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Key Stage 3 Science

 

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The science curriculum follows the national QCA framework. Students are setted according to ability. Students work on 12 units of work during each academic year. Out of these 12 units, 4 are based on Biology, 4 on Chemistry and 4 on Physics. At the end of each unit, students sit a test which is used to monitor their progress. Based on a number of test results students may be moved set so that they are in the group most appropriate to their ability.

Each unit contains theory and practical work. Students will learn how to use laboratory equipment safely and how to plan and carry out scientific tests.

During the summer term of year 9, students sit their SATs. In science there are two levels of paper that a student may be entered for:

• Foundation (levels: 3-6)
• Higher (levels: 5-7)

Students are prepared for the SATs throughout Key Stage 3 by practising SATs style questions for each unit and by completing mock SATs papers.

Year 7 - Scheme of Work

During year 7, students will study the following units. A summary of the main points for each unit is included.

7A: Cells
– Using a microscope
– Animal and plant cells
– Systems of the body
– Cell division
– Plant reproduction

7B: Reproduction
– Adolescence
– Reproductive organs
– Menstrual cycle
– Pregnancy

7C: Environment and Feeding Relationships
– How living organisms are adapted to survive
– Food chains and webs

7D: Variation and Classification
– Animal groups
– Plant groups
– Variation

7E: Acids and Alkalis
– Identifying acids and alkalis
– Neutralisation

7F: Simple Chemical Reactions
– Acid and metal reactions
– Testing for Hydrogen and Carbon Dioxide
– Burning fuels

7G: The particle Model
– Properties of solids, liquids and gases

7H: Solutions
– Dissolving
– Distillation
– Chromatography
 

7I: Energy
– Fossil fuels
– Renewable and non-renewable energy

7J: Electrical Circuits
– Batteries
– Series and parallel circuits

7K: Forces and their Effects
– Measuring forces
– The difference between mass and weight
– Balanced forces

7L: The Solar System – and Beyond
– The sun
– The moon
– The seasons
– The planets

Year 8 - Scheme of Work

During year 8, students will study the following units. A summary of the main points for each unit is included.

8A: Food and Digestion
– Food groups
– Digestive system
– Enzymes

8B: Respiration
– What is respiration?
– Heart and circulation
– The lungs

8C: Microbes
– Groups of micro-organisms
– How infection is spread
– How the body defends against infection
– Immunisation

8D: Ecological Relationships
– Sampling plants and animals
– Food webs
– Predator/prey relationships
– Pyramid of numbers

8E: Elements and Atoms
– What are atoms and elements?

8F: Compounds and Mixtures
– What are compounds and mixtures?

8G: Rocks and Weathering
– Weathering and erosion
– Fossils

8H: The Rock Cycle
– Sedimentary rock
– Metamorphic rock
– Igneous rock

8I: Heating and Cooling
– Conduction and insulation
– Convection
– Radiation

8J: Magnets and Electromagnets
– North and south poles
– Magnetic fields
– Electromagnets

8K: Light
– How light travels
– Mirrors
– Spectrum of light
– Seeing colour

8L: Sound and Hearing
– How sound is made
– The oscilloscope and sound waves
– How the ear works

Year 9 - Scheme of Work

During year 9, students will study the following units. A summary of the main points for each unit is included.

9A: Inheritance and Selection
– Genetic and environmental variation
– Selective breeding
– Cloning

9B: Fit and Healthy
– Fitness
– Drugs
– The skeleton
– Muscles

9C: Plants and Photosynthesis
– What is photosynthesis?
– Leaf and stem structure
– The carbon cycle

9D: Plants for Food
– The nutrient cycle
– Fertilisers
– Pollution

9E: Metals and Metal Compounds
– Properties of metals and non-metals
– Acid and metal reactions
– Acid and base reactions

9F: Patterns of Reactivity
– Rusting
– The reactivity series

9G: Environmental Chemistry
– Effect of pH on plants
– The water cycle
– Effects of acid rain
– Global warming

9H: Using Chemistry
– Burning fuels
– Exothermic and endothermic reactions
– The blast furnace
9I: Energy and Electricity
– Energy transfers and diagrams
– Series and parallel circuits
– Nine forms of energy
– Generating electricity

9J: Gravity and Space
– Ideas about gravity
– Rockets and satellites

9K: Speeding Up
– Force diagrams
– Balanced forces
– Calculating speed
– Speed-time graphs
– Distance-time graphs

9L: Pressure and Moments
– Calculating pressure
– Pressure in liquids and the air
– Levers
– Calculating moments