Science Curriculum KS3
Overview
At Key Stage 3 all students in Science are delivered a modern syllabus to lay the foundations of scientific knowledge for Key Stage 4, which incorporates the three main topic areas, Biology, Chemistry and Physics. This will include an understanding of social, cultural and moral aspects of Science in preparation for future employment in modern Britain. Students will be taught a different aspect of Science each term.
Year 7
In year 7 students will be introduced to the science laboratories and given basic laboratory safety lessons at the beginning of the academic year. They will then be studying the following topics:
- Biology: Plant and Animal cells, Movement, Food chains, Human Reproduction, Variation, Breathing and Gas Exchange, Food groups, Diet, Photosynthesis, Plant Reproduction, and Inheritance.
- Chemistry: The pH scale, Elements, The Structure of the Periodic Table, Metal and Non-metal properties, Types of Reaction, Fossil fuels & Carbon cycle.
- Physics: The Particle Model, Energy Stores and Transfers, The Structure of a Atom, Speed calculations, Gravity & Weight, Types of rock, Day & Night on Earth, Seasons, Parts of a wave, Sound waves, Light, Contact & Non-Contact Forces, Hooke's law, Magnetic materials and Work.
There will be formal termly assessments, along with weekly testing throughout the year. At the end of year 7 they will sit a formal assessment that covers all aspects from throughout the year.
Year 8
In year 8 the students will begin to build on the knowledge and skills that they have learned during year 7. They will be studying the following topics:
- Biology: Specialised Cells & Microscopes, Predators & Competition, Adaptations & Extinction, The menstrual cycle & pregnancy, Lung disease & Causes, digestion, Types of respiration, Lead adaptations for Photosynthesis and Chromosomes & Fertilisation.
- Chemistry: Changes of state, separating mixtures, Reactions of Metals & Non-metals, Indicators, Groups of the periodic table, elements and compounds, global warming and metal displacement reactions.
- Physics: Series and Parallel circuits, energy efficiency, Power, The rock cycle & weathering, The solar system, The Ear & Hearing, Reflection of light, Resultant forces, magnetic field, heating transfers and types of waves.
There will be formal termly assessments, along with weekly testing throughout the year. At the end of year 8 they will sit a formal assessment that covers all aspects from throughout the year.
Year 9
In year 9 the students will begin to build on the knowledge and skills that they have learned during year 7 and 8 and they also deepen their scientific thinking and experimental skills. They will be studying the following topics:
- Biology: Unicellular organisms, preparing microscope slides, Fertility & Contraception, Evolution, The Heart and Circulation, Enzymes in Digestion, uses of anaerobic respiration, Limiting factors for photosynthesis and cell transport.
- Chemistry: Separation techniques, Metal reactions with acids, writing equations, Neutralisation & Indigestion, the history of the periodic table, elements & materials, Investigating chemical energy, types of reactions and compounds, Metal extraction and sub-atomic science.
- Physics: Voltage, current & resistance, Energy resources, energy costs, heating & cooling in the home, Other objects in our universe, Colours in light, pressure, electromagnetism, wave effects & wave speed and subatomic science.
There will be formal termly assessments, along with weekly testing throughout the year. At the end of year 9 they will sit a formal assessment that covers all aspects from throughout the year.
Key contact
Mrs S Green