Key stage 3 science lesson plans (national curriculum)

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-001

pay attention to objectivity and concern for accuracy, precision, repeatability and reproducibility

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-002

understand that scientific methods and theories develop as earlier explanations are modified to take account of new evidence and ideas, together with the importance of publishing results and peer review

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-003

evaluate risks

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-004

ask questions and develop a line of enquiry based on observations of the real world, alongside prior knowledge and experience

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-005

make predictions using scientific knowledge and understanding

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-006

select, plan and carry out the most appropriate types of scientific enquiries to test predictions, including identifying independent, dependent and control variables

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-007

use appropriate techniques, apparatus, and materials during fieldwork and laboratory work, paying attention to health and safety

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-008

make and record observations and measurements using a range of methods for different investigations; and evaluate the reliability of methods and suggest possible improvements

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-009

apply sampling techniques

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-010

apply mathematical concepts and calculate results

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-011

present observations and data using appropriate methods, including tables and graphs

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-012

interpret observations and data, including identifying patterns and using observations, measurements and data to draw conclusions

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-013

present reasoned explanations, including explaining data in relation to predictions and hypotheses

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-014

evaluate data, showing awareness of potential sources of random and systematic error

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-015

identify further questions arising from their results

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-016

understand and use SI units and IUPAC (International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry) chemical nomenclature

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-017

use and derive simple equations and carry out appropriate calculations

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-018

undertake basic data analysis including simple statistical techniques

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-019

cells as the fundamental unit of living organisms, including how to observe, interpret and record cell structure using a light microscope

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-020

the functions of the cell wall, cell membrane, cytoplasm, nucleus, vacuole, mitochondria and chloroplasts

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-021

the similarities and differences between plant and animal cells

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-022

the role of diffusion in the movement of materials in and between cells

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-023

the structural adaptations of some unicellular organisms

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-024

the hierarchical organisation of multicellular organisms: from cells to tissues to organs to systems to organisms

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-025

the structure and functions of the human skeleton, to include support, protection, movement and making blood cells

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-026

biomechanics – the interaction between skeleton and muscles, including the measurement of force exerted by different muscles

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-027

the function of muscles and examples of antagonistic muscles

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-028

the content of a healthy human diet: carbohydrates, lipids (fats and oils), proteins, vitamins, minerals, dietary fibre and water, and why each is needed

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-029

calculations of energy requirements in a healthy daily diet

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-030

the consequences of imbalances in the diet, including obesity, starvation and deficiency diseases

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-031

the tissues and organs of the human digestive system, including adaptations to function and how the digestive system digests food (enzymes simply as biological catalysts)

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-032

the importance of bacteria in the human digestive system

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-033

plants making carbohydrates in their leaves by photosynthesis and gaining mineral nutrients and water from the soil via their roots

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-034

the structure and functions of the gas exchange system in humans, including adaptations to function

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-035

the mechanism of breathing to move air in and out of the lungs, using a pressure model to explain the movement of gases, including simple measurements of lung volume

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-036

the impact of exercise, asthma and smoking on the human gas exchange system

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-037

the role of leaf stomata in gas exchange in plants

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-038

reproduction in humans (as an example of a mammal), including the structure and function of the male and female reproductive systems, menstrual cycle (without details of hormones), gametes, fertilisation, gestation and birth, to include the effect of maternal lifestyle on the foetus through the placenta

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-039

reproduction in plants, including flower structure, wind and insect pollination, fertilisation, seed and fruit formation and dispersal, including quantitative investigation of some dispersal mechanisms

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-040

the effects of recreational drugs (including substance misuse) on behaviour, health and life processes

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-041

the reactants in, and products of, photosynthesis, and a word summary for photosynthesis

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-042

the dependence of almost all life on Earth on the ability of photosynthetic organisms, such as plants and algae, to use sunlight in photosynthesis to build organic molecules that are an essential energy store and to maintain levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-043

the adaptations of leaves for photosynthesis

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-044

aerobic and anaerobic respiration in living organisms, including the breakdown of organic molecules to enable all the other chemical processes necessary for life

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-045

a word summary for aerobic respiration

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-046

the process of anaerobic respiration in humans and micro-organisms, including fermentation, and a word summary for anaerobic respiration

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-047

the differences between aerobic and anaerobic respiration in terms of the reactants, the products formed and the implications for the organism

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-048

the interdependence of organisms in an ecosystem, including food webs and insect pollinated crops

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-049

the importance of plant reproduction through insect pollination in human food security

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-050

how organisms affect, and are affected by, their environment, including the accumulation of toxic materials

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-051

heredity as the process by which genetic information is transmitted from one generation to the next

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-052

a simple model of chromosomes, genes and DNA in heredity, including the part played by Watson, Crick, Wilkins and Franklin in the development of the DNA model

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-053

differences between species

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-054

the variation between individuals within a species being continuous or discontinuous, to include measurement and graphical representation of variation

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-055

the variation between species and between individuals of the same species meaning some organisms compete more successfully, which can drive natural selection

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-056

changes in the environment which may leave individuals within a species, and some entire species, less well adapted to compete successfully and reproduce, which in turn may lead to extinction

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-057

the importance of maintaining biodiversity and the use of gene banks to preserve hereditary material

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-058

the properties of the different states of matter (solid, liquid and gas) in terms of the particle model, including gas pressure

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-059

changes of state in terms of the particle model

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-060

a simple (Dalton) atomic model

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-061

differences between atoms, elements and compounds

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-062

chemical symbols and formulae for elements and compounds

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-063

conservation of mass changes of state and chemical reactions

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-064

the concept of a pure substance

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-065

mixtures, including dissolving

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-066

diffusion in terms of the particle model

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-067

simple techniques for separating mixtures: filtration, evaporation, distillation and chromatography

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-068

the identification of pure substances

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-069

chemical reactions as the rearrangement of atoms

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-070

representing chemical reactions using formulae and using equations

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-071

combustion, thermal decomposition, oxidation and displacement reactions

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-072

defining acids and alkalis in terms of neutralisation reactions

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-073

the pH scale for measuring acidity/alkalinity; and indicators

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-074

reactions of acids with metals to produce a salt plus hydrogen

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-075

reactions of acids with alkalis to produce a salt plus water

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-076

what catalysts do

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-077

energy changes on changes of state (qualitative)

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-078

exothermic and endothermic chemical reactions (qualitative)

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-079

the varying physical and chemical properties of different elements

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-080

the principles underpinning the Mendeleev periodic table

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-081

the periodic table: periods and groups; metals and non-metals

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-082

how patterns in reactions can be predicted with reference to the periodic table

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-083

the properties of metals and non-metals

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-084

the chemical properties of metal and non-metal oxides with respect to acidity

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-085

the order of metals and carbon in the reactivity series

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-086

the use of carbon in obtaining metals from metal oxides

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-087

properties of ceramics, polymers and composites (qualitative)

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-088

the composition of the Earth

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-089

the structure of the Earth

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-090

the rock cycle and the formation of igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-091

Earth as a source of limited resources and the efficacy of recycling

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-092

the composition of the atmosphere

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-093

the production of carbon dioxide by human activity and the impact on climate

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-094

comparing energy values of different foods (from labels) (kJ)

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-095

comparing power ratings of appliances in watts (W, kW)

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-096

comparing amounts of energy transferred (J, kJ, kW hour)

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-097

domestic fuel bills, fuel use and costs

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-098

fuels and energy resources

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-099

simple machines give bigger force but at the expense of smaller movement (and vice versa): product of force and displacement unchanged

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-100

heating and thermal equilibrium: temperature difference between 2 objects leading to energy transfer from the hotter to the cooler one, through contact (conduction) or radiation; such transfers tending to reduce the temperature difference; use of insulators

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-101

other processes that involve energy transfer: changing motion, dropping an object, completing an electrical circuit, stretching a spring, metabolism of food, burning fuels

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-102

energy as a quantity that can be quantified and calculated; the total energy has the same value before and after a change

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-103

comparing the starting with the final conditions of a system and describing increases and decreases in the amounts of energy associated with movements, temperatures, changes in positions in a field, in elastic distortions and in chemical compositions

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-104

using physical processes and mechanisms, rather than energy, to explain the intermediate steps that bring about such changes

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-105

speed and the quantitative relationship between average speed, distance and time (speed = distance ÷ time)

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-106

the representation of a journey on a distance-time graph

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-107

relative motion: trains and cars passing one another

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-108

forces as pushes or pulls, arising from the interaction between 2 objects

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-109

using force arrows in diagrams, adding forces in 1 dimension, balanced and unbalanced forces

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-110

moment as the turning effect of a force

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-111

forces: associated with deforming objects; stretching and squashing – springs; with rubbing and friction between surfaces, with pushing things out of the way; resistance to motion of air and water

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-112

forces measured in newtons, measurements of stretch or compression as force is changed

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-113

force-extension linear relation; Hooke’s Law as a special case

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-114

work done and energy changes on deformation

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-115

non-contact forces: gravity forces acting at a distance on Earth and in space, forces between magnets, and forces due to static electricity

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-116

atmospheric pressure, decreases with increase of height as weight of air above decreases with height

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-117

pressure in liquids, increasing with depth; upthrust effects, floating and sinking

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-118

pressure measured by ratio of force over area – acting normal to any surface

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-119

opposing forces and equilibrium: weight held by stretched spring or supported on a compressed surface

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-120

forces being needed to cause objects to stop or start moving, or to change their speed or direction of motion (qualitative only)

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-121

change depending on direction of force and its size

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-122

waves on water as undulations which travel through water with transverse motion; these waves can be reflected, and add or cancel – superposition

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-123

frequencies of sound waves, measured in hertz (Hz); echoes, reflection and absorption of sound

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-124

sound needs a medium to travel, the speed of sound in air, in water, in solids

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-125

sound produced by vibrations of objects, in loudspeakers, detected by their effects on microphone diaphragm and the ear drum; sound waves are longitudinal

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-126

the auditory range of humans and animals

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-127

pressure waves transferring energy; use for cleaning and physiotherapy by ultrasound; waves transferring information for conversion to electrical signals by microphone

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-128

the similarities and differences between light waves and waves in matter

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-129

light waves travelling through a vacuum; speed of light

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-130

the transmission of light through materials: absorption, diffuse scattering and specular reflection at a surface

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-131

use of ray model to explain imaging in mirrors, the pinhole camera, the refraction of light and action of convex lens in focusing (qualitative); the human eye

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-132

light transferring energy from source to absorber, leading to chemical and electrical effects; photosensitive material in the retina and in cameras

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-133

colours and the different frequencies of light, white light and prisms (qualitative only); differential colour effects in absorption and diffuse reflection

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-134

electric current, measured in amperes, in circuits, series and parallel circuits, currents add where branches meet and current as flow of charge

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-135

potential difference, measured in volts, battery and bulb ratings; resistance, measured in ohms, as the ratio of potential difference (p.d.) to current

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-136

differences in resistance between conducting and insulating components (quantitative)

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-137

separation of positive or negative charges when objects are rubbed together: transfer of electrons, forces between charged objects

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-138

the idea of electric field, forces acting across the space between objects not in contact

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-139

magnetic poles, attraction and repulsion

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-140

magnetic fields by plotting with compass, representation by field lines

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-141

Earth’s magnetism, compass and navigation

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-142

the magnetic effect of a current, electromagnets, DC motors (principles only)

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-143

conservation of material and of mass, and reversibility, in melting, freezing, evaporation, sublimation, condensation, dissolving

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-144

similarities and differences, including density differences, between solids, liquids and gases

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-145

Brownian motion in gases

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-146

diffusion in liquids and gases driven by differences in concentration

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-147

the difference between chemical and physical changes

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-148

the differences in arrangements, in motion and in closeness of particles explaining changes of state, shape and density; the anomaly of ice-water transition

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-149

atoms and molecules as particles

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-150

changes with temperature in motion and spacing of particles

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-151

internal energy stored in materials

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-152

gravity force, weight = mass x gravitational field strength (g), on Earth g=10 N/kg, different on other planets and stars; gravity forces between Earth and Moon, and between Earth and sun (qualitative only)

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-153

our sun as a star, other stars in our galaxy, other galaxies

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-154

the seasons and the Earth’s tilt, day length at different times of year, in different hemispheres

ENG-NC-SC-KS3-155

the light year as a unit of astronomical distance