Curriculum Overview
Point in Year
Unit of Work Title
Starting Point
Curriculum Content
Core Knowledge
Curriculum Content
Core Skills
Mid-term and Final Assessments
Autumn Term 1
7A Cells, Tissues, Organs and Systems
7G The Particle Model
Recap the organs in the human body from KS2
Recap various materials from KS2
Introduction Unit
7Aa Life Processes
7Ab Organs (the structural adaptations of some unicellular organisms)
7Ac Tissues (the hierarchical organisation of multicellular organisms: from cells to tissues to organs to systems to organisms.)
7Ac2 Microscopes (cells as the fundamental unit of living organisms, including how to observe, interpret and record cell structure using a light microscope)
7Ad Cells (the functions of the cell wall, cell membrane, cytoplasm, nucleus, vacuole, mitochondria and chloroplasts and the similarities and differences between plant and animal cells)
7Ga/b Solid, Liquid and Gas ( changes of state in terms of the particle model / the properties of the different states of matter (solid, liquid and gas) in terms of the particle model, including gas pressure / conservation of material and of mass, and reversibility, in melting, freezing, evaporation, sublimation, condensation, dissolving)
7Gc Brownian Motion (Brownian motion in gases)
7Gd Diffusion (diffusion in liquids and gases driven by differences in concentration)
7Ge Air Pressure
Health and Safety in the laboratory.
Using Bunsen Burners.
Scientific Apparatus – Drawings and Use
Core Practical (to be assessed in exam paper) Using Microscopes
Core Practical: Heating curve of ice
Demo: Pollen cells under a microscope
Demo: Potassium Permanganate in water
Demo: Collapsing can experiment
Using models to represent scientific ideas
Evaluate the models
Extended Writing Task (Microscopes)
Mini Assessment (F)
Mini Assessment (H)
Extended Writing Task (Explain in detail why the properties of water are different in its three states. (6 marks)
Mini Assessment (F)
Mini Assessment (H)
Autumn Term 2
7I Energy
7B Sexual Reproduction in Animals
Recap the various types of Energy from KS2
Recap Body Organs from KS2
7Ia Energy from food (calculations of energy requirements in a healthy daily diet and comparing energy values of different foods (from labels) (kJ) )
7Ib Energy Transfers and stores
7Ic Fuels (other processes that involve energy transfer: metabolism of food, burning fuels).
7Id Other Energy Sources (fuels and energy resources.)
7Ba Animal sexual reproduction (reproduction in humans (as an example of a mammal),
7Bb Reproductive Organs (the structure and function of the male and female reproductive systems)
7Bc Becoming Pregnant (gametes, fertilisation, gestation)
7Bd Birth (and birth, to include the effect of maternal lifestyle on the foetus through the placenta)
7Be Menstrual Cycle (Puberty and menstrual cycle (without details of hormones))
Core Practical: Investigate the energy content of food
Main Practical: Investigation to find out the best fuel.
Numerical skills: Calculate energy transfers
Recall Scientific Content
Extended Writing Task (method of Investigating the energy Content in Food)
Mini Assessment (F)
Mini Assessment (H)
Extended Writing Task: (Journey of a sperm cell)
Mini Assessment (F)
Mini Assessment (H)
Spring Term 1
7E Mixtures and Separation
7J Current Electricity
Different types of Materials from KS2
Understand basic circuit diagrams, setting up circuits, from KS2
7Ea Mixtures (the concept of a pure substance and the identification of pure substances)
7Eb Solutions (and mixtures, including dissolving and conservation of mass changes of state and chemical reactions.)
7Ec Safety when Heating (simple techniques for separating mixtures: evaporation)
7Ed Chromatography (simple techniques for separating mixtures: filtration, evaporation, distillation and chromatography)
7Ee Distillation (simple techniques for separating mixtures: distillation)
7Ja Current (electric current, measured in amperes, in circuits, series and parallel circuits, currents add where branches meet and current as flow of charge)
7Jb Models for Circuits
7Jc Series and Parallel (electric current, measured in amperes, in circuits, series and parallel circuits, currents add where branches meet and current as flow of charge)
7Jd Voltage and Resistance (potential difference, measured in volts, battery and bulb ratings; resistance, measured in ohms, as the ratio of potential difference (p.d.) to current)
7Je Using Electricity (separation of positive or negative charges when objects are rubbed together: transfer of electrons, forces between charged objects)
Core Practical: Separation of Sand from Salt
Core Practical: Dissolving solutes to show conservation of mass
Core Practical: Evaporation of water to produce salt
Core Practical: Chromatography
Core Practical: Simple Distillation of Inks
Practical: Making simple electric circuits
Skill: Represent circuits as diagrams
Core Practical: Investigation into brightness of a bulb in a series/parallel circuit.
Core Practical: Investigating the effect of resistor on brightness of a bulb.
Core Practical: Wiring a plug
Extended Writing Task: Distillation of ink
Mini Assessment (F)
Mini Assessment (H)
Extended Writing Task: Similarities and differences in a series and parallel circuit.
Mini Assessment (F)
Mini Assessment (H)
Spring Term 2
7C Muscles and Bones
7H Atoms, Elements and Molecules
Structure of the Human body from KS2
Identifying the various materials eg metals and non-metals
7Cc The Skeleton (the structure and functions of the human skeleton, to include support, protection, movement and making blood cells)
7Cd Muscles and Moving (the function of muscles and examples of antagonistic muscles and biomechanics – the interaction between skeleton and muscles, including the measurement of force exerted by different muscles)
7Ce Drugs (the effects of recreational drugs (including substance misuse) on behaviour, health and life processes.)
7Ha The Air we Breathe (the composition of the atmosphere)
7Hb Earth’s Elements (the composition of the Earth / the structure of the Earth / Earth as a source of limited resources and the efficacy of recycling)
7Hc Metals and Non-metals (the properties of metals and non-metals)
7Hd Making Compounds
7He Chemical Reactions (chemical reactions as the rearrangement of atoms)
Demo: Bell Jar to demonstrate lung volume
Demo: Dissection of a heart
Core Practical: Investigation into the properties of metal / non-metal
Demo: Iron and Sulphur reaction
Core Practical: Thermal Decomposition of copper carbonate
Numerical skills: Representing information in tables and graphs, derive simple equations and carry out appropriate calculations
Extended Writing Task: Explain using specific examples how the skeleton provides the body with physical protection and protection against infection. (6 marks)
Mini Assessment (F)
Mini Assessment (H)
Extended Writing Task : Write up a method for thermal decomposition of copper carbonate
Mini Assessment (F)
Mini Assessment (H)
Summer Term 1
7K Forces
7D Ecosystems
Different types of forces from KS2
Exploring Different Habitats
7Ka Forces (forces as pushes or pulls, arising from the interaction between two objects and forces measured in newtons, measurements of stretch or compression as force is changed)
7Kb Springs (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 and force-extension linear relation; Hooke’s Law as a special case )
7Kc Friction (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)
7Kd Pressure (pressure measured by ratio of force over area – acting normal to any surface)
7Ke Balanced and Unbalanced (using force arrows in diagrams, adding forces in one dimension, balanced and unbalanced forces)
7Da Variation (the variation between individuals within a species being continuous or discontinuous, to include measurement and graphical representation of variation)
7Db Adaptations (the variation between species and between individuals of the same species means some organisms compete more successfully, which can drive natural selection)
7Dc Effects of the Environment (changes in the environment 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 and how organisms affect, and are affected by, their environment, including the accumulation of toxic materials)
7Dd Transfers in Food Chain (the interdependence of organisms in an ecosystem, including food webs)
Core Practical: Investigation the extension of a spring (Interpret observations and data, including identifying patterns and using observations, measurements and data to draw conclusions)
Numerical skills:
Draw and interpret graphs and tables
Use the correct SI units
Core Practical: Fieldwork- Sampling quadrats, transects
Extended Writing Task: An organiser of a bungee jumping competition changes the length of the bungee rope so different people can use the rope safely. Use your idea of forces to describe how the size of a person affects the rope when they jump.
Mini Assessment (F)
Mini Assessment (H)
Extended Writing Task: Scientific article in the adaptation of an animal in its habitat.
Mini Assessment (F)
Mini Assessment (H)
Summer Term 2
7F Acids and Alkalis
7L Sound
Exploring the acidity or alkalinity of different household substances
Sources of Sound from KS2
7Fb Indicators (the pH scale for measuring acidity/alkalinity; and indicators)
7Fc Acidity and Alkalinity (the pH scale for measuring acidity/alkalinity; and indicators)
7Fd Neutralisation (defining acids and alkalis in terms of neutralisation reactions)
7Fe Neutralisation in daily life
7Lb Moving Sounds (frequencies of sound waves, measured in hertz (Hz); echoes, reflection and absorption of sound and sound needs a medium to travel, the speed of sound in air, in water, in solids)
7Lc Detecting Sounds (sound produced by vibrations of objects, in loud speakers, detected by their effects on microphone diaphragm and the ear drum; sound waves are longitudinal)
7Ld Using Sounds (pressure waves transferring energy; use for cleaning and physiotherapy by ultra-sound; waves transferring information for conversion to electrical signals by microphone)
7Le Comparing waves
Core Practical: Making indicator using red cabbage
Core Practical: Investigating in a substance is an acid or alkali using universal indicator
Core Practical: Neutralisation – Formation of sodium chloride
Skills: Selecting appropriate equipment and apparatus
Demo: Tuning Fork
Demo: Loudspeaker connected to an oscilloscope
Demo: Model of an ear
Extended Writing Task: Describe and explain the stages in making copper sulphate crystals from a base and acid. (6 marks)
Mini Assessment (F)
Mini Assessment (H)
Extended Writing Task: Compare the time it takes light to travel around the world with the time it takes sound to travel the same distance. The distance around the equator is about 40000 km. (6 marks)
Mini Assessment (F)
Mini Assessment (H)