Science
Year 8
Key Stage 3
Autumn Term
-
At Key Stage 3, pupils have four lessons of science per week. During lessons, pupils will be taught topics within Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Year 8 is a year where students will build on the new ideas studied in year 7. Lessons are linked to wider world themes; this helps students relate to difficult or more abstract concepts. Topics are carefully designed to build on prior learning and introduce new ideas in a logical sequence. Each topic begins with a prior learning activity to establish understanding and inform future learning.
Assessment:
Multiple choice quizzes to regularly check acquired knowledge
Hinge assessments designed to explore science in real world contexts
Tests, divided into knowledge and application sections, to identify specific areas for support
Autumn term topics:
Practical science skills
Pure substances
Tissues and organs
Reactants and products
-
Science enquiry skills are split into six strands:
Developing concepts – explaining ideas, leading to linking concepts
Planning and conducting – conducting investigations, writing methods, leading to justifying choices
Concluding and evaluating – processing data, forming conclusions and evaluating practical methods
Literacy – using scientific terminology to describe, explain, compare and evaluate
Numeracy – selecting correct equations and rearranging leading to linking equations
Curiosity – ask questions about science, independently seeking answers and connecting ideas
-
Discuss with your child what they have learnt in science lessons. Ask them to explain an idea to you, this promotes retention of knowledge and builds confidence. Talk about science in the news, watch a documentary together, encourage your child to find out more about a topic.
Avoid saying ‘Science is hard’ or ‘I couldn’t do Science’ as we know this can promote negative attitudes. Instead work together in finding an answer to a problem using revision websites or videos.
Encourage your child to question what they see on social media presented as ‘science fact’. Who is making the claim? What is the evidence to support the claim? Do scientists agree?
-
Educake (all students have a login to complete homework or set themselves questions)
Educake | Low stakes testing for students
Oak academy lessons
Science lessons for Key Stage 3 students - Oak National Academy (the national academy)
Examples of wider reading in Science:
Tumble science podcast – search on a podcast app
Key Stage 3
Spring Term
-
At Key Stage 3, pupils have four lessons of science per week. During lessons, pupils will be taught topics within Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Year 8 is a year where students will build on the new ideas studied in year 7. Lessons are linked to wider world themes; this helps students relate to difficult or more abstract concepts. Topics are carefully designed to build on prior learning and introduce new ideas in a logical sequence. Each topic begins with a prior learning activity to establish understanding and inform future learning.
Assessment:
Multiple choice quizzes to regularly check acquired knowledge
Skills assessments designed to check practical related skills
Tests, divided into knowledge and application sections, to identify specific areas for support
Spring term topics:
Electrical energy
Light
Respiration
British Science Week
-
Science enquiry skills are split into six strands:
Developing concepts – explaining ideas, leading to linking concepts
Planning and conducting – conducting investigations, writing methods, leading to justifying choices
Concluding and evaluating – processing data, forming conclusions and evaluating practical methods
Literacy – using scientific terminology to describe, explain, compare and evaluate
Numeracy – selecting correct equations and rearranging leading to linking equations
Curiosity – ask questions about science, independently seeking answers and connecting ideas
-
Discuss with your child what they have learnt in science lessons. Ask them to explain an idea to you, this promotes retention of knowledge and builds confidence. Talk about science in the news, watch a documentary together, encourage your child to find out more about a topic.
Avoid saying ‘Science is hard’ or ‘I couldn’t do Science’ as we know this can promote negative attitudes. Instead work together in finding an answer to a problem using revision websites or videos.
Encourage your child to question what they see on social media presented as ‘science fact’. Who is making the claim? What is the evidence to support the claim? Do scientists agree?
-
Educake (all students have a login to complete homework or set themselves questions)
Educake | Low stakes testing for students
Oak academy lessons
Science lessons for Key Stage 3 students - Oak National Academy (the national academy)
Examples of wider reading in Science:
Tumble science podcast – search on a podcast app
Key Stage 3
Summer Term
-
At Key Stage 3, pupils have four lessons of science per week. During lessons, pupils will be taught topics within Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Year 8 is a year where students will build on the new ideas studied in year 7. Lessons are linked to wider world themes; this helps students relate to difficult or more abstract concepts. Topics are carefully designed to build on prior learning and introduce new ideas in a logical sequence. Each topic begins with a prior learning activity to establish understanding and inform future learning.
Assessment:
Multiple choice quizzes to regularly check acquired knowledge
Skills assessments designed to check practical related skills
Tests, divided into knowledge and application sections, to identify specific areas for support
Summer term topics:
Earth systems
Life diversity
Movement
Magnets and sound
-
Science enquiry skills are split into six strands:
Developing concepts – explaining ideas, leading to linking concepts
Planning and conducting – conducting investigations, writing methods, leading to justifying choices
Concluding and evaluating – processing data, forming conclusions and evaluating practical methods
Literacy – using scientific terminology to describe, explain, compare and evaluate
Numeracy – selecting correct equations and rearranging leading to linking equations
Curiosity – ask questions about science, independently seeking answers and connecting ideas
-
Discuss with your child what they have learnt in science lessons. Ask them to explain an idea to you, this promotes retention of knowledge and builds confidence. Talk about science in the news, watch a documentary together, encourage your child to find out more about a topic.
Avoid saying ‘Science is hard’ or ‘I couldn’t do Science’ as we know this can promote negative attitudes. Instead work together in finding an answer to a problem using revision websites or videos.
Encourage your child to question what they see on social media presented as ‘science fact’. Who is making the claim? What is the evidence to support the claim? Do scientists agree?
-
Educake (all students have a login to complete homework or set themselves questions)
Educake | Low stakes testing for students
Oak academy lessons
Science lessons for Key Stage 3 students - Oak National Academy (the national academy)
Examples of wider reading in Science:
Tumble science podcast – search on a podcast app