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

The Wolsey Hall Year 9 Science course follows the National Curriculum for England at Key Stage 3 Links to an external site.

We have ensured that all of the National Curriculum outcomes are covered in the course and the table below provides an overview of how the Wolsey Hall course can be mapped to the Activate textbook and to the National Curriculum for England.

Note The Lower Secondary Science course as a whole (Years 7-9) meets all the requirements of the Cambridge Lower Secondary Curriculum.

You may want to print out this overview of the course Download overview of the course and refer to it as you progress through the course. 

  • Before One,  there is an introductory Welcome call with your tutor and then Module Zero if you haven't studied science with Wolsey Hall before.
  • At the end of Module Four, there is a mid-course review.
  • At the end of Module Nine, there is an end-of-course review.
  • After the end-of-course review, there is a Final Test (printed out and taken like an assignment, to check their progress and see if you are ready to continue their studies). The Final Test covers all the Lower Secondary curriculum, not just Year 9.

  

Module One: Turning points in biology

National Curriculum Link

Coursebook Pages

Turning points in biology:

  • Immunisation
  • Antibiotics
  • DNA and evolution
  • How we can prevent extinction of species

Topics:

  • 1.1 Vaccines 1
  • 1.2 Vaccines 2
  • 1.3 Antibiotics 1
  • 1.4 Antibiotics 2
  • 1.5 DNA
  • 1.6 Charles Darwin
  • 1.7 Preventing Extinction
  • Blood cells.
  • Natural immunity.
  • Artificial immunity in the form of vaccinations.
  • Apply mathematical concepts and calculate results.
  • A simple model of chromosomes, genes and DNS.
  • That there are differences between species.
  • 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 22-37

 

ASSIGNMENT ONE

 

 

 

 

Module Two: New Technology

National Curriculum Link

Coursebook Pages

New technology content:

  • Nanoparticles and their uses
  • The future of cars and other vehicles

Topics:

  • 2.1 Nanoparticles
  • 2.2 Using nanoparticles
  • 2.3 Nanoparticles in medicine
  • 2.4 Nanoparticle safety
  • 2.5 Cars, pros and cons
  • 2.6 New fuels
  • 2.7 Cleaning up exhausts
  • 2.8 Hybrid electric cars
  • The properties of metals.
  • Current scientific technology.
  • Developing scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding.
  • 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 52-71

 

ASSIGNMENT TWO

 

 

 

Module Three: Engineering and technology

National Curriculum Link

Coursebook Pages

Engineering and technology Content:

  • Mobile phones
  • Uses of technology in your home and in hospitals
  • Uses of technology in sports
  • How we can produce renewable energy

Topics:

  • 3.1 Your phone
  • 3.2 Your house
  • 3.3 Your hospital – intensive care
  • 3.4 Your hospital – seeing inside
  • 3.5 Your sports
  • 3.6 Your planet
  • Practical 1 - Speed of sound
  • 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.
  • Fuels and energy resources.
  • The uses and implications of science.
  • 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.

 

Pages 100-115

 

ASSIGNMENT THREE ( including Practical One)

 

 

 

 

 

Module Four: Biotechnology

National Curriculum Link

Coursebook Pages

Biotechnology Content:

  • Genetically inherited disorders
  • Genetically modifying organisms and cloning
  • Fermentation in food and drink production
  • Enzymes and their use in industry

    Topics:

  • 4.1 Genetics
  • 4.2 Inherited disorders < 4.3 Selective breeding
  • 4.4 Genetic engineering
  • 4.5 Cloning
  • 4.6 Biotechnology 1
  • 4.7 Biotechnology 2
  • 4.8 Enzymes in industry
  • Practical 4 - Enzymes
  • Heredity as the process by which genetic information is transmitted from one generation to the next.
  • There are differences within species.
  • Apply mathematical concepts and calculate results.
  • Science in industry.
  • Cross-curricular links.
  • 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 method, including tables and graphs.
  • Interpret observations and data, including patterns and using observations, measurements and data to draw conclusions.

Pages 4–21

 

ASSIGNMENT FOUR (Including Practical Two)

 

 

 

 

Module Five: Turning Points in chemistry

National Curriculum Link

Coursebook Pages

Turning Points in chemistry content:

  • Vital turning points in chemistry:
  • Discovering what’s in an atom
  • What fossils tell us about the history of life on Earth

Topics:

  • 5.1 Evidence for atoms
  • 5.2 Looking into atoms
  • 5.3 Discovering the Periodic Table
  • 5.4 Lessons from fossils
  • 5.5 The oldest primate
  • A simple (Dalton) atomic model.
  • The principles underpinning the Mendeleev periodic table.
  • Understand that scientific methods and theories develop as earlier explanations are modified to take account of new evidence and ideas.

 

Pages 72–83

 

ASSIGNMENT FIVE

 

 

 

Module Six: Turning points in physics

National Curriculum Link

Coursebook Pages

Turning points in physics Content:

  • How ideas about the Universe have changed
  • Discovery of radioactivity
  • Discovery of electromagnetism
  • Topics:
  • 6.1 Discovering the Universe 1
  • 6.2 Discovering the Universe 1
  • 6.3 The Big Bang
  • 6.4 Spacecraft and satellites
  • 6.5 Mission to the Moon
  • 6.6 Radioactivity 1
  • 6.7 Radioactivity 2
  • 6.8 Electromagnetism 1
  • 6.9 Electromagnetism 2
  • Our Sun as a star.
  • Other stars in our galaxy.
  • The uses and implications of science.
  • The magnetic effect of a current, electromagnets, D.C. motors.
  • Waves transferring information for conversion to electrical signals by microphone.
  • Developing scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding.
  • The uses and implications of science.

 

Pages 116-135

 

ASSIGNMENT SIX

 

 

 

Module Seven Bio forensics

National Curriculum Link

Coursebook Pages

Bio forensics Content

  • How forensic scientists help to solve crimes using Bio forensics to analyse evidence found at the scene of a crime

Topics:

  • 7.1 Microscopy
  • 7.2 Fingerprinting
  • 7.7 DNA fingerprinting
  • 7.4 Blood typing
  • 7.5 Time of death
  • 7.6 Pathology
  • Science at work.
  • Cross-curricular links.
  • Developing scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding.
  • The uses and implications of science.

 

Pages 38-51

 

ASSIGNMENT SEVEN

 

 

 

Module Eight Forensic chemistry

National Curriculum Link

Coursebook Pages

Forensic chemistry Content

  • How chemistry helps to solve crimes

    Topics:

  • 8.1 Break in!
  • 8.2 Smelly problem
  • 8.3 Message in a bottle
  • 8.4 Blood alcohol
  • 8.5 Body!
  • 8.6 Clues in the carpet
  • 8.7 A week in court
  • Practical 3 - Corrosion
  • The properties of the different states of matter (solid, liquid and gas) in terms of the particle model.
  • Simple techniques for separating mixtures: filtration, evaporation, distillation and chromatography.
  • Select, plan and carry out the most appropriate types of scientific enquiries to test prediction, including identifying independent, dependent and control variables where appropriate.
  • The uses and implications of science.
  • Make predictions using scientific knowledge and understanding.
  • Select, plan and carry out the most appropriate types of scientific enquiries to test prediction, 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.
  •  

 

Pages 88-99

 

ASSIGNMENT EIGHT (including Practical Three)

 

 

 

Module Nine Detection

National Curriculum Link

Coursebook Pages

Detection content:

  • How scientists search for aliens
  • How GPS works
  • New particles and how to detect them

Topics:

  • 9.1 Detecting planets
  • 9.2 Detecting alien life
  • 9.3 Detecting position
  • 9.4 Detecting messages
  • 9.5 Detecting particles

 

  • Our Sun as a star.
  • Other stars in our galaxy.
  • Other galaxies.
  • The uses and implications of science.

 

Pages 136-147

 

ASSIGNMENT NINE