Year 7

Learning Areas

At Parade College subjects are grouped into a number of Learning Areas ensure that the needs of all students are met:

• The Arts which includes the Visual Arts, the Performing Arts (Music and Drama)
• English, including English as a Second Language (ESL)
• Health and Physical Education (HPE)
• Humanities which consists of two areas of Humanities: History & Geography; and Commerce
• Languages Other Than English (LOTE)
• Mathematics
• Science
• Technology which includes: Technology, Design and Creativity; and Information and Communications Technology (ICT)
• Religious Education
  

Subjects Studied at Year 7
In Year 7 students experience subjects in each of the Learning Areas listed above. Students experience practical classes in Science, an integrated Technology Project, the use of Information Technology across the Learning Areas and an emphasis on literacy and numeracy. In Year 7 up to two languages are studied, chosen from: Italian, French and Japanese.

* NB. All offerings in Technology are subject to the availability of specialist teaching staff.  There will be limited numbers of classes with preference given to those who submit their forms earliest.

Beginning in Year 7 and developing throughout their time at Parade College, students develop knowledge and skills in a number of Learning Areas.

English
In Year 7 English, the students develop their ability to use both written and oral  language appropriately taking into account purpose and audience. The program makes connections between the classroom and the outside world. Listening, speaking, reading and writing activities are designed to encourage effective expression of ideas. Students respond to a variety of text modes, concentrating on building the skills of analysis and reflection. The Problem Based Unit provides students with the opportunity for independent learning and the associated activities focus on co-operative learning strategies.

Mathematics
In Mathematics there is an emphasis on understanding of basic skills. Students cover work in a number of key areas of Mathematics including Space, Number, Measurement, Chance and Data, Algebra and Reasoning Strategies. Application tasks involve applying skills learnt in a practical situation. The use of computer technology is an integral part of application tasks. Analysis tasks entail finding solutions to non-routine problems.

Science
Students are able to experience four major areas of science. Chemistry includes the properties of solids, liquids and gases, safety in the lab, identifying laboratory equipment, using the Bunsen Burner and separation techniques. Physics introduces forces, light and sound. The Earth & Space unit covers the structure of the earth, rock types and erosion, the seasons and the solar system. In Biology, cells and the characteristics of different animal and plant groups are examined. Practical work in the laboratory forms an important part of the learning in this area.

Humanities
The study of the Humanities includes the separate disciplines of History, Geography and Economics. Students develop skills in each of these areas in different contexts which include study of some aspects of Australian life. Students will begin to develop skills needed for the understanding and appreciation of history. Students develop an understanding of how historians approach the study of history and the methods they use to gain the best understanding of people and societies of the past. Students are engaged in Problem Based Learning. Through the problem supplied, students will apply geographical and historical terminology and skills in a study of water in Ancient Egypt. Students develop knowledge about the nature and distribution of places in Australia. Students also develop knowledge of Australia's Indigenous people and places in Australia and overseas, learning about natural processes and human activities which cause change to environments.

Problem Based Learning
Problem Based Learning (PBL) is an approach used in Humanities and English in which students are presented with a challenging problem for which they do not have all the information they need to develop a solution. They must identify what they need to know, find and use the resources that will help them to meet these learning needs, and consider how their findings inform their solution. Unlike the traditional approaches used in schools, PBL does not suffer from a lack of context or an oversimplification of content. As learners encounter information, they must apply it to the problem at hand, often arguing with classmates about the implications of the information or about contradictory evidence. As a result, students use knowledge flexibly, make connections between pieces of information and the problem situation, and wrestle with ill-structured and evolving nature of the relevant knowledge. PBL demands "mindfulness" from the learners and provides a context where mentally demanding activities can occur.

Languages Other Than English (LOTE)
In Year 7 there are three different languages offered to students.

Italian
Students are introduced to the Italian language through a study of greetings, verbs, nouns, adjectives, definite articles, vocabulary extension work and Italian culture.

French
Students are introduced to the French language through a study of greetings, verbs, nouns, adjectives, definite articles, vocabulary extension work and French culture.

Japanese
Students are introduced to the Japanese language through a variety of activities such as self-introductions, numbers, basic greetings and expressions. They learn kanji numbers and some hiragana script. Students also study various aspects of sport and culture in Japan. (Bundoora Campus only)

Personal & Social Development
Personal & Social Development provides an introduction to secondary school in general and Parade College in particular. Students will be given a school tour, opportunities to get to know other students in year 7 and skills in how to use the library and their planner. Effective work, research and study skills will also be developed to provide students with every opportunity to experience success at the College. In Semester Two the students take part in the Rock & Water program.

Visual Arts & Visual Communication
Students explore a diverse range of media such as sculpture, paint and relief printing for creating artworks through activities that develop creativity and investigate the use of composition.

In Visual Communication students learn how to use technical drawing equipment. Pictorial drawing skills and techniques are introduced with the study if oblique, isometric and orthogonal drawings.

Technology
In Year 7 students are introduced to a range of Technology, which may include the following:

• The Technology Process of investigating, designing, producing and evaluating. They are introduced to design briefs and learn to develop solutions to design problems. Students learn to use tools to manipulate materials to produce functional products. They learn how to work safely in a workshop environment; or
• Introduction to Information and Communications Technology at Parade College

Performing Arts - Drama
In Drama at Year 7, students who undertake the subject ‘Introduction to Performance’ have the chance to develop the basic aspects of performance skills. The focus is on building confidence and self-esteem, from working in front of or with a group of their peers. ‘Introduction to Performance’ allows a student to develop a love and appreciation of working with their voices and bodies to develop meaning. Students have the opportunity to select an aspect of performance, which is decided upon as a class group, and in that sense, every class shall be unique. Students will come to use a range of dramatic terms and techniques at a basic level, whilst also reflecting on the Performing Arts and researching a form of Drama.


Performing Arts - Music
In Year 7, students who undertake Music develop their musicality through a range of inter-related activities. Students develop performance skills on a brass or woodwind instrument and perform a variety of music. They explore their creativity through a Music Technology Composition assignment and develop an understanding of the elements of music, music notation and theory. Students also make responses to recorded examples of music from a range of musical traditions.

Health and Physical Education
Health and Physical Education are important parts of the curriculum. Our Year 7, students undertake a program designed to develop fundamental motor skills through a variety of sports. Students will also receive vital health education on topics such as Bullying and Smoking. At Year 7 the following units are undertaken:

• Basketball: Students will develop fundament motor skills such as running, jumping, dodging, throwing and catching. Students will also develop an understanding of the rules, skills and strategies involved in the sport of Basketball.
• Baseball/Softball: Students will develop fundament motor skills such as running, striking, dodging, throwing and catching. Students will also develop an understanding of the rules, skills and strategies involved in the sport/s of Baseball/Softball.
• Soccer: Students will develop fundament motor skills such as running, dodging, dribbling and kicking. Students will also develop an understanding of the rules, skills and strategies involved in the sport of Soccer.
• Health Education: Students will be made aware of various health issues present in our society and especially relevant to young men of their age group. The unit will take a harm minimisation approach in as much as we realise that these issues are real and that our boys will most probably encounter them, if they haven’t already. However it is possible for them to make well informed decisions which will assist in maintaining a physically and mentally healthy lifestyle.

Sport
Sport is an important feature in the life of a student at Parade College. Within the College a variety of activities are on offer. Year 8 students undertake a three week gymnastics unit while Year 9 students participate in a Water Safety unit. Other activities include Lawn Bowls, weight training and golf as well as the more traditional sports which are conducted on a house basis.

Parade College has been a member of the Associated Catholic Colleges since its inception. Parade fields two teams in each Year level from 7 to 10. The ACC Sports are as follows:

• Term 2: Football and Soccer
• Term 3: Basketball, Table Tennis and Hockey
• Term 4: Volleyball, Cricket and Tennis
• Carnival Sports: Athletics, Swimming and Cross Country

Other sports in which the college participates are Rugby, Skiing, Golf and Badminton.

At Year 7,the emphasis is on participation with many students given the opportunity to represent the college as possible.

At all times the motto of the ACC, Excellence, Honour and Fairness in Student activities is upheld

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