Key Stage 3 - Science

7

What pupils will learn

How it builds on learning

Being a Scientist

Pupils become accustomed to using scientific apparatus safely and practise the skills a scientist needs in carrying out an investigation from the planning stage to the evaluation.

Students complete this as their first unit to ensure that all students start the KS3 science in the same position with regards to disciplinary knowledge, which is then interwoven with the KS3 course

Core Science

Pupils cover the key ideas and vocabulary needed for KS3 Science, with four lessons each on Biology, Chemistry and Physics

Biology

Takes students through the hierarchy of biological systems building on topics they have encountered at primary school and setting them up to study these further at secondary school. The unit looks at cells and the major organ systems of the body.

Chemistry

Builds on concepts of particles taught in KS2 and extends this to look at the idea of elements, compounds and mixtures, which are fundamental knowledge for the study of chemistry

Physics

Taught early as basic knowledge of forces is fundamental to most physics topics and is repeatedly returned to most units

Reproduction

Plant reproduction, fertilisation, puberty, human reproduction, pregnancy and birth

A fundamental unit taught in year 7 as this is also relevant to the student’s current developmental stage.

Living World

Habitats, ecosystems, adaptations, variations and feeding relationships, the impact of food choices on the environment, the water cycle

Allows students to gain a deeper understanding of the natural world and our relationship with this. Exposes students to the concept of interdependence within the biological world.

Atom and its History

Structure of atom, history of the atom, electronic structure and reactivity, chemical formulae

Taught in year 7 to deepen students understanding of the nature of matter, which underpins all subsequent KS3 chemistry topics

Simple Chemical Reactions

Atoms, molecules and compounds. Signs of chemical reactions, oxidation and combustion, gas tests and decomposition reactions

Introduces students to the fundamental concept of chemical reactions and introduces students to writing and understanding equations.

Space

Planets in our solar system and their motions, day and night, seasons, moon and its phases, mass and weight

Taught in year 7 as most of the concepts are simple, and it is a topic likely to engage students. Not revisited in KS3 as only triple science students need knowledge of Space at GCSE.

Light

Seeing things, reflection, refraction, colour, lenses, cameras and eyes

Taught in year 7 as most concepts are simple, and prepares students for more detailed study of waves in year 8.

8

What pupils will learn

How it builds on learning

Cell Biology:

Cell structure, unicellular organisms, microscopy, diffusion, osmosis, anaerobic respiration and fermentation

The cellular basis of life is a fundamental biological concept, it is studied in more detail here so that students have a sound grounding ahead of their GCSE studies and year 9 units.

Breathing and respiration

Human respiratory system, aerobic and anaerobic respiration, circulatory system, smoking and asthma, non-communicable diseases

Builds on their KS2 and year 7 exposure to the unit and sets the groundwork for the GCSE Organisation unit. Students begin to develop a greater understanding of inter-related systems and the importance of energy for living things.

Understanding Health

The skeletal and muscular system. Fitness, health, communicable and non-communicable diseases. Immunity and drug development.

A closer look at some of the body systems introduced in the Core Biology unit. Explores important ideas about staying healthy and how scientists use the scientific process to develop new treatments.

Periodic Table

Understanding patterns in the periodic table, metals and non-metals, chemical symbols and balancing equations.

Builds on Atoms and Simple Chemical Reactions Units as students begin to study the patterns in reactions and the reasons behind them. The unit continues to develop the idea that science changes with evidence.

Reactions of acids

Word equations, acids and alkalis, reactions of acids and rates of reactions, gas tests

Builds on simple chemical reactions unit to further develop understanding of reactions (specifically in the context of acids and alkalis). Introduces key concept of acids and neutralisation.

Separating mixtures

Solutions and solubility, filtration, evaporation, simple and fractional distillation, chromatography, formulations.

Taught in year 8 as concepts are simple and builds on core chemistry topic taught in year 7.

Waves

Longitudinal and transverse waves, wave terminology, sound in solids liquids and gases, the human ear, music, ultrasound

Builds on Light topic by placing light in the context of other waves and comparing similarities and differences.

Matter

Heat transfer, conduction, radiation, convection, evaporation, heating and cooling curves, radioactivity,

Taught in Year 8 so students will have already studied Year 7 Core Chemistry, so will have studied solids, liquids and gases which this topic builds on.

Forces and motion

Forces, friction, Hooke’s law, speed, distance time graphs, velocity- time graphs

Builds on Year 7 Core Forces, further deepening their understanding of forces.  Students should also have good experience of plotting graphs from BAS and from other experiments by this point.

9

What pupils will learn

How it builds on learning

DNA

Structure of DNA, inheritance, variation, evolution, natural selection, selective breeding

Follows on from the year 8 cells unit, taught here as it is more conceptually challenging. Concepts are revisited in year 11 and so this provides a solid grounding.

Photosynthesis

Parts of a flower, photosynthesis reaction, rate of photosynthesis, limiting factors, transport in plants, respiration in plants

Provides an understanding of the importance of plants to our existence and sets students up to understand these concepts at GCSE level.

Food and digestion

Food groups, deficiency diseases, energy in food, digestion and digestive system, enzymes

Follows on from the Core Biology unit and helps students to think about choices that can impact their own health as well as providing a grounding for their GCSE studies.

Environmental Chemistry

Evolution of atmosphere, carbon cycle, greenhouse effect and climate change, acid rain, human impacts on the planet

Introduces ideas of climate change - covered in year 9 as foundational knowledge to fully understand concepts has been introduced in previous years

Energy Changes in Chemical Reactions Word and symbol equations, thermal decomposition, catalysts, exothermic and endothermic reactions, changes of state

Builds on year 7 and 8 units, bringing a variety of concepts together including reactions, changes of state and the nature of matter. Introduces the idea of energy change in preparation for year 11.

Materials

Word and symbol equations, displacement reactions, reactivity series, polymers, composite materials

Builds on year 7 and 8 units - looking at specific materials and the reasons behind their properties. Also links to Earth chemistry and prepares students for year 10 using resources unit/year 11 organic chemistry unit.

Pressure and moments

Pressure in solids, liquids and gases, Hooke’s Law, Machines and moments, Density

Students again return to the concept of forces, deepening their understanding. Taught in year 9 as it introduces some  harder maths such as pressure calculations with different units for area/pressure, and balancing moment equations.

Energy

Types of energy, energy conversions, efficiency, fossil fuels, renewable energy, power

Taught in year 9 as it formalises concept of energy embedded in all topics in earlier years, and prepares students for year 10 unit on Energy. Also contains significant mathematical demand, introducing equations for power and efficiency.

Electricity and Magnetism

Static electricity, series and parallel circuits, potential difference, current, resistance, Ohm’s law, plugs and electrical safety, magnets, electromagnets

In Year 9 as ideas around current and voltage in series and parallel are conceptually challenging, as well as introducing Ohm's Law.

Introduction to GCSE

Students study short units as an introduction to GCSE. In Biology students study proteins, epidemics, evolution and ecology. In Chemistry students focus on deepening their understanding of the atom and in Physics students study waves

Biology

A series of four lessons which tackle fundamental biological ideas in an exciting way to both prepare students for their GCSE studies and get them excited about biology.

Chemistry

History of the atom is revisited in more detail, isotopes and RAM are introduced – building on ideas introduced in year 7 and preparing for year 10.

Physics

Students are taught 4 lessons of the GCSE waves topic, giving students the opportunity to return to this in year 11. It also allows students to practice unit conversions, a key maths skill, in a familiar context.