Macleans College Year 9 Subject Guide 2014
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Macleans College
Year 9 Subject Guide
2014
Introduction
This booklet is provided to assist prospective Year 9 students and their parents to select option
subjects for their first year at Macleans College. Details of all Year 9 subjects offered at the
school are included in this booklet. You are advised to carefully check course descriptions
before you choose your options.
More information is available on the Department and Faculty web pages on the school website:
www.macleans.school.nz . The Year 10 Course Selection Guide and Senior Course Guide
given to current students are available as pdf files. On the Home Page look under In the
Spotlight, click on Course Guides if you wish to read or download details of all courses
currently offered in Years 10, 11, 12 and 13 at Macleans College.
While we encourage Year 9 and 10 students to start thinking about their future career plans it is
important not to focus too narrowly on one career idea. Junior students should aim to keep a
broad educational platform with as many doors as possible open and not worry about trying to
decide which door to go through!
Notes from the Careers Department
In Years 9 and 10 students are encouraged to study a wide range of subjects to keep a large
number of options open to them in the senior school. The curriculum is kept deliberately broad
so that they do not specialise too early.
The CareersNZ website www.careers.co.nz is available online. It is recommended as an
excellent source of up to date information to help with career planning and subject choice.
The Student Advisory Services (SAS) is available to all students attending Macleans College.
The school has two Career Counsellors who are there to help students.
Extension Studies Programme
These classes are for students with significantly above average academic ability. Final
selection for these classes is at the discretion of the school, and is based on entrance testing
and previous academic and other records. The classes provide enriched and accelerated
courses to suit the needs of the selected students. Students in the Extension Studies classes
are expected to be involved in a wide range of activities outside the classroom.
Subject Outline 2014
The Subject Outline in the course guides on the school website shows how subjects progress
through the school.
NOTE:
• In Year 9 students may select any subject without previous study.
• Nearly all Year 10 subjects may be picked up without having studied them before.
• Most Year 11 subjects either follow on from Year 10 core subjects or can be picked up
without previous study.
1Choosing Your Subjects
WHICH SUBJECTS SHOULD I STUDY? FINDING OUT ABOUT OPTIONS
To choose your subject options you need to To make a decision about whether to
think about these things: study a subject, you need to be clear
about the content and how it is
Range of subjects: assessed.
This is most important in Year 9.
The variety of subjects offered provides an Some subjects may be new to you.
opportunity to try new things and experience Year 9 is a good opportunity to try new
a number of different subjects. subjects.
Interests: You could consider these questions:
What do you enjoy?
You are more likely to work hard and do well • Will I have to read a lot of books?
in a course that interests you. • Will I have to write many essays?
• Will I need to do practical
Skills and abilities:
Which subjects are you good at? experiments?
Discuss this with your parents and teachers. • Will I need to make things?
• Will the subject involve discussion
Learning style: with other people in the class?
Do you prefer: reading and writing • What topics does the subject
listening and discussing
practical work include?
creative work • Will the subject involve field trips,
projects or performances?
Career choices: • How is the subject assessed – end
Research the subjects required or of year exams, assignments,
recommended for career areas you are internal assessment?
interested in.
Choose your subjects carefully. Option changes are only allowed in exceptional
circumstances once a course has been commenced or confirmed.
Course Structure
YEAR 9 CORE SUBJECTS:
All Year 9 students study the following COMPULSORY subjects for the whole year:
ENGLISH
MATHEMATICS
PHYSICAL EDUCATION & HEALTH.
SCIENCE
SOCIAL STUDIES
2YEAR 9 OPTION SUBJECTS:
Students choose option subjects from three compulsory learning areas: Arts, Technology / General
Studies and Languages. The Arts, General Studies and Technology subjects are each taught for one
half-year semester to enable students to experience a variety of options. Technology Hard Materials is
offered as either a semester or full year course. Language courses are taught for a full year.
It is the school's intention, where possible, to give students their first subject choice. However, this is
dependent on demand, selection and staffing, and may not always be possible, especially in ESOL,
Literacy English, Numeracy Mathematics, Future Problem Solving, Music and Technology.
THE ARTS
All students study TWO Arts subjects: ART DANCE DRAMA
MUSIC (GENERAL or ADVANCED)
TECHNOLOGY AND GENERAL STUDIES
All students study TWO subjects chosen from Technology and General Studies single semester courses
or ONE full year Technology Hard Materials course:
CONSUMER STUDIES TECHNOLOGY HOSPITALITY
ENTERPRISE STUDIES TECHNOLOGY HARD MATERIALS (Semester Course)
FASHION and DESIGN TECHNOLOGY HARD MATERIALS (Full Year Course)
GRAPHICS and DESIGN
FUTURE PROBLEM SOLVING (Note: Placement in this class will be by selection)
LANGUAGES
All students study ONE language for a full year: FRENCH JAPANESE
SPANISH MAORI
CHINESE (for Beginners)
These full year courses are planned to give a solid foundation for future language study.
Details of which languages are offered in the senior school can be found on pages 6 to 9.
LITERACY and NUMERACY SUPPORT
Placement in literacy and numeracy support programmes is by selection as a result of testing.
Some students will be selected to study full-year courses in ESOL or LITERACY ENGLISH.
These students cannot also take a foreign language.
Some students will be selected to study semester courses in NUMERACY MATHEMATICS.
YEAR 10 SUBJECTS:
Students continue to study the five Core subjects in Year 10.
Students choose three option subjects from (in 2014) the following list:
ART PRACTICAL ESOL FUTURE PROBLEM SOLVING s
DANCE CHINESE (INTERMEDIATE) p GRAPHIC DESIGN
DRAMA FRENCH p TECHNOLOGY (FASHION & DESIGN) t
ECONOMICS JAPANESE p TECHNOLOGY (HOSPITALITY) t
HISTORY SPANISH p TECHNOLOGY (ENGINEERING) t
MUSIC TE REO MĀORI p TECHNOLOGY (WOOD) t
Most option subjects have open entry - students may pick them up in Year 10 without having studied
them previously.
p
Students wishing to choose these subjects in Year 10 are usually required to have successfully
studied them in Year 9.
t
Students must apply for permission if they intend to study two of these Technology subjects.
s
Placement in this option will be by selection. Numbers will be limited.
3YEAR 9 CORE SUBJECT DETAILS 2014
9ENG ENGLISH
Students complete a course that includes the study of a variety of literature texts (including a
Shakespeare text and a film) and language work. Practical skills covered include formal writing,
descriptive writing, empathic writing, essay writing and a speech. There is an emphasis on essay
writing, transactional writing and the basic skills of language to prepare students for their progression
into higher year levels.
Students in the Extension Studies Programme English class study particularly challenging texts and may
have opportunities to attend drama and cinema performances outside school, as well as visits from well
known writers.
9MAT MATHEMATICS
The Year 9 and 10 Mathematics course is designed to give students a good grounding in mathematics
and prepare them for the many possible pathways available from Year 11. For most students the course
is within their capabilities. For those who find Mathematics challenging there is support available in the
whanau house system by way of student mentors (house tutors) and the 9MNU course (see page 8).
There is an extensive testing programme throughout the year, designed to identify students who are
struggling, as well as those who would benefit from more advanced work in Year 10.
The topics covered include:
Whole Numbers, Fractions, Decimals, Integers, Percentages, Calculator skills, Algebra (including
Simplifying, Solving Equations, Substitution, Problem Solving), Measurement, Angle Geometry,
Coordinate Geometry, Graphing, Transformations, Constructions, 3D shapes, Pythagoras Theorem,
Probability and Statistics.
Students in the Extension Studies Programme study more challenging mathematical topics and
techniques with a view to sitting IGCSE Mathematics (Extended) in Year 10.
9PED PHYSICAL EDUCATION & HEALTH
This course consists of practical and theoretical components. Theory makes up one third of the course
and the rest is practical. Practical activities ensure that students gain a broad movement base and that
they are exposed to learning a variety of different skills.
These consist of a selection from:
athletics hockey cardiovascular activities
gymnastics training activities movement and dance
touch cricket small and large ball activities
A small unit of resistance training may also be done during the year.
Health is an essential learning area and is a core component of the Health and Physical Education
curriculum. This programme teaches the students about friendships, coping with put-downs and bullying.
Students will also learn about the physical and emotional changes of puberty and gain an understanding
of the relationships between nutrition, exercise and well-being. They will learn about the functioning of
the body in terms of anatomy and exercise physiology and complete a unit on sexual health (along with
puberty). Students learn to take responsibility for their own and others’ health and well-being and to
develop skills that will enhance their relationships with others.
49SCI SCIENCE
This course is an introduction to the four main strands of the science curriculum. It starts with a general
skills topic as a lead in to what scientists do. This is followed with a range of units: three living world, two
material world, two physical world topics and a planets topic. The concepts covered in these units
involve both written and practical work.
Coupled with these knowledge and understanding based topics there are opportunities to build more
general skills in Science. There are two investigations to perform as well as two research projects – all of
which are assessed. These assessments and the preparatory work that goes into them cover
overarching aspects of the Nature of Science. The year is rounded off with a very enjoyable, interactive
forensic science topic which is designed to draw on all the skills learnt during Year 9.
Students in the Extension Studies Programme Science class embark on the first year of a two year
Combined Science IGCSE course. This course covers much of the same work as the core Year 9
classes, building in some aspects of the Year 10 Science course, the Nature of Science and preparing
students to sit the CIE exams at the end of Year 10.
9SOS SOCIAL STUDIES
The overall aim of social studies at Macleans College is to provide an interesting and varied introduction
to the Social Sciences. Students will develop the skills of intelligent writing, data presentation, research,
study and examination skills that will equip them for the courses of Classical Studies, Geography,
History, Social Studies and Travel & Tourism in the senior school. Social studies is the study of political,
economic, cultural, and environmental aspects of societies in the past, and in the present.
Topics:
1. Macleans Unit: Introduction to our school and its core values.
2. Leadership and Government: What is leadership? How systems of government work.
3. Te Maori: An historical study of New Zealand’s first settlers.
4. Shaping of New Zealand: A study of New Zealand’s natural geography.
5. Migration: A study of why people move and how New Zealand’s national character has been
shaped by migrants.
6. Rich World Poor World: A global study of comparative development.
7. New Zealand Project: A student centered study of New Zealand’s history and geography.
5YEAR 9 OPTION SUBJECT DETAILS 2014
9ART ART
This semester course provides an excellent introduction to the essential skills of Art and Design.
Students learn techniques and skills in drawing, painting, photography, printmaking and design. They
are encouraged to develop and extend visual ideas by working creatively. The course prepares students
for further study in the Visual Arts, where they can specialise in the senior art subjects of Painting,
Design and Photography.
9CHI BEGINNER’S CHINESE
This course is a beginner’s course for students for whom Chinese is a second language. It is NOT
suitable for and NOT offered for first language speakers. For Chinese, a first language speaker is
someone who has had two or more years of formal education in a school system in which Chinese was
the medium of instruction. In this context “Chinese” includes ALL dialects of Chinese including
Cantonese, Taiwanese and Mandarin Chinese.
The purpose of the course is to introduce students across the full ability range to the Chinese language
and culture through the communicative approach to language learning.
Chinese as a Foreign Language is offered in Years 9, 10 and 11.
Topics:
1. Introductions and greetings 7. Pets
2. Numbers 8. Food and drink
3. Personal details 9. Colours
4. Countries and nationalities 10. Date and time
5. Family members 11. School life
6. Chinese Zodiac signs 12. Weather
9CST CONSUMER STUDIES
This is an introduction to the world of personal finance. The course aims to provide some of the personal
financial skills that a young person will need throughout their lives. The focus of the course is on RISK;
the risk of investing, the risk of not saving and the risk of borrowing money. The course will incorporate
the development of essential computing skills. This course is a must for any young person who wants to
enjoy life by controlling their finances.
9DAN DANCE
The Year 9 Dance course is aimed at all students - those with no dance experience and those who have
dance lessons outside school time. The course will introduce students to creation of performance
through exploration of genre - pathway, the use of dynamics in dance, cultural dance, dance for musical
theatre and narrative in dance. Students will be given practical opportunities in classroom activities and
will be required to work in various sized groupings. Students will be encouraged to work at their level
and to challenge their personal expectations in terms of performance level. This is an exciting course
which will introduce students to a variety of dance styles and give them opportunities to explore these
practically.
9DRA DRAMA
The Year 9 Drama course will introduce students to presentation skills, performance work based on
poem, masks and myths, devising a group performance based on a well known story for example C.S.
Lewis’ Narnia and silent comedy. There are lots of opportunities to perform, make masks, wear
costumes and develop performance skills within this course and all assessments are based on the
current New Zealand Curriculum. The students will be given 8 assessments throughout the course.
69ESU ENGLISH LITERACY - (Literacy Support)
Placement in this option class is by selection as a result of testing. This course is designed for students
who find English challenging and it is to help them succeed in the mainstream
programme. Parents/Guardians of children who are currently in a literacy support programme and
Parents/Guardians who feel that their child would benefit from this class should tick the appropriate box
on the option sheet. This subject is taught as a full year course but students can move out of the class in
Semester 2, if they are ready to progress.
9ENT ENTERPRISE STUDIES
This course promotes knowledge and understanding of business as a productive activity. Enterprise
involves creative thinking and taking risks. Enterprise Studies encourages, through experimental and
theoretical approaches, the concept of enterprise. It provides an interesting and exciting introduction to
the world of business. Students undertake a business creation project including participation in a market
day and a field trip to a local producer such as Tip Top is undertaken.
9ESL ESOL - (English for Speakers of Other Languages)
Placement in this course will be by selection as a result of a testing. Parents/Guardians of students
currently in an ESOL programme should tick the box on their option sheet. Parents/Guardians who
would like their child to be considered for the ESOL course should tick the appropriate box. This is
available as a full year course for students for whom English is a second or other language, in order to
assist with the core subjects.
9FRE FRENCH
The purpose of the course is to introduce students across the full ability range to the French language
and culture through the communicative approach to language learning.
In 2015, French may be offered at Year 11 subject to numbers.
Students selected for the Extension Studies programme WILL NOT be allocated French.
Topics:
1. Greetings and saying your name 10. School subjects
2. Classroom objects 11. Telling the time
3. The French alphabet and spelling 12. My daily timetable
4. Numbers, ages and birthdays 13. My school day
5. Colours and classroom instructions 14. Casual clothing and school uniform
6. Countries and nationalities 15. Sport and leisure activities
7. Family members 16. My weekend
8. Pets 17. The weather
9. Personal descriptions 18. Talking about where you live
9FPS FUTURE PROBLEM SOLVING
Placement in this course will be by selection. The course offers relevant cross-curricula content and
skills in problem-solving activities based on possible future scenarios. Students confront challenges and
develop solutions for global social, political, economic, scientific and technological issues. They develop
skills in close reading and research, creative and critical thinking, structuring concise written responses
and teamwork. This is a semester option to extend and enrich high ability Year 9 students.
79GRD GRAPHICS and DESIGN
This course provides an exciting introduction to the graphics and design world. It will provide essential
skills in sketching, the design process, draughting and model making. Students will learn fundamentals
of architecture and media design.
9JAP JAPANESE
The purpose of the course is to introduce students across the full ability range to the Japanese language
and culture through the communicative approach to language learning.
In 2014, Japanese may be offered at Year 11 subject to numbers.
Topics:
1. Pleased to meet you 7. Happy Birthday
2. Where are you from? 8. I like spaghetti
3. Let’s count! 9. At the weekend
4. About us 10. What are your hobbies?
5. How many people? 11. After school
6. My pets 12. Memories of our year
9MAO MAORI - Te Reo Māori
The purpose of the course is to introduce students across the full ability range to Te Reo Māori, the
native language and culture of New Zealand, through the communicative approach to language learning.
Maori is offered at Year 9 and 10 and at Year 11 by correspondence.
Topics:
1. Karakia, Ko wai au? - Greetings
2. Pepeha, Whanāu, Whakapapa - Nuclear and extended family terms
3. Taka Kura - Naming classroom objects, asking related questions
4. Taku Kainga - Describing actions, places, numbers
5. Te Ao Maori - The Maori world
6. Taku hararei - My holiday
9MNU MATHEMATICS NUMERACY - (Numeracy Support)
Placement in this option class is by selection as a result of testing. This course is designed for students
who find Mathematics challenging and it is to help them succeed in the mainstream programme.
Parents/Guardians of children who are currently in a numeracy support programme and
Parents/Guardians who feel that their child would benefit from this class should tick the appropriate box
on the option sheet. This subject is taught as a half-year semester course.
9MAD MUSIC Advanced
This course is for students who have been receiving music tuition for at least one year or who have
reached Grade 2. The course will develop musical knowledge, listening skills and provide performance
opportunities. There is an opportunity to receive tuition through the itinerant music programme.
9MSG MUSIC General
This course is an introduction to music. Listening, composing and performing skills will be developed. A
variety of classroom musical instruments will be available and students may wish to learn an instrument
through the itinerant music programme.
89SPA SPANISH
The purpose of the course is to introduce students across the full ability range to the Spanish language
and culture through the communicative approach to language learning.
Spanish is offered in Years 9 to 13.
Topics:
10. My school day
1. Greetings and saying your name 11. Colours
2. The Spanish alphabet, spelling and numbers 12. Family and pets
3. Age, dates and birthday 13. Personal and physical descriptions
4. Countries and nationalities 14. Talking about where you live
5. The weather 15. Your house and bedroom
6. Classroom objects 16. Sport and leisure
7. Classroom instructions 17. Arranging to go out
8. School subjects and timetable 18. Giving and understanding directions
9. Telling the time
9FAD TECHNOLOGY - FASHION & DESIGN
During this semester course, students learn how to use a sewing machine and overlocker safely and
with confidence. They have an opportunity to design and construct pyjamas pants, a pin cushion and t-
shirt, using various embellishment techniques e.g. screen-printing. The students also complete a
research project relating to designers and their pyjamas.
9THS TECHNOLOGY - HARD MATERIALS (Semester Course)
This semester course aims to prepare students for further study of materials technology. It involves
constructing projects incorporating an element of design. Students will work with metal, wood and some
electronics. They will develop their practical skills along with the correct and safe use of tools.
9THY TECHNOLOGY – HARD MATERIALS (Full Year Course)
This full year course is an extension of the semester course. It is designed for students who are
considering taking workshop technology subjects such as Carpentry, Mechanical Engineering, Electro-
Technology and Automotive in the senior school. It involves constructing projects incorporating an
element of design. Students will work with metal, wood and some electronics. They will develop their
practical skills along with the correct and safe use of tools.
9HPY TECHNOLOGY - HOSPITALITY
During this semester course, students learn to prepare food safely, hygienically and creatively.
They have the opportunity to design and produce their own healthy breakfast, dessert, biscuit, Pacific
style pizza, Kiwiana and fusion food.
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