Year 7 - Arts: Drama

Overview

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.

Units / Topics Types of Assessment
Skills and Terminology Performance
Mime Drama Folio
Radio Plays Analysis Task

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)

Overview

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.

Units / Topics Types of Assessment
Elements of Music Group Performance
Analysis of Music Individual Performance
Music Composition Analysis
Ensemble Skills Composition

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


Year 7 - Arts: Visual Arts

Overview

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.

Units / Topics Types of Assessment
Painting Drawing Skills
Drawing Painting Skills (watercolour)
Printmaking Theory Component
Mixed media
Sculpture
Art theory
Art history

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

Overview

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.

Units / Topics Types of Assessment
Design Elements and Principles Graphic Design – Food truck/Logo
Graphic / Environmental / Industrial Design Technical Drawing – One-point Perspective
Typography Digital Design – Adobe Dimension / Photoshop
Colour Theory

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

Overview

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.

Units / Topics Types of Assessment
Expressive and Performance Skills Performance Analysis
Tragedy (Ancient Greek or Shakespeare) Major Performance
Comedy (Commedia Dell ‘Arte or Pantomime and Melodrama)

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

Overview

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.

Units / Topics Types of Assessment
Music Experimentation Performances
Music Genres Analysis Task
Performance skills Theory Tests

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

Overview

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.

Units / Topics Types of Assessment
Art elements and principles Drawing conventions (8 only)
Drawing Painting conventions (8 only)
Painting Still life (9 only)
Colour Theory (8 only) Printmaking (9 only)
Art styles and movements (8 only) Theory and Analysis
Composition (9 only)
Printmaking (9 only)

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

Overview

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.

Units / Topics Types of Assessment
Design Elements and Principles Isometric Drawing (8 only)
Communication Design Design Process: Industrial Design (8 only)
Design Analysis Floorplan and Elevation Drawing (9 only)
Instrumental Drawing Design Process: Environmental Design (9 only)
Industrial Design (8 only)
Environmental Design (9 only)

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

Overview

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.

Units / Topics Types of Assessment
3D Applications Major assessment task: Modelling a low polygon character/environment
Modelling in 3D Major assessment task: Animation/Simulation
Lighting Minor research project: This history/careers in animation and computer graphics
Materials
Animation – Key frame / rigging
Rendering
Simulatios
Careers
The history of animation

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


Year 9 - Arts: Dance

Overview

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.

Units / Topics Types of Assessment
Safe Dance Practice Warm Up Assessments
Cultural Dance/ Social Dance (Alternating years) Performance of Learnt Work
Dance Terminology Performance of Own Choreography
Dance Performance Analysis Assessments
Choreography

Future Directions
This subject can lead to Year 10 Dance.


Year 9 - Arts: Media

Overview

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.

Units / Topics Types of Assessment
Film Analysis of media artworks
Photography Production of media artworks

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