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Science

The aim is to get all pupils to a point whereby they have the knowledge and skills to be able to springboard into the KS4 curriculum.

We aim to ensure that pupils develop scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding of: 

  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Physics
  • How Science works
  • Practical, hands-on skills
  • Be able to write as a scientist
  • Be numerically literate
  • Be able to apply their knowledge to unfamiliar contexts
  • Know how to revise
  • Be confident enough to try, even if they get it wrong

Year 7

Term Topic Keywords Skills in the Topic Resources
Autumn Skills in Science Independent variable
Dependent variable
Control variable
Bunsen burner
Conclusion
Valid
Measurements
Hypothesises
Methods
Means
Anomalies
Analysis
Sciencesurgery.com
  Cells and Reproduction Plant cells
Animal cells
Cell organelles
Specialised cells
Microscopes
Puberty and menstruation
Plant reproduction
Magnification calculation
Scientific drawing
Graph skills
BBC Bitesize
  Particles States of matter
Changes of state
Density
Brownian motion
Diffusion
Modelling  
  Simple Circuits Circuit symbols
Current
Potential difference
Series circuits
Parallel circuits
Dangers of electricity
Drawing circuits
Hypothesis
Measurements
Modelling
 
Spring Pure and Impure Mixtures vs compounds
Purity
Solubility
Solute, solvent
Dissolving
Saturated
Distillation, chromatography, filteration
Variables
Means and anomalies
Evaluations
Modelling
 
  Magnets Poles
Magnetic fields
Attraction
Repulsion
Electromagnetism
Hypothesis
Modelling
Conclusions
Variables
 
  Acids and Alkalis Hazard symbols
Acid
Alkali
Neutral
pH scale
Neutralisation
Indicators
Accuracy
Methods
Conclusions
Risk assessments
 
Summer Heating and Cooling Temperature vs heat
Conduction
Convection
Radiation
Insulation
Heat conservation
Expansion interleave particles
Observations
Measurements
Modelling
Methods and variables
 
  Classification, Variation and Ecosystems Recap MRS GREN
Branching keys
Classification
Variation
Inherited environmental characteristics
Habitats
Quadrat
Food chains and webs
Competition
Adaptation
Variables
Sampling
Keys
Observations
 
  Forces and their Effects Mass and weight
Hookes Law
Balanced and unbalanced forces
Floating and sinking
Friction
Variables
Means and anomalies
Conclusions
Graph drawing
Evaluations
Calclations with mass
 

 

Year 8

Term Topic Keywords Skills in the Topic Resources
Autumn Waves, Light and Sound Crest, trough, amplitude, wavelength
Transverse waves
Luminosity
Reflection
Refraction
Filters
Auditory range
Scientific drawing
Measurements
Sciencesurgery.com
  Atoms, Elements and the Periodic Table Proton, neutron, electrons
Nucleus
Element
Compound
Mendeleev
Groups of Periodic Table
Periods of the Periodic table
Observations
Hypothesis
BBC Bitesize
  Health Fitness vs health
Macronutrients
Balanced diet
Food testing - glucose, starch, fat, protein
BMI
Deficiency disease
Digestive system
Enzymes
Effects of smoking, alcohols and drugs
Methods
Analysis and conclusions
 
Spring Chemical Reactions Chemical equations and formulae
Combustion
Thermal decompostion
Oxidation
Displacement reactions
 
Risk assessments
Observations
Measurements
Basic calculations on conservation
 
  Pressure and Moments Pressure in fluids
Pressure in air
Atmospheric pressure
Upthrust
turning effect
Moments
Equilibrium
Pressure calculations
Moment calculations
 
Summer Photosynthesis and Plants for Food Photosynthesis equation
Chlorophyll and chloroplasts
Adaptations of the leaf
Organic molecules
Uses of glucose
Computer modelling
Means
Observations 
 
  Earth and Atmosphere Earth structure and formation
Atmopshere composition
Air pollution
Carbon cycle
Recycling
Rock cycle
Sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic
Pie charts and graph drawing  
  Energy Changes and Transformations Energy values
Power ratings
Fuel bills
Energy resources
Energy transfers
Energy calculations
Observations for energy transfers
Means and anomalies
 
  Circulatory Respiration Circulatory system
Gas exchange
Diffusion interleaved
Breathing vs respiration
Cell respiration
Cell organelles interleaved
Observations
Calculations
 

 

Year 9

Term Topic Keywords Skills in the Topic Resources
Autumn Animal Care Interleave ecology
Sampling
Companionship animals
Animal welfare
Animal handling
PPE
Sampling Sciencesurgery.com
  Generating Electricity Energy resources Modelling BBC Bitesize
  Patterns of Reactivity and Material Exothermic
Endothermic
Use of carbon in reduction
Ceramics
Polymers
Composites
Observations
Risk assessments
Freesciencelessons.co.uk
Spring Inheritance Inheritance, genes, chromosomes, DNA
Watson, Crick, Wilkins and Franklin
Variation
Competition and natural selection
Extinction
Gene banks and biodiversity
Interleave reproduction
Application of models  
  Speed and Motion Relationship of speed time distances
Distance-time graph
Acceleration
Relative motion
Balanced forces

Speed calculations
Distance-time graphs
Methods
Variables
Means
Conclusions

 
  Microbes and Disease Pathogens
Bacteria
Virus
Fungi
Protist
Agar plates
Incubation
Biohazard
Scientific measurements and drawings
Methods
Risk assessments
 
  Space Gravitational force
Stars
Galaxies
Earth's seasons and tilt
Hemispheres
Light years
Calculations  
Summer Start the GCSE content following the AQA trilogy course with some moving onto the separate sciences at the start of Year 10. The rest of pupils carrying on this pathway. Biology topic: Cells and Microscopy
Chemistry topic: Atoms and the Periodic Table
Physics topic: Energy
Required practicals: specific heat capacity, microscopy CPG revision guides and Science on the pupil Sharepoint site