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 |
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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 |
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Spring | Pure and Impure | Mixtures vs compounds Purity Solubility Solute, solvent Dissolving Saturated Distillation, chromatography, filteration |
Variables Means and anomalies Evaluations Modelling |
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Magnets | Poles Magnetic fields Attraction Repulsion Electromagnetism |
Hypothesis Modelling Conclusions Variables |
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Acids and Alkalis | Hazard symbols Acid Alkali Neutral pH scale Neutralisation Indicators |
Accuracy Methods Conclusions Risk assessments |
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Summer | Heating and Cooling | Temperature vs heat Conduction Convection Radiation Insulation Heat conservation Expansion interleave particles |
Observations Measurements Modelling Methods and variables |
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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 |
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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 |
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Spring | Chemical Reactions | Chemical equations and formulae Combustion Thermal decompostion Oxidation Displacement reactions |
Risk assessments Observations Measurements Basic calculations on conservation |
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Pressure and Moments | Pressure in fluids Pressure in air Atmospheric pressure Upthrust turning effect Moments Equilibrium |
Pressure calculations Moment calculations |
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Summer | Photosynthesis and Plants for Food | Photosynthesis equation Chlorophyll and chloroplasts Adaptations of the leaf Organic molecules Uses of glucose |
Computer modelling Means Observations |
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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 |
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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 |
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Microbes and Disease | Pathogens Bacteria Virus Fungi Protist Agar plates Incubation Biohazard |
Scientific measurements and drawings Methods Risk assessments |
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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 |