Boston Grammar School

Knowledge Organiser
Year 8 - Term 4
 "Knowledge is a treasure, but practice is the key to it." Lao Tzu
Instructions for use Years 7 - 9 Week 1 Subject 1 Subject 2 Subject 3
On a Week 1 you should undertake knowledge organiser homework. Monday French RE Maths
Each night you should study the identified subject knowledge organiser trying to Tuesday Geography Science German
learn the information to the extent that you can recall it. You can undertake Wednesday English Music History
different subjects on different nights, if it suits you, but it is easier to stick to an Thursday Maths Computing Science
agreed timetable.
Friday Music DT English
You should spend about 30 minutes on each of the identified subjects. Weekend Art Catch up Catch up
You should keep the evidence of this studying in; the back of your exercise book,
your general notebook or your own personal notebook.
If in school, you must bring this evidence in to school on Week 2 to show your subject teacher. If you are not in school, your teacher will let you
know how they will check the evidence. The knowledge organiser pack can stay at home as other copies will be kept in school. Failure to undertake
and show evidence of this homework will result in follow up from your teacher or Head of Year.
Exceptions
RE – you will continue to receive normal homework from your teacher which will be posted on SMHW.
MFL – you will receive a separate vocab booklet and instructions will be posted on SMHW.

How to study with knowledge organisers

In tutor sessions you undertake study skills work through BGS Mindset or VESPA, identifying and practicing key memory techniques:

➢ Look, cover, write, check

➢ Low stakes quizzing with a friend or family member, or make flashcards for yourself
➢ Brain dump – write down everything you can remember, review and then go again
➢ Get creative: mindmaps, flowcharts, diagrams, etc.
➢ Write some challenging questions or even some multiple-choice questions and answer them the following day
➢ Create fill in the blank sentences and then complete them the following day
➢ Making recordings and listen to them at appropriate times
➢ Mnemonics, acrostics, roman room method, memorable stories
 Knowledge Organiser – Year 8 Term 4: Art – Aboriginal Art

Traditions of Painting • Different tribes from different regions Dream Time

• Aboriginal art is one of the oldest have their own styles of art. • The Aboriginals believed that the entire world was made by their
forms of artistic expression in the • Artists must have permission from ancestors at the very beginning of time, the Dreamtime.
world. elders to paint in the style of a • Aboriginal peoples believe the land and the people were created by
• Cave paintings found in the particular tribe. the ancestral Spirits including the rivers, streams, water holes the land, hills,
Northern Territory’s Arnhem Land • It is considered both disrespectful and rocks, plants and animals.
dates back at least 60,000 years. unacceptable to paint on behalf of • It is also believed that the ancestral Spirits gave them their hunting tools and
• A non-Indigenous Australian does someone else’s culture. It is simply not each tribe its land, their totems and their Dreaming.
not have the authority to paint an permitted. • The Dreamtime continues as the "Dreaming" in the spiritual lives of aboriginal
Aboriginal piece of artwork. • Only artists from certain tribes are people today.
• Most people recognise aboriginal allowed to adopt the dot technique. • ‘Dreaming’ is when the events of the ancient era of creation are enacted in
art as paintings made from dots • All Aboriginal artwork tells a story. ceremonies and danced in mime form. Song chant incessantly to the
but this is just one style used. • Aboriginal artists cannot paint a story accompaniment of the didgeridoo or clap sticks relates the story of events of
• Dot painting originated from the that is not from their lineage. If they those early times.
time of white settlement in are seeking to paint a story concerning
Australia when tribes feared non- historical or sacred information, they
Indigenous people could must be given permission before they
understand secret knowledge held can proceed.
by the Aboriginal people. • It is important that each artist sticks to
• Double-dotting obscured any form the stories and artistic techniques born
of meaning but was still discernible from their tribe.
to Aboriginals. • Painting on canvas in western manner
• The aboriginal peoples have no did not start among the aboriginals
written language of their own. until the 1970s but is now widespread.
Instead, they have used visual
symbols in painting to pass on
their stories and knowledge.
Knowledge Organiser – Year 8 Term 4: Computing – Python Intro
Knowledge Organiser – Year 8 Term 4: Computing – Python Intro
Knowledge Organiser – Year 8 Term 4: DT – Buggy
Knowledge Organiser – Year 8 Term 4: DT – Clock
 Knowledge Organiser – Year 8 Term 4: English Literature – Animal Farm
A: KEY WORDS C: ANIMAL FARM PLOT SUMMARY D: CHARACTERISATION
Allegory – A story with two meanings. It has a literal I: Mr Jones, the owner of Manor Farm falls asleep in a drunken stupor. All the animals of Manor Farm meet in the big barn where Mr Jones: Drunken owner of
meaning, which is what actually happens in the story. Old Major delivers a speech arguing for a rebellion against the men. The Animals sing ‘Beasts of England’, a song from Old Major’s Animal Farm. Embodies the
But it also has a deeper meaning. The deeper meaning dream. tyranny of man.
is often a moral. It teaches you a lesson about life. II: Old Major dies and the pigs adapt his speech, forming the principles of Animalism. The pigs plan the rebellion even though Old Major: Wise, old pig.
Anthropomorphism - type of personification that some animals (like Mollie) are concerned. The rebellion happens faster than expected after Mr. Jones forgets to feed the animals. Inspires the rebellion with his
gives human characteristics to non-humans or Napoleon steals milk. rhetoric
III: The animals complete the harvest faster than ever. Snowball sets up the Sunday assemblies where Napoleon and Snowball
objects, especially animals. Napoleon: Expels Snowball.
often argue. Snowball’s committees fail, yet he is able to bring literacy to the animals with minor success. Napoleon teaches the
Fable – a story with animals which has a moral lesson. Executes animals. Establishes
sheep ‘four legs good two legs bad’ and takes the dogs for ‘education’. Cow’s milk and windfall apples are given to pigs, Squealer
Cult of personality – where a leader convinces people himself as dictator. Controls
convinces the animals that this is a good idea.
to worship him or her, and treat them like a god. IV: News of the rebellion spreads, Frederick, Jones and Pilkington complain about Animal Farm’s success. In October, a group of with fear. Becomes Jones.
Tyrant – Someone who has total power and uses it in men try to seize the farm. Led by Snowball’s brilliance, the animals repel the attack, which is named ‘The Battle of the Cowshed’ Boxer: Devoted citizen and
a cruel and unfair way. V: Mollie deserts the farm. The pigs grow in influence, suggesting ideas on which the animals must vote. Snowball and Napoleon immensely strong.
Rebellion – A rebellion is a situation in which people continue to disagree, especially over construction of a windmill. When the Windmill is put to vote, Snowball is expelled from Snowball: Devoted to
fight against those who are in charge of them. animal farm. Later, Napoleon announces that the Windmill will be built. animalism and the education
Propaganda – Information that is meant to make VI: The animals work harder than ever, Boxer proves himself to be an inspiration. Napoleon begins trading with humans and hires of lesser animals.
people think a certain way. The information may not Mr Whymper. Jones gives up trying to reclaim the farm. The animals begin sleeping with beds, and Muriel and Clover notice a Squealer: Mouthpiece of
be true. change in the commandments ‘with sheets’. Squealer persuades the animals that this is acceptable. In November, a storm topples Napoleon. Uses propaganda
the half complete windmill. Napoleon blames this on Snowball. to control the animals.
VII: The animals struggle against starvation. After learning that they must sacrifice their eggs, the hens stage a demonstration.
B: CONTEXT Napoleon denies their rations and 9 hens starve as a result. The animals are led to believe Snowball has been returning to the E: IMAGE
An allegorical tale with direct links to the history of farm – his role at the battle of the Cowshed is adapted by Squealer. In spring, Napoleon calls a meeting and several ‘traitors’, who
the Soviet Union in the early 20thcentury. confess to being in league with Snowball, are executed, including protesting hens and pigs. Beasts of England is outlawed.
VIII: Trading with humans and the destruction of the windmill - Clover and Benjamin notice a change in the commandments:
The book charts the corruptions of Communist ideals
‘killing without cause’. The next year brings more work and less food, despite Squealer’s figures and statistics to the contrary.
of equality, where workers are promised equality and
More executions occur. Napoleon’s is seen in public less often. Napoleon trades Frederick and Pilkington off against each other,
freedom and are eventually repressed and treated as and sells a pile of timber to Frederick, who tricks Napoleon with forged banknotes. Napoleon pronounces the death sentence on
bad, if not worse, as under the previous rule of the him. Frederick, with 14 other men, attack the farm and blow up the windmill, which rallies the animals to fight back. Several
capitalist ‘Tsar’. animals die, Boxer is injured but Squealer convinces the animals of their victory. The pigs find a crate of whiskey, Napoleon fears
Old Major represents Karl Marx, putting forward the he is dying and proclaims that drinking alcohol is punishable by death. He then recovers and orders the retirement paddock to be
communist ideals which will free them from the planted with barley.
tyranny of capitalism (represented by Jones). IX: Once again, the animals are faced with rebuilding the windmill. 31 pigs are born, and Napoleon orders for a schoolhouse to be
Snowball represents Trotsky, a passionate built for their education. Rations are yet again reduced. Animal Farm is proclaimed a republic with Napoleon as president. Boxer is
component of Animalism (Communism) who is injured working and Napoleon sends for a vet. A van arrives, Boxer is taken away but Benjamin reads its side and learns that Boxer
expelled by Napoleon (Stalin). is being slaughtered. Squealer manages to convince the animals otherwise. Boxer is never seen again.
Napoleon follows a similar rise to power as Stalin, X: Pigs and humans come together - years pass. Muriel, Jessie, Pincher are dead. Clover is 14. No animal has ever retired. The farm
using fear and propaganda to control the masses, has grown in size and population. Two windmills are complete. Clover notices the pigs walk on two legs. The commandments are
including show trials and executions. delated and replaced with “All animals are equal but some are more equal than others.” The pigs start carrying whips and wearing
By the end of the novel, the ideals of communism Mr Jones’ clothes.
have been so far abused and forgotten, that Napoleon
meets and forms agreements with former oppressors.
Knowledge Organiser – Year 8 Term 4: Geography – Physical Landscapes of the UK
 Knowledge Organiser – Year 8 Term 4: History – Monarchy in the modern era and causes of the Industrial
Revolution
Key dates Enclosure – The process of consolidating small landholdings into larger farms to benefit
from new farming approaches but often led to people losing their livelihoods.
1685 – James II becomes king. He is catholic but 51 years old and only has a protestant Industrial Revolution – A period of great change in producing goods through the use of
daughter. machines.
Bloody Assizes – a touring court that punished those involved in the Monmouth Rebellion.
1685 – The Monmouth Rebellion, by Charles I’s illegitimate son, is easily crushed and
Selective breeding – the process of carefully managing the breeding of animals to produce
savage punishments issued at the ‘Bloody Assizes’. James turns to loyal catholic supporters
certain characteristics e.g. fatter pigs.
to help him run the country.
1688 – June. James II has a son with his second wife who is catholic and the fear of a return Economy – the word used to describe the production, distribution and consumption of
to full scale Catholicism builds. goods and services.
Textiles – Cloth made by weaving or knitting fibres together. The textile industry grew
1688 – November. The Glorious Revolution. James II is deposed for Mary and William of
rapidly with new machinery.
Orange.
Urbanisation – the process of turning areas into towns and cities.
1689 – Bill of Rights establishes key principles of Parliamentary authority and freedom of
speech in Parliament. Steam power/engine – a heat engine that performs mechanical work using steam as its
1701 – Act of Settlement is passed ensuring only Protestants could rule Britain. working fluid. During the industrial revolution steam powered much of the new factories as
1712 – Thomas Newcomen develops the steam-powered pump. well as steam trains.
1714 – The House of Hanover begin their rule with George I.
1750 – Four-field rotation becomes common place in agriculture. Deeper contextual knowledge and understanding
1761 – Opening of the Bridgewater Canal.
1765 – Hargreaves invents the spinning jenny. Revolution is a term used quite frequently when people want to add drama to a change. It
1783 – Robert Bakewell sets up a society supporting improvements in livestock. is often used to describe a change of Government, particularly where force was used.
1787 – Cartwright invents the power-loom. Trying to decide if something was really a ‘Revolution’ is something historians often argue
1801 – Enclosure Act speeds up the process of enclosure about. The agricultural revolution (AR) is a really good example. Some historians claim the
Agricultural Revolution is a fraud. These historians point to the fact that many of the
Key terminology ‘changes’ that caused the AR in Britain were not actually new. Enclosure had been a thing
since the 13th century and crop rotation had been experimented with since the Middle
Glorious Revolution – The phrase used to describe the replacement of James II with Ages. They believe that it was a slow process that culminated in quicker change towards
William and Mary on the throne of Britain. the end as a result of the industrialisation, urbanisation and increasing demand. It is a bit of
Bill of Rights- Limited the power of the monarch in favour of Parliament. a chicken and egg conundrum. Which came first; increased food production which enabled
Agricultural Revolution – The period where the processes of farming & producing food urbanisation and a population boom or vice versa and could it have been achieved without
were dramatically improved, which supported a booming population. the Industrial Revolution?
Canals – man made waterways developed to quicken transportation of goods around the
country.
Four field rotation – a process of rotating crops around different field to increase
production.
Poverty –being extremely poor often leading to a lack of basic needs e.g. clean water,
nutrition, shelter, etc. Many people lived in poverty during the 1800s
 Knowledge Organiser – Year 8 Term 4: Maths – Unit 9 – Straight Line Graphs
Topic/Skill Definition /Tips Example Topic/Skill Definition /Tips Example
Direct When two quantities 0 4 16 64 Origin The origin on a coordinate
proportion are in direct 0 8 32 128 grid is the point (0, 0).
proportion
• plotting them as a
graph gives a straight These sets of values are in direct
line through (0,0) proportion as the second column
• when one variable is is always double that of the first.
zero, the other
variable is also
zero when one
variable doubles, so
does the other.
Gradients The steepness of a line The gradient of this line is Equation A linear equation generates a
or graph is called therefore 2. of a straight-line (linear) graph.
the gradient. straight The equation for a straight-
To find the gradient, line line graph can be written
work out how many as 𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥 + 𝑐 where 𝑚 is the
units the line or graph gradient and 𝑐 is the 𝑦-
goes up for every intercept.
one unit across to the
right. If the line or
graph goes down
for every one unit
across to the right,
then the gradient is
negative.
y-intercept The y-intercept of a line The y-intercept of this line is 1.
is the value on the y-
axis at which a line
passes through. This
will be at the point
(0,y)
 Knowledge Organiser – Year 8 Term 4: Maths – Unit 10 – Percentages, Decimals and Fractions
Topic/Skill Definition /Tips Example Topic/Skill Definition /Tips Example
1. Integer A whole −3, 0, 92 4. Increase Non-calculator: Find the Increase 500 by 20% (Non
number that can or percentage and add or subtract it Calc):
be positive, Decrease from the original amount. 10% of 500 = 50
negative or zero. by a so 20% of 500 = 100
Percentage Calculator: Find the percentage 500 + 100 = 600
multiplier and multiply.
Decrease 800 by 17%
(Calc):
100%-17%=83%
83% ÷ 100 = 0.83
0.83 x 800 = 664
2. Decimal A number with 3.7, 0.94, −24.07 5. The number you multiply a The multiplier for increasing
a decimal point in Percentage quantity by to increase or by 12% is 1.12
it. Can be positive Multiplier decrease it by a percentage.
or negative. The multiplier for
decreasing by 12% is 0.88

The multiplier for increasing

by 100% is 2.
3. Recurring A decimal number 13=0.333…=0.3. 6. Simple Interest calculated as £1000 invested for 3 years at
Decimal that has digits that Interest a percentage of the 10% simple interest.
repeat forever. original amount.
17=0.142857142857…=0.1.42857. 10% of £1000 = £100
The part that
repeats is usually Interest =
shown by placing a 77600=0.128333…=0.1283. 3×£100=£300
dot above the digit
that repeats, or
dots over the first
and last digit of the
repeating pattern.
 Knowledge Organiser – Year 8 Term 4: Music – The Blues

Blues The Blues is a genre of music originated by African Americans in

the Deep South of the United States around the end of the 19th
century. The genre has its roots in African musical
traditions, and African-American work songs.

Oppression The exercise of authority or power in a cruel and unjust manner.

People who are oppressed have their rights taken away, and are
often forced to do things against their will.
Bassline The musical part which sits at the bottom of the texture. In the Blues, it

follows a conventional pattern: 1, 3, 5, 6, b7, 6, 5, 3

Chord Two or more notes played simultaneously on a piano or guitar.

There are three chords needed for the standard 12-bar blues:

12 Bar Blues A form commonly used in Blues music which is made up of 12 bar
cycles. The chords appear in the following order:

CCCC
FFCC
GFCC
C = CEG, F = FAC, G = GBD
Quick Similar to the 12 bar blues, this form changes the final chord in the 12
ChangeBlues bar sequence to G, making the piece feel as if it should continue.
Knowledge Organiser – Year 8 Term 4: Science – Types of Respiration
Knowledge Organiser – Year 8 Term 4: Science – The Physical Properties of Metals
Knowledge Organiser – Year 8 Term 4: Science – Energy Transfers