SCIENCE - Year 7
Teacher in charge - Mr M.Squire
The new curriculum for pupils in key stage 3 places less emphasis on science content and more emphasis on How Science Works skills. The new course we are using incorporates all the different aspects of How Science Works, including evaluating different opinions about scientific phenomena, weighing up evidence along with the usual investigations but delivers it in a dynamic and interesting way. In year 7 pupils are introduced to the skills and concepts they will need and will begin the process of developing their knowledge over the key stage to allow them to be well equipped for their GCSEs in Years 10 and 11.
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Terms 1 and 2 |
Investigating Science |
A general introduction to the subject which lays down a vocabulary and a set of investigative skills which pupils will use in Science.
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Why are we different? |
Pupils will look at what makes all living things different and how we can classify them. They will also extend their KS2 knowledge on habitats and interdependence.
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What are things made of? |
Pupils will investigate solids liquids and gases and what they are made of. They will use investigations to look at the physical and chemical properties of materials as well as how to separate them |
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Terms 3 and 4 |
Staying Alive |
Pupils will use microscopes to look at the smallest units of living things and the different types of cells there are in both plants and animals. They will study how they themselves grow including the study of conception, pregnancy, birth, adolescence, puberty and the menstrual cycle. (Please note that this is taught in accordance with the Governing Body’s Sex Education Policy.)
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Using Energy |
Pupils explore where energy comes from, how we produce and use it in everyday life and the effects on the earth of using too much energy.
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Terms 5 and 6 |
Be Reactive |
This introduces the concepts of basic chemical reactions, pH and neutralisation.
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How things move |
Pupils learn to measure forces and understand how to balance them. They study friction, air resistance and speed.
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Earth Space and Beyond |
Pupils will build on prior knowledge of the solar system and look in more detail at the earth, each individual planet and the universe as a whole. |
Range of Activities
Each topic is divided into spreads. Each spread covers a small amount of national curriculum content and at the same time develops one or more How Science Works skills. This could involve pupils in investigatory work or may require group discussion or presentation. Pupils may be asked to apply what they have learnt, evaluate or interpret their own or secondary sources of data or make predictions or hypotheses about more familiar situations. The textbook and resources are available on the school virtual learning environment so further study and/or consolidation of learning could be completed at home or in the school library.
There is one science homework each week. This may involve written follow up work from class or it could be a research exercise on the current theme. Occasionally pupils are asked to do small practical tasks at home but none is likely to involve anything other than normal household materials.
As well as regular informal assessment during lessons, there will be three formal tests during the year, which last approximately 50 minutes, and are designed to discover how much pupils have learnt during the term. The analysis of the results allows continuous assessment of a pupil's progress to be maintained. Shorter, less formal tests are available at the end of each topic.