What does the course cover? The programme of study and National Curriculum links

Content:

• Compare the effects of a healthy and unhealthy lifestyle on the human body.
• The human digestive system – structure and function. The products of digestion and how to test for them.

Topics:

• 1.1 Nutrients
• 1.2 Food tests
• 1.3 Unhealthy diet
• 1.4 Digestive system
• 1.5 Bacteria and enzymes in digestion
• 1.6 Drugs
• 1.7 Alcohol
• 1.8 Smoking

• The content of a healthy human diet and why each is needed.
• The consequences of imbalances in the diet, including obesity, starvation and deficiency diseases.
• The tissues and organs of the human digestive system, including adaptations to function.
• The effects of recreational drugs (including substance misuse) on behaviour, health and life processes.
• The impact of smoking on the human gas exchange system.

Pages 4–21

ASSIGNMENT ONE

The Periodic Table content:

• Patterns in chemical reactions. Identifying patterns in chemical properties and using the Periodic Table to predict properties.

Topics:

• 2.1 Metals and non-metals
• 2.2 Groups and periods
• 2.3 The elements of Group 1
• 2.4 The elements of Group 7
• 2.5 The elements of Group 0

• The varying physical and chemical properties of different elements.
• The principles underpinning the Mendeleev Periodic Table and how it is organised.
• How patterns in reactions can be predicted with reference to the Periodic Table.

Pages 60-71

Separation Techniques content:

• What mixtures are and how we separate them.

Topics:

• 2.6 Mixtures
• 2.7 Solutions
• 2.8 Solubility
• 2.9 Filtration
• 2.10 Evaporation and distillation
• 2.11 Chromatography

• The concept of a pure substance
• Simple techniques for separating mixtures: filtration, evaporation, distillation and chromatography

Pages 72-85

Practical 1 – Combustion

• Make predictions using scientific knowledge and understanding.
• Select, plan and carry out the most appropriate types of scientific enquiries to test predictions, including identifying independent, dependent and control variables, where appropriate.
• Make and record observations and measurements using a range of methods.
• Apply mathematical concepts and calculate results.
• Present observations and data using appropriate methods, including tables and graphs.
• Interpret observations and data, including identifying patterns and using observations, measurements and data to draw conclusions.

ASSIGNMENT TWO (including Practical 1)

Module Three: Electricity and Magnetism

National Curriculum Link

Coursebook Pages

Content:

• What is electricity and how circuits work.
• Magnetic fields and magnetic attraction and repulsion.
• Electromagnets and their uses.

Topics:

• 3.1 Charging up
• 3.2 Circuits and current
• 3.3 Potential difference
• 3.4 Series and parallel
• 3.5 Resistance
• 3.6 Magnets and magnetic field
• 3.7 Electromagnets
• 3.8 Using electromagnets

• Electric current, measured in amperes.
• Series and parallel circuits.
• Potential difference, measured in volts.
• Static electricity – separation of positive or negative charges when objects are rubbed together: transfer of electrons, between charged objects.
• The idea of electric field, forces acting across the space between objects not in contact.
• Magnetic poles, attraction and repulsion.
• Magnetic fields.
• The magnetic effect of a current – electromagnets.

Pages 120-139

ASSIGNMENT THREE

Content:

• Why do organisms need energy to function effectively and how do the make that energy.
• Interdependence of organisms in an ecosystem.
• Organisms are affected by their environment as they in turn affect the environment.

Topics:

• 4.1 Photosynthesis
• 4.2 Leaves
• 4.3 Plant minerals
• 4.4 Chemosynthesis
• 4.5 Aerobic respiration
• 4.6 Anaerobic respiration
• 4.7 Food chains and webs
• 4.8 Disruption to food chains and webs
• 4.9 Ecosystems

• The reactants in, and products of, photosynthesis.
• The dependence of almost all life on Earth on photosynthetic organisms.
• The adaptations of leaves for photosynthesis
• Aerobic and anaerobic cellular respiration.
• The interdependence of organisms in an ecosystem.
• How organisms affect, and are affected by, their environment, including the accumulation of toxic materials.

Pages 22-39

Practical 2- Population

• Make predictions using scientific knowledge and understanding.
• Select, plan and carry out the most appropriate types of scientific enquiries to test predictions, including identifying independent, dependent and control variables where appropriate.
• Use appropriate techniques, apparatus and materials during fieldwork and laboratory work, paying attention to health and safety.
• Make and record observations and measurements using a range of methods.
• Apply mathematical concepts and calculate results.
• Present observations and data using appropriate methods, including tables and graphs.
• Interpret observations and data, including identifying patterns and using observations, measurements and data to draw conclusions.

ASSIGNMENT FOUR (including Practical 2)

Content:

• Chemical reactions between metals and other chemicals including displacement reactions.
• Different materials and where they come from.

Topics:

• 5.1 Acids and metals
• 5.2 Metals and oxygen
• 5.3 Metals and water
• 5.4 Metal displacement reactions
• 5.5 Extracting metals
• 5.6 Ceramics
• 5.7 Polymers
• 5.8 Composites

• Mass is conserved in chemical reactions.
• Reactions of metals with acids produce a salt and hydrogen.
• Displacement reactions.
• Properties of ceramics, polymers and composites.

Pages 86–103

ASSIGNMENT FIVE

Content:

• Energy can be transferred in several ways: as a fuel, as heat through conduction, convection and radiation and from sources like the sun and wind into electricity.
• Equations to link work, energy and power

Topics:

• 6.1 Food and fuels
• 6.2 Energy adds up
• 6.3 Energy and temperature
• 6.4 Energy transfer: particles
• 6.5 Energy transfer: radiation
• 6.6 Energy resources
• 6.7 Energy and power
• 6.8 Work, energy and machines

• Comparing energy values of different foods (from labels) (kJ).
• Conservation of energy.
• Heating and thermal equilibrium.
• Comparing power ratings of appliances in watts (W, kW).
• Comparing amounts of energy transferred (J, kJ, kW hour).
• Domestic fuel bills, fuel use and costs.
• Simple machines give bigger force but at the expense of movement (and vice versa).

Pages 140-157

Practical 3 – Insulation

• Make predictions using scientific knowledge and understanding.
• Select, plan and carry out the most appropriate types of scientific enquiries to test predictions, including identifying independent, dependent and control variables where appropriate.
• Make and record observations and measurements using a range of methods.
• Apply mathematical concepts and calculate results.
• Present observations and data using appropriate methods, including tables and graphs.
• Interpret observations and data, including identifying patterns and using observations, measurements and data to draw conclusions.

ASSIGNMENT SIX (including Practical 3)

Content

• Different individuals of the same species will have different features. Variation between organisms and adaptations.
• Evolution, natural selection and how organisms try to avoid extinction.

Topics:

• 7.1 Competition and adaptation
• 7.2 Adapting to change
• 7.3 Variation
• 7.4 Continuous and discontinuous
• 7.5 Inheritance
• 7.6 Natural selection
• 7.7 Extinction

• A simple model of chromosomes, genes and DNA.
• That there are differences between species.
• The variation between individuals within a species is continuous or discontinuous.
• Measurement and graphical representation of variation.
• The variation between species and between individuals of the same species means some organisms compete more successfully, which can drive natural selection.
• Changes in the environment may leave organisms less well adapted to compete successfully and reproduce, which in turn may lead to extinction.
• The importance of maintaining biodiversity and the use of gene banks to preserve hereditary material.

Pages 52-55

ASSIGNMENT SEVEN

Content:

• Structure of the Earth, and the rocks of its crust.
• The carbon cycle and climate change.
• Earth’s finite resources and recycling.

 Topics:

• 8.1 The Earth and its atmosphere
• 8.2 Sedimentary rocks
• 8.3 Igneous and metamorphic rocks
• 8.4 The rock cycle
• 8.5 The carbon cycle
• 8.6 Climate change
• 8.7 Recycling

• The composition and structure of the Earth.
• The rock cycle and the formation of igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks.
• The carbon cycle.
• The production of carbon dioxide by human activity and the impact on climate.
• Earth as a source of limited resources and the efficacy of recycling.

Pages 104-117

ASSIGNMENT EIGHT

Content:

• Using and understanding graphs of speed, distance and time.
• Pressure in different substances and particle theory.
• Turning forces (moments).

Topics:

• 9.1 Speed
• 9.2 Motion graphs
• 9.3 Pressure in gases
• 9.4 Pressure in liquids
• 9.5 Pressure in solids
• 9.6 Turning forces

• Speed and the quantitative relationship between average speed, distance and time (speed = distance ÷ time).
• The representation of a journey on a distance–time graph.
• Relative motion.
• Pressure in solids, liquids and gases.

Pages 158-171

ASSIGNMENT NINE