| SCIENCE CURRICULUM | |||
| TERM 1 | TERM 2 | TERM 3 | |
| Year 7 | Lab safety & equipment – An introduction to working safely in the lab, naming equipment, planning and carrying out scientific investigations. Matter: Particle model & Separating mixtures – Using the particle model to explain the properties of solids, liquids and gases. Explain the change of state between solids, liquids and gases. Use the particle model to explain density, concentration and pressure. Use and describe a range of methods to separate mixtures. Organisms: Movement & Cells – Describe the role of the skeleton. Describe how muscles work together and with bones to bring about movement. Observe and describe cells and subcellular structures. Describe how cells work together to form tissues, organs and organ systems within an organism. | Forces: Speed & Gravity – Describe and calculate speed. Represent and analyse motion on a distance-time graph. Describe the forces acting on an object. Define mass, weight and gravity and describe the effect of gravity on objects. Earth: Earth structure & Universe – Describe the stages of the rock cycle. Describe the properties of the different types of rocks formed. Describe the structure of the solar system and the Universe. Describe the movement of objects in space and how this relates to days, years and seasons. Genes: Variation Human Reproduction – Describe variation and classify as continuous or discontinuous. Describe the causes of variation and explain the link to survival and extinction. Describe the male and female reproductive systems and the role of hormones. Describe the development of the foetus. | Energy: Energy costs & Energy transfers – Describe energy stores and transfers. Describe the burning of fuels and the transfer of energy. Compare methods of generating electricity. Calculate the cost of home energy. Describe the conservation of energy and represent using models. Reactions: Metals/non-metals & Acids/alkalis – Describe the properties of metals and non-metals. Describe reactions and reactivity. Represent reactions using equations and particle diagrams. Recall examples of everyday acids and alkalis. Make and use indicators to show the acidity or alkalinity of a substance. Ecosystems: Interdependence & Plant reproduction – Describe relationships in the environment using food chains and food webs. Explain how food chains are affected by factors such as toxins or diseases. Describe the reproductive systems of flowering plants. Describe and explain the mechanisms of seed dispersal. |
| Year 8 | Electromagnets: Voltage, current & resistance – Use models as a way of explaining what happens in a circuit. Describe current, voltage and resistance. Describe how components in circuits can be arranged in series or in parallel, and how these arrangements have different effects on the voltage and current. Explain how electrostatic force is caused when the electric field around a charged object affects other charged objects. Organisms: Breathing & Digestion – Describe the structure and function of the breathing system, including gas exchange. Describe how disease and lifestyle can affect our breathing system. Describe the roles of the different components of a healthy diet, and how an unbalanced diet can lead to health issues. Describe the structure and function of the digestive system, and the role enzymes have. Forces: Contact forces & Pressure – Identify types of forces, state if they are be balanced or unbalanced and calculate resultant forces. Describe what causes friction and the effect it has on moving objects. Describe how forces affect elastic materials. State what pressure is and how it can act in solids, liquids and gasses. | Matter: Periodic table & Elements – Recall what the periodic table is a describe patterns within it. Define what is meant by an element, molecule and compound. Describe how compounds are formed and use models, equations and formula to help represent this. Describe polymers, ceramics and composite and their uses. Waves: Sound & Light – Describe how sound travels and how it is represented by waveforms. Describe how sound behaves in and around different mediums. Describe how light travels and that it can be split into a spectrum of colours. Describe how light behaves in and around different mediums. | Ecosystems: Respiration & Photosynthesis – Recall the equations for aerobic and anaerobic respiration in animals and plants. Compare aerobic and anaerobic respiration. Describe how plants obtain what they need to survive and grow. Describe how photosynthesis can be affected by the amounts of light, water, carbon dioxide and temperature. Electromagnets: Magnetism & Electromagnetism – Recall that magnets and magnetic materials have magnetic fields and field lines can show strength and direction. Sate how the distance and strength of a magnet affects the force acting on objects within the magnetic field. Describe what an electromagnet is and how it can be made stronger. Describe some uses of electromagnets. Earth: Climate & Earth resources – Describe how carbon is recycled through natural processes and human activity. Describe the changing atmosphere of the Earth. Describe the causes and effects of global warming. Describe the using and re-using of the Earth’s resources. |
| Year 9 | Energy: Work & Heating and cooling – Describe work as energy transferred when a force moves an object. Recall that machines make work easier by reducing the force needed, and be able to identify types of simple machines. Know that thermal energy is stored energy and that fuels are chemicals that release energy by burning. Describe how thermal energy is transferred by conduction, convection and radiation. Reactions: Chemical energy & Types of reaction – What endothermic and exothermic reactions are, giving everyday examples. How catalysts are used to speed up reactions. What combustion is and how this is affecting the atmosphere. What thermal decomposition is. Waves: Wave effects & Wave properties – The effects of waves on cells. How audio equipment converts waves. How energy is transferred through waves. How we can model waves in science. Genes: Evolution & Inheritance – Describe evolution by natural selection using Darwin’s theory. State what biodiversity is and understand its importance to us a species. Know what we mean by extinct, why species become extinct and how we can help prevent extinction. Recognise how DNA is packaged into the nucleus of a cell. Understand that features are inherited from parents through chromosomes passed on during reproduction. | Developing investigation skills – Building on knowledge of working scientifically, developing practical skills, presenting and analysing data and evaluating methods. Organisms: Cell Biology – How the structure of a range of different cells relates to their function. Using a microscope to examine cells. How cells develop, grow and divide. How substances are transported in and out of cells and the exchange of substances through different plant and animal surfaces. Matter: Atomic structure & Periodic table – Know the difference between an atom, element, compound and mixture. Know different techniques used to separate mixtures. Know the structure of an atom and how knowledge of this has developed over time. Know the development of the periodic table and describe the trends in groups in the modern periodic table. | Energy: Energy stores, transfers and resources – Know the different types of energy stores and the methods of transfer. Know “The Law of Conservation of Energy”. Apply this to the transfer of energy in objects. Be able to calculate energy transfer using a range of equations. Know the methods of heat transfer. Investigate the specific heat capacity of a solid block. Know how to reduce unwanted energy transfer and how to calculate the efficiency of an appliance. Know the different types of renewable and non-renewable energy resources and how they generate electricity. Understand the trends in uses and meeting demand. Organisms: Organs, digestion, health & disease – How cells work together to form an organism. The transport system of plants. How the digestive, breathing and circulatory systems work. How to test for different food types. Investigate the effect of pH on enzyme activity. Know how lifestyle factors link to non-communicable diseases. Matter: Bonding, structure & properties of matter – Know how atoms bond ionically and how these compounds have similar properties. Know how atoms bond covalently and the different types of covalent molecules and structures, including their properties. Know how metal atoms bond and the properties that metals have. Compare pure metals with alloys. Know how particles are arranged in solids, liquids and gases and describe changes between state. |
| Year 10 | Electromagnets: Circuits & electricity in the home – Know the symbols for circuits. Describe the relationship between current, voltage and resistance and be able to calculate them. Compare parallel and series circuits and investigate resistance in circuits. Understand about mains electricity, wiring a plug and the power of appliances. Be able to calculate power. Know how electricity is supplied to homes. Organisms: Infection & response – Know the symptoms of a range of diseases and how they are caused and spread. How the body defends against disease. How we can prevent the spread of disease. Understand the development of drugs and antibiotic resistance. Reactions: Quantitative chemistry & Energy Changes – Know the law of conservation of mass and how to prove this. Be able to calculate the relative formula mass of a compound and the percentage mass of an element in a compound. Be able to calculate the concentration of a substance in a solution. Know the difference between an endothermic and exothermic reaction. Draw and interpret energy profile diagrams. Investigate endo/exothermic reactions Matter: Particle model of matter & Atomic Structure – Describe the particle model and motion in gas. Describe change of state in terms of internal energy and specific latent heat. Be able to calculate the density of materials and investigate the density of regular and irregular objects. Describe model of the atom and its development. Know what an isotope is and link its instability to radioactivity. Represent radioactive decay as an equation and calculate half-life. Know the risks associated with radioactive material. | Ecosystems: Bioenergetics – Know what photosynthesis is and the factors that affect it. Investigate the effect of light intensity on photosynthesis. Know the difference between aerobic and anaerobic respiration is. Describe the effects of exercise. Reactions: Chemical changes – Know hoe to identify and acid or base using the pH scale. Know what a neutralisation reaction is. Represent reactions of acids with word and/or symbol equations. Investigate how to make a soluble salt. Know the reactivity series and its application in the extraction of metals and displacement reactions. Know how electrolysis works. Investigate the electrolysis of an aqueous solution. Forces: Forces and motion & car safety – know what contact and non-contact forces are. Describe the relationship between mass, weight and gravity and be able to calculate them. Know how to calculate resultant forces and work done. Understand forces and elasticity and investigate the stretch of a spring. Describe and calculate speed, distance and time using the equation. Calculate acceleration. Draw and interpret distance-time and velocity-time graphs. Know Newton’s Laws. Investigate motion. Calculate stopping, thinking and braking distances, knowing what can affect these. Investigate reaction times. Organisms: Homeostasis and response – Know the structure and how the nervous system works. Investigate reaction times. Understand how hormones help regulate our body, including glucose levels and the menstrual cycle. | Reactions: Rate & Extent of Chemical Change – Know why a reaction occurs in terms of collisions between particles. Know the factors that affect the rate of reaction and investigate them. Use graphs to represent or calculate the rate of a reaction. Know what a reversible reaction is, giving examples. Waves: Waves – Compare transverse and longitudinal waves. Calculate waves speed and frequency. Investigate waves in a liquid and solid object. Draw and interpret refraction diagrams. Describe the properties, uses and dangers of EM waves. Investigate infrared absorption and radiation. Ecosystems: Ecology – Understand the relationships between organisms within the environment. Investigating the distribution of organisms. The cycling of materials. How human activities impact on the biodiversity through various activities, including those that contribute to global warming. Reactions: Organic Chemistry & Chemical Analysis – Know the structure of hydrocarbons. Know how and why we can separate crude oil, and that we can meet the demands for some fractions by “cracking” other fractions. Know what is meant by chemically “pure”. Know what a formulation is and give examples. Investigate separating substances using paper chromatography. Know the different test for gases. |
| Year 11 | Electromagnets: Magnetism & electromagnets – Know that magnets have a magnetic field around them and use a compass to plot this. Compare permanent and induced magnets. Know how a current produces a magnetic field and how this can be used to make an electromagnet. Earth: Chemistry of The Atmosphere & Using resources – How the atmosphere has changed over time. The impacts of human activities on the atmosphere, including pollution and global warming. Know the difference between finite and renewable resources, and how to reduced use and recycle. Know what a life cycle assessment is and how they are used. Know how we get clean and drinkable water. Investigate how to purify sea water. Genes: Inheritance, variation & evolution – Know the structure of DNA and the difference between sexual and asexual reproduction. Understand how characteristics and certain disorders are inherited. Know how evolution happens, and how the idea of natural selection has been used for selective breeding and genetic engineering. | Structured review of previous content for each unit for Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Use of practice papers to help with exam skills. Use of model answers to help with unpicking questions, identifying misconceptions and how to structure answers. | |
