Gleeson College Curriculum Guide 2026 - Middle Years | 17 Year 8 Subjects Welcome Learning at Gleeson College Gleeson Staff Contacts Year 7 Overview Subjects Year 8 Overview Subjects Year 9 Overview Subjects LEARNING SUMMARY: Student learning focuses on further developing understanding and skills in computational thinking. Students have the opportunity to plan and create a range of digital solutions such as interactive phone applications, programmable multimedia solutions, virtual reality simulations and Lego robotics. Students are challenged to use a block code system to create art in the pencilcode IDE, they then transition to a written coding language, Coffeescript. They also develop skills in Gamemaker, where they write modular code in GML gamemaker language. Students are exposed to writing If statements, defining variables and setting up game physics ASSESSMENT: Students demonstrate their learning by completing practical activities and folio work. DRAMA PERFORMANCE SKILLS LEARNING AREA: The Arts LENGTH: Semester SELECTION: Elective LEARNING SUMMARY: Students explore basic acting skills, improvisation, and ancient Greek theatre. They participate in workshops and practical activities, where they learn to apply acting skills to create a successful performance. They learn the elements of improvisation, including within polished and spontaneous improvisations. They develop understanding of the origin of theatre in ancient Greece, performing a tragedy and chorus work. ASSESSMENT: Students demonstrate their learning through performance, reflection, and research tasks. DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES LEARNING AREA: Technologies LENGTH: Semester SELECTION: Elective DRAMA WORKING AS AN ENSEMBLE LEARNING AREA: The Arts LENGTH: Semester SELECTION: Elective LEARNING SUMMARY: Students create a theatre company and perform a group production. They research different theatre practitioners to include in their practical presentations. Students work as an ensemble and learn the importance of working together to make decisions about staging and direction. Students can undertake off stage roles such as sound, lighting, set, costume and make up. They reflect on skills learnt throughout the production process, and prepare a report on their production. Additionally, students continue to develop skills in improvisation, tableau and mime. ASSESSMENT: Students demonstrate their learning through performance, reflection, and research tasks.