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 and Year 8, 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.
Our Year 8 curriculum builds on and extends the topics taught in Year 7, using the same names for the topics taught.
Rotation 1 – September to December
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Physics Forces and Space 2 |
Biology Organisms 2 |
Chemistry Matter 2 |
Science skills |
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Speed -Rearranging the speed equation -Distance time graphs -Velocity and terminal velocity |
The respiratory system -Structure of the respiratory system -The mechanism of breathing -Lung dissection -Adaptations of alveoli |
Elements and atoms -The structure of an atom -What is an element? -The periodic table |
In addition to the skills taught in Y7, -Identifying anomalies -Calculating a mean -Writing a valid method |
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Forces -Stretching and compressing -Investigating the extension of a spring -Moments -Pressure -Pressure in fluids -Floating and sinking |
The circulatory system -The role of the circulatory system -Double circulatory system -The structure of the heart -Heart dissection |
Compounds and molecules -What is a compound? -What is a molecule? -Chemical formulae and naming compounds |
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Respiration -What is aerobic respiration -What is anaerobic respiration -What happens to your body when you exercise. |
Chemical equations -Writing word and symbol equations -The law of conservation of mass -Balancing equations |
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The universe -Seasons and day length -The phases of the moon -Changing ideas |
Microorganisms -Growing microorganisms -What is a pathogen? |
Diffusion -What factors affect diffusion? -Investigating diffusion |
Rotation 2 - January to April
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Physics Energy and Electricity 2 |
Biology Genes 2 |
Chemistry Chemical Reactions 2 |
Science skills |
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Energy stores and transfers -Recap of energy stores -Work -Conduction, convection and radiation. -Investigating insulators |
Human reproduction -Genes, DNA and chromosomes -Sexual reproduction |
Different types of chemical reactions -Metals and non-metal oxides -Metal and acid reactions -Metal carbonate and acid reactions -Reactions of metal oxides -Decomposition reactions |
Consolidation of science skills taught throughout Y7 and Y8. |
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Circuits -Revision of circuits from Y7 -Resistance -Static electricity |
Evolution -Theory of natural selection -Applying natural selection to different scenarios -Evidence for evolution -Extinction |
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Magnets -Making and investigating electromagnets -Uses of electromagnets |
Chemical Reaction theory -Energy changes in chemical reactions -Speeding up chemical reactions -Investigating the rate of reaction |
Rotation 3 - April to July
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Physics Waves 2 |
Biology Ecosystems 2 |
Chemistry Earth 1 |
Science skills |
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Light -Reflection -Refraction -The pin hole camera -The eye -Splitting light -Colours -Electromagnetic spectrum |
Ecosystem -Interdependence in ecosystems -Predator prey cycles -Competition in ecosystems -Fertilisers, pesticides and bioaccumulation -Maintaining biodiversity |
The Earth’s atmosphere -Composition of the atmosphere -The carbon cycle -Weather and climate -The greenhouse effect -Global warming |
Consolidation of science skills taught throughout Y7 and Y8 |
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Photosynthesis -What is photosynthesis -Testing a leaf for starch -Structure of a leaf |
Earth’s resources -Crude oil -Displacement reactions -Extracting metals |
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 website 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.
