National exams

You can check out examples from old national exams here.

9B - Tutorials

I don't have to explain to you what a tutorial is, do I? Most people have seen loads of them in all kinds of situations; you can learn to change the chain on your bike, to draw the perfect eyeliner line, to master quests in computer games, to solve difficult math problems, to tie a fancy knot, you name it!


But making a tutorial is a different matter... You need to have total understanding of the subject you want to share with others, you have to be very thorough in your explanations and you must create an instruction that is clear and obvious and possible to follow for the viewer.

But no challenge is too big for you guys, right? Right!

So; I want you to make a video tutorial, teaching other people something you are really good at. You need to figure out what you're good at first ;), then make a clear script to follow and lastly record it and publish it and link it on your blog.

We'll go through MoveNote - which is a very simple video program, but if you choose another program or platform to work in, that is fine by me!

You will work with this on Monday week 13 and Monday 14. On Monday week 15 we will spend the lesson watching the tutorials, so make sure you have checked the technique before that. (Connect your computer to the Smartboard and make sure you get both image and sound working!)

8B - Thursday March 12

We will continue the reading comprehension at ReadTheory.org from the previous post. I sincerely hope you remember your password - since I told you to write it up in a Google document on your Drive... ;)

Your teacher will have all passwords if you by chance lost yours.

Reading comprehension - 8B

We will now start a reading comprehension period in English, and the material will be very individualized since many of you are on different levels. 
We will be using the website ReadTheory.org and you will get username and password from me. 
When you log in, the first thing you do is a placement test to assign you to the correct level - do the placement test quietly, on your own without asking questions or googling the answers, otherwise you won't get the exercises adapted for your development! And that would just be plain silly ;). 

So, why is reading important then?


10 benefits of reading

1. People who read often and widely get better at it. This is pretty much just common sense.

After all, practice makes perfect in almost everything we humans do and reading is no different from anything else. 

2. Reading exercises our brains.

Reading is a much more complex task for the human brain than, say, watching TV is. Reading strengthens brain connections and actually builds new connections.

3. Reading improves concentration. Again, this is a bit of a no-brainer. You have to sit still and quietly so you can focus on the story when you’re reading. If you read regularly, you develop the ability to do this for longer periods.

4. Reading teaches people about the world around them.

Through reading, you learn about people, places and events outside your own experience. You are exposed to ways of life, ideas and beliefs about the world which may be different from those which surround you.

This learning is important for its own sake however it also builds a store of background knowledge which helps you learn to read confidently and well. 

5. Reading improves your vocabulary and leads to more highly-developed language skills.

This is because you learn new words as you read but also because you unconsciously absorb information as you read about things like how to structure sentences and how to use words and language effectively. 

6. Reading develops your imagination.

This is because when we read our brains translate the descriptions we read of people, places and things into pictures. When we’re engaged in a story, we’re also imagining how the characters are feeling. We use our own experiences to imagine how we would feel in the same situation. 

7. Reading helps you develop empathy.

This is something that might seem awkward but it makes sense. As my daughter said to me when we were discussing it, ‘Of course it does because you’re identifying with the character in the story so you’re feeling what he’s feeling.’ 

8. People who read do better at school. And they don’t just do better at subjects like reading, English and History. They do better at all subjects and they do better all the way through school.  9. Reading is a great form of entertainment!

A paperback book or an e-reader on your smartphone doesn’t take up much space so you can take it anywhere and you’ll never be lonely or bored if you have a book in your bag. 

You can read while waiting in a queue, while waiting for a friend who’s running late or during recess.

10. Reading relaxes the body and calms the mind.

This is an important point because these days we seem to have forgotten how to relax and especially how to be silent.

The constant movement, flashing lights and noise which bombard our senses when we’re watching TV, looking at a computer or playing an electronic game are actually quite stressful for our brains.

When we read, we read in silence and the black print on a white page is much less stressful for our eyes and brains. 

Business Project - year 9

The scenario is that you have come up with an idea for a new business and you are now trying to establish it within the local community. You need to complete a number of tasks over the next few weeks. You are to choose suitable software (computer programmes, clips from magazines, information from local agencies for example) and complete these tasks as being the business manager.

􀂉 Describe the idea as thoroughly as you can, including marketing ideas, location, design of shop, what customers you want to reach and how to reach them etc.

􀂉 You wish to start a “shopper´s club” to encourage loyalty among the customers. For every £ 10 a customer spends one loyalty point will be awarded. Design a card for customers who join the scheme.

􀂉 Amend your customer card design to include the business logo.

􀂉 Design a form which the customers will fill in when joining the scheme. The form should record at least the following details: name of customer; address; membership number and telephone number.

􀂉 Create a letter to future customers (using the writingframe is optional). Include a paragraph introducing the loyalty card scheme to the customers. Also amend your letter to include details of this month´s special offer at the store. Make sure you put a personal touch to it and that you can catch the interest of the reader.

􀂉 Design a commercial to be sent out to your potential customers. Remember the importance of slogans, colours and catching images.

􀂉 Remember to work through your business idea as thoroughly as possible. Try to think of different angles to make it a success. And above all; try to give it a “real touch”. Feel free to use a computer, crayons, pictures and coloured paper to create a brilliant business scheme.

Hand in your finished work no later than February 28^th .

Grade criteria

  

Check list

Check ( √ ) the tasks as you complete them. That way you´ll have total control over your work process.

􀂉 Complete description of the business idea (minimum 600 words)
 

􀂉 Design a customer card including logo. The card must be in full colour and laminated.
 

􀂉 Letter to customers about “customers’ club”, including “offer of the month” – you can use the writing frame (1 page)
 

􀂉 Form to get a customer card (1 page)
 

􀂉 Create an advertising paper to send out to people in your town, marketing your new business (1 page)

Total: at least 4 pages + the customer card

Your presentation is supposed to be as thorough and appetizing as possible. And besides being a winning concept it must also be imaginative and creative. I will grade the overall impression of the work, layout, pictures, how thorough you have been and of course your work effort during the lessons.

Your logotype should be found on the customer card and on all the papers you write in English throughout the project.

The commercial leaflet must contain the logotype, a nice layout, pictures (create own, copy from the Internet or cut out from magazines) and the text must be in English.

A nice touch is to make a perspective picture of your business/store (or a part of it) or a blueprint.

Don’t forget to produce a luscious and convincing front page including your name and class, company name and logotype.

Short story - year 8

Short story

You are going to write a short story about someone’s life in or around Auschwitz.

You can write from a prisoner’s perspective (man, woman or child), a guard’s perspective or anyone living close to the camp.

I want you to use facts mixed with fiction, make sure you research properly so that names, environment, technique etc are adequate for that time.

Process work next lesson.

World War II - year 8

Since you are currently working with World War II in social science I figured we might as well do some reading comprehension activities in English connected to the subject.

BBC has an interactive map of Auschwitz with all the information you need to answer the questions below. Check your language, write proper sentences and remember that all five skills in English are applicable on this task. (You can find the skills under the tab Kursplan eng.)

Link to the interactive map here.

Write your answers to the questions below in a Google doc and save it in your English folder on Google Drive.

What did the” Einsatzgruppen” do and why was it taken away?

What were the Ghettos and what purpose did they serve?

How did the Nazis drive the Jews out of Germany?

What was the”Final solution to the Jewish question” and how did they do it?

Name a few other groups of people who also were imprisoned and murdered by the Nazis?

Why were the first concentration camps important for the war industries?

Why was the European railway system important in the Nazis’ extermination progress?

Describe Auschwitz and the terrifying acts that took place there.