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
Please use Carousel, our online platform, and our sharepoint website to help with revision, teacher resources, along with the links listed below
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 |
Myth Busters interactive clip to understand more about applying your knowledge of variables to exam questions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0jTMDtX4WY results tables, calculating averages, plotting graphs and drawing lines of best fit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTYq2FCubjY |
| Cells and Reproduction | Plant cells Animal cells Cell organelles Specialised cells Microscopes Puberty and menstruation Plant reproduction |
Magnification calculation Scientific drawing Graph skills |
KS3 Biology - BBC Bitesize https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL51jd6xG52BXZjAsGwcLXitBfPcuGgkDi |
|
| Particles | States of matter Changes of state Density Brownian motion Diffusion |
Modelling | https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL51jd6xG52BWabfHuphcKrB4HxT5LU-aA | |
| Simple Circuits | Circuit symbols Current Potential difference Series circuits Parallel circuits Dangers of electricity |
Drawing circuits Hypothesis Measurements Modelling |
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL51jd6xG52BWabfHuphcKrB4HxT5LU-aA
|
|
| Assessment Points Autumn Term | These help track progress over each half-term | In class lasting 30-35 minutes. First is before October half-term. The second is before the Christmas break. | 1. How science works, practical skills and basic structure of animal and plant cells. 2. Cells and reproduction and particles |
|
|
Spring |
Pure and Impure | Mixtures vs compounds Purity Solubility Solute, solvent Dissolving Saturated Distillation, chromatography, filteration |
Variables Means and anomalies Evaluations Modelling |
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XC1RxloV0Mo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByJ6lzD2Vbg |
| 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 |
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL51jd6xG52BWabfHuphcKrB4HxT5LU-aA | |
| Assessment points Spring Term | These help track progress over the half-term and the whole year to date. | The first one is just before February half-term in class lasting 30-35minutes. The second is during the next half-term in the sports hall for 40 minutes. | 1. Simple circuits and pure and impure 2. Magnets and possible questions from all previous topics tested so far |
|
| Summer | Heating and Cooling | Temperature vs heat Conduction Convection Radiation Insulation Heat conservation Expansion interleave particles |
Observations Measurements Modelling Methods and variables |
Heating and cooling - Energy - KS3 Physics - BBC Bitesize |
| 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 |
KS3 Biology - BBC Bitesize | |
| 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 |
Balanced & Unbalanced Forces | Forces & Motion | Physics | FuseSchool - YouTube |
|
| Assessment Points Summer Term | These help track progress over each half-term | In class lasting 30-35 minutes. The first is before May half-term, the second is before the summer break. | 1. Heating and cooling and acids and alkalis. 2. classification variation ecosystems and forces and their effects. |
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 |
Waves - KS3 Physics - BBC Bitesize | |
| Atoms, Elements and the Periodic Table | Proton, neutron, electrons Nucleus Element Compound Mendeleev Groups of Periodic Table Periods of the Periodic table |
Observations Hypothesis |
Unit: Patterns in the periodic table | KS3 Science | Oak National Academy (thenational.academy) | ||
| Health | Fitness vs health Macronutrients Balanced diet Food testing - glucose, starch, fat, protein BMI Deficiency disease Digestive system Enzymes Effects of smoking, alcohol and drugs |
Methods Analysis and conclusions |
Key Stage 3 Science (Biology) - Nutrition and Health (youtube.com) | ||
| Assessment points Autumn Term |
|
1. Waves light and sound 2. Atoms, elements, compounds, health, waves and how science works, skills |
|||
| Spring | Chemical Reactions | Chemical equations and formulae Combustion Thermal decompostion Oxidation Displacement reactions |
Risk assessments Observations Measurements Basic calculations on conservation |
https://www.bbc.com/bitesize/guides/zqd2mp3/video | |
| Pressure and Moments | Pressure in fluids Pressure in air Atmospheric pressure Upthrust turning effect Moments Equilibrium |
Pressure calculations Moment calculations |
Pressure - Science: KS3 (senecalearning.com) | ||
| Photosynthesis and Plants for Food | Photosynthesis equation Chlorophyll and chloroplasts Adaptations of the leaf Organic molecules Uses of glucose |
Computer modelling Means Observations |
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1_uez5WX1o | ||
| Assessment Points Spring Term | 2 Assessments in the classroom 30-35 minutes just before each break. | 1. Chemical reactions and health 2. Pressure and moments and photosynthesis |
|||
| Summer | 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 | The Earth and atmosphere - KS3 Chemistry - BBC Bitesize | |
| Energy Changes and Transformations | Energy values Power ratings Fuel bills Energy resources Energy transfers |
Energy calculations Observations for energy transfers Means and anomalies |
Energy Stores & Pathways - Science: KS3 (senecalearning.com) | ||
| Circulatory Respiration | Circulatory system Gas exchange Diffusion interleaved Breathing vs respiration Cell respiration Cell organelles interleaved |
Observations Calculations |
Key Stage 3 Science (Biology) - Respiration (youtube.com) | ||
| Assessment Point Summer Term | 2 Assessments in the classroom 30-35 minutes just before each break. | 1. earth and atmosphere 2. Energy changes and circulatory and respiration |
Year 9
| Term | Topic | Keywords | Skills in the Topic | Resources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Autumn | 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 |
Periodic Table – Royal Society of Chemistry | |
| 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 | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYDwnjSbaFA | |
| Assessment Points |
The first assessment is before half-term for 30-35 minutes in the classroom, the second in November in the Sports Hall |
1. Generating electricity and beginning patterns of reactivity 2. generating electricity and patterns of reativity, inheritance, how science work skills and topics from Years 7 and 8 |
||
| Spring | Animal Care | Interleave ecology Sampling Companionship animals Animal welfare Animal handling PPE |
Sampling | |
| Speed and Motion | Relationship of speed time distances Distance-time graph Acceleration Relative motion Balanced forces |
Speed calculations |
Motion and speed - Forces and movement - KS3 Physics - BBC Bitesize Representing journeys - Forces and movement - KS3 Physics - BBC Bitesize |
|
| 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 | Unit: Our solar system and beyond | KS3 Science | Oak National Academy | |
| Assessment Point Spring Term | 2 Assessments: 1 before each break 30-35 minutes | 1. Speed and motion, inheritance 2. Space and microbes and disease |
||
| 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 Microscopy - How to use a microscope - GCSE Science Required Practical - YouTube Specific Heat Capacity - GCSE Science Required Practical KS3 / GCSE Biology: Microscopy - BBC Teach Specific Heat Capacity - GCSE Science Required Practical GCSE Chemistry Paper 1 Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table 2024 | freesciencelessons |