Year 8 KS3

Computer Science
Homework Booklet
Information for students and parents:

 Throughout the year your ICT/Computer Science Teacher will set a number
of pieces of homework from this booklet.
 If you lose this booklet then you can find a pdf version on the ICT
Curriculum webpage at http://www.waltonhigh.org.uk/curriculum/ICT
 A piece of ICT/Computer Science homework will be set every other week
and this should take you 45 minutes to 1 hour to complete.
 Once you have completed your homework you should check that you have
included everything from the right-hand column because these are the
things that your Computer Science Teacher will be looking for as they mark
your work.

Name: ______________________

Computer Science Teacher: _______ Tutor: ____

 YEAR 8 ICT/COMPUTING YEARLY HOMEWORK TASKS

Acting on Feedback

Task: For your work to be successful you must:

1 Read and act on the  Read all of the comments written by your
comments/feedback written in your Teacher in your exercise book. Tick each
exercise book. comment to show that you have read it.
 Wherever there is a question or feedback
you need to complete the activity set. You
may be asked to:
- Correct spellings – use a dictionary to
find the correct spelling, learn the
spelling cover and write again 3 times
- Answer specific questions
- Rewrite an answer
Write any improvements in RED pen
 Ask a parent/guardian to sign your
exercise book to show that they have seen
your work.

Autumn Term
Autumn Term: 1a & 1b Topic: Computer Architecture and Databases
Tasks:
Task: For your work to be successful you
must:
2 BINARY DATA:  Use appropriate keywords, use
1. What does the term ‘binary’ mean? relevant images, provide examples of
2. What is ‘binary data’? binary data.
Why does a computer only use binary data?
3 COMPUTER DEVELOPMENT  Write a report using Microsoft
1) Find out what computers in the future might Word, check for spelling and
be able to do i.e. in around 20-30 years’ time. grammar errors.
Write a paragraph to explain your findings.  Poster must include relevant images.
Appropriate timelines shown in
2) Design a Poster on computer development poster.
through the decades.

4 Research- Write a report using Microsoft Word,

Find out what is likely to happen when check for spelling and grammar errors.
transistors can no longer be made smaller – Should ensure that research relates to
how will we increase computing power? computer science and do not go off-
point. You must reference all resources
used for your research.
Check for spelling and grammar errors.

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 YEAR 8 ICT/COMPUTING YEARLY HOMEWORK TASKS
5 Complete “parts of a computer”’ worksheet.
Component Picture What does this component do?

Hard disk

CPU

Motherboard

RAM

Graphics card

Power supply

As expected: Spell check, explain in detail what each component does. Reference
all sources used.
6 Research- Write a report using Microsoft Word,
Find out which components in the computer check for spelling and grammar errors.
have fans and why they are required Should ensure that research relates to
Find out the role of a data bus within a computer science and do not go off-
computer. point. You must reference all resources
used for your research. Make use of
relevant images.
Check for spelling and grammar errors.
7 Research- Write a report using Microsoft Word,
Find out how tasks are scheduled in super check for spelling and grammar errors.
computers and main frame computers Should ensure that research relates to
super computers and do not go off-
point. You must reference all resources
used for your research. Make use of
relevant images.
Check for spelling and grammar errors.
8 What is meant by open source software? Find Type up/Handwrite detailed answers to
three examples of open source software. questions. Provide examples as

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 YEAR 8 ICT/COMPUTING YEARLY HOMEWORK TASKS
requested.
9 CAP Preparation  All students should ensure they
Revise for CAP 1A by completing a range of complete their end of unit revision
revision activities and revising through your interactive doodle presentations.
notes and online resources used in the lesson.  This can also be printed and stuck in
ma their books.
 Support: Write a glossary of the
key words, Write each definition
three times, covering over the
previous attempt and trying to get
the sentence shorter so it only
contains 3 or 4 key words
 Read online resources and watch
flash movie files (contained in the
central resources area).
 Ask your parents to test you for 5
minutes on key terms and concepts
revised
Students aiming for a Level 7, 6 grade
should also:
Look at example questions as part of
their revision, and find other relevant
websites which teaches you about
computer architecture and future new
technology.
DATABASES
10 DATABASES AND SOCIETY.  Type up/Handwrite detailed answers
1. What are databases used for? to questions. Provide examples.
11 DATABASES AND SOCIETY: Who might use a database? And what for?
Complete the table below, an example has been done for you. Provide examples of
who might use a database and what for.
Who? Why? / What for?

1. A newsagent To keep details of their customers and what is

delivered to each address.

2.

3.

4.

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 YEAR 8 ICT/COMPUTING YEARLY HOMEWORK TASKS
12 What are some advantages of using databases?

A.

B.

C.

13 Who uses a database worksheet? Part 2  Complete the worksheet using the
examples as a guide. You must
include at least 6 field types (column
3) that might be in the database
examples you have provided.

14 Making a database of your own Complete the worksheet (both pages)

copies of which can be found in the
resources area. This worksheet will be
required for your caps.

15 CAP Preparation Revise for CAP 1B using the revision

sheet shown; other revision activities
available in the resources area and
revising through your notes and online
resources used in the lesson.

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 YEAR 8 ICT/COMPUTING YEARLY HOMEWORK TASKS
Spring Term: 2a & 2b Topic: Scratch and HTML
Tasks:

Tasks: Scratch Programming For your work to be successful you

must:
1 Scratch User Interface Attempt one of the “Scratch User
Interfaces” worksheet.

2 How would I?
With a partner explore the Scratch game that one of you just created. You used some
scripts to change the way your sprite moved. Can you answer these questions about the
task? Don’t be afraid to try things out; it’s the best way to learn. If you don’t want to
change your game save a new copy of it into your N drive to experiment on.
Type your answers to the questions below:
1. Which direction does your sprite move in if you change y by 10?

2. What about if you change x by -10?

3. What do you think the if on edge bounce tool is for?

4. How can you stop your sprite turning upside down when it gets to the edge?
CLUE

5. What does the information about x, y and direction mean?

6. How could you make your sprite look different when it moves in each direction?
Remember how you did this last lesson. There are also some videos in resources
that may help – it’s all about costumes.

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 YEAR 8 ICT/COMPUTING YEARLY HOMEWORK TASKS

7. Explain a new tool in Scratch that you learnt today. What is it for? What did you
do? Did it work? How could you use it better?

3 Design your own scratch character: first on paper and then on scratch. You can also
design more than one character.

Scratch uses the cat as the main character for people to learn about basic programming.

Exercise – In the box below design your own character you would like to create in Scratch.

If you are stuck for ideas you can always view sprites created in Scratch by clicking on the button
below and browse through the folders of sprites already included.

Design your character in the box below

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 YEAR 8 ICT/COMPUTING YEARLY HOMEWORK TASKS
4 Computer Control Tasks
Task 1 – Level 4/5
When using computer control systems, there are always benefits (good things) and
limitations (negative things). Look at the examples below of computer control used outside
school and describe them. Then identify some benefits and drawbacks of these systems.
Control System Description Benefits Drawbacks
Automated phone
booking for cinema
tickets

Automated Border
Control

Self service
checkouts

Task 1 - Level 6
List three items that you use at school that are computer controlled, e.g. the cashless card
system in the canteen.

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Task 2 - Level 6
Explain the impact on your day for the items you have listed above.

Task 3 - Level 6
List three items that you use in your leisure time that are computer controlled, e.g.
automated cinema booking.

Task 4 - Level 6
Explain the impact on you of being able to use these control systems.

Task 5 - Level 6
List three items that you use at home that are computer controlled, e.g. cable/satelitte
television system.

Task 6 - Level 6
Explain the impact on you for the items you have listed above.

EPORTFOLIO/HTML
5 • What does the abbreviation HTML mean? Type up/Handwrite detailed
• What are tags? answers to question.
• What two characters surround a tag? Students aiming for a Level 6
• What character symbolizes that the tag is a should also give examples for
closing tag? each question

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 YEAR 8 ICT/COMPUTING YEARLY HOMEWORK TASKS
• What type of editor is used when creating a Web
page with HTML commands?
6 Explain the importance of HTML and its derivatives as a Type up/Handwrite detailed
standard for the creation of web pages. answers to question. Look
online as well and reference all
resources used.
7 HTML worksheet Complete the worksheet (both
pages) copies of which can be
found in the resources area.

8 i) Write down four things that a web site could be used Type up/Handwrite detailed
for. answers to all 8 questions.
ii) Name two of your favourite web sites and write what
it is that you like about them.
iii) Look at the two screenshots below:

iv) If a company is making a very complicated web site,

they will use special design programs to create the HTML
code. For smaller web sites, it is often best to write the
entire HTML codes yourself, without a special program.
Tick the correct statements on this list:
a. Other programs often put extra code in that you don't
need. This means your web site might take longer to load.
b. You learn a lot more by writing the code yourself.
c. You can't use as many extra features, like animation,
graphics and sound if you write it yourself.
d. It takes longer to write the code.
v) What sort of things could make a web page really
stand out?
vi) If you make some changes to your code, which button
must you press in the browser?
vii) This code will make the word hello appear on the
left-hand side of the screen.
<P ALIGN=LEFT>Hello</P>
a) Which part of the code is a parameter?
b) What value does this parameter have?

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 YEAR 8 ICT/COMPUTING YEARLY HOMEWORK TASKS
9 Dictionary task: Your task is to create a dictionary of Dictionary entries should be
ICT/Computing terms from the table below. put into alphabetical order.
URL Internet Message Forum Graph Software
They should include
board
• the word
Import Web page Data System Template Evaluation • a definition written by
Input Process Output Audience Hyperlink Navigation
yourself
• And wherever possible,
Complex Bibliography Formula Worksheet Bias Annotation
an appropriate image.
search

Search Web browser Secondary Primary Home Digital Your dictionary should have a
engine data data page camera
cover which includes the title
Mouse Keyboard Monitor Printer Scanner Computer ‘ICT/Computing Dictionary’ and
your name.
Spend time formatting your
dictionary so that it looks nice.
10 Design a website on any topic of your choice using HTML Produce your planning documents
codes. The website must have: which include a sitemap and
storyboards.
At least 3 pages
Relevant images included.
Navigation bar
Consistent layout
Header and footer
Good contrast of colours-both font and background
colours.
11 Check for inaccuracies and also
think about what particular tag
is required to achieve the
structure in the web browser.

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 YEAR 8 ICT/COMPUTING YEARLY HOMEWORK TASKS
Summer Term: 3a and 3b Topic: Podcasting/Sound and Graphics/Maze Game
Tasks:
Task: For your work to be successful you
must:
1 What does the term Podcasting mean? Type up/Handwrite detailed
What is Audacity? What is it used for? answers to question. Look online as
well and reference all resources
used.
2 Identify key terms we’ve used in this topic and Find the definitions of key words
write a dictionary. and write a glossary to help you to
learn spellings…
3 Create a mind map summarising today’s lesson/topic Use key terms, make it informative
we have been studying recently. and eye catching…
4 Write a poem or song which summarises what you Make it informative but catchy and
have learnt so far. OR remember to include key terms…

Write a formal letter to an institution explaining Use a letter layout, remember key
the topic we have studied recently. terms and use persuasive language
to explain key issues…
5 Write a newspaper article relevant to the topic we Include specific, accurate facts
are studying. with good English. You should
include quotes and images…
6 Create a comic strip to explain a new process we Use pictures and key words to
have learned or to summarise a topic. explain the process in a clear way…
7 Create 10-15 challenging quiz questions about how Write the questions with correct
to record and edit sound using audacity. answers separate to test a peer…

8 CAP Preparation  All students should ensure they

Revise for your CAP by completing a range of keep developing their editing
revision activities skills using Audacity both in
school and at home.
 Support: Write a glossary of
the key words, Write each
definition three times, covering
over the previous attempt and
trying to get the sentence
shorter so it only contains 3 or 4
key words
 Ask your parents to test you for
5 minutes on key terms

Graphics/Maze Game 
9 Define the following keywords : Hyperlinks,  Type up/Handwrite detailed
Hotspots, answers to question. Look online
Slideshow, Transitions, as well and reference all
Animations, Maze, interactive resources used.

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 YEAR 8 ICT/COMPUTING YEARLY HOMEWORK TASKS
10 Presentation worksheet  Complete the worksheet (both
pages) copies of which can be
found in the resources area.
 Copy the sentences in your
books and complete the blanks
using words from the list.
 You should use each word only
once.

11 Graphics Worksheet  Complete the worksheet (both

pages) copies of which can be
found in the resources area.
 Copy the sentences in your
books and complete the blanks
using words from the list.
 You should use each word only
once.

12 How would you create a hotspot/hyperlink in  Create guide/tutorial on how

PowerPoint? this can be done using relevant
screen shots.
13 How would you record or insert sound into  Create guide/tutorial on how
PowerPoint? this can be done using relevant
screen shots.
14 Use PowerPoint to create an interactive guide for a  Power point guide.
country of your choice
Keywords Vocabulary task 
Using the Keywords shown below, attempt the Attempt each task on a weekly
different tasks. basis.

E P H Y J S S U R F I N G S B
K V T D W R A C O R G H O U W
R W F M C E W J W Y I I S H G
J S V W C T V O C G Y P C U D
F E N Y K U V E Z O L G P K J
M M E P E P V Y L P N I O X C
O A A N L M N B A I K S A A O
S G F Y V O N P T H B L O M P
O J J X I C T X L J F O P L E
V U Z Y S U E V O R O H M A E

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W E B S I T E R L Y O X U U I
M G R E V D A O L N W O D P M
M R I N T E R N E T S D T T E
V G J A D Y M F R D W B P Z M
J K V L O Q E O H T C H J P M

COMPUTER; DOWNLOAD; EMAIL; GAMES

CONSOLE; ICT, INTERNET; MOBILE PHONE;
SURFING; TEXTING; WEBSITE.
Task 1: Find the key words in the word search
Task 2: Write a definition for each of the key
words
Task 3: Write two or three paragraphs using at
least 5 of the key words correctly.
Task 4: Keep a diary of how you use ICT in a typical
week. Make it as detailed and interesting as
possible.

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