Humanities and Languages
Welcome to Term 3! This term is historically the busiest in the school year with a number of things taking place, one of which is Year 9 and 10 students completing subject selections for the following year. It is also crunch time for seniors with assessment; not to mention the ever-growing feeling that the end of the year is not in sight. However, the end is definitely in sight, as we cram so many things into 10 weeks!
This term will see a new cohort of Year 7s and 8s beginning their journey in Humanities, studying both History and Geography across the semester. They will be examining topics such as ancient Egypt, the Middle Ages and Shogunate Japan in History; and Water and Landscapes and Landforms in Geography. Year 9s have moved from History in Semester 1, to Geography this Semester, and will be looking at topics such as Interconnections, Globalisation and Food Security.
Senior students will be moving into their new topics this Semester also, with a taste of Year 11 and 12 being offered to Year 10s in History, Legal Studies and Economics and Business. Year 11 students will be moving toward their FIA3 and 4 tasks, and beginning topics at the end of the year that will transition them smoothly into Year 12.
For those students interested in joining the Archaeology Club, it is starting up again this term, meeting every Wednesday during second break. Some very fun and hands-on activities have been planned!
There are quite a few other things in the pipeline for Humanities this Semester, so please watch this space – no doubt there will be more to report on very soon!
Cecilia Hall
Head of Department - Humanities and Languages - Year 9E to 9G
Japanese
Year 7 have started a new unit called itadakimasu, which introduces them to Japanese food, including the importance of its presentation and Japanese dining etiquette. To learn their new vocabulary, Fridays will be spent on creating some group roleplays! They also are able to enter their 3 minute videos to the Video Matsuri for the Japan Foundation.
The Year 8 Japanese students recently attended the Consulate-General of Japan in Brisbane City where they were provided with an exciting opportunity to learn about Careers using Japanese language, and a hands-on experience with Japanese food and wearing the traditional clothes. The students tried on Japanese yukata and happi. They had a traditional lunch of teppanyaki and were highly entertained and in awe of the skills of the talented chef. The students are now currently collecting the photos and small videos to create a montage. They shopped briefly at Daiso to gather some decorations for their bento boxes. We are grateful to Andrew at the Consulate-General for his engaging and informative talk and presentation.
Year 9 have started their new topic on leisure activities. They will learn to create invitations and plan for their excursion about tourism at Movie World on the Wednesday 9th August. The intercultural and cultural aspects of this topic leads the students to explore leisure activities which families and young people in Japan enjoy; and discover popular places that families and teenagers go to hang out in Japan. This ties in perfectly with the trip to Japan and their wish lists!
Year 8 and Year 9 are also excited to create video entries for the Video Matsuri!
Georgina Wellwood
Japanese Teacher