SCIENCE – YEAR 8 CURRICULUM OVERVIEW 2020 / 2021

TOPIC TITLE TOPIC OVERVIEW KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS ASSESSMENT WIDER LINKS

Year 8 - Term 1 Health Health Health Health

In this first Biology topic, • Food groups and nutrient tests and Weekly homework which KS3
Health students will explore: importance includes research and Year 7 - Structure and Function of body
• What nutrients does • Structure and function of the exam style questions systems.
the human body digestive system Year 8 - Ecosystem processes.
require. Students will complete an
• Enzyme mode of action KS4
• What is the structure end of topic test each half
• Dietary needs including malnutrition. term. These tests contain B1 Cell structure and transport. B2 Cell
and function of the Division. B3 Organisation and the
• Effects of drugs, smoking and a mixture of recall and
digestive system? digestive system. B4 Organising animals
exercise on the body application questions
• How can lifestyle based on the current topic. and plants. B5 Communicable diseases.
choices affect our B7 Non-communicable diseases. B9
body? Respiration”

Periodic Table Health The Periodic Table The Periodic Table The Periodic Table
In this first Chemistry • Writing equations for reactions. Weekly homework which KS3
topic, students will • The structure of the Periodic Table includes research and Year 7 - Atoms, elements and
explore: • The key properties of the alkali exam style questions compounds. Reactions. Acids and
• What is the structure metals, halogens and noble gases. Alkalis.
of the periodic table Students will complete an Year 8 - Separating mixtures. Reactions
and how are elements end of topic test each half of metals and acids
arranged and term. These tests contain
KS4
grouped? a mixture of recall and
• What are the main application questions C1 Atomic structure. C2 Periodic table.
groups in the Periodic based on the current topic. C3 Structure and bonding. C5 Chemical
Table? changes. C6 Electrolysis. C9 Crude oil
• How do groups of for fuels. C12 Chemical analysis”
elements show trends
in properties?

Electricity & Electricity & Magnetism Electricity & Magnetism Electricity & Magnetism Electricity and Magnetism
Magnetism • What is static charge • What causes static changes? Weekly homework which KS3
and how are they • Definitions of V, I and R. includes research and Year 7 - Forces
generated? exam style questions Year 8 – Energy
 • What is the nature of • Differences between series and Students will complete an KS4
current, potential parallel in terms of current and p.d. end of topic test each half P1 Conservation and dissipation of
difference and behaviour. term. These tests contain energy. P3 Energy resources. P4
resistance? • What magnetic fields look like. a mixture of recall and Electric circuits. P5 Electricity in the
• How do series and application questions
• How we can change the power of an home. P15 Electromagnetism.
parallel circuits differ? based on the current topic.
electromagnet?
• How do magnets and
electromagnets work?

Separating Separating Mixtures Separating Mixtures Seperating Mixtures Separating Mixtures

Mixtures • The nature of • What is a mixture? Weekly homework which KS3
mixtures. • What is a solution? includes research and Year 7 - Atoms elements & compounds.
• What are solutions and • What techniques are best for exam style questions Particles and their behaviour.
what is solubility? separating certain mixtures? Year 8
• How can we use Students will complete an KS4
evaporation to end of topic test each half C2 The periodic table. C3 Structure and
separate solutions? term. These tests contain
bonding. P6 molecules and matter. C9
• How can we use a mixture of recall and
Crude oil and fuels.
Filtration to separate application questions
solids from liquids? based on the current topic.
• What is
Chromatography used
for?

At the end of Term 1, students will sit an ‘end of term’ exam, based on the topics covered so far. This is to begin to prepare students for the linear exam based,
terminal assessment they will encounter at GCSE.

Year 8 - Term 2 Energy Energy Energy Energy

In this physics topic • What is the difference between heat Weekly homework which KS3
Energy students will explore: and temperature? includes research and Year 7 – Forces. Reactions.
• How we get energy form Explain conduction, convection and exam style questions Year 8 - Electricity and magnetism.
food. radiation. KS4
• The law of conservation • Explain how heat transfers can be Students will complete an P1 Conservation and dissipation of
of energy prevented using insulation. end of topic test each half energy. P2 Energy transfers by heating.
term. These tests contain P3 Energy resources. P4 Electric
• How is energy • The calculations for work and Power a mixture of recall and
transferred as heat? circuits. P5 Electricity in the home. P6
• Calculate the power in kWh of an application questions
• Sources of energy. appliance. based on the current topic. Molecules and matter. P14 Light. P15
• Work and power. Electromagnetism.
• Understand efficiency and how it can
be improved.
 • How do we know how
much energy different
appliances use?

Adaptation and Adaptation and Variation Adaptation and Variation Adaptation and Variation Adaptation and Variation
Variation In this biology topic • Different types of variation Weekly homework which KS3
students will • Why evolution occurs includes research and Year 7 – Cells. Structure and Function of
explore: • The causes of extinction exam style questions body systems. Reproduction.
• How organisms are • How evolution occurs Year 8 - Ecosystem processes
adapted to their Students will complete an KS4
environments end of topic test each half B1 Cell structure and transport. B2 Cell
• The concept of evolution term. These tests contain
Division. B4 Organising animals and
as a way pf adapting to a mixture of recall and
application questions plants. B11 Hormonal control. B13
changes in environment. Reproduction. B14 Variation and
based on the current topic.
• What is variation and evolution. B13 Genetics and evolution.
how is it important?
• What is natural
selection?
• What causes extinction?

Reactions of Reactions of Metals and Reactions of Metals and acids Reactions of Metals and Reactions of Metals and acids
Metals and acids acids • Equations to show the key reactions acids KS3
• How do metals react of metals. Weekly homework which Year 7 - Atoms, elements and
with acids? • Understand the concept of includes research and compounds. Reactions. Acids and
• How do metals react displacement and the reactivity exam style questions Alkalis.
with oxygen? series. Year 8 - Separating mixtures. The
• Do metals react with • Describe how reactivity affects the
Students will complete an Periodic Table.
water? end of topic test each half KS4
ability or ease of metal extraction.
term. These tests contain
• What is displacement? • Describe the importance of polymers, C1 Atomic structure. C2 Periodic table.
a mixture of recall and
• How can we extract ceramics and composites. C3 Structure and bonding. C5 Chemical
application questions
metals? based on the current topic changes. C6 Electrolysis. C12 Chemical
analysis. C14 The earth's resources.
C15 Using our resources.

At the end of Term 2, students will sit an ‘end of term’ exam, based on the topics covered so far. This is to begin to prepare students for the linear exam based,
terminal assessment they will encounter at GCSE.
Year 8 - Term 3 Planet Earth Planet Earth Planet Earth Planet Earth
In this chemistry topic • The properties of rocks Weekly homework which KS4
The Earth students will explore: • Sedimentary, igneous and includes research and C13 The earth's atmosphere. C14 The
• What are the different metamorphic rocks and the rock exam style questions earth's resources. C15 Using our
types of rock found on cycle Students will complete an resources”
Earth? end of topic test each half
• The carbon cycle. term.
• What is the carbon cycle • Human activities that affect the
and how do humans carbon cycle. These tests contain a
affect it? • Sustainable development including mixture of recall and
• How can we live plastics and global climate change. application questions
sustainably? based on the current topic

Motion and Motion & Pressure Motion & Pressure Motion and Pressure Motion & Pressure
Pressure In this Physics topic • Apply the equation to calculate Weekly homework which KS3
students will explore: speed. Draw and interpret includes research and Year 7 – Forces.
• How do you calculate distance-time graphs Describe exam style questions KS4
speed? acceleration. P8 Forces in balance. P9 Motion. P10
• How do you show • Draw and interpret speed-time Students will complete an Forces in motion. P11 Force and
motion on a graph? graphs. end of topic test each half pressure. P16 Space. C4 Chemical
term. These tests contain
• How does pressure work • Explain what is meant by unbalanced calculations. C8 Rate and equilibra.
a mixture of recall and
in solids liquids and forces. application questions
gasses. • Explain how balanced and based on the current topic.
unbalanced forces affect motion.
• Apply ideas of forces to parachutes.

Ecosystem Ecosystem Processes Ecosystem Processes Ecosystem Processes Ecosystem Processes

Processes In this Biology topic • Describe and explain photosynthesis. Weekly homework which KS3
students will explore: • How are leaves adapted for includes research and Year 7 – Cells. Stucture and function of
• Where do plants get photosynthesis? exam style questions body systems
their energy from? • What minerals do plants need? Year 8 - Adptation and variation.
Students will complete an
• How do leaves work? • What is chemosynthesis? KS4
end of topic test each half
• Are there any other B4 Organising animals and plants. B8
• Anaerobic and aerobic respiration. term. These tests contain
ways to release energy? a mixture of recall and Photosynthesis. B9 Respiration. B14
• Food chains and webs and their
application questions Variation and evolution. B16 Adaptation
importance. and interdependence.
based on the current topic.
 B17 Organisation of an ecosystem. B18
The effect of human interactions on
ecosystem processes.

At the end of Term 3, students will sit an ‘end of year’ exam, based on all topics covered. This is to begin to prepare students for the linear exam based, terminal
assessment they will encounter at GCSE.