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In our first unit, we look at the scientific method of designed a robust science investigation. Here we will build on scientific skills learnt at primary school and introduce new key scientific language which will be used throughout our students scientific careers at NSC.

This includes:

Variables - Independent, Dependent and Control

Writing methods

Identifying and mitigating hazards

Recording results

Using a Bunsen burner

Testing a hypothesis

Communicating and presenting results

Bar charts and line graphs

Writing a conclusion

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Royal Institute Lectures, Christmas 2021

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Royal Institute Lectures, Christmas 2021

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The CHRISTMAS LECTURES are engaging and mind-expanding television programmes for all ages but particularly children and young adults.
The 2021 Lectures with Jonathan Van-Tam will be recorded on 14, 16 and 18 December at the Ri and broadcast on BBC Four and iPlayer between Christmas and New Year.

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The 2021 Lectures with Jonathan Van-Tam will be recorded on 14, 16 and 18 December at the Ri and broadcast on BBC Four and iPlayer between Christmas and New Year. As Public Health England guidance now allows for a live audience, tickets will be allocated via a ballot which will open soon and is available to Ri Patrons, Ri Members and Ri Young Members. Tickets will also be made available for free to children from schools in disadvantaged areas of the UK, which the Ri has been supporting throughout the year.

Should a change in Public Health England guidance mean a live audience is no longer possible, then we will explore options to livestream the recordings to Young Members and schools as we did in 2020.

We will also be live streaming the recordings to a small number of other venues around the UK. These venues will be announced in due course.

To produce the CHRISTMAS LECTURES we are entirely reliant on the funding we raise through ticket sales, donations and sponsorship. This enables the impact of our work to reach far beyond our famous lecture theatre, because we receive no guaranteed support for the Lectures, either from government or through endowments, to cover the costs each year. This year, with the Ri's income still significantly reduced in the aftermath of the necessary Covid-19 restrictions, support is still vitally important.
Find out how you can help support the CHRISTMAS LECTURES.

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The 2021 Lectures with Jonathan Van-Tam will be recorded on 14, 16 and 18 December at the Ri and broadcast on BBC Four and iPlayer between Christmas and New Year. As Public Health England guidance now allows for a live audience, tickets will be allocated via a ballot which will open soon and is available to Ri Patrons, Ri Members and Ri Young Members.

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Teaching reproduction, inheritance of genes and genetic disorders gives a place for discussion on gender. It allows students to discuss and explore LGBTQ issues.

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Students in year 7 and 8 will be given the opportunity to buy Books to support them at home at a discounted price.

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Preparation for GCSE Combined Science or GCSE Triple Science

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Preparation for GCSE Combined Science or GCSE Triple Science

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Science KS4 curriculum overview - Year 9

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This topic builds on students' knowledge of a balanced diet and we then look at how the digestive system works. We also investigate breathing and exercise and its part in a healthy lifestyle. Looking at drugs, alcohol and smoking lest the students understand how these things will effect their bodies.

Enrichment:

Health & Fitness (Healthy Lifestyles)  Gemma McMullen

Human Body: Your Digestive System (Science in Action) Paperback – 24 May 2018  Sally Hewitt

Horrible Science: Disgusting Digestion Nick Arnold

Students could plan a healthy meal at home, or start an exercise regime!

Links with other learning:

Design and Technology – Students study Healthy Eating in the Spring term.

How to Thrive – smoking, drugs, alcohol.

Science – links back to Yr 7 when students looked at the effects of smoking on the developing foetus

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GCSE syllabi: Separate Sciences Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

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GCSE syllabi: Separate Sciences Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

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Woolsthorpe Manor in Woolsthorpe-by-Colsterworth, near Grantham, Lincolnshire, England, is the birthplace and was the family home of Sir Isaac Newton. 

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This would be a great day out for our inspiring physicists.
The house is in Grantham and easily reached on the A14/A1

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Mae Jemison the first female black astronaut. Travelled into Space on the shuttle Endeavour.

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Diversity is highlighted in Science in many KS3 topics. We look at the Scientists who made important contributions in their fields.
This includes a homework on the many different people who have travelled into space.

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Students in year 10 will be given the opportunity to buy Revision guides, work books and other resources at discounted prices for the course they are following

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The Earth topic allows students to gain a clearer perspective of things like Earth’s atmosphere, pollution, acid rain and the greenhouse effect. We also discuss the environmental effects of climate change and link this to the weathering of buildings and rocks.

Enrichment:

Super Simple Rock Cycle Projects: Science Activities for Future Petrologists (Super Simple Earth Investigations) Jessie Alkire

What A Waste: Rubbish, Recycling, and Protecting our Planet Hardcover – 4 April 2019 by Jess French

Visit the Scott Polar museum in Cambridge to see how scientists have been studying climate change.

Students could produce an environmental research project – this would count towards your Environmental pledge!

Links with other learning:

Geography – Students study the greenhouse effect in year 8, as well as exploring as different types of rocks and tectonic plates

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Within this Biology topic, we will explore the levels of organisation of organisms (cells>tissues>organs>organ systems). As this is our first Biology topic with the students we will begin with the basics of the cell and gradually build on this to look look into how various organ systems work together.

This topic includes:

The cell

Organelles

Specialised cells

Animal and plant cells

Development of the microscope

Biological drawing

Using a microscope

Skeletal system

Muscles and joints

Antagonistic pairs

Orthopaedics

Enrichment:

Microscopic Monsters (Horrible Science)  by Nick Arnold and Tony De Saulles

Micro Mania: A Really Close-Up Look at Bacteria, Bedbugs & the Zillions of Other Gross Little Creatures That Live In, on & All Around by Jordan D. Brown

AmScope BK-CM Complete Book of the Microscope by AmScope

Visit the Whipple museum in Cambridge and look at scientific instruments and their development.

The Skeleton and Muscles (The Bright and Bold Human Body) by Sonya Newland

Muscles and Movement (Human Body, Animal Bodies) by Izzi Howell

Book of Bones: 10 Record-Breaking Animals (GB DOCUMENTAIRE) by Gabrielle Balkan and Sam Brewster

Visit the Museum of Zoology in Cambridge to look at animal skeletons.

Links with other learning:

History – the single celled organisms and bacteria that links with students’ study of the Black Death.

PE – students understand how their muscles and joints work.

Performing arts – Understanding how the skeleton allows balance and movement, and exploring what makes a good warm up (mobilisation of joints, pulse raisers, strengthening and stretching) balance, elevation, co-ordination, weight, movement memory.

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Autumn 3: Why is the periodic table arranged as it is?

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Autumn 3: Why is the periodic table arranged as it is?

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In this topic we take an historical look at the Periodic table and the discovery of elements.  We see how elements in different groups behave and how displacement reactions are used when extracting metals. They will see simple electrolysis to plate metals and we look at the uses of new materials like ceramics, polymers and composites.

Enrichment:

The Periodic Table Book: A Visual Encyclopedia of the Elements by DK

Reaction of Metals Paperback by Oaka Books

Visit the Royal Society of Chemistry Website and investigate the Periodic table further. https://www.rsc.org/periodic-table

Visit The Whipple museum in Cambridge and look at items showing the history of other scientific discoveries.

Links with other learning:

Design and Technology -  students explore different types of material for different products in the Summer term

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This topic introduces simple practical techniques and uses of key equipment like Bunsen burners, thermometers, glassware. It is taught as the first Chemistry topic as the understanding of particles, states of matter and compounds and mixtures is necessary for the other chemistry topics. The topic later explores separating techniques used to produce pure substances.

This topic includes:

States of Matter

Interparticle Forces

Solids

Fluids

Viscosity

Diffusion

Rate of diffusion

Changes of state

Solutions

Separating Mixtures

Filtration

Evaporation

Distillation

Chromatography

Enrichment:

Matter (Rookie Read-About Science: Physical Science) by Cody Crane

Stuff Matters: The Strange Stories of the Marvellous Materials that Shape Our Man-made World by Mark Miodownik

Links with other learning:

Maths – measuring units accurately using decimals.

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In this topic we look at what we actually mean by energy and how we use it. Students get to understand how heat and other forms of energy can be transferred between systems.

Enrichment:

Killer Energy (Horrible Science) Paperback – 4 May 2009 by Nick Arnold

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Students are entering puberty and so this topic is very relevant to them and what is happening to their bodies.  We also look at reproduction in plants, which will build on the knowledge of flowers they have from KS2.

In this topic we cover:

Reproduction

Puberty

Menstrual Cycle

Embryo development

Early Life development

Factors affecting development

Fertility

Plant reproduction

Seed Dispersal

Variation

Genetic material

Natural selection

Biodiversity

Extinction

Enrichment:

Puberty, reproduction, birth by Oaka Books, Laurence Andrew Page, et al

The Puberty Book by Wendy Darvill and Kelsey Powell

Pollination (Science Readers: Content and Literacy) Kindle Edition by Dona Herweck Rice

Links with other learning:

How to Thrive – changes in the body during puberty and the effects of substances on the developing baby during pregnancy.

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Spring 2: How do we sense our environment?

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Spring 2: How do we sense our environment?

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This topic is all about how we sense our and respond to our environment. Students look at how their responses to change are governed by nervous and hormonal responses.

Enrichment:

Brainiacs: An Imaginative Journey Through the Nervous System  by Heather Manly

Knowledge Encyclopedia Human Body! by DK

Links with other learning:

How to Thrive – Relaxation strategies

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Students learn to simply use the periodic table to identify substances as elements. This allows them to know their way around the table before completing the topic looking in more detail at specific groups.

The topic also allows them to develop their ability to write word and symbol equations for chemical reactions.

Enrichment:

Compounds and Mixtures (Explorer Library: Science Explorer) by Charnan Simon

A Beginner's Guide to the Periodic Table Paperback – 28 Aug. 2014 by Gill Arbuthnott

Kaboom!: Wile E. Coyote Experiments with Chemical Reactions (Wile E. Coyote, Physical Science Genius) Paperback – 1 Jan. 2017 by Mark Andrew Weakland

Links with other learning:

Maths – linking the idea of equations with simple algebra

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Spring 3: How can we find out what is in a mixture?

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Spring 3: How can we find out what is in a mixture?

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In this very practical-heavy topic, we look at separating mixtures, making solutions, solubility, filtration and extracting salt. The students get to see simple distillation and look at using chromatography to identify a mystery letter writer.

Enrichment:

Chemical Chaos (Horrible Science) by Nick Arnold

DK Eyewitness Books: Chemistry: Discover the Amazing Effect Chemistry Has on Every Part of Our Lives

Links with other learning:

English – Students study detective stories in the Summer Term

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Spring 3: How is our structure and movement managed? 

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Spring 3: How is our structure and movement managed? 

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This Learning Chapter helps students understand how their bodies work and move. They have their first experience of a simple dissection of a chicken wing to help bring the ideas of the skeleton and movement to life.

Enrichment:

The Skeleton and Muscles (The Bright and Bold Human Body) by Sonya Newland

Muscles and Movement (Human Body, Animal Bodies) by Izzi Howell

Book of Bones: 10 Record-Breaking Animals (GB DOCUMENTAIRE) by Gabrielle Balkan and Sam Brewster

Visit the Museum of Zoology in Cambridge to look at animal skeletons.

Links with other learning:

PE – students understand how their muscles and joints work.

Performing arts – Understanding how the skeleton allows balance and movement, and exploring what makes a good warm up (mobilisation of joints, pulse raisers, strengthening and stretching) balance, elevation, co-ordination, weight, movement memory.

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This topic looks at how we move by investigating forces, friction, levers and moments. We investigate speed and density, and students will also see how weight and mass are different.

Enrichment:

Fatal Forces (Horrible Science) Paperback – 1 May 2014 by Nick Arnold

Forces, Motion and Pressure: A Handy Guide to Key Stage 3 Physics by W Booth and Max Edward

Links with other learning:

Design and Technology – Students will explore forces in the Summer Term when they create a Sweet Dispenser.

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There is an opportunity here to complete an eye dissection as we look at how their eyes work. The structure of the Ear and hearing is also investigated. This topic introduces the idea of sound travelling as waves.

Enrichment:

Experiments in Light and Sound with Toys and Everyday Stuff (Fun Science) by Natalie Kim Rompella

Light by Oaka Books

Get involved with Light and Sound for school productions.

Links with other learning:

Performing Arts –  Lighting effects are explored in the Summer term with a Musical Theatre project, as well as the skills needed to be part of the production tech team

Maths – measuring angles

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This topic looks at the flow of electricity in circuits, static, conductors and insulators, resistance, fruit batteries and energy  resources. We then investigate magnets and look at making electro magnets.

Enrichment:

Electricity and Magnets by Chris Oxlade

Shocking Electricity (Horrible Science) by Nick Arnold

Visit the Science museum in London

Links with other learning:

Design and Technology – Students will need to use their knowledge of electrical circuits in the Summer Term when they create a Sweet Dispense.

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Summer 2:  Acid or alkali, how do I know? 

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Summer 2:  Acid or alkali, how do I know? 

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This topic really places chemistry in true life situations, looking at classifying everyday household substances. The students learn about indicators, and even how to make their own.

Enrichment:

Acid and Alkalis 2: Acids and Alkalis (LONGMAN BOOK PROJECT)

Acids and Alkalis (Science Essentials - Chemistry) by Denise Walker

Teach your parents how to make a homemade indicator!

Links with other learning:

Maths – making accurate measurements using decimals.

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In this topic we are looking at how our DNA makes us who we are. We study our genes and inheritance, look at investigating inheritance through Punnett squares, the discovery of DNA and variation. This leads into the theory of evolution and natural selection.

Enrichment:

The DNA Book: Discover what makes you by DK

On The Origin of Species Hardcover by Sabina Radeva

Visit the Cavendish Museum in Cambridge to see instruments used in the discovery of the structure of DNA, or the Museum of Zoology and follow Evolution in its exhibits.

Links with other learning:

How to Thrive – exploring what makes us unique…

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This topic gives opportunities to look at the structure of plants in detail. Through the topic students will begin to see how plants are important to the survival of every other life form on the planet.

Enrichment:

Trees, Leaves, Flowers & Seeds: A visual encyclopedia of the plant kingdom by DK

Grow a Maze Planter Fun Science STEM Learning Educational Toy Kids Experiments by The Magic Toy Shop

Look after different houseplants at home, maybe even different ones like cacti or a Venus flytrap!

Links with other learning:

Geography – students will look at how ecosystems work and then look at a variety of ecosystems e.g tropical rainforests, deserts etc

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During this topic we look at plants in their natural habitat and use sampling techniques to investigate them. It revisits the idea of food webs and different ecosystems that students will have some knowledge of from KS2.

Enrichment:

The Incredible Ecosystems of Planet Earth by Rachel Ignotofsky

Biomes: Discover the Earth's Ecosystems with Environmental Science Activities for Kids (Build It Yourself) by Donna Latham

Visit the Scott Polar museum in Cambridge and see how Scientists are studying the polar region to look at climate change.

Links with other learning:

Geography – students will study biomes and global warming