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?

  • BBC Bitesize

    Science Max - YouTube

    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:

    Environment

    Journal

    Science Sparks

    Engineering

    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?

  • BBC Bitesize

    Science Max - YouTube

    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:

    Environment

    Journal

    Science Sparks

    Engineering

    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?

  • BBC Bitesize

    Science Max - YouTube

    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:

    Environment

    Journal

    Science Sparks

    Engineering

    Tumble science podcast – search on a podcast app