--- title: "Science" url: "https://www.st-wilfrids.org/curriculum/subjects/science" school: "St. Wilfrid's R.C. College, South Shields" --- # Science ![Art & Photography banner](https://www.st-wilfrids.org/images/gallery/curriculum-image/250623St_Wilfrid_RC_School___100-2.jpg) # Science Curriculum Empowering young scientists to understand their world ![Art and Photography](https://www.st-wilfrids.org/images/lo.png) ## Why study Science? ### What science develops - Opens doors to amazing careers- medicine, research, biotech and more - Practical and analytical skills - Understanding of real-world challenges in health, environment and technology ### Student voice “I enjoy science because it's like solving lots of puzzles. We get to do cool experiments and learn all about lots of complex topics.” **Stephen, Year 7** - KS3 Science (Y7–9) - KS4 Science - KS5 sCIENCE Key Stage 3 Science– Cycle Overview Cycle 1 Biology #### Year 7 #### Knowledge focus - Cells - Inheritance #### Key skills - Using a microscope - Making scientific observations - Drawing cells - Evaluating models - Extracting DNA #### Assessment - Assessment at the end of the module #### Key Vocabulary - Cell - Microscope - Membrane - Diffusion - Osmosis - DNA - Gene - Chromosome - Allele #### Year 8 #### Knowledge focus - Classification - Changes in an organism’s lifetime - Human lifestyles and health #### Key skills - Using a classification key - Analysing a percentile chart - Performing calorimetry #### Assessment - Assessment at the end of the module #### Key Vocabulary - Hierarchy - Binomial naming - Percentile chart - Mitosis - Life cycle - Adaptations - Gametes - Diet - Malnutrition #### Year 9 #### Knowledge focus - Interdependence of organisms - Organisms and their environments - Biodiversity and impact of humans #### Key skills - Drawing and interpreting food chains and webs - Dissecting a flower - Using a quadrat #### Assessment - Assessment at the end of the module #### Key Vocabulary - Predator - Prey - Biomass - Interdependence - Abiotic and biotic factors - Ecosystem - Population - Biodiversity Cycle 1 cHEMISTRY #### Year 7 #### Knowledge focus - Investigative skills - States of matter #### Key skills - Lab safety and Lab equipment - Scientific skills (Measurement and scale, variables) - Making scientific observations - Graph skills - States of matter - Changes of state - Gas pressure and diffusion #### Assessment - Assessment at the end of the module #### Key Vocabulary - Hazard - Control - Risk - Precaution - Independent variable - Dependent variable - Control variable - Line of best fit - Axis - Solid - Liquid - Gas - Particles - Vibrations - Diffusion #### Year 8 #### Knowledge focus - Acids and Alkalis #### Key skills - Assessing hazard and risk - Making indicators - Naming salts - Making scientific observations - Linking pH to acidity #### Assessment - Assessment at the end of the module #### Key Vocabulary - Acid - Alkali - Neutralisation - Hazard - Risk - Precaution - Indicator - Litmus paper - Universal indicator - PH meter - PH - Excess #### Year 9 #### Knowledge focus - Earth’s structure and Atmosphere #### Key skills - Describe an explain systems (structure of earth and rock cycle) - Use scientific models - Apply cause and effect reasoning - Make inks to different topics (photosynthesis and respiration in biology) - Environmental and citizenship skills (awareness of human's impact on earths systems) #### Assessment - Assessment at the end of the module #### Key Vocabulary - Mantle - Crust - Core - Igneous - Sedimentary - Metamorphic - Weathering - Erosion - Composition - Respiration - Photosynthesis - Combustion - Greenhouse gases - Global warming - Fossil fuels Cycle 1 PHYSICS #### Year 7 #### Knowledge focus - Forces - Sound and Light #### Key skills - Using a Newton Metre #### Assessment - Assessment at end of module #### Key Vocabulary - Force - Friction - Upthrust - Gravity air resistance - Resultant force - Lubricant - Angle - Reflection - Surface - Amplitude and frequency #### Year 8 #### Knowledge focus - Moving by force - Making images #### Key skills - Applications using a protractor - Representing motion using force diagrams #### Assessment - Assessment at end of module #### Key Vocabulary - Acceleration - Deceleration - Constant speed - Velocity - Angle of incidence - Angle of reflection - Normal - Perpendicular - Image - Laterally inverted #### Year 9 #### Knowledge focus - Waves - More electrical circuits #### Key skills - Using a ripple tank - Labelling waves - Using the wave speed equation #### Assessment - Assessment at end of module #### Key Vocabulary - Transverse - Oscillation - Perpendicular - Longitudinal - Amplitude - Frequency - Medium - Matter - Pitch - Rarefaction - Resistance - Voltage - Current - Series - Parallel Cycle 2 Biology #### Year 7 #### Knowledge focus - From cells to organ systems #### Key skills - Link structure to function - Using models - Collecting and recording data - Plot a graph - Label diagrams #### Assessment - Assessment at the end of the module #### Key Vocabulary - Cell - Tissue - Organ - Organ system - Digestive system - Circulatory system - Respiratory system - Muscle contraction - Antagonistic - ATP #### Year 8 #### Knowledge focus - Classification - Changes in an organism’s lifetime - Human lifestyles and health #### Key skills - Dissecting a plant - Identifying variables - Presenting findings in a clear written or verbal format - Link theory to real-world concepts #### Assessment - Assessment at the end of the module #### Key Vocabulary - Gamete - Fertilisation - Reproduction - Pollination - Germination - Stamen - Pistil #### Year 9 #### Knowledge focus - Variation, adaptation and evolution - Health and disease #### Key skills - Interpreting graphs - Applying knowledge of adaptations to unfamiliar organisms and habitats - Extended writing and reading #### Assessment - Assessment at the end of the module #### Key Vocabulary - Variation - Adaptation - Competition - Natural selection - Pathogen - Communicable and non-communicable disease - Immunity - Vaccination Cycle 2 cHEMISTRY #### Year 7 #### Knowledge focus - Atoms, elements, compounds and mixtures #### Key skills - Drawing diagrams of elements, compounds and mixtures - Make scientific observations - Investigate the different techniques for separating mixtures #### Assessment - Assessment at the end of the module #### Key Vocabulary - Atoms - Elements - Compounds - Mixtures - Chemical formulae - Dissolving - Solutes - Solvents - Solubilities - Evaporation - Filtration - Distillation - Chromatography #### Year 8 #### Knowledge focus - Periodic Table #### Key skills - Naming compounds - Identify chemicals by their symbols - Describe the structure of the periodic table - Explaining trends in the periodic table - Identify key properties of metals and non-metals #### Assessment - Assessment at the end of the module #### Key Vocabulary - Atom - Proton - Neutron - Electron - Electron configuration - Isotope - Ion - Formulae - Charge - Mass - Trends - Patterns - Group - Alkali metals - Noble gases - Halogens #### Year 9 #### Knowledge focus - Reactions of metals #### Key skills - Develop chemical language and literacy - Write simple chemical word equations - Making scientific observations - Develop predictive reasoning - Practical competence #### Assessment - Assessment at the end of the module #### Key Vocabulary - Metals - Alloys - Distorted - Reactivity series - Displacement - Oxidation - Reduction - Extraction - Ore - Mineral - Mining - Native state - Electrolysis - Carbonates - Thermal decomposition Cycle 2 PHYSICS #### Year 7 #### Knowledge focus - The Solar System and beyond #### Key skills - Graph analysis and interpretation of data. - Explaining seasons (summer/winter) due to the 23.5-degree tilt of the Earth’s axis, affecting the concentration of sunlight (intensity) and length of daylight. #### Assessment - Assessment at end of module #### Key Vocabulary - Orbit - Gravity - Solar system - Galaxy - Universe - Light year - Star - Asteroid - Satellite - Atmosphere #### Year 8 #### Knowledge focus - More about force - The Earth and the Sun #### Key skills - Distinguishing between mass (amount of matter in kg) and weight (force of gravity in Newtons). - Understanding that gravitational field strength varies depending on the planet's mass and radius, meaning weight changes but mass does not #### Assessment - Assessment at end of module #### Key Vocabulary - Axis - Rotation - Revolution - Mass - Weight - Heliocentric - Non-contact force #### Year 9 #### Knowledge focus - Floating and sinking #### Key skills - Investigating how surface area can affect buoyancy of an object. - Calculating density using the formula - Density=Mass/Volume. - Creating a layered liquid column (water, oil, syrup) to demonstrate relative density. #### Assessment - Assessment at end of module #### Key Vocabulary - Density - Buoyancy - Upthrust - Displacement - Fluid - Submerged - Mass - Volume - Gravity Cycle 3 Biology #### Year 7 #### Knowledge focus - Variation - Health and Disease #### Key skills - Plot and interpret continuous and discontinuous variation graphs - Extended writing - Practical skills – growing bacteria - Link knowledge to real-world scenarios #### Assessment - Assessment at the end of the module #### Key Vocabulary - Variation - Species - Fossil - Evolution - Physical health - Mental health - Bacteria - Infectious - Medicine #### Year 8 #### Knowledge focus - Biochemistry #### Key skills - Linking cause and effect - Data interpretation - Microscopy - Data collection - Practical skills – investigating respiration in yeast #### Assessment - Assessment at the end of the module #### Key Vocabulary - Respiration - Aerobic - Anaerobic - Lactic acid - Fermentation - Producer - Consumer - Chlorophyll - Photosynthesis - Biomass #### Year 9 #### Knowledge focus - Fundamentals of Biology - Cells - Microscopes #### Key skills - Labelling cells - Comparing bacterial, animal and plant cells - Practical skills – preparing a microscope slide - Calculating magnification #### Assessment - Assessment at the end of the module #### Key Vocabulary - Cell - Prokaryotic - Eukaryotic - Nucleus - Mitochondria - Ribosome - Stage - Slide - Stain - Magnification - Image size - Actual size - Focus Cycle 3 cHEMISTRY #### Year 7 #### Knowledge focus - Properties and materials #### Key skills - Classify different materials into categories - Carry out practicals to investigate the properties of materials - Follow safety procedures - Evaluate materials for suitability in practical or real-world applications - Record and representing data in tables and charts #### Assessment - Assessment at the end of the module #### Key Vocabulary - Materials - Polymers - Composites - Ceramics - Fabrics - Alloys - Fabrics - Appearance - Opaque - Translucent - Transparent #### Year 8 #### Knowledge focus - Chemical reactions #### Key skills - Classify changes as chemical or physical based on observations - Develop chemical language and literacy - Write simple chemical word equations - Making scientific observations - Develop predictive reasoning - Practical competence - Safety and responsibility #### Assessment - Assessment at the end of the module #### Key Vocabulary - Reactant - Product - Word equation - Symbol equation - Physical change - Chemical change - Oxidation - Reduction - Rusting - Combustion - Thermal decomposition - Photosynthesis - Exothermic - Endothermic #### Year 9 #### Knowledge focus - Particles and separating mixtures #### Key skills - Draw the particle model - Perform several lab techniques for separating mixtures - Comparing the effectiveness of different spearing techniques - Translate experimental observations into scientific explanations - Comparing measurements (eg boiling points) #### Assessment - Assessment at the end of the module #### Key Vocabulary - Melting point - Boiling point - Evaporation - Boiling - Sublimation - Condensing - Melting - Deposition - Particle - Atom - Element - Compound - Mixture - Pure - Impure - Crystallisation - Distillation - Chromatography - Potable water - Chlorination - Ozone Cycle 3 PHYSICS #### Year 7 #### Knowledge focus - Heating and Cooling - How we see #### Key skills - Designing experiments to compare conductors and insulators. - Drawing and interpreting cooling curves. - Using particle module to explain contraction and expansion #### Assessment - Assessment at end of module #### Key Vocabulary - Temperature - Conduction - Convection - Radiation - Heat - Kelvin - Degree Celsius - Insulator - Evaporation - Pupil - Reflection - Refraction - Iris - Lens - Retina - Optic nerve - Opaque - Transparent - Translucent #### Year 8 #### Knowledge focus - Simple Electric Circuits #### Key skills - Constructing working series and parallel circuits. - Identifying why a circuit is not working. - Predicting, testing and explaining how changing variables affects circuit behaviour. - Drawing accurately labelled circuit diagrams #### Assessment - Assessment at end of module #### Key Vocabulary - Circuit - Component - Cell - Battery - Parallel - Series - Current - Voltage - Resistance - Conductor #### Year 9 #### Knowledge focus - Magnets and Electromagnets #### Key skills - Building simple electromagnets using a solenoid. - Investing what variables affect the strength of an electromagnet. - Using a compass. - Explaining the difference between permanent and temporary magnetism. #### Assessment - Assessment at end of module #### Key Vocabulary - Poles - Attract - Repel - Magnetic material - Permanent magnet - Electromagnet - Solenoid - Core - Induced magnetism - Field - Compass Key Stage 4 Science Cycle 1 Biology #### Year 10 #### Knowledge focus - Key concepts in biology - Cells and control - Nervous System #### Key skills - Labelling cells - Describing and explaining enzymes graphs - Using a microscope - Calculating magnification - Significant figures and standard form - Practical skills – investigating osmosis - Calculating percentage change - Analysing a percentile chart - Calculating BMI #### Assessment - Assessment at the end of the module #### Key Vocabulary - Diffusion - Active transport - Mitosis - Stem cell - Differentiation - Receptor - Synapse #### Year 11 #### Knowledge focus - Plant Structures and their Functions - Endocrine System - Animal coordination and control - Homeostasis #### Key skills - Planning investigations - Link structure to function - Interpret inverse and proportional relationships - Evaluate advantages and disadvantages #### Assessment - Assessment at the end of the module - November prelims (year 10 content) #### Key Vocabulary - Photosynthesis - Limiting factor - Transpiration - Translocation - Hormone - Endocrine system - Homeostasis Cycle 1 cHEMISTRY #### Year 10 #### Knowledge focus - Key concepts in chemistry – structure of the atom, periodic table, structure and bonding #### Key skills - Core chemical understanding and conceptual skills (atomic and subatomic understanding) - Chemical language and representation - Working scientifically/practical skills (planning and investigating) - Critical thinking and evaluation (distinguish between evidence and opinion) #### Assessment - Assessment at end of module - Prelims end of Y10 #### Key Vocabulary - Atom - Proton - Neutron - Electron - Configuration - Isotope - Ion - Formulae - Ionic - Covalent - Metallic - Charge - Mass - Trends - Patterns - Intermolecular forces - Electrostatic forces #### Year 11 #### Knowledge focus - Metals and groups in the periodic table #### Key skills - Understanding of the periodic table - Identifying patterns in reactivity and explaining trends in groups - Comparing physical and chemical properties of metals and relating them to structure and bonding - Applying concepts to reactions and uses - Designing experiments (reactivity of elements, displacement) - Make detailed observations #### Assessment - Assessment at end of module - Prelims #### Key Vocabulary - Group - Period - Atomic number - Mass number - Electron configuration - Properties - Reactivity series - Oxidation - Reduction - Displacement, - Redox reaction - Density - Halogens - Alkali metals - Ore - Mineral - Extraction - Corrosion - Rusting - Alloys Cycle 1 pHYSICS #### Year 10 #### Knowledge focus - Forces and Motion #### Key skills - F=ma air track trolley practical #### Assessment - Assessment at end of module - Prelims end of Y10 #### Key Vocabulary - Gradient - Tangent - Scalar - Vector - Displacement - Resultant - Acceleration - Constant - Velocity - Speed - Weight - Moment - Momentum #### Year 11 #### Knowledge focus - Material Properties #### Key skills - Density of solids and liquids - Determining the SHC of a material - Boyle’s law - Hooke’s law - Atmospheric and Liquid pressure #### Assessment - Assessment at end of module - Prelims #### Key Vocabulary - Density - Volume - Mass - Specific heat capacity - Specific latent heat - Deposition - Sublimation - Particle - Pressure - Potential Cycle 2 Biology #### Year 10 #### Knowledge focus - Genetics - Natural selection and genetic modification #### Key skills - Drawing and interpreting Punnett squares - Predicting inheritance outcomes - Analysing pedigree charts - Evaluating evidence for natural selection and evolution #### Assessment - Assessment at the end of the module #### Key Vocabulary - Natural selection - Adaptation - Evolution - Mutation - Speciation - Selective breeding - Genetic engineering - GMO - Cloning - Reproductive isolation - Phenotype - Allele - Biodiversity - Ethical - Environmental impact #### Year 11 #### Knowledge focus - Exchange and Transport in animals #### Key skills - Calculating cardiac output - Using models to simulate gas exchange or blood flow - Planning and performing a practical investigating respiration rate in small organisms #### Assessment - Assessment at the end of the module - February prelims (year 10 and year 11 content) #### Key Vocabulary - Circulatory system - Heart - Artery - Vein - Capillary - Blood - Red blood cell - White blood cell - Plasma - Platelet - Oxygen - Carbon dioxide - Alveolus - Diffusion - Double circulation - Cardiac output - Haemoglobin - Adaptation - Concentration gradient Cycle 2 cHEMISTRY #### Year 10 #### Knowledge focus - Chemical calculations #### Key skills - Conversion of units - Apply knowledge of chemical formulae to calculations - Develop precise mathematical and chemical vocabulary - Choosing appropriate equations for calculations #### Assessment - Assessment at end of module - Prelims end of year 10 #### Key Vocabulary - Atomic mass - Relative formula mass - Isotopic abundance - Moles - Concentration - Atom economy - Percentage yield - Titration - Empirical formulae - Molar volumes #### Year 11 #### Knowledge focus - Energy changes - Rates of reactions #### Key skills - Draw and interpret reaction profile diagrams - Develop graph skills – plotting and interpreting graphs - Using appropriate units Interpret experimental evidence to justify conclusions #### Assessment - Assessment at end of module - Prelims #### Key Vocabulary - Collisions - Activation energy - Reactants - Products - Rate of reaction - Catalyst - Enzyme - Concentration - Temperature - Pressure - Surface area - Endothermic - Exothermic - Chemical change - Physical change - Revisable reaction - Irreversible reaction - Equilibrium - Fertilisers Cycle 2 pHYSICS #### Year 10 #### Knowledge focus - Energy and Radioactivity #### Key skills - Using gears and pulleys - Calculating half-life using half-life cubes as a random process #### Assessment - Assessment at end of module - Prelims end of Y10 #### Key Vocabulary - Potential - Conservation - Efficiency - Proton - Neutron - Electron - Charge - Positive - Negative - Alpha - Beta - Gamma - Fission - Fusion - Strain - Contamination - Irradiation - Kinetic #### Year 11 #### Knowledge focus - Electricity and Magnetism #### Key skills - Building electric circuits. - Construction of Westminster motor kits and investigation what variables would affect the speed of rotation #### Assessment - Assessment at end of module - Prelims #### Key Vocabulary - Current - Voltage - Resistance - Ohm - Coulomb - Joule - Amp - Watt - Power - Charge - Thermistor - Earth - Transformer - Electromagnet - North - South Cycle 3 Biology #### Year 10 #### Knowledge focus - Health, disease and the development of medicines #### Key skills - Analysing trends in health over time - Evaluating advantages and disadvantages of treatments - Interpreting data #### Assessment - Assessment at the end of the module #### Key Vocabulary - Communicable - Non-communicable - Malnutrition - Pathogen - Antigen - Antibody - Lymphocyte - Vaccine - Preclinical trial - Clinical trial #### Year 11 #### Knowledge focus - Ecosystems - Material Cycles #### Key skills - Practical skills - quadrat sampling, calculating mean, range, percentage change - Assessing human impacts on ecosystems #### Assessment - Assessment at the end of the module - February prelims (year 10 and year 11 content) #### Key Vocabulary - Ecosystem - Population - Community - Interdependence - Parasitism - Mutualism - Biodiversity - Abiotic and biotic factors - Biomass - Decomposer - Eutrophication - Nitrification - Denitrification - Nitrogen-fixing bacteria - Non-indigenous species Cycle 3 cHEMISTRY #### Year 10 #### Knowledge focus - Chemical changes and Electrolytic processes #### Key skills - Understand and explain chemical reactions and changes - Carry out and evaluate quantitative practicals such as titration and neutralisation - Explore how electricity and chemistry link together #### Assessment - Assessment at end of module - Prelims end of year 10 #### Key Vocabulary - Reactant - Product - Reactivity series - Displacement - Oxidation - Reduction - Redox - Acid - Alkali - pH - Titration - Neutralisation - Indicator - Precipitate - Electrolysis - Anode - Cathode - Cation ion, anion, electrolyte, molten, aqueous #### Year 11 #### Knowledge focus - Fuels - Earths science #### Key skills - Analyse and interrupt scientific data using graphs, tables and models to understand patterns and trends related to energy use, resources and Earth systems - Apply scientific models to real-world issues, using ideas such as cycles, systems and energy transfer to explain environmental and climate-related processes #### Assessment - Assessment at end of module - Prelims #### Key Vocabulary - Fuel - Hydrocarbon - Crude oil - Cracking - Fractional distillation - Fraction - Alkane - Decolourise - Double bond - Single bond - Alkene - Pollution - Greenhouse gas - Carbon footprint - Composition - Global warming - Carbon cycle - Acid rain - Renewable - Non-renewable - Sustainable Cycle 3 pHYSICS #### Year 10 #### Knowledge focus - Waves, Light and the EM Spectrum - Cosmology (TRIPLE) #### Key skills - Calculating wave speed in solids and liquids - Refraction through a glass block - Investigating thermal radiation - Explaining the use of lenses and constructing and interpreting lens ray diagrams #### Assessment - Assessment at end of module - Prelims end of Y10 #### Key Vocabulary - Transverse - Longitudinal - Amplitude - Frequency - Reflection - Refraction - Transmission - Absorption - Converge - Diverge - Radiation - Transmit - Absorb #### Year 11 #### Knowledge focus - Revision and Static Electricity (TRIPLE) #### Key skills - Using the Van Der Graff generator. - Explaining the use of static electricity in spray painting, ink jet printers and electrostatic precipitators. - Representing electric fields around charged particles #### Assessment - Assessment at end of module - Prelims #### Key Vocabulary - Charge - Negative - Positive - Earth - Live - Neutral - Repel - Attract - Conductor - Insulator - Spark - Potential difference - Transfer - Electron - Electrostatic precipitator #### #### **[For Key Stage 5 Curriculum information please click link here to our Sixth Form Curriculum](https://st-wilfrid-s-rc-college-south-shields.schudio.com/sixth-form)** ![St. Wilfrid's R.C. 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