The beginning of Term 2 has seen Year 8 students tackle some new and challenging ideas in both English and HASS. Amidst a chorus of groans and complaints, students began to look at some examples of free verse poetry in the novel The Simple Gift, thinking that we were enacting some form of cruel and unusual punishment on them. However, many of them quickly became invested in the relatable story, simple writing style, and powerful messages within the text. We think some of them are even secretly enjoying it! HASS has students looking at how our natural spaces are formed, looking at the varied landscapes that exist within our world, and how we interact with and value these spaces. 

In Year 8 Maths, students have been using the four operations to solve integer problems. This has seen them blend classes and move into groups based on what each student has demonstrated they need! In Science, they have recently moved on from our body systems unit, in which they completed a number of practicals, including an exploration of the effects of exercise intensity on heart rate (respiratory), a heart dissection (circulatory system) and even a practical where they made 'poo' with banana, water, vinegar and biscuits! Students have now moved on to energy, and have been learning about the types of energy and how they are transferred and transformed. This week, they have been making rotocopters and exploring how changing the independent variable impacts on how long it takes for the rotocopters to reach the ground after being dropped.