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Pre-reading Year 7 homework booklet - Nurture

December 2021

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Contents

Page 3 Introduction and reading rules

Page 4 English

Pages 5-6 Geography

Page 7 Maths

Page 8 Design and Technology

Page 9 Science

Page 10 Computing

Page 11 History

Page 12 Art

Page 13 Physical Education

Page 14 French

Page 15 EBC

Page 16 Drama

Page 17 Music

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Introduction

This homework booklet is designed to encourage you to read and research

the topics you will be studying in each subject next term.

Research shows that pupils who read regularly, achieve higher results in tests.

WPSFG Reading Rules

First reading is understanding

• Highlight any words you do not understand and try to use strategies to

work out what they mean

• Track with a ruler

• Summarise key points

Second reading is zooming in

• Identifying any interesting features

• How does the extract make you feel?

• How might this extract be interpreted by others?

Once you have finished your pre-reading, look for other examples of

research and reading you could do

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English: Wolf-Brother

The first in a series Chronicles of Ancient Darkness. Following the death of his

father, Torak discovers that he must embark on a quest for which he does not

feel prepared, pursued by the enormous bear that killed his father.

Accompanied by a wolf cub, symbol of the clan from which he has been

excluded, Torak’s journey through the Forest is atmospherically and

convincingly portrayed, combining ancient magic with practical details

about how he survives.

Task: Research Michelle Paver’s website and learn more about the world of

Torak!

Question: Would you like to read this book? Why?

Vocabulary: Find out the definitions for ‘atmospheric’ and ‘convincing’

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Geography: Weather

Last half term you did some pre-reading to prepare you for the Weather topic that you

will be starting in January.

Recap:

Weather describes the condition of the atmosphere (the air that surrounds the Earth). It

might be sunny, hot, windy or cloudy, raining or snowing.

Climate describes the average weather conditions of a large area (such as parts of

countries, whole countries, or even groups of countries) over a long period of time (30

years or more).

To prepare for when you start the Weather topic in January, read an extract from the

book below that is based on a storm:

Flash Flood by Chris Ryan

Chapter One

“This is crap, this train,” said the youth with the

pierced eyebrow, and kicked the door next to his

seat. It was one of the old-type trains with doors

that slam shut, and when he kicked it the window

rattled.

…

Like everyone else in the carriage, Ben and

Rachel tried to ignore them. The train journey was

unpleasant enough as it was. Ever since they had

got on at their home town of Macclesfield in

Cheshire it had been stop-start all the way. Now it

was stop. Heavy rain had caused flooding and

signal failures. The carriage smelled of wet

raincoats and damp seats; the floor was wet from

dripping umbrellas. Some people were wearing

wellington boots. You could hardly believe it was

the first week of August.

Everyone was fed up, wondering when the train

was going to move again. Ben Tracey was going

to London to spend the day with his mother.

Everyone in the carriage was sitting and gritting

their teeth, or looking out at the relentless rain, which lashed the windows like a storm at

sea.

…

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The train began to move again, slowly, painfully. The guard spoke over the tannoy.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we are now on the move again. We’re running forty-five minutes

late. But just to cheer you up, the weather in London isn’t any better than the weather

here.”

Around the carriage, people sighed, looking at their watches and flipped open their

phones. They were thoroughly fed up with all this rain.

Tasks:

• Highlight any key words that you are unsure of. Make a note of them and do

some research to help you come up with a definition.

• What is the name of the book that the extract is from? What is the name of the

author?

Answer the following questions using the extract from the book:

• What month is it in the book?

• Where was Ben travelling to?

• How late was the train running?

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Maths: Fractions

A fraction is a portion of something larger. The word "fraction" comes from the Latin word

fraction, which means "to break." When you break something into parts, the parts are a

fraction of the whole. They are used to represent parts in a convenient format in

mathematics and other topics. Proper and improper fractions, equivalent fractions, and so

on are some different classifications of fractions.

Fractions are a type of number that are made up of two whole numbers. A fraction is written

as "a/b" and represents the number of parts in a whole, where a is called the numerator

and b is called the denominator. For example, 4/6 would mean four parts out of a total of

six. Fractions can also be negative. Learning how to work with fractions helps us better

understand division and simplify really big or really small numbers into something more

manageable.

Proper Fraction

A fraction where the numerator is less than the denominator, then it is known as a proper

fraction.

i.e., Numerator < Denominator

Improper Fraction

A fraction where the numerator is greater than the denominator, then it is known as an

improper fraction.

i.e., Numerator > Denominator

Mixed Fraction

A mixed fraction is the combination of a natural number and fraction. It is basically an

improper fraction.

Task: What are the two parts of a fraction called?

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Design and Technology

During the 1970s, Alberto Alessi

began employing product

designers to make original and

fun designs for everyday kitchen

equipment. The bright colours

and stylish designs were mass

produced and affordable to

everyone.

Designer’s you need to know: Choose between Task 1 or 2

Alessi

Task 1: Choose an Item in your Kitchen and redesign it in the style

of Alessi.

William Morris Williams Morris was a designer

and artist best known for his

bold, nature-themed fabric and

wallpaper prints. He was part of

the Arts and Crafts movement,

with a love of craftsmanship and

a hatred of mass-produced

products.

Task 2: look at the examples of Morris’s

work and choose 3 natural object to draw

into a pattern for wrapping paper, in the

style of William Morris. e.g. Bird, leaves

and berries

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Science: Matter

States of matter

Everything is made up from matter. Matter usually exists in one of three states or phases:

solid, liquid, or gas. The chair you are sitting on is a solid, the water you drink is liquid, and

the air you breathe is a gas.

Changing State

The atoms and molecules don't change, but the way they move about does. Water, for

example, is always made up of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. However, it

can take the state of liquid, solid (ice), and gas (steam). Matter changes state when more

energy gets added to it. Energy is often added in the form of heat or pressure. Solid water

is called ice. This is water with the lowest energy and temperature. When solid, the

molecules in water are held tightly together and cannot move around, instead they

vibrate on the spot. Liquid water is just called water. As ice heats up it will change phases

to liquid water. Liquid molecules are looser and can move about easily. Gas water is

called steam or vapor. When water boils it will turn to vapor. These molecules are hotter,

looser, and moving faster than the liquid molecules. They are more spread apart and can

be compressed or squished.

Tasks:

1. Highlight any words you do not know and research their meanings. Write the

meanings in your self quizzing book.

2. Write a summarising paragraph on the text in your self quizzing book.

Particle

diagrams for

solids, liquids

and gases. This

shows how the

particles are

arranged in

these states.

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Computing: Programming

Programming is writing computer code to create a program, to solve a

problem. Programs are created to implement algorithms. Algorithms can be represented

as pseudocode or a flowchart, and programming is the translation of these into a

computer program.

To tell a computer to do something, a program must be written to tell it exactly what to

do and how to do it. In order to do this, you need to know how programs are constructed.

TASK

What is programming?

Why does program need to be exact?

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History: What Was Life Like in Medieval England?

Medieval England refers to the period from 1066 until 1485.

Medieval society was very hierarchical, with the

King at the top and peasants right at the

bottom. Most people lived in villages and were

peasants who worked on the land.

The church was very important to everyone’s lives. People went every Sunday and peasants had

to pay some of their money to the church.

There were not many towns in Medieval England and those that

existed were small. Skilled craftsmen could be found working in

towns, and they were also the main place where people went to

trade. Towns were very unclean. People threw their waste (including

from the toilet) into the street and there was lots of disease. Life was

rather short during the Medieval period, most people only lived until

about 31 years old.

Tasks:

1. Look up and write down the definition of the words that are underlined

2. Summarise what you have read in no more than 50 words

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Art: Vincent Van Gogh

Vincent Van Gogh (1853 – 1890) was one of the most well-known Post-

Impressionist artists, for whom colour was the best tool for expression.

He was born in Holland, the son of a paster, into a

religious and cultured atmosphere. He believed

that his true calling was to preach the gospel;

however, at aged twenty-seven he decided to

become an artist.

He went to Belgium to study art, determined to

give happiness by creating beauty. Van Gogh

met and befriended many other famous artists,

like Pissarro and Gaugin. Having met the new

Impressionist painters, he began to lighten his

colour palette and to paint in the short brush

strokes of the Impressionists ’style.

During his brief career, he did not

experience much success, he sold only one

painting, lived in poverty, was

malnourished, and overworked. Van

Gogh's finest works were produced in less

than three years in a technique involving

heavy brush strokes, symbolic and intense

colour, tension, and the movement of form

and line. Van Gogh's unique style is

powerful, dramatic, imaginative, and

emotional, for the artist was completely obsessed with trying to explain either

his struggle against madness, or his ideas about nature and life, through his

art.

Despite his lack of success during his lifetime, Van Gogh’s legacy lives on

having left a lasting impact on the world of art. Van Gogh is now viewed not

only as one of the greater Post-Impressionists of the 20th Century, but as one

of the most influential artists of all time.

Task – Write a short summary paragraph about Vincent Van Gogh, you

should mention his style of painting, his influences and anything else you feel

is worth summarizing.

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Physical Education

Next term we will be looking at the Main functions of the skeletal system. There are 6 things that

our skeleton helps us with and contributes to.

Each function

1. Support – Keeps the body upright

2. Posture – Gives the body shape

3. Protection – Protects vital organs such as the lungs, heart or brain

4. Movement – Allows you to be able to move and walk

5. Blood cell production – Some bones produce red blood cells

6. Storage of minerals – Stores minerals such as calcium

TASK: Using the above information, make 2 revision cards. Put 3 functions of the skeletal system on

each card. If you do not have revision cards at home, you can make somE using paper. There are

some examples of revision cards below.

Card 1- Short term effects of

exercise

Card 2- Long term effects of

exercise

Only add key information. Use

bullet points or spider webs/

images to display the information.

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French: Identity

Slimane Nebchi was born in Chelles, Seine-et-Marne, France in 1989. Slimane is a French

singer/songwriter and he grew up in the eastern province of Paris. He started writing his own

“chansons” (songs) and uploading them to the internet. Songs like “Nous deux” (Us two). He

entered the seventh season of singing in The Nouvelle Star in 2009. He did not win but he

returned again in 2011. Slimane's version of Vitaa's "À Fleur de Toi" saw all four judges turn their

chairs. He won the series. Several singles appeared before Universal issued his debut album, “A

Bout de Reves”, just a few months after.

Answer the questions below:

1. In What country was Slimane born?

________________________________________________________________

2. How do you write in French ‘Nous deux’ and ‘songs’?

________________________________________________________________

3. What is the name of the song that saw all four judges turn their chairs?

________________________________________________________________

4. Did you like the song “Nous deux”? Write the sentence in French with your

opinion.

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

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EBC: Human Rights

The First World war and Second World War saw millions of people lose their lives.

This led to set up of The United Nations. They are a group of countries who

wanted peace and to make sure that the horrors of the first and second world

wars were never repeated.

The first thing the United Nations did was ask a team of people to think about

what makes humans happy, healthy, and safe.

This team was led by an American, Eleanor Roosevelt, and they created the

Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In 1948, 48 countries who were members

of the United Nations signed up to this declaration.

Here are the reasons why it was written:

❖ Because respect for the equal importance of every human being is the

only way the world will have freedom, justice and peace;

❖ Because ignoring the rights of human beings has caused acts of hatred

that have shocked and saddened the people of the world; and we all

want to live in a world where people can speak freely what they believe,

and where no one is poor or afraid;

❖ Because it is important that the laws should protect all people, so that no

one is forced to rebel against cruelty;

❖ Because all countries need to have the same understanding of what

these human rights and freedoms are;

Read and underline/highlight any words you do not understand

1. What do people need to feel happy, healthy and safe?

2. What do you think is the most important reason why the declaration of

human rights was written? Are they all important reasons?

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Drama: Kindertransport

The Kindertransport was a British

rescue mission that took place at the

beginning of WWII.

Over 10,000 Jewish children from

various countries were placed in British

foster homes.

Plot of Kindertransport written by Diane Samuels

Helga and Werner Schlesinger are parents faced with the difficult choice of

keeping their daughter Eva in Germany with them, or letting her become

one of the Kindertransport children, who are sent to the UK, alone.

When Eva arrives in London, speaking no English, and feeling abandoned,

she is looked after by Lil Miller.

The play jumps between three time periods:

1) Before The War – Helga tries to prepare Eva to leave her home and

parents.

2) During The War - Eva is living in England with Lil, adjusting to a new

country, and desperately trying to get her parents out of Germany.

3) After The War - Eva (who has now changed her name to Evelyn) is an

adult, has a daughter named Faith, and has intentionally forgotten

most of her past.

Kindertransport tells the story about a child being separated from her parents

and the sacrifices that came with this.

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Year 7 Music Pre-Reading

Dynamics

Music can be loud or quiet, or somewhere in between. The volume of a piece of music

can change gradually or suddenly. Another word for volume is DYNAMICS, which is one

of our musical elements.

Dynamic markings

In music, we use lots of Italian keywords. This is because Italian composers were seen as

the leaders of European music. Composers would use Italian when writing down

directions to performers. This is why we use the Italian words forte(loud) and piano (quiet).

These words tell you what dynamics to use when playing a particular piece. Contrasts in

dynamics are often used to help set the mood of the piece and add expression.

Here are some of the dynamic directions and their abbreviations:

Italian key word Abbreviation Meaning

pianissimo pp very quiet

piano p quiet

mezzo piano mp moderately quiet

mezzo forte mf moderately loud

forte f loud

fortissimo ff very loud

crescendo cresc. gradually getting louder

diminuendo dim. gradually getting quieter

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This sign is also used to show a CRESCENDO

This sign is also used to show a DIMINUENDO

Questions to answer:

1. Make a list of 5 sounds that are forte (loud).

2. Make a list of 5 sounds that are piano (quiet).

3. What word is used for very quiet?

4. Describe the sounds you would hear if you were at a rock concert. Think

about the dynamics – would it be loud or quiet?