Year 8 Science Curriculum
| Biology | Chemistry | Physics | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autumn Term | |||
| 1&2 |
Organisms 2 Gas exchange and the human breathing system, effects of drugs, nutrition & digestion, food tests. |
Matter 2 Elements, atoms, compounds, formulae, polymers, the periodic table with a focus on alkali metals, halogens and noble gases. |
Forces 2 Levers as simple machines, moments of forces, the principle of moments, pressure in gases and liquids, friction. |
| Spring Term | |||
| 1&2 |
Ecosystems 2 How plants make food to support other organisms in an ecosystem (photosynthesis), relating plant structures to functions, how organisms release energy from their food (aerobic and anaerobic respiration). |
Reactions 2 Mass conservation in chemical reactions, combustion, thermal decomposition, energy changes in chemical reactions. |
Electricity 2 and Energy 2 Electromagnets, magnetic fields, work, energy & machines, thermal energy transfer, insulation. |
| Summer Term | |||
| 1&2 |
Genes 2 Natural selection, evolution, extinction, inheritance, DNA, genetics & genetic modification |
Earth 2 Global warming, the carbon cycle, long-term climate change, extracting materials from the Earth, recycling. |
Waves 2 Wave properties, ultrasound, electromagnetic spectrum, modelling waves, types of wave. |
Enquiry Processes 2
Students develop their knowledge and understanding of testing hypotheses, explaining variable types, evaluating investigations and describing the links between theory and evidence in the development of a scientific theory.
Assessment
| Topic | Type of Assessment | |
|---|---|---|
| CAT 1 |
Organisms 2 Matter 2 Forces 2 |
One 48-mark assessment per topic used cumulatively to assign a CAT1 level based on a combined score. |
| CAT 2 |
Ecosystems 2 Reactions 2 Electricity 2 & Energy 2 |
One 48-mark assessment per topic used cumulatively to assign a CAT2 level based on a combined score. |
Main Resources
| Resource | Details | Term |
|---|---|---|
| Text books |
Activate 2 AQA Text Books will be used in class. Students will be given a login to access an electronic copy of this book. This will be accessed via www.kerboodle.com Although not essential, you may wish to purchase a physical copy of the text book; search for ISBN: 0198408250. It is recommended that students obtain a key stage 3 revision guide such as one from CGP; search for ISBN: 184146385X. |
All |
| FROG (VLE) | Additional resources will be added throughout the year to the school VLE. |
Enrichment opportunities
| Activity or trip | Day and time or term |
|---|---|
