Sixth Form Bridging Tasks
PRINCIPLES OF BRIDGING TASKS
Making the change to sixth form is a challenge. After speaking to our current year 13 students they made it clear that this was a transition they needed to be prepared for. In particular the amount of independent study required for each course was a new demand. To give you the best chance of making this transition successfully, there are bridging tasks for each subject taught at Tudor Grange Academy sixth form within this document.
For each subject you will find: • A series of tasks which you must complete ready for September. • A suggested reading/book list to help you with your independent study.
For the tasks you will be undertaking, you must choose a line of tasks. This could be the green, yellow, red or grey lines. All lines of tasks will also include the central task. The tasks are designed to give you a choice in how you present your independent study and are open-‐ended, meaning you must undertake your own independent research around your chosen subjects. Completing the work should be seen not as a homework task but as a chance for you to understand what sixth form studies are like, and to give you a head start with your subjects.
Kinaesthetic Task Verbal Task Written task
Logical/Mathematical task
Personal reflective task based on students’
decision to take subject
Logical/Mathematical task
Written Task Verbal Task Kinaesthetic Task
EXAMPLE SHEET Please complete one line from the task list below. All students must complete the middle task:
Suggested book/reading list:
• Surname, Initial., Title of book (Publisher, Year of Publication).
• MAX OF 7 BOOKS
Kinaesthetic Task Verbal Task Written task
Logical/Mathematical task
Personal reflective task based on students’
decision to take subject
Logical/Mathematical task
Written Task Verbal Task Kinaesthetic Task
Art & Design Please complete one line from the task list below. All students must complete the middle task:
Suggested book/reading list and gallery visits:.
• www.tate.org.uk
• www.birminghammuseums.org.uk/bmag
• www.ikon-‐gallery.org
• www.custardfactory.co.uk
• www.nationalgallery.org.uk/
Take twenty photographs based
around a theme of your choice. Produce a series of pencil studies from your photographs
Show at least five family members a piece of art you have created. Discuss and document
their views and opinions, along with
their reasons.
Find a piece of art that inspires you. Write a 500 word analysis of the chosen piece,
reflecting on both the subject and techniques
used.
Scale and proportion: Choose an image or photograph (A4 size). Use the gridding up method to draw the
picture scaled up to A3 size.
Write a 500 word response exploring the question ‘why choose
art and design?’
Choose a piece of artwork. Create a step by step instruction
sheet documenting the technique/s used to create it. Include annotations and
diagrams
Visit a gallery of your choice. Write a 500 word review of an exhibition and the works displayed.
Create a piece of artwork and produce a presentation explaining techniques, processes and ideas that you can
present.
Set up a still life. Create a series of responses in the size and media of
your choice.
Business Studies Please complete one line from the task list below. All students must complete the middle task:
Suggested book/reading list:
• Surridge, M., Gillespie, A., AQA Business for A-‐Level year 1 (Hodder, 2015).
• Wolinski, J., Coates, G., AQA Business for A-‐Level year 1 (Hodder, 2015).
Produce factfiles on 5 different businesses. Each factfile must
include at least 1 fact on marketing, finance, and
workers.
Ask 5 people which businesses they think are ‘ethical’ apart from
charites. Put your results into a 200 word
report.
Write a letter to Starbucks explaining why they should pay
more tax.
Produce an A4 timeline showing technological developments and explaining how they
have affected businesses
300 words on the title “Why I’ll be glad I chose business studies when
I’m 40”
Work out the Net Profit Margin for 2 real businesses using
figures published online
Write an argument why sponsoring a sports
event is a great way to promote a product. 200
words.
Ask 5 people if they know what their
‘statutory rights’ are as customers. Produce a 200 word summary on what parts they got right and which they
got wrong
Produce a A4 mindmap explaining all the
different sections of employment rights
Economics Please complete one line from the task list below. All students must complete the middle task:
Suggested book/reading list:
• Tutor2u.org.uk
• BBC news website (economy pages)
• AQA AS Economics textbook (Powell & Powell) 2005 -‐ Hodder
Create a mindmap of the key differences between the 2015
budget and the 2014 budget
Interview 5 people on their opinions of being
part of the EU and produce a 300 word summary of your
findings
Explain whether the use of products such as alcohol or fatty foods should be discouraged
(e.g taxed, age restrictions)
Produce a report of the main spending and earnings of the UK government in a financial year
In 300 words explain ‘why people should be interested in the UK
economy’
Produce a series of graphs showing changes in the
UKs rates of unemployment, GDP,
inflation and international trade over the past 50
years
Write a letter to George Osborne explaining why ‘cuts in spending on the NHS can be both positive and negative to
a local area’
Interview 5 unemployed people
and identify what they feel are the main barriers to finding
employment in the UK
Produce a poster of the main products that the UK exports and imports
English Literature Please complete one line from the task list below. All students must complete the middle task:
Suggested book/reading list:
• Cowley, J., The Great Gatsby: York Notes Advanced (Pearson, 2004)
• Ellam, J., Birdsong: York Notes Advanced (Pearson, 2009)
• Faulks, S., Birdsong (Vintage, 2014)
• Fitzgerald, F.S., The Great Gatsby (Penguin Modern Classics, 2000)
• Haig, D., My Boy Jack (NHB Modern Plays, 2007)
• McBratney, L., AQA A Level English Literature A: Student Book (Oxford University Press, 2015)
• Shakespeare, W., Othello (Cambridge School Shakespeare, 2014)
• Warren, R., Othello: York Notes Advanced (Pearson, 2003)
Create a word cloud with all the different key issues and themes raised in ‘The Great
Gatsby’.
Read the opening of William Shakespeare’s ‘Othello’ and record/
film yourself performing one of Iago’s soliloquies.
Read ‘The Great Gatsby’ by F. Scott Fitzgerald and write a 500 word
plot synopsis.
Create a time line of all the different movements in literature beginning with
the 14th century and ending with modern
literature
Write a 300 word report explaining what 3 books you would take if you were deserted on a desert island and why.
Create a definition sheet of 20 different technical features a
student can analyse in poetry (e.g. Rhyme, Assonance, etc.)
Research when William Shakespeare’s ‘Othello’ was first performed and
produce a 300 word summary of the historical context the play was set
in.
Speak to at least 5 people and record what their favourite piece of literature is and why.
Create a 10 slide storyboard to display your understanding of the plot of either ‘The
Great Gatsby’ or ‘Othello’.
French Please complete one line from the task list below. All students must complete the middle task:
Suggested book/reading list:
• Armstrong, E, Briggs, L, & Harrison, S., AQA French AS (OUP, 2008).
• Bourdais, D, Jones, M, Lonsdale, T, Maynard, G, & Pillette, M, Élan 1 French AS pour AQA (OUP, 2011)
• www.rfi.fr -‐ French news and current affairs
• www.tf1.fr – French TV online
• www.languagesonline.org.uk – grammar reference and practice
• www.wordreference.com – grammar and vocabulary reference
Create a map of the world which identifies the countries that speak French. Annotate your
map with at least one fact about each country.
Prepare a 1 minute presentation on an aspect of your summer holidays.
Find a current news article from the French press that interests you. Read it and
produce a written summary in English.
Research an aspect of grammar that you have struggled with at GCSE
and create a revision aid to consolidate your understanding.
Write 300 words explaining your decision to
study French.
Produce a timeline which contains all of the tenses
that you know, with examples in French of each of these tenses.
Research and write a report in French on the
different forms of publicity that exist. Include examples of each form.
Watch an episode or an extract from a French TV programme. Make notes on what you understand to share with the group.
Create a lesson activity e.g. card sort, flashcards etc. that could be used to revise the perfect tense.
Geography Please complete one line from the task list below. All students must complete the middle task:
Suggested book/reading list:
• Coolgeography.co.uk
• Acegeography.com
• AQA Geography AS Nelson Thornes (Smith & Knill) -‐ 2008
Produce a fully annotated map of a UK river displaying the
changes that take place from source to mouth
Ask 5 people a questionnaire based upon immigration
positives/negatives in the UK from the EU
Write a letter to David Cameron explaining why more money should be spent on coastal or flood
defences
Fully annotate a map displaying incidences of world HIV cases and describe the global
pattern
In 300 words explain what ‘geography means to you’
Produce a series of graphs to show
population indicators for 3 countries of different levels of
development
Write a report on why an ageing population might be good OR bad for the UK economy
Ask 5 people what their idea of a healthy
lifestyle consists of and produce a 300 word
report of their findings
Produce a mindmap of a case study of a recent
natural disaster
German Please complete one line from the task list below. All students must complete the middle task:
Suggested book/reading list: • Niedzela,M, Shannon, P,Wardle, M: AQA German AS (OUP, 2008). • Adler A : Zeitgeist 1 German AS Student book (OUP, 2008) • www.languagesonline.org.uk – grammar reference and practice • www.wordreference.com – grammar and vocabulary reference • Bourdais, D, Jones, M, Lonsdale, T, Maynard, G, & Pillette, M, Élan 1 French AS pour AQA
(OUP, 2011) • www.dw.de : news, information and analysis of German and European topics alongside a
section on learning German. • http://www.daserste.de : As well as news, some of its most popular shows are Tatort, a
crime series, Sandmännchen, a children's programme and soap operas including Lindenstraße .
• http://www.bild.de -‐ Germany's largest mass circulation, "Boulevard-‐Presse" newspaper. • http://www.zeit.de/ -‐ a weekly German newspaper
Create a map of the world which identifies the countries that speak
German. Annotate your map with at least one fact
about each country.
Prepare a 1 minute presentation on an aspect of your summer holidays.
Find a current news article from the German press
that interests you. Read it and produce a written summary in English.
Research an aspect of grammar that you have struggled with at GCSE
and create a revision aid to consolidate your understanding.
Write 300 words explaining your decision to
study German.
Produce a timeline which contains all of the tenses
that you know, with examples in German of each of these tenses.
Research and write a report in German on the
different forms of publicity that exist. Include examples of each form.
Watch an episode or an extract from a German TV programme. Make notes on what you understand to share with the group.
Create a lesson activity e.g. card sort, flashcards etc. that could be used to revise the perfect tense.
Please complete one line from the task list below. All students must complete the middle task:
Government & Politics
Suggested book/reading list:
• Fairclough, P., AQA AS Government & Politics Student Unit Guide New Edition: Unit 1 People, Politics and Participation (Hodder, 2012).
• Fairclough, P., AQA AS Government & Politics Student Unit Guide New Edition: Unit 2 Governing Modern Britain (Hodder, 2012).
• Gallop, N., AQA AS Government & Politics Unit 1 Workbook: People, Politics and Participation (Hodder, 2014).
• Gallop, N., AQA AS Government & Politics Unit 2 Workbook: Governing Modern Britain (Hodder, 2014).
• Kelly, P., The Politics Book (DK, 2013).
• Knight, J., British Politics for Dummies (J. Wiley &Sons, 2010).
• Magee, E., P. Fairclough, P. Lynch, AS Government and Politics 4th Edition (Hodder, 2013).
Create your own political party. This should come with a
manifesto of at least 5 key policies for Britain.
Create an opinion poll on key political
questions using at least 25 people.
Design a letter to send to our PM about a personal issue you
think the government should be doing more
to resolve.
Create a 2 page statistical report on the
results of the 2015 General Election.
Write a 500 word report about why you
believe studying Politics matters.
Create a definitions sheet of 20 different
political ideologies e.g. communism, socialism
etc.
Design a debate question and answer it (300 word limit). Use the following topics-‐
House of Lords, Referendums, MPs.
Record a short news bulletin on what you believe is the most important political
event in the UK for the past 50 years.
Design 5 Top Trump style cards of various politicians. You can
choose your categories for debate and your
individuals.
History Please complete one line from the task list below. All students must complete the middle task:
Suggested book/reading list:
• Browning, P., The Changing Nature of Warfare: 1792-‐1945 (Cambridge University Press, 2002).
• Mortimer, I., The Fears of Henry IV (Vintage, 2008).
• Robson, M., Access to History: Italy: The Rise of Fascism 1915-‐1945 (Hodder, 2006).
• Saul, N., Richard II (Yale, 1997).
• Stewart, N., Access to History Themes: The Changing Nature Warfare, 1700-‐1945 (Hodder, 2002).
• Townley, E., Mussolini & Italy (Heinemann, 2002).
Using a blank map of Europe, plot and
summarise 25 major battles from 1377-‐1945. Preferably relevant to the topics of study.
Create a poem/song lyrics about the Black
Death of 1348.
Create a blurb for the back of Clausewitz’s Art
of War (300 word minimum)
Chart the effectiveness of new weaponry in
WW1 (think about cost, fatality rates, longevity).
Write a 500 word report answering the question ‘Why study
History?’
Create a family tree of the Royal Houses of
Plantagenet, Lancaster and York.
Write a 200 word bias argument on why Mussolini is the greatest leader in global history.
Speak to at least 5 members of your family/neighbours and record
what the most significant event has been in their
lifetime and why.
Design a board game testing understanding of Mussolini and Italy.
ICT Please complete one line from the task list below. All students must complete the middle task:
Suggested book/reading list:
• See reading list on TGAS website
Create a 6-‐page professional leaflet on two sides of A4
promoting a given business. Ensure it is folded correctly
and that the page numbers are correct.
Deliver a presentation to a fictional business manager on a suite of products developed for their business – a leaflet, a letter, and a presentation, explaining the purpose and
benefits
“According to a survey, the average 21 year old has:
• spent 5000 hours videogaming; • sent 250,000 email messages;
• spent 10,000 hours on a mobile phone. Discuss using appropriate examples the benefits and concerns these activities
cause for modern society.” 500 word
Create a VLOOKUP function in a spreadsheet which returns the correct grade for a student
based on their mark and a given set of grade boundaries
Write a 500 word essay on the importance of
the systems development life cycle
Create a single page flowchart demonstrating the logic for the password protection security in a database. This security will be implemented as a login screen containing two fields: username
and password, and a login button.
“The Internet has had a huge impact on businesses and the
way they operate. Evaluate the impact that e-‐
commerce has had on businesses and their
customers.” 500 words
Create a podcast on the different types, and benefits
of, Human Computer Interfaces (HCI)
Using real world objects, create an anime / stop motion
animation on the topic of Healthy and Safety in the
workplace. 2 mins
Mathematics Please complete one line from the task list below. All students must complete the middle task:
Suggested book/reading list:
• Surname, Initial., Title of book (Publisher, Year of Publication).
• CGP Books, Head Start to AS Maths (CGP, 2004)
• Rowland, M., Bridging GCSE and A Level (Collins, 2011)
• Step up to Maths site: http://www.cimt.plymouth.ac.uk/projects/mepres/step-‐up/
• MyMaths A/A* booster section: http://app.mymaths.co.uk/myportal/library/94/
• Factorising • Quadratic Equations
*Topic list • Simultaneous
Equations • Manipulating Surds
• Laws of Indices • Equation of a line
Prepare a visual representation of the concept of ‘solving
simultaneous equations’
Upload a video to Youtube explaining one
of the topics listed below*
Write a description of at least one topic from the list below* including 5
worked examples
Logical task 2 Complete the subject knowledge audit Logical task 1
Write a description of another topic from the list below* including 5
worked examples
Prepare a presentation on one of the topics
listed below
Prepare a visual representation of the concept of ‘completing
the square’
Media Studies Please complete one line from the task list below. All students must complete the middle task:
Suggested book/reading list:
• Andrews, M., AQA Media Studies A2: Student Book (Nelson Thornes, 2009)
• Branston, G., The Media Student’s Book (Routledge, 2010)
• Burton, J., AQA Media Studies AS: Student Book (Nelson Thornes, 2008)
• Dix, A., Beginning Film Studies (Manchester University Press, 2008)
• Etherington-‐Wright, C., Understanding Film Theory (Palgrave Macmillan, 2011)
• Hall, K., Revision Express AS and A2 Media Studies (Pearson, 2008)
• Kuhn, A., Oxford Dictionary of Film Studies (Oxford University Press, 2012)
• Laughey, D., Media Studies Theories and Approaches (Kamera Books, 2009)
• Nannicelli, T., Cognitive Media Theory (Routledge, 2014)
Using a map of the world, create a visual
representation displaying the different levels of censorship in
each country.
Speak to at least 5 members of your family/neighbours and record whether they feel social media is a positive or negative element of modern day society.
Create an Empire magazine style review of one of your favourite
films (300 words minimum)
Produce a statistical visual aid displaying the top 10 films to make the most money in history.
Write a 300 word answer to the question “Should Media Studies be made compulsory in
schools?”
Create a timeline of the last 100 years of movies focusing on how either male or female identity has changed over this
time period.
Write 300 words explaining why you feel
media studies is an essential subject to study in the modern
world.
Record a short radio broadcast discussing why a television show/
film you enjoy is engaging for its target
audience.
Research at least one narrative theory and
create a visual artefact to help you remember its different features.
Photography Please complete one line from the task list below. All students must complete the middle task:
Complete a Photoshoot (30 images) responding to the theme ‘Environment’ Print a
contact sheet for the photoshoot and select 4 of the best images to print A5
size
Create an image of your choice and produce a
supporting presentation for the image which explains meaning, process and techniques used in its
creation.
Visit a gallery and write a 500 word review of the exhibition
and works on display
Visually document and annotate the editing process of cropping and changing
images into black and white using software of your choice
Write a 500 word response to the question – ‘Is
photography an art?’ include links to the work of others if
required.
Create a diagram which explains exposure. Consider how aperture, shutter speed and ISO work together to
capture an image.
Write a 500 word analysis of a Photograph of your choice. Reflect on subject, meaning and the techniques used.
Complete a photoshoot (30 images) of a model/person. Document the instructions given to your model which help you achieve your best 4
images.
Hand manipulate a series of your own images using
techniques and materials of your choice.
Suggested book/reading list:
• The Photo Book (Phaidon Press, 1997)
• The A-‐Z of Creative Photography (Amphoto Books, 1998)
• Why it does not have to be in focus (Thames and Hudson, 2013)
• How to Photograph absolutely everything (Dorling Kindersley, 2007)
Suggested Magazines:
• Practical Photography
• Digital Photographer
• Digital SLR Photography
Useful websites:
• www.petapixel.com , www.thephotographersgallery.org.uk , www.tate.org.uk ,
• www.lomography.com , www.saatchiart.com , www.ikon-‐gallery.org
Product Design Please complete one line from the task list below. All students must complete the middle task:
Suggested book/reading list:
• Morozzi,C., Minimum Design Phillipe Starck (24 Ore Cultura, 2011).
• Schulze,S. & Gratz,I,. Apple Design (Hatje Cantz Verlag,2011).
• Lefteri,C,. Making It: Manufacturing Techniques for Product Design (Lawrence King 2010).
• Lefteri,C,. Making It: Manufacturing Techniques for Product Design 2nd Edition (Lawrence King 2010).
• Evans,B, & Potts,W,. AQA Design and Technology: Product Design (3-‐D Design) (Nelson Thornes 2008).
Disassemble a simple product of your choice,
photograph each element and display
creatively explain each elements function.
Speak to at least 5 members of your family / neighbours (varying ages) and
record what product they couldn’t live without and why.
Writte a report on Verner Panton ‘S’ chair.
500 words.
Create a design timeline for the Dyson range indicating the
evolutionary developments that it
has undergone.
Write a 500 word report answering the question ‘Why study product design?’
Create a table of statistical information about the following metals – Platinum,
Gold, Silver, Aluminium and Tin. Including
properties, scientific information and uses.
Write a 500 word report on the
advancements in mobile phone technology.
Go into a local store and discuss a product range with a manager, report your findings
and compare products within the range.
Redesign a product of your choice that is aimed to improve
quality of life for the elderly.
Psychology Please complete one line from the task list below. All students must complete the middle task:
Suggested book/reading list: Students have access to the online digital version of the textbook we will be using from September; Flanagan, C. AQA Psychology for A level (Illuminate Publishing, 2015). It is accessed via the following link http://www.illuminate.digital/aqapsych1/ and requires the following username STUDORGAB91 and password STUDENT Other reading: • Gross, R. Psychology – the science of mind and behaviour (6th edition) (Hodder
Education, 2010) • Gross, R. Themes, issues and debates in psychology (3rd edition) (Hodder Education,
2009) • Sacks, O. The man who mistook his wife for a hat. (Picador, 2007) • Slater, L. Opening Skinner’s box: Great psychological experiments of the 20th Century.
(Bloomsbury, 2005)
Design 5 Top Trump style cards of various psychologists. You can choose your categories for points and your
individuals
Create a rap/poem/song about the research methods used by psychologists
‘Nature is more important that nurture’ write a 300 word report
discussing this statement
Create a table to compare the views of
biological and behaviourist psychologists
Write a 500 word report about why you
believe studying psychology is important
Create a timeline to show the changes in the dominance of approaches in
psychology over the 20th Century
Research the role of the unconscious in our
everyday lives. Write a summary of your
findings
Speak to at least 5 people and record their views on
whether psychology should be considered a
science
Create a 3D model/representation of a key psychological study of
your choice
Sociology Please complete one line from the task list below. All students must complete the middle task:
Suggested book/reading list:
• Webb, R., AQA A level Sociology Book one (Napier Press, 2015).
• Haralambos, M, & Holborn, M., Sociology key themes and perspectives (8th edition) (Collins, 2013).
• Chapman, S., Moore, S., Holborn. and Aiken, D., AQA A-‐level Sociology (4th edition) (Collins, 2014).
• Giddens, A., Sociology (6th edition) (Polity Press, 2009).
• Marx, K., & Engels, F., The Communist Manifesto (Millennium, Publications, 2015).
• Wolf, N., The Beauty Myth (Vintage Books, 1991).
Create a poster which outlines some of the
‘issues’ within contemporary society, as suggested by the
media.
Interview least 5 members of your family
to research into the following question
‘what makes a family?’
Write a report (300 word limit) on how family structure has
changed in modern day society.
Create a timeline to highlight and explain the changes in key
sociological thinking over the past 100 years.
Write a 500 word report answering the
question ‘Why is sociology beneficial to
society?’
Create a 2 page statistical report on
immigration/emigration in the UK.
Write a 200 word speech on gender inequalities in education.
Record a short documentary on the norms and values of
British society.
Build a model which represents the way functionalists view
society.
Spanish Please complete one line from the task list below. All students must complete the middle task:
Suggested book/reading list:
• Edwards, J, Kolkowska, A, Mitchell, L & Zollo, M, AQA Spanish AS (OUP, 2008)
• Alonso de Sudea, I, Everett, V, Giménez Martínez, M, & Isern Vivancos, M, Ánmio 1. Spanish AS para AQA (OUP, 2011)
• www.elpais.es – Spanish newspaper published online
• www.rtve.es – for Spanish TV programmes
• www.languagesonline.org.uk – grammar reference and practice
• www.wordreference.com – grammar and vocabulary reference
Create a map of the world which identifies the countries that speak
Spanish. Annotate your map with at least one fact
about each country.
Prepare a 1 minute presentation on an aspect of your summer holidays.
Find a current news article from the Spanish press
that interests you. Read it and produce a written summary in English.
Research an aspect of grammar that you have struggled with at GCSE
and create a revision aid to consolidate your understanding.
Write 300 words explaining your decision to
study Spanish.
Produce a timeline which contains all of the tenses
that you know, with examples in Spanish of each of these tenses.
Research and write a report in Spanish on the
different forms of publicity that exist. Include examples of each form.
Watch an episode or an extract from a Hispanic TV programme. Make notes on what you understand to share with the group.
Create a lesson activity e.g. card sort. Flashcards etc. that could be used to revise the preterite tense.