Welcome back to term two! We have hit the ground running and are forging ahead with a full program of English and HASS in the secondary class. The students have come back after their three week break ready to work and are doing really well so far.

Year 6-9 English

This term we continue our book study ‘Mahtab’s Story’ that follows the journey of a young Afghani girl as she flees the Taliban to Australia. This will culminate in an assessment task to assess comprehension and knowledge of the text.

I have decided to dedicate one English lesson per week to grammar (which the students are thrilled about!). Considering the varying year levels in the class, we will start with the basics and progress to concepts that are more difficult.

The first couple of weeks of term have been spent on poetry. The year 6/7 group are learning the elements of poetry, focusing on aspects of language conventions, descriptive language and the structure of different poems. The year 8/9 group are looking at Indigenous poet Oodgeroo Noonuccal (formerly Kathy Walker). Oodgeroo Noonuccal was the first Indigenous poet to be published in Australia and her poems are beautifully written, visual and descriptive. These poems look at loss through an Indigenous lens and were written in various forms. Students are looking at the language used, the audience aimed at and the historical content.

Year 11 English

This term we were supposed to see a play and write a review, but due to restrictions, this has now become an analysis of an advertising campaign. The advertising campaign can be on television, radio, internet or print media and we will look at the target audience, rhetorical devices and analyse specific advertising appeals and techniques. This term will also see our SACE student produce an in depth comparison and analysis of two books, plays, movies or songs to complete the requirements for SACE Stage 1.

Year 6-9 HASS

Unlike history, geography has quite different expectations between year levels in the Australian Curriculum. To accommodate that, the class has been split in two, with the year 6/7 group studying place and liveability. They will look at how liveable Australia is, and compare it to another country. They will also consider what it means to be Australian, what makes our culture unique, and where we fit in the world.

The year 8/9 group are learning about geomorphic processes, specifically weathering and erosion. By the end of the unit, they will be able to define weathering and erosion, and the difference between the two. They will also display knowledge of the weathering process, and what causes it and also the different types of erosion. The focus has been mostly on Australian landforms, with some international ones included. We have also taken the opportunity to look at Indigenous stories and legends for these formations around the world.