KS3 Exam Revision Tips

Hi everyone

The warm sunny weather has finally arrived… but this means exam time! Click on the links below to access some tips that will help focus your exam revision. Remember don’t just read through your work – make sure that you test your understanding and knowledge too! Create spidergrams, mind maps and post-its of key information that you need to know. Get an adult or friend to test you and review what you have learnt on a daily basis. Make up mnemonics or songs to help you remember key points!

Year 8 Exam Revision 2012

Year 10 Exam Revision List 2012

Good luck – happy revising!

Mrs Reid & Mr Burnett

Year 9: Spanish Armada Defeat

Hi everyone

Could you please post your thoughts on what you think was the main reason for the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588. I look forward to reading your ideas! Good luck with your revision.

Happy Jubilee weekend!

Mr Burnett

Year 10 Titanic Trip

Hi everyone

Our Year 10 History pupils travelled to Belfast on Thursday 10 May and boarded the Belfast Barge which is permanently moored behind the Waterfront Hall. It is part of the Lagan Legacy Heritage Project which uses physical artefacts and oral history recordings to tell the story of Belfast’s maritime history. The pupils were able to take part in lots of engaging activities, even seizing the opportunity to dress up in old shipyard workers’ clothes without any prompting! They were also able to develop their interview skills by hot-seating a special guest called George, an old Harland and Wolff shipyard worker. He shared his memories of life in the shipyard and encouraged the pupils to chat to their grandparents and elderly neighbours about life in the past – our living history!

Matthew Rowland shone on the day and was our top historian as he impressed us all by asking lots of insightful questions. This experience provided links across the curriculum, particularly between Geography and LLW and built upon the pupils’ prior historical knowledge. In October Year 10 pupils completed a successful group enquiry and class presentation on the Titanic.

Well done Year 10! As you can see the rain didn’t dampen their spirits!

Mrs Reid

KS3: Pupils of the Month!

Hi everyone

Congratulations to the following pupils who have been selected as the History Department’s  Pupils of the Month for April! You will each receive a certificate and 50 Housepoints! Well done!

8A – Joanne King, 8X – Jack Nesbitt

9A – Samantha, 9X – Alex Smyth

10A – Jonathan Knight, 10X – Nicole Barbour, 10Y – Rebecca Smyth

Keep up the good work – it could be YOU next month!

Mrs Reid & Mr Burnett

Year 10 – History Dept Survey

Hi everyone

The History Department is running a survey to find out how many Year 10 pupils have opted to study GCSE History in September 2012. The Department would also like to ascertain why pupils did or did not choose GCSE History; this information will be used for future planning.

The questionnaire is in the form of a Google doc and can be accessed via your school email.

It is easy… All you have to do is click on the link and you will be taken directly to the survey. It will only take 5 minutes to complete. Please only fill in the questionnaire once and complete it by Friday 4 May 2012.

The survey will be available to fill in from Friday 27 April and will be ‘live’ for one week only – until Friday 4 May. All of Year 10 pupils are requested to complete it by the deadline set.

Thank you!

Mrs Reid & Mr Burnett

Pupils of the Month

Hi everyone

Mr Burnett and I are currently selecting this month’s Pupils of the Month – we will announce the winners on the Blog and in class next week! It could be YOU!

Good luck

Mrs Reid & Mr Burnett

Year 9: Homework Task – Rivalry & Conflict

Hi everyone

You have been studying the rivalry that existed between Queen Elizabeth I and King Philip II of Spain in the late 16th century. It was this heated quarrel between the two countries that led to the spectacular Spanish Armada being sent to England in 1588 – its task to overthrow our ‘heretic Queen’.

Get your thinking caps on… Your task is to post a comment on the blog answering the following question:

Explain what you think was the main cause of rivalry between England and Spain. Remember to justify your answer by providing detailed reasons.

Remember to use the PEE technique to help you structure your answer – Point, Evidence & Explanation.

You will also be peer assessing each other’s  responses – so make sure you are happy with your answer.

Good luck – I look forward to reading your responses.

Mr Burnett

Well done Year 9 – I have been reading all your comments and I am very impressed with your depth of understanding and your skilled explanation writing! Keep this great work up – Mrs Reid.