Science
Science is all around us! As well as being a core subject, at Allerton Grange, we want to give our students the Science capital that they need to make informed choices and decisions, in terms of where Science influences the many aspects of their life.
Science is taught in mixed ability groups in Year 7, usually by one teacher. Students rotate around Biology, Chemistry and Physics topics with a short summative assessment at the end of each rotation as shown in the tables below.
We see Science skills as just as a valuable a part of the curriculum as the conceptual Science content. We know that practical activities allow students to contextualise their understanding and make science fun! Science skills are deliberately sequenced throughout the curriculum to allow students to build on their knowledge and increase their confidence in critically evaluating data and applying their science knowledge to real world scenarios.
September to December:
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Physics Forces and Space 1 |
Biology Organisms 1 |
Chemistry Chemical reactions 1 |
Science skills |
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What is a force? -Contact and non contact forces -Affect of forces on objects -Drawing forces -Resultant forces -Friction |
Cells, organisation and microscopes -Cell structures -Levels of organisation -Unicellular and multicellular. Specialised cells -How to use a microscope |
Acid and alkalis -Difference between acids and alkalis -Using indicators -Neutralisation |
-Use of simple laboratory apparatus -Working safely in a lab -Following written instructions -Make simple predictions -Independent and dependent variables -Recording observations in tables -identify patterns in data from tables |
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Speed -Calculating speed |
The digestive system -Balanced diets -Food tests -Structure and function of the digestive system |
Chemical reactions -Difference between chemical and physical reactions |
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Gravity -Difference between weight and mass -Gravity on different planets |
Microorganisms -Structure of a bacterial cell -Examples of pathogens -Growing microorganisms |
Reactions of metals and carbonates -Metals and acid -Metals and oxygen -Carbonates and acid |
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The universe and the solar system -Planets in our solar system -Scale of the universe and solar system |
Skeleton and muscles -Role of the skeleton -Structure of a joint |
Combustion -What is combustion? -Incomplete combustion |
January to April:
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Physics Energy and Electricity 1 |
Biology Genes 1 |
Chemistry Matter 1 |
Science skills |
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Energy stores and transfers -Types of energy stores -Transfers between energy stores -Energy efficiency -Renewable and non-renewable energy sources |
Human reproduction -Human reproductive organs -Menstrual cycle -Pregnancy and birth -Contraception and fertility treatments |
Particle theory -States of matter -Changing states -Diffusion -Air pressure |
In addition to the skills taught in rotation 1: -Continuous and categorical data -Presenting data as graphs -Identify patters in data from graphs -Drawing conclusions -Accuracy and precision |
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Circuits -Drawing circuits -Series and parallel circuits -Current -Potential difference |
Variation -What is variation? -What is a species? -Continuous and discontinuous variation -Variation in plants |
Solutions -What is a solution -Making solutions -Saturation -Making crystals |
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Magnets -Magnetic fields -The Earth as a compass |
Separating mixtures -Filtration -Evaporation -Distillation -Chromatography |
April to July:
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Physics Waves 1 |
Biology Ecosystems 1 |
Chemistry Earth 1 |
Science skills |
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Sound -Sound waves in different mediums -Features of a wave – frequency and amplitude -Difference between longitudinal and transverse waves -The ear and hearing impairment |
Plant reproduction -Fertilisation in flowering plants -Seed dispersal |
Rocks -What is a mineral -Igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks -Weathering and transportation -The rock cycle |
In addition to the skills taught in rotations 1 and 2: -Control variables -Planning a valid method |
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Light -How do light rays travel? -Transparent, translucent, opaque -Eyes and the pin-hole camera |
Habitats and ecosystems -Food chains and food webs -Adaptations -Pyramids of numbers -Importance of insects |
In Year 8, students will be taught the same topics but with content that builds on that which is taught in Year 7.
Revision links
Students are provided with a CGP Key Stage 3 Science Knowledge Organiser at the start of Year 7 which covers all of the KS3 content. This is on loan and will need to be returned to school at the end of Year 8.
If a student has lost their knowledge organiser it can be replaced using most major websites, such as Amazon. The ISBN number for the knowledge organiser is 9781789087239.
BBC bitesize is an excellent resource for interactive revision. Specific knowledge organiser pages and BBC bitesize links will be communicated via ClassCharts prior to any assessment.
