Year 8 Page
During Year 8, all pupils will have access to the same curriculum, though at different times. The texts chosen by the teacher will vary according to the abilities of the group but each child will have the same opportunities to study: Media and Non-fiction, Genre, Language History and Change, The Novel, Narrative Poetry and a Shakespeare play.
| Autumn term 1 (September to October half-term) | An introduction to English in Year 8. | Year 8 pupils all then study Media and Non-fiction texts. This will involve the exploration and analysis of a range of texts, including:
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| Autumn term 2 (October half-term to Christmas) | All year 8 pupils study the history and variety of English Language and Literature. This unit introduces pupils to the history of the English Language, new developments and variations. Pupils learn about Anglo-Saxon English, middle English and discover texts from the English heritage. Texts that may be studied through extracts include: Beowulf, The Canterbury Tales, Shakespeare's Sonnets, Robinson Crusoe, Tom Brown's Schooldays, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. | |||
| Spring term 1 (Christmas to February half-term) | A genre study - "The Gothic". This will involve the exploration of the conventions of this genre and a range of texts, such as extracts from: Bram Stoker's Dracula, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein; there will also be opportunities to learn how to write within this genre, producing stories, leaflets and drama.
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A novel, for example: Holes by Louis Sachar; Skellig by David Almond, Tulip Touch by Anne Fine, Journey to the River Sea by Eva Ibbotson or Black Harvest by Ann Pilling.
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Narrative poetry and the ballad form, with the opportunity to explore poetry such as: "The Highwayman" (click here to go to an interactive version that you might find helpful) by Alfred Noyes or "The Lady of Shallot" by Tennyson plus many more. Pupils will also learn the conventions of this poetic form and will be able to write their own ballads.
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| Spring term 2 (February half-term to Easter) | A genre study - "The Gothic". This will involve the exploration of the conventions of this genre and a range of texts, such as extracts from: Bram Stoker's Dracula, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein; there will also be opportunities to learn how to write within this genre, producing stories, leaflets and drama. |
A novel, for example: Holes by Louis Sachar; Skellig by David Almond, Tulip Touch by Anne Fine, Journey to the River Sea by Eva Ibbotson or Black Harvest by Ann Pilling. |
Narrative poetry and the ballad form, with the opportunity to explore poetry such as: "The Highwayman" (click here to go to an interactive version that you might find helpful) by Alfred Noyes or "The Lady of Shallot" by Tennyson plus many more. Pupils will also learn the conventions of this poetic form and will be able to write their own ballads. |
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| Summer term 1 (Easter to Whitsun) | A genre study - "The Gothic". This will involve the exploration of the conventions of this genre and a range of texts, such as extracts from: Bram Stoker's Dracula, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein; there will also be opportunities to learn how to write within this genre, producing stories, leaflets and drama. |
A novel, for example: Holes by Louis Sachar, Skellig by David Almond, Tulip Touch by Anne Fine, Journey to the River Sea by Eva Ibbotson or Black Harvest by Ann Pilling. |
Narrative poetry and the ballad form, with the opportunity to explore poetry such as: "The Highwayman " (click here to go to an interactive version that you might find helpful) by Alfred Noyes or "The Lady of Shallot" by Tennyson plus many more. Pupils will also learn the conventions of this poetic form and will be able to write their own ballads. |
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| Summer term 2 (Whitsun to the end of term in July) | In the latter half of the summer term, all pupils will language, study a Shakespeare play (usually Macbeth) in greater detail, learning how to write about the ways in which structure and form shape meaning. They will have the opportunity to interpret sections of the play dramatically, working in groups. Pupils will also complete an end of year assessment in the form of a reading assessment; they may also complete a SATs style question on Shakespeare. |
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Pupils will continue to develop their writing, learning how to adapt their work for different purposes and audiences.
During the course of the year, pupils will learn how to improve their writing and reading strategies from year 7 and develop improvement strategies in readiness for year 9.