Key Stage 3

Year 7

Intent

Building on their KS2 knowledge, students will develop a deeper understanding of fundamental concepts across the three disciplines to build a strong core knowledge base. We start ‘big’ with the universe and ecosystems, moving through to the ‘small’ of particles and cells. A gateway of more relatable core knowledge such as organism adaptations and domestic use of fuels opens up a journey toward more conceptual content, including forces and electricity. Leaners are encouraged to challenge and question scientific ideas and core knowledge through investigative skills.

Learning Journey

Core Knowledge

Working scientifically

  • Health and safety
  • Apparatus
  • Measuring
  • Variables
  • Tables and graphs

Space

  • The Universe
  • Big Bang Theory
  • The Solar System
  • Earth and Moon
  • Earth and Sun

Adaptations and Interdependence

  • Ecosystems
  • Food chains and food webs
  • Interdependence
  • Bioaccumulation
  • Sampling techniques
  • Biodiversity

Movement

  • The Skeletal System
  • Antagonistic muscles
Enriched Knowledge

Working Scientifically: Apparatus, variables, independent, dependent, control, conclude, evaluate.

Space: Gravity, stars, day, night, season, axis, galaxy

Adaptations and Interdependence: Predators, prey, decomposers, consumers, herbivore, omnivore, carnivore, adaptations

Movement: Antagonistic muscles, biceps, triceps, biomechanics

Key Vocabulary

Working scientifically

  • Health and safety
  • Apparatus
  • Measuring
  • Variables
  • Tables and graphs

Space

  • The Universe
  • Big Bang Theory
  • The Solar System
  • Earth and Moon
  • Earth and Sun

Adaptations and Interdependence

  • Ecosystems
  • Food chains and food webs
  • Interdependence
  • Bioaccumulation
  • Sampling techniques
  • Biodiversity

Movement

  • The Skeletal System
  • Antagonistic muscles

For a more detailed overview, please see below:

Working Scientifically

Space

Adaptations and Interdependence

Movement

 

Core Knowledge and Skills

Cells 1 – leading to digestion and breathing (Year 8)

  • Features of living things
  • Cells – Tissues - Organs and organ systems
  • Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic cells
  • Diffusion

Energy 1 – leading to Energy 2 (Yr8) and 3 (Yr 9)

  • Energy and power ratings in food and fuel.
  • Energy calculation of fuel uses
  • Costs in the domestic context
  • Identifying energy resources

Reproduction

  • Puberty
  • Sexual Reproduction in humans
  • Sexual and Asexual reproduction in plants
  • Contraception

Forces 1 – leading to Forces 2 (Yr8) and 3 (Yr 9)

  • Describing forces
  • Balanced and unbalanced forces
  • Friction
  • Moments
  • Hookes law
  • Pressure
Enriched Knowledge

Cells 1: unicellular, organ system, organ, tissue, multicellular, nucleus, cell wall, cell membrane, vacuole

Energy 1: Coal, oil, gas, nuclear, wind, solar, geothermal, wave, tidal

Reproduction: growth, reproduction, excretion, nutrition, fertilisation, embryo, gestation, menstrual cycle, gamete, stigma, style, anther

Forces 1: Push, pull, twist, direction, size, friction, air and water resistance, tension, magnetic, weight, electrostatic

Key Vocabulary

Cells 1 – leading to digestion and breathing (Year 8)

  • Features of living things
  • Cells – Tissues - Organs and organ systems
  • Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic cells
  • Diffusion

Energy 1 – leading to Energy 2 (Yr8) and 3 (Yr 9)

  • Energy and power ratings in food and fuel.
  • Energy calculation of fuel uses
  • Costs in the domestic context
  • Identifying energy resources

Reproduction

  • Puberty
  • Sexual Reproduction in humans
  • Sexual and Asexual reproduction in plants
  • Contraception

Forces 1 – leading to Forces 2 (Yr8) and 3 (Yr 9)

  • Describing forces
  • Balanced and unbalanced forces
  • Friction
  • Moments
  • Hookes law
  • Pressure

For a more detailed overview, please see below:

Reproduction

 

Core Knowledge

Particles – leading into atoms 1 and 2

  • Particle theory
  • States of matter
  • Changes of state
  • Metals and non-metals

Separation

  • Pure elements, mixtures, solutions
  • Dissolving
  • Filtration
  • Chromatography
  • Simple Distillation

Electricity and magnetisms 1 – leading to Electricity 2 (Yr 9)

  • Simple circuits
  • Electric current
  • Potential difference
  • Resistance
Key Vocabulary

Particles: Solids, liquids, gases evaporate, condense, freeze, melt, elements, compounds, mixtures, periods, groups, density.

Separation: Pure, element, compound, mixture, solutions, solute, solvent, dissolving, soluble, insoluble, filtration, evaporation

Electricity: Series, parallel, resistance, current, potential difference, voltage, static electricity

For a more detailed overview, please see below:

Electricity

Separation

Year 8

Intent

Students extend their core knowledge and begin to make links and connections across the units taught when exploring key scientific themes and issues. This results in a deeper understanding of the natural world as students become increasingly confident in their explanations and critical thinking.

Learning Journey

Core Knowledge

Half Term 1:

Digestion – linked to Cells (Yr 7)

  • Organs of the Digestive System
  • Enzymes as biological catalysts
  • Digestive Enzymes

Earth

  • Earth structure
  • The Rock Cycle
  • Sedimentary, Igneous and Metamorphic rocks
  • Weathering and erosion

Half Term 2: 

Energy  – linked to Energy (Yr 7)

  • Energy Stores
  • Energy Transfer
  • Conduction
  • Convection
Key Vocabulary

Earth: Sedimentary, metamorphic, igneous, rocks, tectonic plates, weathering, erosion.

Cells 2 (Digestion): oesophagus, stomach, intestines, proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, amylase, protease, lipase, glucose, starch, amino acids, fatty acids, reaction rate, enzymes.

Energy: Thermal, chemical, kinetic, gravitational potential, elastic potential, electrical, magnetic, radiation, conduction, convection, insulators

For a more detailed overview, please see below:

Digestion

Earth

Energy

Core Knowledge

Half Term 1

Periodicity - leading into Chemical change (Yr 8) and Atomic structure (Yr9)

  • Atomic Structure
  • Mendeleev’s periodic table   
  • Modern periodic Table

Breathing – linked to Cells (Yr 7) and Respiration (Yr8)

  • Breathing system
  • Inhalation and exhalation
  • Breathing rate and exercise
  • Lung volume
  • Smoking – built further in Health unit in Yr9

Half Term 2:

Forces 2 – linked to Forces 1 (Yr 7)

  • Speed
  • Motion graphs
  • Changing Motion and acceleration
Enriched Knowledge

Breathing – Current research on the impact of vaping

Key Vocabulary

Periodicity: Elements, groups, periods, metals, non-metals, group 1, group 7, trends, reactivity.

Breathing: Lungs, alveoli, oxygen, carbon dioxide, gas exchange, Trachea, diaphragm, rib, bronchus, alveoli, intercostal muscles, bronchiole, spirometer, breathing rate, aerobic, anaerobic, lactic acid, oxygen debt

Forces 2: Resultant, balanced, unbalanced, vector, magnitude, scalar, speed, distance, time, acceleration, velocity

For a more detailed overview, please see below:

Periodicity

Breathing

Core Knowledge

Half Term 1:

Chemical changes

  • Physical and chemical changes
  • Formation of new substances
  • Rearrangement of atoms
  • Representing reactions
  • Conservation of mass

Respiration – linked to Breathing (Yr 8)

  • Aerobic respiration
  • Anaerobic respiration
  • Fermentation

Half Term 2:

Photosynthesis

  • Leaf adaptations
  • Cellular adaptations – chloroplasts and chlorophyll
  • Plant species distribution

Waves 1 – leading to Waves 2 (Yr 9)

  • Types of waves
  • Waves carry energy
  • Production and transmission of sound
  • How sound is detected
Enriched Knowledge

Photosynthesis – impact of deforestation on climate

Key Vocabulary

Atoms 2 and Chemical changes: Chemical, physical, change, oxidation, combustion, energy, exothermic, endothermic, thermal decomposition, reactivity, carbon, reactants, products.

Respiration: aerobic, glucose, energy, oxygen, mitochondria, lactic acid, ethanol

Photosynthesis: light energy, chlorophyll, surface area

Waves 1: Frequency, echo, reflection, absorption, speed, vibrations, ear drum, longitudinal

Year 9

Intent

Building on the knowledge secured in Year 7 and 8, students examine critical challenges facing our planet. Learners will apply their core and enriched knowledge to connect scientific ideas and concepts from all aspects of science and are empowered to suggest changes that will best support future generations.

Learning Journey

Core Knowledge

Half Term 1:

Acids and alkalis

  • pH scale
  • Use of Indicators
  • Neutralisation
  • Acid rain

Waves 2

  • Light waves
  • Reflection
  • Refraction
  • Dispersion

Half Term 2:

Forces 3

  • Mass and weight
  • Pressure
  • Levers and moments
  • Gears

Inheritance

  • Variation
  • Environmental and inherited characteristics
  • DNA
  • Natural selection and Evolution
  • Classification system
Enriched Knowledge

Acids and Alkalis: Rise in acids attacks in India

Inheritance: Evolution vs creationist beliefs

Key Vocabulary

Acids and alkalis: Acid, alkali, corrosive, neutralisation, universal indicator, reactions, reactivity, pH, salts.

Waves 2: Transverse, reflected, absorption, diffuse, mirrors, refraction.

Forces 3: mass, weight, pressure, area, depth, molecules, atmospheric pressure, pascal (Pa), density, buoyancy, upthrust, displaced, lever,

Inheritance: DNA; genes; alleles; heredity; variation; adaptation; biodiversity; Kingdom; Phylum; Order; Class; Family; Genus; Species; classification.

For a more detailed overview, please see below:

Acids and Alkalis

Waves 2

Forces 3

Inheritance

Core Knowledge

Half Term 1:

Atmosphere – link to Earth (Yr7)

  • Composition of atmosphere
  • Greenhouse effect
  • Combustion of fossil fuels
  • Climate change
  • Recycling

Electricity and magnetism 2

  • Magnetic materials
  • Magnetic fields
  • Electromagnets
  • Motors and generators
  • Static electricity

Half Term 2:

Health – linked to Breathing Yr8

  • Communicable diseases
  • Pathogens
  • Non-communicable diseases
  • Balanced diet
  • Impact of poor nutrition
  • Effects of smoking / alcohol and drugs
Enriched Knowledge

Atmosphere: Current proposed solutions to climate change and what we can do to reduce our carbon footprint.

Health: Cultural diets and how they provide a balanced diet.

Key Vocabulary

Electricity 2: Series, parallel, resistance, current, potential difference, voltage, static electricity

Atmosphere: Composition, atmosphere, greenhouse gases, fossil fuel, combustion, pollutants, climate change, recycling, carbon.

Health: pathogens, bacteria, viruses, BMI, BMR, Anaemia, scurvy, rickets, kwashiorkor, night blindness, energy, malnourishment

For a more detailed overview, please see below:

Atmosphere

 

Core Knowledge

Half Term 1:

Atomic structure – linked to atoms (Yr 7)

  • Subatomic particles – mass and charge
  • Atomic number and atomic mass
  • Electronic configuration
  • Isotopes
  • Trends in group 1 and group 7

Cell Biology  - Linked to Cells (Yr 7)

  • Structure and function of eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells
  • Microscopy

Half Term 2:

Energy 3

  • Energy changes in a system
  • Calculating energy transfers
  • Global and national energy resources
  • Environmental impact
Key Vocabulary

Atoms 3: Atom, element, proton, electron, neutron, trends, reactivity, displacement, isotopes.

Cells 3:  eukaryotic, prokaryotic, unicellular, organ system, organ, tissue, multicellular, nucleus, cell wall, cell membrane, vacuole

Energy 3: Coal, oil, gas, nuclear, wind, solar, geothermal, wave, tidal, thermal, chemical, kinetic, gravitational potential, elastic potential, electrical, magnetic

For a more detailed overview, please see below:

Atoms

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