The Science Department
| Units Studied in Year 7 | ||
Here is a summary of the units studied in Year 7 with a link to the Department for Education and Skills web site for further details. |
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Jump to: | Unit 7A: Cells | Unit 7B: Reproduction | Unit 7C: Environment and feeding relationships | Unit 7D: Variation and classification | Unit 7E: Acids and alkalis | Unit 7F: Simple chemical reactions | Unit 7G: Particle model of solids, liquids and gases | Unit 8E: Atoms and Elements | Unit 7I: Energy resources | Unit 7J: Electrical circuits | Unit 7L: The solar system and beyond | Unit 8L: Sound and Hearing | |
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In this unit pupils learn that cells are the basic units of life and are organised into tissues from which organs are made. They explore cell structure and differences between plant and animal cells and learn about some functions of cells. - Top |
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In this unit pupils extend their earlier ideas about human reproduction and consider how offspring are protected and nurtured. They consider and compare reproductive patterns in other animals with those in humans and relate what they know of the way their bodies change during adolescence to knowledge about human reproduction, growth and the menstrual cycle. - Top |
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| In this unit pupils learn how habitats vary, how plants and animals are adapted to live in a particular habitat and how plants and animals interact with their environment and with each other, including feeding relationships. They learn about adaptations for feeding and how to link food chains to make webs. - Top | ||
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| In this unit pupils explore variation within and between species, consider why classification is important and are introduced to scientific classification of animals. They investigate patterns of variation in living things and ways of representing and explaining the occurrence of variations. - Top | ||
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| In this unit pupils learn about acids and alkalis as classes of chemicals with distinct properties and uses. They learn to use indicators to classify solutions as acidic, alkaline or neutral and use the pH scale to compare the acidity and alkalinity of different solutions. They begin to explore neutralisation. - Top | ||
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| In this unit pupils are introduced to the idea that chemical change results in new substances that are different from the ones from which they were made. They explore some simple chemical reactions of acids in which a gas is made and explore burning as a chemical reaction involving a gas, air or oxygen. They identify hydrogen and carbon dioxide as substances made during some of these reactions and work with gases to understand that gases are real materials. They begin to use word equations as shorthand descriptions of reactions. - Top | ||
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| In this unit pupils learn how the particle model can be used to explain differences between solids, liquids and gases. They explore how experimental evidence relates to theories and models .- Top | ||
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| In this unit pupils learn that the huge range of materials is made from a relatively small number of elements and that each element is composed of one sort of atom only. They explore the characteristics of some elements and use the particle model to describe what happens when elements combine. - Top | ||
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| In this unit pupils are introduced to the concept of energy in the context of fuels as convenient and therefore valuable sources. They consider the nature and origin of fossil fuels and renewable sources of energy and how their use has implications for the environment . They consolidate and extend their ideas about energy resources for living things: food for people and sunlight for plants and link the energy resources to the role of the Sun as the ultimate source of most of the Earth's energy resources. - Top | ||
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| In this unit pupils consolidate and extend their ideas about circuits. They use concepts of electric current and energy transfer to explain the working of circuits and explain patterns in the measurements of current and voltage. They use the concept of resistance qualitatively, build circuits in which current flow is usefully controlled and consider the hazards of electricity for humans. - Top | ||
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| In this unit pupils consolidate their ideas about the Sun and Moon, and use models of these to explain phenomena such as eclipses and the seasons. They learn that planets and satellites are seen by reflected light and that the Sun, as a star, emits light and compare the Sun with other stars. - Top | ||
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| In this unit pupils build on their knowledge of sound and hearing and explain how sound travels through media. They give an explanation of how the ear works, find out about the harmful effects of loud noise and how loud noise can be reduced. - Top | ||