prep newsletter year 7 autumn term 2 · 2019-10-23 · njoy your future success l prepare for...
TRANSCRIPT
Shen
field H
igh Sch
oo
l Prepare for Success!
Plan your time,
Re-read, Re-draft, Recite, Re-test, Research, Rehearse & Record
Essential Facts, Figures & Formula, Essay Model Answers
Practice Questions
Answers & Mark Scheme
Review & Reflect on your progress
Enjoy your future success
PREP Newsletter
Year 7 Autumn Term 2
What is ‘PREP’? ‘PREP’ is what we do with the information we have learnt during the school day and how we prepare for the next
day of learning. Evidence suggests that we only retain 50% of the information we learnt yesterday and after a week,
we only retain 10%. The only way we can move the information we have learnt into the long-term memory is
through re-visiting the information 4 or 5 times over a number of weeks.
In order to improve learning retention we are encouraging students to ‘PREP’ each evening after school. The focus of
the time should be on the learning from the day and learning from the previous week, month and/or year.
‘PREP’ is short for PREPARE:
• Plan your time,
• Re-read, Re-draft, Recite, Re-test, Research, Rehearse & Record
• Essential Facts, Figures & Formula, Essay Model Answers
• Practice Questions
• Answers & Mark Scheme
• Review & Reflect on your progress
• Enjoy your future success
Each department has uploaded Go4Schools and the X: Student Drive with resources, practice questions and the
answers.
Students should use the resources to PREP each evening and review any areas that they still don’t understand. If
students require feedback, help or guidance with their prep, they are encouraged to visit their teacher in a PREP
Drop-In time.
The PREP Drop-In Timetable is available on our website and in this Newsletter.
Regular ‘PREP’ will lead to successful exam and assessment results.
How to use this Newsletter Each subject has an explanation of the key assessment areas and where to find the resources for their subject. There
are also extra websites, books, APPs, links and Super Curricular opportunities listed if you would like to look at a
subject in greater depth.
The final part of the newsletter is filled with tips and strategies on how to ‘PREP’ successfully.
Improving Memory Skills & Understanding PREP
Funs Ways to PREP
All the tools, strategies and games listed can be applied to almost any subject. It is important to use the strategies to
improve understanding and information retention before you have a go at practice questions. It is essential to have
the knowledge first, before you apply it to an exam/assessment situation.
Don’t try and tackle all the resources at once. Students will be guided by their teachers through explanations and
feedback from assessments. There is a curriculum map on our website if you would like to look ahead and start
looking at the next topic.
It is important the students find the right PREP strategy for them and use them consistently.
We hope you find this newsletter useful and welcome any feedback on how we can improve it.
PREP Drop-In Timetable
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
Before
School
Sixth Form (Cooke) Sixth Form (Cooke) Music – X8 – (Sands) Sixth Form (Cooke)
Sixth Form (Cooke) Humanities (Gray) Sixth Form (Cooke)
Break
time
PE - KS3 only (Hall) Humanities (Springett)
Lunchtime
Humanities (Hogan) Art (Kemp & Murphy) PE - A Level only (Macdonald & Sapsford) Music – X8 (Sands) Science KS3 & KS4 (All Teachers) Triple Science KS4 (Mr Hall) Maths KS3 & KS4 – C93 Week A (Mr Drew) Week B (Ms Kitchen)
PE – GCSE only (Cosentino, Hall & Rigg) Humanities (Arnold) Drama (Tully, Bryan & Nowlan) KS3 Social Sciences and GCSE Sociology (Mrs Hollingsworth and Mr Bishop) C52 Sociology Science KS3 & KS4 (All Teachers) Maths KS3 & KS4 – C93 Week A (Mr Weston) Week B (Mr Drew)
Film & Media – i72 (Sherriff) MFL – H17 – Week A (Shaunak) MFL – H12 – Week B (Murphy) Science KS3 & KS4 (All Teachers) Maths KS3 & KS4 – C93 Week A (Mrs Jahromi) Week B (Mrs Toshniwal)
BTEC Sport (Thomas) KS3 Social Sciences and Sociology (Mrs Hollingsworth and Mr Bishop) C52 Science KS3 & KS4 (All Teachers) Maths KS3 & KS4 – C93 Week B (Ms Dyson) English – KS3 (All)
PE – KS3 only (Chapman & Matthews) Music – X8 – (Carter) Drama (Garnish) Science KS3 & KS4 (All Teachers) Maths KS3 & KS4 – C93 Week A (Miss Dalton) Week B (Mr Russell)
After
School
Chemistry (Mr Richards & Mrs Helim) English (All Teachers)
Business (Shearing) Biology (Mr Fletcher & Mrs Masters)
Maths KS3 & KS4 – C93 (Mr Drew) English – Year 11 Only Social Sciences (Mrs Hollingsworth)
Physics (Dr Pope)
Please Note: Most teachers will be happy to discuss PREP with you anytime during the school day. The
timetable represents times that teachers are definitely available.
Subject Topic PREP Tasks Further Research /Reading
Co
mp
ute
r Sc
ien
ce
In
tr
od
uc
tio
n t
o p
ro
gr
am
min
g
Topic area: Programming Techniques
Programming Techniques Prep Notes
Read and complete notes on the following topic areas shown in this link:
https://www.bbc.com/bitesize/topics/zhy39j6
Once done, complete all eight quizzes.
Research Task
Research about John Backus who invented the first high level language
FORTRAN and how his work has impacted the world of technology today.
Video: Computer Science is Changing Everything
Watch the video below which talks about how Computer Science and
programming is having an impact on all aspects of life, talking students through
the importance of learning how to code.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=213&v=QvyTEx1wyOY&disable_polymer=true
1. Books to read:
Codes, Ciphers and Secret Writing – Martin Gardener
(KS3)
2. Learn Python Course
www.codeacademy.com/learn/learn-python
Super-Curricular Visits
Centre For Computing History
Students will learn about the extraordinary advance in
technology over 50 years of computing history and discover
how computers have not only accelerated our lives, but
radically transformed them.
National Museum of Computing
Provides students with the fantastic opportunity to decipher
encoded messages written by Hitler and his generals,
understanding the period of code-breaking during and after
World War II.
Media & Other Links BBC Bitesize KS3 Computer Science:
https://www.bbc.com/bitesize/subjects/zvc9q6ff
Code.org: https://studio.code.org
Google Classroom: https://classroom.google.com
SHS Computer Science: www.shs.cloud
Subject Topic PREP Tasks Further Research /Reading En
glis
h
THE
NO
VEL
: GR
OW
ING
UP
AN
D C
HA
NG
E
Create a podcast using any of the following topic ideas: -A book talk or review of the book -A rework of the ending, in which you read a new ending to the novel -A made-up interview with the author -A made-up interview with a character Create a character crossword novel. Use as many sophisticated words that you have learnt over this term as you can! Create a test over the book for a classmate. Include multiple choice, true/false, matching, short-answer essay and fill-in-the-blank. Make sure to include the answer key! Write a scene that could have happened in the book but didn’t. After you have written the scene, explain how it would have changed the outcome of the book. Create an alternative cover for the novel. Who or what would you include? If you do not wish to draw or create the cover on a computer, describe your new cover in writing. Imagine that you are one of the main characters in the novel or play you are reading with your class. You should write a journal (diary) entry or blog as if you are that character at this stage in the novel. Don't forget to explore the character’s thoughts and feelings! Write a different ending to the novel.
Use Accelerated Reader to help you select your next book to read and ensure that it is at your level.
Look again at the social context of your text – what
Super-Curricular Visits
Look out for a cinema showing/a theatre showing of your book/something by the same writer.
Speak to your class teacher about things you could do that links specifically to your text.
Media & Other Links Make a powerpoint quiz on the
novel to share with your class during a library lesson.
Create a revision video based on what you have learnt over the term,
Create a quiz online for a friend to
complete based on the novel.
Subject Topic PREP Tasks Further Research /Reading P
E
The
ory
: M
usc
ula
r Sy
stem
For this half term you will be taught about the muscular system. You need to be able to label the different major muscles in the body: deltoid, biceps, triceps, pectoralis major, latissimus dorsi, external obliques, abdominals, hip flexors, gluteus maximus, quadriceps, hamstrings, gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior.
Classification and characteristics of muscle types: 1) voluntary muscles; the skeletal system (all above) 2) Involuntary muscles; in blood vessels, the digestive system 3) Cardiac muscle; the heart
Quiz At home every night ask someone in your family to quiz you on the different muscles. You must be quizzed on at least 6 different muscles every night. Record your score and keep a record until you get 6/6 every night without fail.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zpkr82p/revision/1
Super-Curricular Activities
To help PREP for the practical element of PE spend some time engaging with some physical activity. Increased activity levels make for a healthier lifestyle. This can also have a positive effect on the muscular system by increasing the size and strength of your muscles. This will also help to prevent injury.
Media & Other Links Muscular System: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zpkr82p/revision/2
Subject Topic PREP Tasks Further Research /Reading M
FL -
Fre
nch
Un
it 1
– S
e p
rése
nte
r
Mee
tin
g n
ew p
eop
le a
nd
intr
od
uci
ng
you
rsel
f
Learn the vocabulary associated with this unit – this can be found on Go4Schools under French PREP.
Complete the relevant grammar exercises on Go4Schools. There are also several tasks to work through to help put into practice what you have learnt during lessons.
Revise for End of Unit Assessment 1 using your class notes and the revision checklist for this unit. This will have been given to you by your French teacher, and can also be found in Go4Schools.
Find an article on the internet about anything that you are particularly interested in (e.g. sport, music, film, television) and make a list of new words and their meanings in English from what you find in the article. You can use Collins online French dictionary to help you with the definitions.
Try watching your favourite television shows on Netflix (or similar) with the French subtitles. Alternatively, you could change the audio setting to French and have English subtitles.
Visit the local library or check their online catalogue. There are
plenty of free resources: comic books, novels, books to
complement students’ learning… Some favourite story books
are available in French too!
French newspapers online;
www.lemonde.fr
www.lefigaro.fr
www.lequipe.fr
www.20minutos.fr
www.bbc.com/mundo
Super-Curricular Activities
Visit a local French restaurant in your area – what do you
recognise on the menu? Ask if you can take one home!
Media & Other Links www.collinsdictionary.com/french
www.quizlet.com/ashaunak (website or app)
Duolingo (app) - aim for 10-15 minutes/daily. It’s a mix of
writing, translating, practicing different vocab and listening – all
in one! It gets really competitive and fun.
Memrise (app) - aim for 10-15 minutes/daily.
www.language-gym.com/#!/ to practise verbs in all tenses
www.bbc.co.uk › languages › french › french_connection
Subject Topic PREP Tasks Further Research /Reading
MFL
- S
pan
ish
Un
it 1
- ¡
Vam
os!
Mee
tin
g n
ew p
eop
le a
nd
intr
od
uci
ng
you
rsel
f
Learn the vocabulary associated with this unit – this can be found on Go4Schools under Spanish PREP.
Complete the relevant Gramática exercises on Go4Schools. There are also several tasks to work through to help put into practice what you have learnt during lessons.
Revise for End of Unit Assessment 1 using your class notes and the revision checklist for this unit. This will have been given to you by your Spanish teacher, and can also be found in Go4Schools.
Find an article on the internet about anything that you are particularly interested in (e.g. sport, music, film, television) and make a list of new words and their meanings in English from what you find in the article. You can use Collins online Spanish dictionary to help you with the definitions.
Try watching your favourite television shows on Netflix (or similar) with the Spanish subtitles. Alternatively, you could change the audio setting to Spanish and have English subtitles.
Visit the local library or check their online catalogue. There are
plenty of free resources: comic books, novels, books to
complement students’ learning… Some favourite story books are
available in Spanish too!
Spanish newspapers online;
www.elpais.com
www.marca.com
www.20minutos.es
www.bbc.com/mundo
Super-Curricular Activities
Visit a local Spanish restaurant in your area – what do you
recognise on the menu? Ask if you can take one home!
Media & Other Links www.collinsdictionary.com/spanish
www.quizlet.com/ashaunak (website or app)
Duolingo (app) - aim for 10-15 minutes/daily. It’s a mix of writing,
translating, practising different vocab and listening – all in one! It
gets really competitive and fun.
Memrise (app) - aim for 10-15 minutes/daily. Look for sets that
are based on Mira (textbook used for Spanish at KS3)
www.language-gym.com/#!/ to practise verbs in all tenses
BBC Bitesize for Spanish
Subject Topic PREP Tasks Further Research /Reading
Ge
ogr
aph
y
Map
s an
d m
app
ing
Make a list of things that you have in your home that connect you to other places in the world e.g. TV from Japan
Find a map at home (can use google maps etc. to find one). Explain what the map is used for and how it might be useful to you.
Learn a way of remembering the 4 and 8 points of a compass.
Make a scale map of your bedroom.
Learn the keywords used in the maps topic.
Is there a map in the book you’re reading? What makes it special, pick your favourite fantasy world and design a map for it. Check out Tolkien’s maps of Middle Earth for inspiration.
Find out about the history of maps and mapmaking.
Look at how maps of your local area have changed with time.
Why have maps been so important in our history https://www.bl.uk/british-library-treasures/articles/maps-and-views
Super-Curricular Activities
Visit the British Library to experience early manuscripts and maps.
Go for a walk around your local area, using a map on your smartphone you might be surprised what’s just around the corner. Visit Greenwich Observatory and museums – home of the Prime Meridian an integral component of mapping. https://www.rmg.co.uk/royal-observatory
Media & Other Links
https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/mapzone/ This is a great place to hone your map skills through activities and games.
https://www.bbc.com/bitesize/topics/zm38q6f The BBC’s guide to map and atlas skills.
http://world-geography-games.com/ Simple fun games to get you leaning where places are in the world.
Subject Topic PREP Tasks Further Research /Reading
Mat
he
mat
ics
Mat
hs
in N
um
be
rs –
Fin
anci
al M
ath
s
TASK 1 - HEGARTY MATHS
The best place to PREP for Mathematics is www.hegartymaths.com, with online tutorials and
practice questions. The best practice is to watch and make notes on the video in your Maths PREP
book, then copy and complete the quiz questions, self-assessing using the online feedback. This
will prepare you best for your post-test.
Hegarty Clips to support this topic include:
Four Operations: 20, 21, 22, 23
Decimals: 47, 48 49
Financial Statements: 757, 758
If you work through all of these, check the feedback from your latest Pre-Test, Post-Test or Maths
Checkpoint tests. Alternatively, pop along to a PREP drop in or see your teacher for advice on
which clips to work on next.
Million Dollar Maths: The Secret Maths of Becoming Rich (or Poor) - Hugh Barker https://www.amazon.co.uk/Million-Dollar-Maths-Secret-Becoming/dp/1786493225 Managing Your Money - Jane Bingham https://www.amazon.co.uk/Managing-Your-Money-Jane-Bingham/dp/1474951260 Play a game of MONOPOLY - The fast-dealing property trading game https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hasbro-Gaming-Monopoly/dp/B0180EMWIK
TASK 2 - I GOT BILLS!
For the full document, please check Go4Schools or follow this link:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QCquEmuVQomU9lXemD0oYB4KhP-MdliD/view?usp=sharing
1. Ask an adult in your family to sit down with you and look at a utility bill. This could be for
electricity, gas or water for example, even a phone bill would work for this activity.
2. Have a look at the bill and detail any Maths you can find in the bill, taking note of anything you
find.
3. Ask your adult questions about the bill - for example, you could ask questions such as ‘What do
each of the numbers mean?’ or ‘How is the total calculated?’
Make a note of any questions you ask and the answers.
(You don’t need to write down any figures but you may do so if you or you adult wish to)
Super-Curricular Activities
Visit the Bank of England Museum, London.
Find out about keeping prices stable, lift a gold bar and
take a #GoldVaultSelfie in the ‘gold corridor’
www.bankofengland.co.uk/museum
(Free Entry)
Media & Other Links
The Mathematics of Winning Monopoly - Matt Parker &
Hannah Fry
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubQXz5RBBtU
How Does a Bank Work, and Why Do Banks Make So
Much Money?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSNXxShN2k8
Whichever PREP activity, reading or research you choose to complete, we, the Mathematics
department, want to know about it! You should make notes, keep a diary or even make a poster
to tell us what you did, what you learned and what you found interesting. Bring those notes along
to a lesson for Outstanding Learning Points and to use during your Post-Test assessment.
Subject Topic PREP Tasks Further Research /Reading H
isto
ry
Wh
o w
ill b
e k
ing
in 1
06
6?
Research the three main contenders to the throne in 1066 – Harold
Godwinson, Harald Hardrada and William Duke of Normandy- find out
3 important facts about each contender
You are a journalist in 1066 and have been given the task of reporting
on the Battle of Hastings. Before any big battle you have to report on
the preparation of each army. You are going to do this by interviewing
Harold and William. Questions you should ask: What type of soldiers
are in your army? What are your military tactics? How do you plan to
win the battle?
You are now a broadcaster and have been given the task of
commentating on the Battle of Hastings. Write a script of the
commentary. Here are some sentence starters to help you:
Good Afternoon and welcome to live coverage of the Battle of
Hastings!
Before the Battle I was able to have a chat with William/Harold. He
said he was going to win because…
The battle has started. It is very tense. The key events so far are...
Oh no! This can’t be good for Harold, he has just……
That’s it, it is all over! William wins the battle. I knew he was going
to win because…
Reading:
Wulf the Saxon – A story of the Norman Conquest by
G.A Henty
Stormin Normans by Terry Deary
The History Detective Investigates: The Normans and
the Battle of Hastings – Philip Parker
There is a selection of Horrible Histories magazines in H63 that
you may read (speak to Mrs Howard for more information)
Research What can you find out about the Battle of Hastings from the
Bayeux Tapestry? What can we learn from this famous
historical source?
Family Fun A fun board game covering a whole variety of periods including
the Saxons and the Normans
Super-Curricular Visits
Have a look on the English Heritage site for museums and upcoming events - https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/
Subject Topic PREP Tasks Further Research /Reading A
rt
Fo
rm
al
El
em
en
ts
of
Ar
t
Formal Elements of Art Line, Form, Shape, Tone, Texture, Pattern and Colour
Create a collage of fruits, showing texture and colour. Make it A4 and chose a subject that will allow you to incorporate as many different types of texture as you can. This work should demonstrate that you have put 3 hours of good work into the finished piece.
Make a tonal pencil drawing of an object. Use the widest possible range of light and dark. Take care with the perspective. Fill the page to create an interesting composition. As always the best part of 3 hours should be spent to make the best image possible.
Use a pen (your choice of type, e.g. biro, gel, fine point…) to draw interesting dried leaves. Lots of detail required. Same rules as above.
What is a primary source observational drawing? When you are
actually looking at the object you are sketching. Hint: spend
70% of your time looking and 30% drawing. Don’t believe your
brain; it only thinks it knows what an object (e.g. mug) looks like.
Research the following Artists:
1. Leonardo da Vinci
2. MC Escher
3. Albrecht Durer
4. Simon Hennessey
5. Yayoi Kusama
Super-Curricular Visits
We are extremely lucky to live near the great city of London
where most of the museums and art galleries are free.
Find out more at:
https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/ https://www.npg.org.uk/ https://www.vam.ac.uk/
And Many More
Media & Other Links Drawing from observation and photos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTO3F-G0ga8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKXqccWTzpw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WR-FyUQc6I https://thevirtualinstructor.com/blog/how-to-draw-texture
Subject Topic PREP Tasks Further Research /Reading So
cial
Sci
en
ces
Ch
rist
ian
ity
Produce an information leaflet which guides people around your local church or a church you know well
Carry out some research on the historical background of either Chelmsford or another famous cathedral
Design a comic strip of one of the following rites of passage- Baptism, confirmation, wedding or funeral
Print out a map of the world – label and name 10 countries which have large numbers of Christians living there and say how many there are
Make up a 10 question quiz on Christianity, this could be a way of revising for the fact check you will have in class
Compulsory teacher led PREP will be placed on GO4Schools – This half term, the assessment is a fact check of all the work you will do on Christianity – pupils will be given further guidance in class and a revision checklist and will need to use revision and memory techniques to learn all the work for a class test.
Visit BBC bitesize and look at the resources on the key beliefs of the Christian religion.
Research why there are lots of different types of church buildings and groups
Super-Curricular Activities
Take a visit to a church or cathedral near you and try to find the key features we have discussed in class.
Media & Other Links Find a video or youtube clip of a wedding. You could use Prince Harry and Meghan’s wedding. As you watch, look for all the features in the church as well as listening to the parts of the ceremony.
Subject Topic PREP Tasks Further Research /Reading Sc
ien
ce
Bio
logy
: Li
vin
g th
ings
Ch
em
istr
y: E
lem
en
ts a
rou
nd
us
Ph
ysic
s : E
ne
rgy
Prep will be set once a fortnight to be reviewed in a prep quiz in a following lesson.
The cells prep project will be introduced by the class teacher and put on Go4schools to run alongside the unit.
Prep will be set once a fortnight to be reviewed in a prep quiz in a following lesson.
The rocks and weathering prep project will be introduced by the class teacher and put on Go4schools to run alongside the unit.
Prep will be set once a fortnight to be reviewed in a prep quiz in a following lesson.
The energy resources prep project will be introduced by the class teacher and put on Go4schools to run alongside the unit.
Nuclear Fission and Fusion…it’s the future baby!!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LekacMuM12Y
What if Oil ran out? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiNtrOS88rs
Super-Curricular Activities
2018 the year of the engineer check out the link below
https://www.yearofengineering.gov.uk/inspired
Media & Other Links
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m55kgyApYrY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnQ2VibernI
https://www.bbc.com/bitesize/guides/z99jq6f/revision/1
Visit the Body
Worlds
Exhibition in
London
Subject Topic PREP Tasks Further Research /Reading
DR
AM
A
MEL
OD
RA
MA
AN
D C
OM
MED
IA D
ELL’
AR
TE
Task 1:
Watch one of the following:
Charlie Chaplin
Jim Carrey (The Mask, Liar Liar, Bruce Almighty, Ace Ventura)
Mr Bean (Rowan Atkinson)
Complete for following questions on one of the actors you have watched:
1. How does the actor use their facial expressions to create comedy?
2. How does the actor use their physical skills (movement/body language/hand gestures) to
create comedy?
3. How does the actor use their vocal skills to create comedy?
Task 2:
Using 4 Characters from your lesson – Design and Create a Commedia Dell’ Arte Costume for all 4
characters of your choice.
BBC Bitesize:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesi
ze/guides/ztfk6sg/revision/5
The World of Commedia
Dell’Arte:
https://www.youtube.com/wa
tch?v=h_0TAXWt8hY
Media and other Links
Mr Bean:
https://www.youtube.com/wa
tch?v=ZQryUvMpGk8
Jim Carrey:
https://www.youtube.com/wa
tch?v=Evp1zDqSaHA
Charlie Chaplin:
https://www.youtube.com/wa
tch?v=_0a998z_G4g
https://www.youtube.com/wa
tch?v=6n9ESFJTnHs
Task 3:
Create your own Commedia Dell’Arte mind map showcasing all you know and have learnt about
this style of theatre. Make it colourful and interesting to look at/read. See example below:
Subject Topic PREP Tasks Further Research /Reading M
usi
c
Po
p M
usi
c an
d S
on
g W
riti
ng
PREP Assessment Complete the following PREP Knowledge PREP – Make sure you are
ready for your second PREP Assessment! Click HERE
Additional PREP Activities
Keyboard sheets on Go4Schools – Under Music PREP you will find all the music for this scheme of work. If you have a keyboard at home you should download them to practice. If you do not have a keyboard, use an online keyboard https://virtualpiano.net/ or download a keyboard APP.
Music Artist Profile – In your Knowledge PREP you learnt about ‘Lady Gaga’. Create a ‘Music artist profile’ of your own for a different pop music artist or song writer.
Listen to some pop songs by your chosen artist on YouTube and write down musical features such instrument used, tempo, dynamics, can you hear a riff, bass line and chords?
Find videos on ‘How to write a pop Song’.
Find out about different song writers and see what inspired them to write certain songs.
Super-Curricular Activities
Visit the Pop & Rock section in the Victoria and Albert Museum http://www.vam.ac.uk/page/p/pop-and-rock-music/
Media & Other Links BBC – How Pop Song Works – Part 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOAUkCX93WA
You can also watch all the other parts too!
Improving Memory Skills & Understanding PREP 1. Self-Testing
Self-testing in an effective tool if you have a large amount of information to learn for an assessment or exam.
Let’s say you had to remember the definition of 20 key words.
Start by writing out five key words and their definitions. Study them for 2 or 3 minutes, then put the sheet away.
On another piece of paper, try to write down the key words and definitions from memory.
If you were not able to recall all 5, then repeat the process again. Study the definitions and re-test.
Once you are able to recall 5 key words and definitions, add another 5 to the original sheet.
Give yourself 4 or 5 minutes to study the 10 key words and definitions. Put the sheet away and re-test but this time
with 10.
Build this up until you can recall all 20 key words and definitions.
More importantly, re-test yourself a week later. Review your progress and go back to any definitions or words you
were unable to write down. Then, re-test yourself a month later with the same words.
The more you re-test, the more you will retain and the easier it becomes.
These techniques could be applied to:
Key Information for an Essay
Character names and profiles
Formula
Translations
Case Studies
Experiment processes
Arguments or Quotations
And many more!
2. Mind Mapping
Mind Mapping is a highly effective way of getting information in and out of your brain. Mind Mapping is a creative and logical means of note-taking and note-making that literally "maps out" your ideas.
All Mind Maps have some things in common. They have a natural organisational structure that radiates from the centre and use lines, symbols, words, colour and images according to simple, brain-friendly concepts. Mind Mapping converts a long list of monotonous information into a colourful, memorable and highly organised diagram that works in line with your brain's natural way of doing things.
Think of your general main theme and write that down in the centre of the page. i.e. Food
Figure out sub-themes of your main concept and draw branches to them from the centre, beginning to look like a spider web i.e. Meats, Dairy, Breads
Make sure to use very short phrases or even single words Add images to invoke thought or get the message across better Try to think of at least two main points for each sub-theme you created and create branches out to those
3. Revision Cards
Revision cards are small handheld cards that contain key information. The cards should have a title at the top with 5
or 6 key words, formula or sentences. Try and keep the colour consistent for each topic e.g. green cards for the
Environment.
TIP: On the back of the revision card, write the title from the front. Then, after you have read through your cards a
number of times, turn them over. Look at the title and self-test yourself on the information. Once you have recalled
all you can, turn the card back over and check your answers.
4. Complete the Sentence
If you have a large number of facts to learn for an essay, write out ten key sentences you wish to memorise for the
essay. Then, on a separate piece of paper, write out the first half of the sentence and leave the other half blank. Take
a break, make a cup of tea, then come back and try to complete the sentences from memory.
If you managed to complete all ten, try and add more sentences and repeat the exercise.
TIP: Once you can complete the sentences with ease, test yourself further by trying to write out all the key sentences
from memory without the sentence starters!
Fun Ways to PREP
1. Key Words Crossword Puzzle Choose a subject and write down all the key words you need to learn. Find an online Crossword creator, there are a huge number of web sites that can do this for you. For the clues, write the definition of the key word. Once the crossword has been created, leave it for a few days/weeks. Then, try and complete it. Don’t forget to print out the answer sheet so you can self-check the answers! Here is an example below:
2. Key Word Pictionary For this game you will need at least one other person. With a friend or group of friends, decide which subject and set of Key Words you wish to learn or revise. Write them down on individual cards. Try to have a large number so they are not too obvious. Take it in turns to draw (without using words, symbols or speaking) something that represents the key word you wish to learn. *Want to Make the Game Harder?* The other player who is trying to guess the key word can’t say the key word, but must give the correct definition of it! Here is an example below:
The Easy Answer: An Atom
1. *The Definition Answer: 2. The smallest particle of a chemical element that can
exist.
ACROSS DOWN 2. What does the ‘H’ in SHS stand for? 1. In what year group do you take A Level exams? 5. What is ‘PREP’ short for? 3. What is the surname of our Headteacher?
4. In what Year group do you take GCSE exam?
3. Write a Short Story If you have a large number of facts, figures or key words to remember, write a short story that you can recite to yourself in the exam. The more interesting and funny your story is, the more likely you are to remember the facts. Here is an example:
1.To begin our adventure into storytelling, start by reading the paragraph below, which recounts a brief and
chaotic story. Your task is simply to understand what happens:
"A man called Nigel is sat next to his enormous, 300lb pet squid as they travel around in the back of his
lime-green limo. They're arguing over what to watch on the limo's TV: Coronation Street, or Sesame Street.
It soon turns into a fight, which the squid wins by using its eight limbs to empty eight pepper-grinders on to
Nigel's head. Nigel leaps from the car in terror and runs away towards the sea, cleverly heading through a
thick yellow field of rapeseed to stop the squid from following. On reaching the beach, he meets Prince
Harry, who is celebrating his 25th birthday. Prince Harry persuades Nigel to help him confront two Gallic
dancers who have eaten a beautiful "she-swan" (without the Queen's permission). After the attack, Nigel
jumps into the sea and swims out towards, as luck would have it, the Lady of Shalott, who is bobbing up and
down in a boat made from a giant orange pepper. She invites him on board and they fall in love."
It will have taken you perhaps a minute to read through this. This should demonstrate just how quickly and effortlessly your mind can imagine elaborate scenes it has never encountered before.
Your next step is to see how much of the story you recall. First, close your eyes and repeat the story as well as you can in your head. When you're done, open your eyes and write down all the items you have successfully recalled. This will give you a sense of how many useful memories you can store in around a minute or so. Hopefully you'll have impressed yourself again.
Now, you'll perhaps be wondering what the point of remembering a random list of objects like this might be. But here we can reveal that the story you've learned is not at all random, but in fact encodes the ingredients for a Nigel Slater recipe. Hooray! The 300lb squid represents 300g of squid; the lime-green limo is a lime; Coronation Street stands for coriander; Sesame Street for sesame oil; eight pepper grinders for eight crushed peppercorns; the rapeseed field for rapeseed oil; Prince Harry celebrating his birthday for 25g ginger; two Gallic dancers for two cloves of garlic; the "she-swan" for Szechuan pepper; the sea for salt; the Lady of Shalott for shallots; the orange pepper boat for one large orange pepper.
Have a look over these connections. Your last task is to try to remember the ingredients that correspond to each element in the story. Once you've done that, you're ready to make your squid and pepper stir-fry …
1. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2012/jan/15/story-lines-facts
4. Key Term Word Search Choose a subject and write down all the key words you need to learn. Find an online Word Search creator, there are a huge number of web sites that can do this for you.
For the clues, write the definition of the key word.
Once the word search has been created, leave it for a few days/weeks. Then, try and complete it. Don’t forget to print out the answer sheet so you can self-check the answers!
Here is an example below:
1. What is ‘PREP’ short for? 2. What is the surname of our Headteacher? 3. What year group take their GCSE exams? 4. What year group take their A Level exams? 5. What does the ‘H’ in SHS stand for?
5. Write a poem If you have a large number of facts, figures or key words to remember, write a poem that you can re-cite to yourself in the exam. Try and make it rhyme on the key words and throw in their definitions if you can.
6. Card Matching Game Use revision cards. They must all be the same size and colour. On half the cards, write a key word on each. On the other half of the cards, write their definitions on each. With a friend, turn all the cards so they face down on the table. Each person takes it in turns to turn over two cards. If they turn over the key word and the correct definition, they get to keep them. If the two cards do not match, they must be turned back and it is the next persons turn. The winner is the person with the most cards at the end. You not only have to remember where the key words and the definitions are, but match them as well!
Here is an example:
7. Name That Tune! Choose a song from the charts that you know really well and enjoy singing along to. Now, re-write the lyrics so they contain all the facts and key words you need to remember. Try to keep to the same number of syllables for each line! Then, sing the words out loud as many times as you need to remember the lyrics. TIP: Go to youtube or karaoke site and use the backing track/instrumental so you can sing your lyrics along to the beat!
8. Alphabet Prep Challenge yourself to write a key fact, definition or key word for each letter of the alphabet. It works best with a single topic or area. Once you have completed it, memorise it using some of the techniques in this book. Finally, challenge yourself to recall all the information using the alphabet as your guide and prompt!
PENTATONIC
SCALE
A Musical Scale
containing
only 5 notes.
