The Arts - Junior

Year 7 - Arts: Drama

This course introduces students to Drama and the fundamental skills required for the creation and presentation of performances. Students will develop their collaborative skills, working in groups to devise and perform original or scripted works, focusing on expressive skills, performance skills and character development. Students will view professional works and develop their literacy skills in the process of analysing, evaluating and describing the performances.

Future Directions
Satisfactory completion of this subject will provide a sound foundation for students to proceed to Year 8 Drama.

Year 7 - Arts: Music (compulsory)

Students develop skills to create, rehearse and perform music in both a solo and ensemble setting, as well as develop an understanding of the various elements of music and how to manipulate them to create their own compositions. Students develop a vocabulary of music-specific terminology which they can utilise in the analysis and evaluation of various musical performances.

Future Directions
Satisfactory completion of this subject will provide a sound foundation to proceed to Year 8 Music.

Year 7 - Arts: Visual Arts

In Year 7 Visual Art, students explore and develop a variety of artistic skills and practices. Students complete several small workshops using a variety of Art materials and methods. Students document their work using a visual diary and annotations. Students reflect upon their own artwork and the work of professional artists. Artists and practices of influence include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and Asia.

Workshops may vary from the listed Units/Topics.

Future Directions
Satisfactory completion of this subject will provide a sound foundation for students to proceed to Year 8 or 9 Visual Art.

Year 7 - Arts: Visual Communication Design

In Year 7 Visual Communication Design, students develop skills in designing products, spaces and graphics that are beautiful, useful, and inspired by real life designers in the field. Students learn about the Design Elements and Principles through practice and analysis of the designs of others.

Future Directions
Satisfactory completion of this subject will provide a sound foundation for students to proceed with Year 8 or 9 Visual Communication Design.

Year 8 and 9 Arts: Drama

This subject covers two key genres in performance, Tragedy and Comedy and focuses on the development of skill learned in Year 7 (for those who studied Drama). Through the study of specific forms of Tragedy and Comedy students develop their skills in understanding role, character, and theatrical conventions, while manipulating expressive skills. They research and examine the historical, social, and cultural contexts behind these styles and their impact on performance. Students also develop their ability to analyse dramatic performance, explore meaning and interpretation and evaluate actor ability within their own and other’s work.

This subject can be studied in Year 8 and in Year 9.

Future Directions
Satisfactory completion of this subject will provide a sound foundation for students to proceed to Year 9 or 10 Drama and VCE Theatre Studies in future years.

Year 8 and 9 - Arts: Music Performance

The Music curriculum aims to build the confidence of our students to be creative, innovative, thoughtful, skilful, and informed musicians. Through active participation, students develop skills to listen, improvise, compose, interpret, perform, and respond with intent and purpose. Students extend their understanding of music as an aural art form by broadening their knowledge and respect for music and music practices across global communities, cultures, and musical traditions.

NB. This subject can be studied both semesters.

This subject can be studied in Year 8 and in Year 9.

Future Directions
Satisfactory completion of this subject will provide a sound foundation for students to proceed to Music in Year 10.

Year 8 and 9 - Arts: Visual Arts

Students learn about the importance and significance of Art throughout history and in the broader context of society. They learn how to develop their ideas independently and collaboratively by research, experimentation, and refinement in a folio. Students learn how to experiment with and apply a variety of materials and techniques to create resolved Artworks that communicate, express and challenge ideas.

They reflect on their own Art and that of others by using Arts language and discussing the art elements and principles.

This subject can be studied at Year 8 and Year 9.

Future Directions
Satisfactory completion of this subject will provide a sound foundation for students to proceed to Art or VCD in Year 9 or 10.

Year 8 and 9 - Arts: Visual Communication Design

This subject covers the three fields of design: Graphic, Environmental, and Industrial. Students use the design process to work through a variety of assessment tasks and generate creative solutions. They will write a design brief, research existing designs, produce several sketches, experiment with materials, methods and media and create a final solution that meets the needs of the client.

This subject can be studied at Year 8 and Year 9.

Future Directions
Satisfactory completion of this subject will provide a sound foundation for students to proceed to VCD in Year 10

Year 9 - Arts: 3D Modelling and Animation

Students develop an understanding of basic 3D modelling and animation techniques through a series of learning modules. Topics studied include understanding 3D primitives, low polygon modelling, lighting, materials properties, rendering, basic animation, simulations, careers, and the history of 3D animation. The subject is designed to build skills in Art, Maths and Technology. Students will be given the opportunity to create objects in a 3D space and print them using a resin printer.

Future Directions
Satisfactory completion of this subject will provide additional skills for VCD/Art subjects, Mathematics, and general Technology subjects.

Year 9 - Arts: Dance

This subject covers cultural and social dance and their influence on modern Australian dance styles. Through the study of the history of dance, students develop their skills in performing, analysing, and choreographing dance. Students also develop their knowledge and understanding of the Elements of Dance, Choreographic Devices, Group Structures and Body Actions.

Students analyse choreographers’ use of the elements of dance, choreographic devices, and form and production elements to communicate choreographic intent in dances they make, perform and view. They evaluate the impact of dance from different cultures, times, and locations.

Future Directions
This subject can lead to Year 10 Dance.

Year 9 - Arts: Media

The Media Arts curriculum encompasses the fields of media, art, and design. In Media Arts, students create visual representations that communicate, challenge, and express their own and others’ ideas, as both artist and audience. They develop their perceptual and conceptual understandings, critical reasoning, and practical skills through exploring the world through the media arts. Students learn about the role of the artist and designer, their contribution to society, and the significance of the creative industries. Media Arts has the capacity to engage, inspire and enrich the lives of students, encouraging them to develop their creative and intellectual potential.

Future Directions
Satisfactory completion of this subject will provide additional skills for Media and Arts subjects.