Topic title: Big Ideas
Year group: 9
When taught: Autumn term
Overview: The big ideas that are introduced in year 7 and 8 are built on in the first half term of year 9 before students begin their GCSE journey. We give students the chance to investigate some big questions in science such as, “can you improve the human skeleton?” and, “how quickly can humans accelerate?”. We have a particular focus on literacy in this part of the curriculum when students’ extract knowledge from texts from a variety of sources.
Key ideas covered include:
- All matter in the Universe is made of very small particles Atoms are the building blocks of all matter, living and non-living. The behaviour and arrangement of the atoms explains the properties of different materials. · The composition of the earth and its atmosphere, and the processes occurring within them, shape the earth’s surface and its climate. Radiation from the sun heats the earth’s surface and causes convection currents in the air and oceans, creating climates.
- Changing the movement of an object requires a net force to be acting on it. A force acting on an object is not seen directly but is detected by its effect on the object’s motion or shape.
- Our solar system is a very small part of one of billions of galaxies in the Universe Our Sun and eight planets and other smaller objects orbiting it comprise the solar system. Day and night and the seasons are explained by the orientation and rotation of the Earth as it moves round the Sun. The solar system is part of a galaxy of stars, gas and dust, one of many billions in the Universe, enormous distances apart. Many stars appear to have planets.
- Objects can affect other objects at a distance. All objects have an effect on other objects without being in contact with them. In some cases the effect travels out from the source to the receiver in the form of radiation (e.g. visible light). In other cases action at a distance is explained in terms of the existence of a field of influence between objects, such as a magnetic, electric or gravitational field.
- All organisms are constituted of one or more cells. Multi-cellular organisms have cells that are differentiated according to their function. Microscopes are used to view cells and their organelles and standard form is used when referring to the very small scales of measurements used in microbiology.
- Vertebrate animals have an internal skeleton and this skeleton carries out several functions. Joints allow the movement of our bodies and the complex structure of different types of joints helps to give skeletons their shape. Many animals have exoskeletons which provides support and structure on the outside of their bodies.
- Genetic information is passed down from one generation of organisms to another Genetic information in a cell is held in the chemical DNA. Genes determine the development and structure of organisms. In asexual reproduction all the genes in the offspring come from one parent. In sexual reproduction half of the genes come from each parent.
- The diversity of organisms, living and extinct, is the result of evolution. All life today is directly descended from a universal common ancestor that was a simple one-celled organism. Over countless generations changes resulting from natural diversity within a species lead to the selection of those individuals best suited to survive under certain conditions. Species not able to respond sufficiently to changes in their environment become extinct.
Why is this important to know?
- These fundamental ideas consolidate knowledge from year 7 and 8 and is the stepping stone to GCSE.
How will we be assessed on this topic?
- Students complete an online multiple choice test at the end of the topic.
What makes a strong piece of work in this topic? What are teachers hoping to see?
- Developing literacy skills.
- An understanding of fundamental ideas before moving onto GCSE.
- Recalling previously taught knowledge and applying it to a new situation.
- Addressing common misconceptions in science.
What can I try if I want to stretch and challenge myself on this topic?
- Research and understand more exotic states of matter where different rules exist – plasma, non-Newtonian fluids, foams, gels, sols, and nanoparticles.
- Research how elements are made in stars.
- Research examples of useful mixtures (formulations)
- Research how developments in genetics is leading to personalised medicines.
- Research how bionic exoskeletons are being developed and used to push the human body past it’s normal capabilities.
What wider reading can be done on this topic?
