S3 Parent information - Term 1

 

Dear Parents/Carers

Please see below some of the key topics your son/daughter will be studying during this term.

If you would like further information on any of the following, please contact the individual teacher at the school.

S3 English – Term 1

They are starting the National 5 course this year. Much of the work is internally assessed over the two year period and in May 2016, if they have passed the internal tests, they will sit the exam. The breakdown of the final mark is as follows: 30% writing, two pieces done at home/in class over the two years and externally marked 40% literature exam, externally marked : (1) a critical essay based on literature read in class - 20% (2) questions on a Scottish set text studied in class - 20% 30% close reading comprehension exam, externally marked Until October we will be doing an intensive novel study, based on John Steinbeck's novel "Of Mice and Men". We will also be working on developing comprehension and writing skills. They will be expected to do an hour's homework a week.

S3 Maths – Term 1 

 Estimation and rounding: Rounding and accuracy, upper and lower boundaries, effects of rounding, tolerance

Powers and Roots: powers, roots, using a calculator

Scientific Notation very small, very large, using a calculator

Fractions, percentages and decimals: Recurring decimals, equivalences, mental percentages, choosing most suitable method, using a calculator, increase and decrease

Financial Skills 1: credit and debt, credit cards; gross and net pay, income tax

Pythagoras: Right-angled triangles, Pythagoras‟ theorem, calculating size of lengths, converse Pythagoras‟ theorem

Circle 1: circle terms, circumference, diameter, radius calculations

Statistics 1: Reading bar, pie and line graphs Finding Mean Median Mode Range

Proportion: revision of fractions; adding subtracting, multiplying and mixed numbers

proportion:Direct, inverse, graphs and constant

Similar Shapes: congruent shapes, similar triangles areas of similar shapes and scale factors


S3 Biology – Term 1

 Cell Biology

Transport across cell membranes
a. The cell membrane consists of lipids and proteins and is selectively permeable.

b. Passive transport is along a concentration gradient and does not require energy.

c. Diffusion in cells as the movement of molecules down a concentration gradient.

d. Osmosis as the movement of water molecules across a membrane in terms of

water concentration.

e. Animal cells can burst or shrink and plant cells can become turgid or plasmolysed in different solutions.

f. Active transport requires energy for membrane proteins to move molecules and ions against the concentration gradient.
Completion of Practical assessment1: Transport across Cell Membranes, Osmosis (National 5)

Completion of Short report assessment2: Transport across Cell Membranes, Osmosis (National 5) „Sports drinks and rehydration‟


S3 Chemistry – Term 1

Chemical Changes and Structure

Mandatory Course key areas
Rates of reaction
Average rate of reaction calculated from graph to show change in rate of reaction as reaction progresses.
Completion of Practical assessment 1: Calculating rates of reaction (National 5)




Atomic structure and bonding related to properties of materials

• Nuclide notation including: Isotopes and relative atomic mass, Ions, and Ionic bonding.
• Covalent molecular including: covalent network and ionic lattices.
• Physical properties of chemicals explained through bonding.
• Chemical and ionic formulae including: group ions.

S3 Physics – Term 1

Physics will focus on waves and radiation this term, with the hope that the end of topic test will occur just prior to the October break.

 S3 French – Term 1


LES ETUDES (Talking about school and your future career)

• Talking about the timetable and your subjects, describing your school and the buildings, talking about the rules and regulations, plans for the future, discussing difficulties at school.
• Revision of how to say the time in French.
• Grammar: the Perfect Tense, expressing "since" in French.
• -ER- verbs, FAIRE & ALLER.
• Expressing the near-future: ALLER + infinitive.

S3 RMPS – Term 1

This term, S3 pupils will study Christianity.

PSE – Term 1

At the beginning of this new academic year, all secondary pupils will be taking part in discussions which will inform their programme of study for the year. The focus for learning will be around the individual's mental, emotional, social and physical wellbeing. The programme this term will include work on:

• Study skills
• Target setting
• Reflecting on their own learning and using learning logs as a tool for personal development
• Social wellbeing and positive thinking

S3 Practical Woodworking – Term 1

Flat frame construction.
This will include: measuring, marking out, use of tools and techniques to produce a range of flat frame joints.

Pupils will read drawings to produce a cutting list in preparation for manufacturing a flat frame.

They will also be measuring, marking out, using tools and techniques to produce a flat frame.

Health and Food Technology S3 – Term 1
 
This term S3/4 will be studying the National 5 unit Food for Health. We have already begun to look at the macronutrients (protein, carbohydrate and fat) and will move on to look in detail at some of the vitamins and minerals required for a healthy balanced diet. We will then begin to consider diet through life; which involves looking at the nutritional requirements of each life stage from babies to the elderly. This theory work will be reinforced with practical experiences that involve producing food to meet specific requirements.

Music Term 1

S3 – Scottish Music/Solo Performing   This term the S3 class will be studying Scottish music at National 4/5 level. The main unit will be Listening and Understanding which aims to enrich the pupil with many concepts relating to Scottish music. These take the form of Melody/Harmony, Rhythm/Tempo, Structure/Texture/Form, Styles and Timbre. There will be an aural test at the end of this unit covering all concepts learned at this level. Pupils will also undertake some composing, and this will usually take the form of writing a Reel, Waltz or Slow Air. Pupils are encouraged to perform their own compositions.

Pupils will also be continuing their studies in Performance. Pupils will regularly practise on two instruments and this will culminate in a performance day where pupils will perform to each other/teachers. They will self-reflect on their performance highlighting areas for improvement together with aspects they thought went well.

S3 Geography– Term 1

During this Term students will be involved in the study of the following topics:

• Glaciation.
• Map Skills: basic map skills recap, recognition of glacial features & land uses on O.S maps.
• Land use conflicts in an upland glacial environment.
• Coasts.
• The Scottish Coastline.
• Waves.
• Coastal erosion and features of coastal erosion.
• Coastal deposition and features of coastal deposition.
• Human activity along the coastline.

S3 History – Term 1


During this Term students will be involved in the study of the following topics:

• The North Atlantic Slave Trade.
• Reasons for the growth of the North Atlantic Slave Trade.
• The Trade Triangle.
• Slave factories.
• The Middle Passage.
• How did the North Atlantic Slave Trade affect Britain?
• Captives experience & Slave Resistance.

S3 Art – Term 1

S3 will be investigating the built environment and structure of buildings, beginning by drawing and taking photos of interesting details around the school building, using mark making techniques and rubbings to explore textures and materials. Looking at well-known buildings in Orkney including St Magnus Cathedral, Earls and Bishops Palace, Italian Chapel etc.

They will make initial observational sketches both in class and at home to inform a final large-scale painting or series or work. Experimenting with scale and different techniques, to represent buildings, including printing, cut paper collage and ink drawing.

Context for learning: Investigating work of artist John Virtue, focusing on his London paintings. Looking at subject matter, limited colour scheme, media and technique.

Approaches to learning: Active learning, opportunities to work both individually and as part of a group, both taught lessons and independent work. Practical art making informed by and linked to critical work