Science
Learning Journey & Sequencing Rationale
Science is a set of ideas about the material world. We have included all the parts of what good science is : whether it be investigating, observing, experimenting or testing out ideas and thinking about them. The way scientific ideas flow through the curriculum will support you in building a deep understanding of science. We know this will involve talking about, reading and writing about science plus the actual doing, as well as representing science in its many forms both mathematically and visually through models.
In year 9 pupils study the AQA Combined Science Trilogy series. Our programme of study follows the National Curriculum guidelines that stretches and challenges students in addition to assisting their enquiring minds about how science works. We start our pupils on the GCSE specification at this time to expose the students to the content as early as possible. This gives students more time to familiarise themselves with the specific language and terminology required to get the marks in exams. This also encourages our students to pick up the practical skills quicker, and be more confident in the laboratories. As we start the course in year 9, this also provides an opportunity to complete the specification earlier in year 11, allowing ample revision time just before they sit their exams.
Pupils start with the foundations of science 1B - Cell Biology, 1P - Energy, and 1C - Atomic structure and the periodic table. These topics build on the subject knowledge acquired in KS3 and goes into more depth about scientific principles and understanding. Throughout KS4 pupils complete end of topic tests, created by AQA themselves. As the GCSE science syllabus is 20% numeracy assessed, we have built into our programme of study, a wide range of numeracy focused skills such as plotting and interpreting graphs, calculating averages and percentages, and analysing data. Students also engage in a numeracy week; lessons focusing on the core AQA numeracy skills.We also have a huge literacy focus with 6 mark questions, and have created our own literacy booklet centred on the key areas of the science curriculum, that assist pupils with their understanding of the topic, and provide pupils with teacher based feedback to help them improve.
In year 10 they continue to study the rest of the combined trilogy series and delve deeper into biology, chemistry and physics. Students are selected for Triple science and study some extra content based on the syllabus. There is a greater emphasis on practical work in year 10 with the 28 required practicals. Pupils are encouraged to think scientifically and we reinforce practical knowledge and understanding with the 6 mark literacy booklets. Pupils are tested at the end of each unit and are encouraged to use the revision guides suggested by the department. We have also created end of unit revision packs, with past paper questions for each unit, to further expose pupils to the specific terminology and language required in the exams. This familiarisation builds confidence in our students and also provides opportunities for pupils to discuss any misconceptions about the topic.
In year 11 they continue with the programme of study at a more advanced level to provide some knowledge to advance students to KS5 sciences. We reinforce interleaving at year 11 by recapping content from the last two previous years with the year 9 literacy booklet, and our period 7 intervention once a week, focuses on this too. As we started the curriculum in year 9, our programme of study permits the half term before the GCSE examination period commences, to be used purely for revision. We feel this gives our students a solid foundation to succeed in their exams.
unit overview - waves
Overview – 6 Waves Kerboodle chapter 12,13,14-AS |
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Wave behaviour is common in both natural and man-made systems. Waves carry energy from one place to another and can also carry information. Designing comfortable and safe structures such as bridges, houses and music performance halls requires an understanding of mechanical waves. Modern technologies such as imaging and communication systems show how we can make the most of electromagnetic waves. |
unit overview - rate & extent of chemical change
Overview – 6 The rate and extent of chemical change. Kerboodle chapter 8 - SB |
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The rate and extent of chemical change Chemical reactions can occur at vastly different rates. Whilst the reactivity of chemicals is a significant factor in how fast chemical reactions proceed, there are many variables that can be manipulated in order to speed them up or slow them down. Chemical reactions may also be reversible and therefore the effect of different variables needs to be established in order to identify how to maximise the yield of desired product. Understanding energy changes that accompany chemical reactions is important for this process. In industry, chemists and chemical engineers determine the effect of different variables on reaction rate and yield of product. Whilst there may be compromises to be made, they carry out optimisation processes to ensure that enough product is produced within a sufficient time, and in an energy-efficient way. |
unit overview - Inheritance, variation and evolution
Overview – 6 Inheritance, variation and evolution. Kerboodle chapters 13,14 & 15 - AS |
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In this section we will discover how the number of chromosomes are halved during meiosis and then combined with new genes from the sexual partner to produce unique offspring. Gene mutations occur continuously and on rare occasions can affect the functioning of the animal or plant. These mutations may be damaging and lead to a number of genetic disorders or death. Very rarely a new mutation can be beneficial and consequently, lead to increased fitness in the individual. Variation generated by mutations and sexual reproduction is the basis for natural selection; this is how species evolve. An understanding of these processes has allowed scientists to intervene through selective breeding to produce livestock with favoured characteristics. Once new varieties of plants or animals have been produced it is possible to clone individuals to produce larger numbers of identical individuals all carrying the favourable characteristic. Scientists discovered how to take genes from one species and introduce them in to the genome of another by a process called genetic engineering. In spite of the huge potential benefits that this technology can offer, genetic modification still remains highly controversial. |
unit overview - ecology
Overview – 7 Ecology. Kerboodle chapters 16,17 &18 - AS |
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The Sun is a source of energy that passes through ecosystems. Materials including carbon and water are continually recycled by the living world, being released through respiration of animals, plants and decomposing microorganisms and taken up by plants in photosynthesis. All species live in ecosystems composed of complex communities of animals and plants dependent on each other and that are adapted to particular conditions, both abiotic and biotic. These ecosystems provide essential services that support human life and continued development. In order to continue to benefit from these services humans need to engage with the environment in a sustainable way. In this section we will explore how humans are threatening biodiversity as well as the natural systems that support it. We will also consider some actions we need to take to ensure our future health, prosperity and well-being. |
unit overview - Magnetism and Electromagnetism
Overview – 7 Magnetism and Electromagnetism Kerboodle chapter 15-AS |
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Electromagnetic effects are used in a wide variety of devices. Engineers make use of the fact that a magnet moving in a coil can produce electric current and also that when current flows around a magnet it can produce movement. It means that systems that involve control or communications can take full advantage of this. |
unit overview - organic chemistry
Overview – 7 Organic chemistry. Kerboodle chapter 9 - SB |
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Organic chemistry The chemistry of carbon compounds is so important that it forms a separate branch of chemistry. A great variety of carbon compounds is possible because carbon atoms can form chains and rings linked by C-C bonds. This branch of chemistry gets its name from the fact that the main sources of organic compounds are living, or once-living materials from plants and animals. These sources include fossil fuels which are a major source of feedstock for the petrochemical industry. Chemists are able to take organic molecules and modify them in many ways to make new and useful materials such as polymers, pharmaceuticals, perfumes and flavourings, dyes and detergents |
unit overview - chemical analysis
Overview – 8 Chemical analysis. Kerboodle chapter 12 - SB |
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Chemical analysis Analysts have developed a range of qualitative tests to detect specific chemicals. The tests are based on reactions that produce a gas with distinctive properties, or a colour change or an insoluble solid that appears as a precipitate. Instrumental methods provide fast, sensitive and accurate means of analysing chemicals, and are particularly useful when the amount of chemical being analysed is small. Forensic scientists and drug control scientists rely on such instrumental methods in their work |
unit overview space
Overview – 8 Space TRIPLE ONLY Kerboodle chapter 16-AS |
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Questions about where we are, and where we came from, have been asked for thousands of years. In the past century, astronomers and astrophysicists have made remarkable progress in understanding the scale and structure of the universe, its evolution and ours. New questions have emerged recently. ‘Dark matter’, which bends light and holds galaxies together but does not emit electromagnetic radiation, is everywhere – what is it? And what is causing the universe to expand ever faster? |
unit overview - chemistry of the atmosphere
Overview – 9 Chemistry of the atmosphere. Kerboodle chapter 13 - SB |
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Chemistry of the atmosphere The Earth’s atmosphere is dynamic and forever changing. The causes of these changes are sometimes man-made and sometimes part of many natural cycles. Scientists use very complex software to predict weather and climate change as there are many variables that can influence this. The problems caused by increased levels of air pollutants require scientists and engineers to develop solutions that help to reduce the impact of human activity. |
unit overview - using resources
Overview – 10 Using resources. Kerboodle chapter 14 - SB |
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Using resources Industries use the Earth’s natural resources to manufacture useful products. In order to operate sustainably, chemists seek to minimise the use of limited resources, use of energy, waste and environmental impact in the manufacture of these products. Chemists also aim to develop ways of disposing of products at the end of their useful life in ways that ensure that materials and stored energy are utilised. Pollution, disposal of waste products and changing land use has a significant effect on the environment, and environmental chemists study how human activity has affected the Earth’s natural cycles, and how damaging effects can be minimised. |
knowledge organisers
A knowledge organiser is an important document that lists the important facts that learners should know by the end of a unit of work. It is important that learners can recall these facts easily, so that when they are answering challenging questions in their assessments and GCSE and A-Level exams, they are not wasting precious time in exams focusing on remembering simple facts, but making complex arguments, and calculations.
We encourage all pupils to use them by doing the following:
- Quiz themselves at home, using the read, write, cover, check method.
- Practise spelling key vocabulary
- Further researching people, events and processes most relevant to the unit.