

n

Med

ical

Sci

ence

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ic

Philo

soph

y an

d Ps

ycho

logy

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al A

rt

^ Chi

nese

, Fre

nch

and

Enric

h ar

e fu

ll-ye

ar e

lect

ives

. All

othe

r ele

ctiv

es a

re fo

r one

sem

este

r.* S

tude

nts

may

onl

y ta

ke E

nric

h af

ter d

iscu

ssio

n w

ith th

e D

ean

of T

each

ing

and

Lear

ning

(Mid

dle

Scho

ol).

3

Middle School CurriculumSeymour College provides a unique curriculum pathway for girls in Years 6–9. The Middle School Adventure applies an individualised framework to each year level: Explore. Experiment. Enterprise. Empower.

The framework at each year-level has been developed to meet the unique needs of young adolescent girls. It guides our curriculum, teaching approaches, learning experiences, wellbeing program and service experiences.

In Years 6–8, core study revolves around two integrated ‘super-subjects’: STEM and GEM. These trans-disciplinary super-subjects allow students to undertake much deeper learning, across traditional subject areas, with greater time and scope to develop and apply 21st century essential skills.

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) incorporates the Australian Curriculum subjects of Mathematics, Science, Design & Technologies, and Digital & Media Technologies.

Learning in STEM will include crucial skill development in numeracy, data interpretation and analysis, scientific methodology and investigation, literacy, critical thinking, research and communication. Where appropriate, this skill development will be centred around large, integrated projects, often with real world application. Where necessary, stand-alone skill development lessons will also occur to ensure that students develop the skills needed to succeed in the individual disciplines encompassed within this super-subject.

GEM (Global Studies, English and Media) incorporates the Australian Curriculum subjects of English, Humanities and Social Sciences (History, Geography, Civics & Citizenship, and Economics & Business), and Drama. It also incorporates elements of media study, philosophy and religion.

Learning in GEM will include crucial skill development in spelling, reading comprehension, writing, research, critical analysis and communication. As with STEM, this skill development will, where appropriate, be centred around large, integrated projects, often with real world application.

Students in Years 6–8 will continue to be assessed in these subjects against the relevant achievement standards in the Australian Curriculum.

Year 6: ExploreThe Middle School Adventure at Seymour College begins with Explore at Year 6. As new students to the Middle School campus, all Year 6 girls are encouraged to explore both the traditions of Seymour College and our contemporary curriculum, centred around the two super-subjects. This integrated learning approach allows students to explore deeply, developing and applying skills while incorporating their own interests and passions.

At Year 6, all students undertake the core subjects in the table opposite.

Year 7: ExperimentOur Experiment framework encourages girls to think critically and creatively, to ask questions and then design ways to find answers. Curiosity is fostered and supported through the development of essential skills and knowledge and deep understanding.

At Year 7, all students undertake the core subjects in the table opposite.

Year 8: EnterpriseThe Enterprise Framework encourages student to consider real problems, ideate solutions, create prototypes and then test these solutions with authentic audiences. Developing an understanding of the influences of the media and the global market enables students to become entrepreneurs while the technology rotations develop critical skills for the future.

At Year 8, all students undertake the core subjects in the table opposite. Students also undertake the following Technology rotations:

• Coding and Robotics

• Digital Design

• Engineering

• Food and Nutrition

4

The Rite Journey

5

Year 9: EmpowerEmpower: Wellbeing and Service

All students in Year 9 undertake the Rite Journey program, a structured program that is recognised and used around the world. The Rite Journey recognises the need for young adolescents to be given specific education and learning opportunities to enable them to be ready to enter adulthood. 2018 will be our second year undertaking The Rite Journey. Included in this program is a significant focus on Service, empowering the students to make a difference in their world.

Empower: Curriculum

To enable these young women to be empowered learners, we have introduced a range of elective subjects across the curriculum to complement the six compulsory Year 9 subjects. Students choose three electives per semester from the following subjects:• Business, Economics and the Law• Chinese 1 and 2 (full year)• Dance• Drama• Enrich (full year)• Film and Media• Food and Nutrition• French 1 and 2 (full year)

• Marketing and Design• Medical Science• Music• Philosophy and Psychology • Visual Art

While these semester-long electives have a clear progression to subjects in the Senior School, very few are prerequisites for Year 10 and beyond. This enables the girls to make confident choices, to take risks and challenge themselves, without worry about future pathways.

The only elective subjects that have prerequisites in Year 10 are:

• Chinese (full year)

• French (full year)

• Music (semester only)

Students wishing to continue with these subjects in Year 10 must select them in Year 9.

Enrich (Learning Support Program)

Enrich is a year-long learning support program for students with special needs. Students undertaking Enrich at Year 9 therefore choose two additional electives per semester. Students unsure about whether they should select Enrich in 2018 should discuss this with the Dean of Teaching and Learning (Middle School) prior to subject selection.

6

Elective Subject Summaries

Business, Economics & the Law: Empowered young people need to understand the corporate world and their rights and responsibilities within the Australian legal system, particularly as it relates to the world of work and economics. Students will explore how businesses function within the economy and the principles of entrepreneurship in the context of a “start-up” small business.

Chinese 1 and 2: Students develop language skills, including their reading and writing of Chinese characters, as well as their ability to listen, think creatively, read and translate short texts, and understand and apply language structures in new contexts. A variety of activities contribute to developing an appreciation of Chinese culture.

Dance: Students will develop skills in a range of dance disciplines, with a particular focus on contemporary dance including hip-hop. The class will be differentiated to allow students from all dancing backgrounds, including those with limited training, to be successful.

Drama: Students explore a range of on- and off-stage roles. They work collaboratively to devise their own performances and study a range various theatrical styles.

Film and Media: Students investigate aspects of film and media, including scriptwriting, cinematography and other production elements. This is predominantly a practical subject that allows students to develop both practical and critical analysis skills.

Food and Nutrition: Student further develop their skills in food preparation and presentation, producing and evaluating meals that consider sustainability. They explore nutrients, including macro and micro nutrients, and the role they play in a healthy diet. Students apply their knowledge creatively and collaboratively when responding to design challenges, for example developing a nutritious children’s party for a younger year level.

French 1 and 2: Students develop language skills, as well as their ability to listen, think creatively, read and translate short texts, and understand and apply language structures in new contexts. A variety of activities contribute to developing an appreciation of French culture.

Marketing and Design: Students will develop digital and graphic design skills in branding, corporate identity design and marketing. This is a creative subject that provides students with the opportunities to develop skills essential for marketing future innovations.

Medical Science: Medical Science provides an opportunity for girls interested in exploring the world of biology, physiology, biochemistry and neuroscience. They will learn about the human body, common diseases and disorders, as well as exploring a range of allied health professions in practice.

Music: Students develop skills in solo and group performance and in listening to and responding to Music. They develop their understanding of musical elements and use these in creative activities, including composing and arranging with music software.

Philosophy and Psychology: This elective involves one term of Philosophy and one term of Psychology. In philosophy, students investigate the importance of reasoning and the use of evidence to support or challenge ideas. Students are introduced to psychology as a discipline through an inquiry approach, focusing primarily on the study of human behaviour and how it relates to wellbeing.

Visual Art: This course covers practice and theory in art and design, giving students a basis in the major disciplines in Art including drawing, painting, sculpture, design and ceramics. Students will explore the uses and application of a broad range of traditional and digital drawing media and experiment with innovative approaches to canvas painting.

7

Year

9 –

12 C

urric

ulum

20

18

Mid

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Seni

or S

choo

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ar 9

Ye

ar 10

Ye

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Seym

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546

Port

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SA

50

64

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