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

Working Scientifically content:

• How to plan and carry out investigations safely and which apparatus to use.  
• How to record, evaluate and draw conclusions and use the correct scientific terminology. 

Topics: 

• 1.1 Asking scientific questions 
• 1.2 Working safely 
• 1.3 Planning investigations 
• 1.4 Recording data 
• 1.5 Presenting data 
• 1.6 Analysing data 
• 1.7 Evaluating data 

• Make predictions using scientific knowledge and understanding. 
• Present observations and data using appropriate methods. 
• Interpret observations and draw conclusions. 
• Evaluate data, showing awareness of potential sources of error. 

7TWSa.05 8TWSa.05 Present and interpret observations and measurements appropriately. 

9TWSa.05 Present and interpret results and predict results between the datapoints collected. 

7TWSa.02 8TWSa.02 Describe trends and patterns in results, including identifying any anomalous results. 

Pages 6–21

Cells content:

• The tiny cells that make up plants and animals and how you can see them with the aid of a microscope. 
• How osmosis and diffusion allow the movement of materials between cells and within cells. 

Topics 

• 1.8 Observing cells 
• 1.9 Plant and animal cells 
• 1.10 Specialised cells 
• 1.11 Movement of substances 
• 1.12 Unicellular organisms 
• Practical 1 Osmosis 

• How to observe, interpret and record cell structure under a microscope. 
• The functions of the cell wall, cell membrane, cytoplasm, nucleus, vacuole, mitochondria and chloroplasts. 
• The similarities and differences between plant and animal cells. 
• The role of diffusion in the movement of materials in and between cells. 
• The structural adaptations of some unicellular organisms.

7Bs.01 Understand that all organisms are made of cells and microorganisms are typically single celled. 

7Bs.02 Identify and describe the functions of cell structures (limited to cell membrane, cytoplasm, nucleus, cell wall, chloroplast, mitochondria and sap vacuole). 

7Bs.03 Explain how the structures of some specialised cells are related to their functions

7Bs.04 Describe the similarities and differences between the structures of plant and animal cells. 

8Bs.04 Describe the diffusion of oxygen and carbon dioxide between blood and the air in the lungs.

7Bp.01 Describe the seven characteristics of living organisms.

ASSIGNMENT ONE (including Practical 1) 

Module Two: The Particle Model

National Curriculum Link

Cambridge Curriculum Link

Coursebook Pages

Particles and their Behaviour content: 

What materials are like and why they behave as they do. 

Topics: 

2.1 The particle model 

2.2 States of matter 

2.3 Density  

2.4 Melting and freezing 

2.5 Boiling 

2.6 More changes of state 

2.7 Diffusion

• The properties of the different states of matter (solid, liquid and gas) in terms of the particle model, including gas pressure and diffusion.
• Changes of state in terms of the particle model.

• Diffusion in terms of the particle model. 

• Similarities and differences, including density differences, between solids, liquids and gases.

7Cm.06 Describe the three states of matter as solid, liquid and gas in terms of the arrangement, separation and motion of particles.  

8Pf.07 Describe the diffusion of gases and liquids as the intermingling of substances by the movement of particles.  

9Cp.03 Calculate and compare densities of solids, liquids and gases. 

7ESc.01 Describe the water cycle (limited to evaporation, condensation, precipitation, water run-off, open water and groundwater).

Pages 76–93

Elements, Atoms and Compounds Content:

• All about atoms and molecules and how we write chemical symbols and formulae.

Topics:

• 2.8 Elements
• 2.9 Atoms
• 2.10 Compounds
• 2.11 Chemical formulae

• Differences between atoms, elements and compounds.
• Chemical symbols and formulae for elements and compounds.

7Cm.01 Understand that all matter is made of atoms, with each different type of atom being a different element.  

7Cm.07 Use the particle model to represent elements, compounds and mixtures.

Pages 94–105

ASSIGNMENT TWO

Module Three: Forces

National Curriculum Link

Forces content:

• What forces are and how they can act directly or at a distance and be balanced or unbalanced.

Topics:

• 3.1 Introduction to forces
• 3.2 Squashing and stretching
• 3.3 Drag forces and friction
• 3.4 Forces at a distance
• 3.5 Balanced and unbalanced

• Forces as pushes or pulls, arising from the interaction between two objects.
• Balanced and unbalanced forces.
• Forces measured in Newtons.
• Forces being needed to cause objects to stop or start moving, or to change their speed or direction of motion.

8Pf.03 Describe the effects of balanced and unbalanced forces on motion 

Note: Forces are introduced, and explored, as part of the Cambridge Primary Science curriculum.

Pages 138–151

ASSIGNMENT THREE

Module Four: Body Systems

National Curriculum Link

Cambridge Curriculum Link

Coursebook Pages

Body Systems content:

• How cells are arranged into tissues, organs, organ systems and organisms.
• What is gas exchange is and how it differs from breathing.
• How the skeleton and muscles work together to move the human body.

 Topics:

• 4.1 Levels of organisation
• 4.2 Gas exchange
• 4.3 Breathing
• 4.4 Skeleton
• 4.5 Movement: joints
• 4.6 Movement: muscles

• The hierarchical organisation of multicellular organisms.
• The structure and functions of the gas exchange system in humans, including adaptations to function.
• The mechanism of breathing to move air in and out of the lungs.
• The structure and functions of the human skeleton.
• The interaction between skeleton and muscles and the functions of muscles.

7Bs.05 Understand that cells can be grouped together to form tissues, organs and organ systems. 

8Bs.03 Describe how the structure of the human respiratory system is related to its function of gas exchange (in terms of lung structure and the action of the diaphragm and intercostal muscles) and understand the difference between breathing and respiration.  

8Bs.04 Describe the diffusion of oxygen and carbon dioxide between blood and the air in the lungs. 

8Bs.01 Identify ball-and-socket and hinge joints and explain how antagonistic muscles move the bones at a hinge joint.

9Bs.02 Describe the structure of the human excretory (renal) system and its function (limited to kidneys filtering blood to remove urea, which is excreted in urine).

Pages 38–53

ASSIGNMENT FOUR

Module Five: Reactions

National Curriculum Link

Cambridge Curriculum Link

Coursebook Pages

Reactions content:

• Physical changes are reversible and chemical changes are not
• What chemical reactions are and some different types.
• Conservation of mass; why mass cannot be created or destroyed.

Topics:

• 5.1 Chemical reactions
• 5.2 Word equations
• 5.3 Oxidation reactions
• 5.4 Decomposition reactions
• 5.5 Using ratios
• 5.6 Conservation of mass
• 5.7 Exothermic and endothermic
• Practical 2 - Combustion

• Chemical reactions as the rearrangement of atoms.
• Representing chemical reactions using formulae and equations.
• Conservation of mass in chemical reactions.
• Experimental technique.
• Make predictions using scientific knowledge and understanding.
• Present observations and data using appropriate methods.
• Interpret observations and data and draw conclusions.
• Evaluate data, showing awareness of potential sources of error.

7Cc.03 Use the particle model to describe chemical reactions.  

8Cc.01 Use word equations to describe reactions.  

9Cc.01 Use word equations and symbol equations to describe reactions (balancing symbol equations is not required). 

7TWSa.05 8TWSa.05 Present and interpret observations and measurements appropriately. 

9TWSa.05 Present and interpret results and predict results between the datapoints collected. 

7TWSa.02 8TWSa.02 Describe trends and patterns in results, including identifying any anomalous results. 

Pages 106–123

ASSIGNMENT FIVE

Module Six: Sound & Light

National Curriculum Link

Cambridge Curriculum Link

Coursebook Pages

Sound content:

• All about waves including sound waves.
• How our ears detect sound.
• How we can use ultrasound to produce images of inside the human body.

Topics:

• 6.1 Waves
• 6.2 Sound and energy transfer
• 6.3 Loudness and pitch
• 6.4 Detecting sound
• 6.5 Echoes and ultrasound 

• Waves on water as undulations which travel through water with transverse motion; these waves can be reflected and add or cancel; superposition.
• Sound waves.
• Frequencies of sound waves, echoes, reflection and absorption of sound.
• Sound needs a medium to travel, the speed of sound in air, in water, in solids.
• Sounds produced by vibrations of object (longitudinal waves).
• Auditory range of animals and humans.

9Ps.02 Use waveforms to show how sound waves interact to reinforce or cancel each other. 

7Ps.02 Explain echoes in terms of the reflection of sound waves. 

9Ps.01 Draw and interpret waveforms, and recognise the link between loudness and amplitude, pitch and frequency. 

7Ps.01 Describe the vibration of particles in a sound wave and explain why sound does not travel in a vacuum. 

Pages 152–165

Light Content:

• All about light.
• How light can be reflected and refracted.
• How lenses, the human eye and cameras work.
• How a prism splits light into colours and filters block certain light colours.

Topics:

• 6.6 Light
• 6.7 Reflection
• 6.8 Refraction
• 6.9 The eye and the camera
• 6.10 Colour

• The similarities and differences between light waves and waves in matter.
• The transmission of light through materials and a vacuum: absorption, diffuse scattering and specular reflection at a surface.
• Colours and the different frequencies of light, white light and prisms.

8Ps.01 Describe reflection at a plane surface and use the law of reflection. 

8Ps.04 Describe how colours of light can be added, subtracted, absorbed and reflected. 

8Ps.03 Know that white light is made of many colours, and this can be shown through the dispersion of white light, using a prism. 

Pages 166–179

ASSIGNMENT SIX

Module Seven: Reproduction

Reproduction content:

• What happens during puberty in humans.
• How fertilisation occurs in humans
• How pollination and fertilisation happen in flowers.
• All about seed dispersal.

 Topics:

• 7.1 Adolescence
• 7.2 Reproductive systems
• 7.3 Fertilisation and implantation
• 7.4 Development of a foetus
• 7.5 The menstrual cycle
• 7.6 Flowers and pollination
• 7.7 Fertilisation and germination
• 7.8 Seed dispersal

• Reproduction in humans, including the structure and function of the male and female reproduction systems, menstrual cycle, gametes, fertilisation, gestation and birth.
• The effect of maternal lifestyle on the foetus through the placenta.
• Reproduction in plants, including flower structure, wind and insect pollination, fertilisation, seed and fruit formation and dispersal.

9Bp.01 Describe the fusion of gametes to produce a fertilised egg with a new combination of DNA. 

9Bp.08 Discuss how foetal development is affected by the health of the mother, including the effect of diet, smoking and drugs. 

Note: Plant reproduction is covered in the Cambridge Primary Science curriculum. 

Pages 54–73

ASSIGNMENT SEVEN

Module Eight: Acids and Alkalis

National Curriculum Link

Cambridge Curriculum Link

Coursebook Pages

Acids and Alkalis content:

• Acids, alkalis and bases
• The pH scale.
• How salts are made from acids and alkalis.

Topics:

• 8.1 Acids and alkalis
• 8.2 Indicators and pH
• 8.3 Neutralisation
• 8.4 Making salts

• Defining acids and alkalis in terms of neutralisation reactions.
• The pH scale for measuring acidity/alkalinity and indicators.
• Reactions of acids with metals and alkalis.

7Cp.02 Understand that the acidity or alkalinity of a substance is a chemical property and is measured by pH. 

7Cp.03 Use indicators (including Universal Indicator and litmus) to distinguish between acidic, alkaline and neutral solutions. 

7Cc.04 Describe neutralisation reactions in terms of change of pH. 

Pages 124–135

ASSIGNMENT EIGHT

Module Nine: Earth and Space

National Curriculum Link

Cambridge Curriculum Link

Coursebook Pages

Earth and Space content:

• What we can see in the night sky.
• All about the planets in the solar system, the asteroid belt and how the solar system formed.
• How the fact that the Earth orbits the sun and spins on its axis affects the Earth.
• All about the moon.

Topics:

• 9.1 The night sky
• 9.2 The solar system
• 9.3 The Earth
• 9.4 The Moon
• Practical 3 - Craters

• Gravity force different on other planets and stars; gravity forces between Earth and Moon and between Earth and Sun. 
• Our Sun as a star, other stars in our galaxy, other galaxies. 
• The seasons and the Earth’s tilt, day length at different times of year, in different hemispheres. 
• Experimental technique. 
• Make predictions using scientific knowledge and understanding. 
• Present observations and data using appropriate methods. 
• Interpret observations and data and draw conclusions. 
• Evaluate data, showing awareness of potential sources of error. 

7Pf.03 Describe gravity as a force of attraction between any two objects and describe how the size of the force is related to the masses of the objects. 

7ESs.02 Know that gravity is the force that holds components of the Solar System in orbit around the Sun. 

8ESs.01 Describe a galaxy in terms of stellar dust and gas, stars and planetary systems. 

8ESs.01 Describe a galaxy in terms of stellar dust and gas, stars and planetary systems. 

7ESs.04 Explain how solar and lunar eclipses happen. 

7ESs.01 Describe how planets form from dust and gas, which are pulled together by gravity.  

9ESs.03 Know that nebulae are clouds of dust and gas, and can act as stellar nurseries.   

8ESs.02 Describe asteroids as rocks, smaller than planets, and describe their formation from rocks left over from the formation of a planetary system.  

9ESs.02 Describe the evidence for the collision theory for the formation of the Moon.  

7ESs.03 Describe tidal forces on Earth as a consequence of the gravitational attraction between the Earth, Moon and Sun.  

7TWSa.05 8TWSa.05 Present and interpret observations and measurements appropriately. 

9TWSa.05 Present and interpret results and predict results between the datapoints collected. 

7TWSa.02 8TWSa.02 Describe trends and patterns in results, including identifying any anomalous results. 

Pages 180-191 

ASSIGNMENT NINE