S3

Business & IT

Topic

Business in Action:

Entrepreneurs, Type of business, Sources of Finance and Advice, Departments and their Interdependence

Word processing and Spreadsheet skills

How Can Help Be Given At Home

Encourage pupils to watch, listen or access the BBC News APP.

Encourage pupils to review the content presentations in Google Classroom regularly

Useful external resources

The pupil can find extra help with this topic using the following external links:

BBC Bitesize for N4 Business for example short videos and self marking quizzes.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/levels/zp3d7ty

BBC News for Business stories that may be relevant to the class content

Key Deadlines

Assessment: Week commencing 18 August and 15 September

Topic

Creative Writing – continued from June

Variety and Styles of writing

Rotary Creative writing competition

RUAE – timed close reading

Reading School Personal Reading

How Can Help Be Given At Home

Support Reading School by asking young person to read for an additional 10 minutes every day.

Check google classroom for unfinished tasks of classwork.

Useful external resources

https://www.scottishbooktrust.com/learning-resources/creative-writing-for-secondary

Key Deadlines

RUAE – end of August

Rotary Creative Writing – end of September

October – begin the class novel

Music – CfE Level 4

Topic

Performing

·         Performing Assessment (Personalised Programmes of Study)

Learners will have the opportunity to perform music individually, with accuracy and assurance using their chosen instruments. To ensure progression in performing, individual music will be identified that suits the learner’s ability and interests. Learners will continue to develop knowledge in reading notation specific to their instrument(s) including, treble and bass clef notation, tablature and/or chord symbols to aid an individual performance. Learners will also be encouraged to communicate the mood and character of a piece of music, for example through the use of appropriate dynamics, tempo changes and expression marks.

Composition

·         Techniques

Through discussion of relevant music concepts and compositional techniques learners will generate ideas to support the creation of original music. Where possible, learners will also be encouraged to use appropriate music notation to capture ideas using ICT.

Understanding Music

·         Musicals

Learners continue to build upon their knowledge and understanding of the musical elements from work covered in S1 and S2. Learners will be introduced to different vocal ranges and how they sound through the topic of Musicals. Throughout these activities’ learners are encouraged to use appropriate music vocabulary and to use this vocabulary to regularly reflect upon their strengths and areas for improvement. Learners will regularly engage with understanding of music literacy and how this knowledge can benefit other areas of the course including performing and composition.

How Can Help Be Given At Home

Learners are encouraged at all stages, levels and abilities to enjoy performing at home should they have access to any instruments. This will always be supported by class teachers.

Useful external resources

Types of Voices

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLh5WGs2Tio

Key Deadlines

Personalised Programme of Study (Assessment Pieces): Tuesday 19th August 2025 – Friday 10th October 2025

Art and Design

Topic

Portraiture

Learners are currently exploring portraiture, focusing on accurate measurements and proportions to develop their observational drawing skills. Alongside this technical foundation, we are also looking at the expressive portrait work of artist Noel Badges Pugh.

How Can Help Be Given At Home

Learners are encouraged at all stages, levels and abilities to pursue drawing/painting/designing at home should they have access to any materials or resources. This will always be supported by class teachers.

Useful external resources

Portraiture for beginners:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZEKvhMRGwDDZHzga6-pxW9ml11sGSwHc

Key Deadlines

Eyes Drawing Assessment:

End of Term 1 – assessed on correct use of measurement process, proportions and media handling.

Year/Class/Level

S3 Elective

Subject

Physical Education

Topic

(4 Weeks)

Athletics: 100m, Shot Putt, Long Jump

-          Physical Factors Impacting on Performance: Power, Speed & Strength

-          Mental Factors Impacting on Performance: Determination, Motivation

-          Timing and distance measurements

-          Methods of training- plyometrics, weight training, interval training

(4 Weeks)

Football:

-          Overview of the activity- skills, rules, basic tactics, scoring system

-          Physical Factors Impacting on Performance: CRE

-          Social Factors Impacting on Performance: Communication

-          Introduction to data collection- purpose of gathering data.

-          Data collection methods- Beep Test & Communication Checklist

-          Methods of Training for CRE- continuous training, interval training, fartlek training

-          Monitoring training- training zones

-          Skills practice

How Can Help Be Given At Home

Remind pupils to submit any homework on time so feedback can be given. This will also be shared via Google classroom.

Encourage pupils to use Google Classroom to access electronic copies of all resources.

Encourage pupils to attend extra-curricular clubs and practice for practical assessments in own time throughout the year.

Useful external resources

The pupil can find extra help with this topic using the following external links:

Google Classroom (codes below):

Mrs Sutherland- vy7v5pkb

Mrs Parker- memmdhli

Mr Dyer- jn2pxtoy

Key Deadlines

N/A

Year/Class/Level S3

Subject Home Economics

Topic Food Preparation

I can………

1.      Identify a variety of kitchen utensils and their use

2.      Work independently and with confidence when following a recipe and applying complex food preparation techniques

How Can Help Be Given At Home

Encourage pupils to get involved in food preparation and cooking at home – allocate a night where they make a meal for the family.

Speak to pupils about what they have been learning and their successes or difficulties.

Discuss what pupils have enjoyed – they can then make this food at home for the family using recipes and demonstration videos that are available on Google Classroom.

Useful external resources

Watch cookery programmes on TV to see a variety of skills in practice.

Encourage pupils to join in with food preparation and clearing up at home. Provide time targets for them to have a task completed by.

Key Deadlines

End of unit written assessment is likely to be during the week beginning 1st September. Pupils should have workbooks home to revise from.

Topic RME Award

Child Rights – getting familiar with them.

How Can Help Be Given At Home

Simply ask them what some of the Rights of the Child are.

Useful external resources

Children’s and Young Person’s Commissioner for Scotland

https://www.cypcs.org.uk/

Key Deadlines

Unit 1 complete and handed in by end of Term 2 (Christmas Holidays)

Unit 2 and Equalities Fair - 18th March 2026

Topic

Time 2

Measurement 2

How Can Help Be Given At Home

Reviewing work completed in jotters, and lessons shared on google classroom.

Support with BGE Pupil Learning Log pre/post assessment checklists on google classroom.

Useful external resources

The pupil can find extra help with this topic using the following external links:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/z6vg9j6

https://corbettmaths.com/contents/

Key Deadlines

End of topic Assessments for Time 2 and Measurement 2.

Class teachers will give at least 7 days notice for any assessment, and encourage pupils to complete pre assessment checklist on google classroom.

N4 French

Topic 

Les vacances

Aim : to learn how to talk about past present and future holidays

Vocab covered:                                       

• types of accommodation

•  types of transport

• weather

• holiday activities and opinions                         

Grammar:                                                 

• Regular verbs

•  Perfect tense

•  Negatives

• Aller + infinitive

How Can Help Be Given At Home

Ask your child to go onto linguascope to practise their vocab and BBC Bitesize to practise grammar.

Useful external resources

www.linguascope.com (username and password provided to pupils)

Googe classroom

BBC Bitesize

Key Deadlines

October holidays

Reading and Listening National 4 assessment

Physics

Topic

This term we will continue our work on the Waves Unit – sound and wave characteristics were completed before the holidays – looking at the properties of light (reflection and refraction) and the electromagnetic spectrum.

We will then start our next Unit: Space – starting with the section on telescopes – just before the end of term.

How Can Help Be Given At Home

Encourage your young person to talk about their learning. At the end of each week ask them to summarise the key concepts they have covered in class this week (this can be known as a “brain dump”).

All notes are shared on Google Classroom – these can be used to quiz your young person – and young people are encouraged to use them to create their own summary notes; try to get them to complete this every week (where possible) but certainly before an assessment.

Useful external resources

The pupils can find extra help with these topics using the following external links:

Wave Characteristics:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/z8rxsbk/revision/1

Sound:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zdc6fg8/revision/1

Refraction of Light:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/z3jbh39/revision/1

Electromagnetic Spectrum:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zw4tyrd/revision/1

Key Deadlines

Waves test – (approx.) week of 15th September

Biology

Topic

This term we will be continuing with our cells topic – focussing on therapeutic uses of cells, enzymes and industries using microbes.

How Can Help Be Given At Home

Speak to the young person about their learning.

Ask them to show you Google Classroom and ensure they are using these resources to consolidate learning.

Make sure that if they are revising they are doing more than reading.  Eg, making mind maps to summarise information.

Useful external resources

The pupil can find extra help with this topic using the following external links:

Google Classroom

BBC Bitesize (N4 Biology)

ClickView

Key Deadlines

Cells Test:  Early October

Chemistry

Topic

1.2 – Atomic Structure relating to the properties of materials

1.3 – Acids, Bases and Energy Changes

How Can Help Be Given At Home

Encourage your young person to talk about their learning.

At the end of every subtopic a short quiz is given

You could check it is completed and quiz them on the knowledge.

Useful external resources

The pupil can find extra help with these topics using the following external links:

Chemical changes - 4th level Science - BBC Bitesize

Properties and uses of substances - 4th level Science - BBC Bitesize

Key Deadlines

End of Unit assessment – week beginning 6th October

Modern Studies, Geography and History

Topics

History – In S3 History this term pupils study the Atlantic Slave Trade and learn about the causes and impact of the slave trade. Where classes are split between different teachers, they will also study the Mafia.

Modern Studies – In S3 Modern Studies this term learners’ study Black Lives Matter in the US – the key focus is the causes and impact of racism on lives in the US.

Geography – In S3 Geography this term learners study the topic of coasts and are also taught important map skills. This term also sees pupils complete field work, where they are required to write about their research.

How Can Help Be Given at Home

Check homework deadlines and assessment dates on the relevant google classroom page. Your child will have been added to their Social Subjects page.

Use the websites below to support your child in their learning of Social Subjects.

Useful external resources

History https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zfkfn9q

Modern Studies

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Black-Lives-Matter

Geography

https://www.nature.scot/landforms-and-geology/scotlands-rocks-landforms-and-soils/landforms/coasts

https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/mapzone/map-skills

Key Deadlines

Check the relevant subject google classroom page for details of deadlines, homework and assessment dates. Messages will be sent home regarding future assessments.

Subject

BGE: Design & Manufacture

Topic

Practice Box Design & Make Project

Having completed the design phase of their Practice Box prior to the summer break, pupils will now focus on finishing off the manufacturing stage. This involves:

• Assembling the pine frame

• Finishing and fitting the MDF back panel

• Finishing and assembling the acrylic front panel

Once the practical work is complete, pupils will sit a class test assessing their understanding of the tools, materials, and processes used throughout the project.

Penny Box Design & Make Project

In this unit, pupils will develop their own unique design for a functional penny box, working through key stages of the design process.

• Initial Ideas: Pupils will generate a range of ideas- gaining marks for creativity, diversity and problem-solving.

• Explored Ideas: Pupils will then select and explore one of their ideas, developing and refining the idea towards a suitable design solution.

• Planning for Manufacture: Once their design is complete, pupils will create a step-by-step plan for how they would manufacture their penny box, considering materials, tools, processes, and order of operations.

How Can Help Be Given At Home

A Google Classroom has been set up for S3 Design & Manufacture classes [code: zdmcmpgh].

On the Classroom, you’ll find dedicated sections for each project, which include:

• Design briefs

• Exemplar folios and examples of pupil work

• Revision resources for the class tests at the end of each unit

• Assessment Grids used to assign marks and provide pupils with specific feedback on their strengths and areas for development.

Parents can support their child by encouraging them to review the materials, discuss their design ideas, and prepare for upcoming assessments using the revision resources provided.

Useful external resources

BBC Bitesize further study:

Initial Ideas:  https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zm3hh39/revision/3

Explored Ideas:  https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zm3hh39/revision/5

Manufacture Assignment:  National 5 Design and manufacture - BBC Bitesize

-          Materials

-          Measuring and marking-out

-          Using hand tools

-          Using machine tools

-          Assembling components

-          Finishing

Key Deadlines

Practice Box Assessment: Early September 2025

Subject

BGE: Practical

Topic

Wooden Clock Project

Practical skills will be developed further in this extended woodworking task, which introduces more advanced joints and manufacturing techniques.

To prepare for this, pupils will begin with a practice joint exercise, where they will be assessed on their ability to accurately measure, mark out, cut and shape a range of basic wood joints. This work will help pupils to reflect upon areas for improvement and to refine their technique before progressing to the main project.

The main focus of the unit is the manufacture of a wooden clock. Pupils will use a combination of hand tools and machine tools to produce a high-quality final product.

Pupils will be assessed on:

• Measuring & Marking Out

• Cutting & Shaping

• Machining & Finishing

• Assembly

How Can Help Be Given At Home

A Google Classroom has been set up for S3 Practical classes [code: f2d25haw].

Although the Wooden Clock Project is completed in school using specialist tools and equipment, there are still ways for parents and carers to support learning at home.

All pupils have access to a Google Classroom, where they will find:

• Working drawings for both the practice joints and the final wooden clock project

• Revision resources to help prepare for the class test at the end of the unit.

The class test will focus on the skills, tools, joints, and processes involved in the manufacture of the clock. Reviewing these materials at home and discussing the project with your child can help reinforce their understanding and boost their confidence ahead of the assessment.

Useful external resources

BBC Bitesize further study:

Manufacture Assignment:  National 5 Design and manufacture - BBC Bitesize

-          Materials

-          Measuring and marking-out

-          Using hand tools

-          Using machine tools

-          Assembling components

-          Finishing

Key Deadlines

Wooden Clock Assessment: w/b 6th October 2025