Lower Secondary Science- Stage 7 - Physics, Chemistry, Biology

Enquiry into scientific methods and practices 

Biology - Stage 7 

Chemistry - Stage 7  

Physics - Stage 7

• Ideas and evidence - Be able to talk about the importance of questions,evidence and explanations

• Ideas and evidence - Make predictions and review them against evidence 

• Plan investigative work - Suggest ideas that may be tested  

• Plan investigative work -  Outline plans to carry out investigations, considering the variables to control, change or observe

• Plan investigative work - Make predictions referring to previous scientific knowledge and understanding

• Plan investigative work - Identify appropriate evidence to collect and suitable methods of collection

• Plan investigative work - Choose appropriate apparatus and use it correctly

• Obtain and present evidence - Make careful observations including measurements

• Obtain and present evidence - Present results in the form of tables, bar charts and line graphs

• Obtain and present evidence - Use information from secondary sources

• Consider evidence and approach - Make conclusions from collected data, including those presented in a graph, chart or spreadsheet

• Consider evidence and approach - Recognise results and observations that do not fit into a pattern, including those presented in a graph, chart or spreadsheet

• Consider evidence and approach - Consider explanations for predictions using scientific knowledge and understanding and communicate these

• Consider evidence and approach - Present conclusions using different methods

• Recognise the positions, and know the functions of the major organs of flowering plants, e.g. root, stem, leaf 

• Explore the role of the skeleton and joints and the principle of antagonistic muscles 

• Recognise the positions and know the functions of the major organ systems of the human body. Secondary sources can be used 

• Research the work of scientists studying the human body 

• Identify the seven characteristics of living things and relate these to a wide range of organisms in the local and wider environment 

• Know about the role of micro-organisms in the breakdown of organic matter, food production and disease, including the work of Louis Pasteur

• Identify the structures present in plant and animal cells as seen with a simple light microscope and/or a computer microscope

• Compare the structure of plant and animal cells 

• Relate the structure of some common cells to their functions. Secondary sources can be used 

• Understand that cells can be grouped together to form tissues, organs and organisms 

• 7Be1 Describe how organisms are adapted to their habitat, drawing on locally occurring examples. Secondary sources can be used

• 7Be2 Draw and model simple food chains 

• Discuss positive and negative influence of humans on the environment, e.g. the effect on food chains, pollution and ozone depletion

• Discuss a range of energy sources and distinguish between renewable and non-renewable resources. Secondary sources can be used

• Understand what is meant by a species  

• Investigate variation within a species. Secondary sources can be used 

• Classify animals and plants into major groups, using some locally occurring examples  

• Show in outline how the particle theory of matter can be used to explain the properties of solids, liquids and gases, including changes of state

• Distinguish between metals and non-metals 

• Describe everyday materials and their physical properties  

•  Use a pH scale.  

• Understand neutralisation and some of its applications

• Use indicators to distinguish acid and alkaline solutions

• Observe and classify different types of rocks and soils 

• Research simple models of the internal structure of the Earth 

• Examine fossils and research the fossil record 

• Discuss the fossil record as a guide to estimating the age of the Earth 

• Learn about most recent estimates of the age of the Earth

• Describe the effects of forces on motion, including friction and air resistance  

• Describe the effect of gravity on objects. Secondary sources can be used 

• Understand that energy cannot be created or destroyed and that energy is always conserved 

• Recognise different energy types and energy transfers 

• Describe how the movement of the Earth causes the apparent daily and annual movement of the sun and the stars

•  Describe the relative position and movement of the planets and the sun in the solar system 

• Discuss the impact of the ideas and discoveries of Copernicus, Galileo and more recent scientists 

• Understand that the sun and other stars are sources of light and that planets and other bodies are seen by reflected light