Science units are delivered to individual classes on a rotation. The units listed below may not always be studied sequentially.
| Unit | Content |
|---|---|
| Biology Cells
| This unit teaches students to understand the nomenclature and functions of organisms at a cellular level. Students also deepen their understanding of microscopy and the growth of microorganisms. Key knowledge developed:
Key skills developed:
Assessment: Learning is assessed summatively at the end of the unit. The assessment contains questions requiring short- and long-form answers based on scientific knowledge and on the ability to work scientifically. |
| Chemistry Atoms, elements, compounds, mixtures | This unit enables students to understand key processes and concepts in chemistry including basic laboratory techniques and the fundamentals of chemical equations. Key knowledge developed:
Key skills developed:
Assessment: Learning is assessed summatively at the end of the unit. The assessment contains questions requiring short- and long-form answers based on scientific knowledge and on the ability to work scientifically. |
| Physics Forces | The focus of this unit is on building students' understanding of how the motion of an object relates to the forces acting upon it. Students develop and apply mathematical skills, particularly as they relate to equations and the use of scale. Key knowledge developed:
Key skills developed:
Assessment: Learning is assessed summatively at the end of the unit. The assessment contains questions requiring short- and long-form answers based on scientific knowledge and on the ability to work scientifically. |
| Biology Cell division | In this unit, students broaden their understanding of DNA. They explore how the order of DNA is integral to the processes operating within living things by looking at genes, inheritance, the cell cycle, mitosis and protein synthesis. Key knowledge developed:
Key skills developed:
Assessment: Learning is assessed summatively at the end of the unit. The assessment contains questions requiring short- and long-form answers based on scientific knowledge and on the ability to work scientifically. |
| Chemistry Acid reactions
| In this unit, students learn the structure, properties and behaviours of acids and alkalis. Students complete various practical activities using acids, alkalis and indicators, learning ideas that underpin the concept of ions. Key knowledge developed:
Key skills developed
Assessment: Learning is assessed summatively at the end of the unit. The assessment contains questions requiring short- and long-form answers based on scientific knowledge and on the ability to work scientifically. |
| Physics Energy stores
| In this unit, students learn to describe the world in terms of energy stores and transfers. They also develop an understanding of efficiency and waste. Key knowledge developed:
Key skills developed:
Assessment: Learning is assessed summatively at the end of the unit. The assessment contains questions requiring short- and long-form answers based on scientific knowledge and on the ability to work scientifically. |
| Biology Enzymes | In this unit, students further develop their understanding of enzymes and the digestive system. They learn how the structure of an enzyme relates to its function. Key knowledge developed:
Key skills developed:
Assessment: Learning is assessed summatively at the end of the unit. The assessment contains questions requiring short- and long-form answers based on scientific knowledge and on the ability to work scientifically. |
| Chemistry Periodic table | Students consolidate their understanding of the periodic table through studying the history and core components of this crucial tool in the chemical and physical sciences. Key knowledge developed:
Key skills developed:
Assessment: Learning is assessed summatively at the end of the unit. The assessment contains questions requiring short- and long-form answers based on scientific knowledge and on the ability to work scientifically. |
| Physics Electricity | The focus of this topic is for students to understand how current, potential difference and resistance behave in a series circuit. Students also learn the structure of an electric plug and how the National Grid distributes electricity. Key knowledge developed:
Key skills developed:
Assessment: Learning is assessed summatively at the end of the unit. The assessment contains questions requiring short- and long-form answers based on scientific knowledge and on the ability to work scientifically. |
| Biology Ecosystems | This unit further develops students' understanding of the planet's ecosystems. Students examine a range of different ecosystems, learning their characteristics and how the plants and animals in them have different structures. Key knowledge developed:
Key skills developed:
Assessment: Learning is assessed summatively at the end of the unit. The assessment contains questions requiring short- and long-form answers based on scientific knowledge and on the ability to work scientifically. |
| Chemistry Structure and bonding | This unit links the microscopic details of chemical bonding to the macroscopic properties of conductivity and boiling point. Students consolidate their knowledge of the three different types of chemical bonds, learning to understand why different substances behave differently. Key knowledge developed:
Key skills developed:
Assessment: Learning is assessed summatively at the end of the unit. The assessment contains questions requiring short- and long-form answers based on scientific knowledge and on the ability to work scientifically. |
| Physics Energy resources | This unit introduces different types of energy resource and equips students with specific examples of how energy is transferred. Students develop skills in working scientifically in the context of a practical experiment about insulation. Key knowledge developed:
Key skills developed:
Assessment: Learning is assessed summatively at the end of the unit. The assessment contains questions requiring short- and long-form answers based on scientific knowledge and on the ability to work scientifically. |
