Year 8 Science Study Guidelines for End of Year Exams 2023 – 2024

Exam Week: 2nd – 6th June 2024

Science Paper 1: Biology & Physics
Science Paper 2: Chemistry & Working Scientifically

Lesson Title Learning objectives I am able to… (tick them off as you have studied them)
BIOLOGY
Respiration – humans and • Develop a □ Identify and describe the key steps involved in respiration in humans and
photosynthesis comprehensive photosynthesis in plants, outlining the processes from the intake of reactants to the
understanding of the production of end products.
processes of respiration □ Define and distinguish between the reactants and products of respiration and
in humans and photosynthesis. They will be able to articulate the role of oxygen and glucose in
photosynthesis in plants, respiration and carbon dioxide, water, and sunlight in photosynthesis.
including the key steps, □ Compare and contrast respiration and photosynthesis, highlighting similarities and
reactants, and products differences in terms of reactants, products, and overall purpose.
involved □ Articulate the reciprocal relationship between these processes in the context of the
• Compare and contrast carbon cycle.
the processes of
respiration and
photosynthesis,
highlighting their
similarities and
differences.
Gas exchange and diffusion Understand the mechanisms of □ Explain how gases move across respiratory surfaces,
gas exchange in living organisms, □ Identify factors influencing the rate of diffusion,
particularly focusing on the □ Comprehend the significance of efficient gas exchange in maintaining cellular
process of diffusion functions and overall organismal health.
Aerobic and anaerobic Distinguish between aerobic and □ Understand the cellular locations where each type of respiration occurs and
respiration anaerobic respiration, outlining recognize the importance of these metabolic pathways in meeting the energy
the key differences in their demands of cells
processes, energy yield, and the
presence of oxygen.
Introduction to human Provide an overview of human  Identify the main organs and structures involved in human reproduction.
reproduction reproductive anatomy and  Describe the process of gamete production and fertilization.
physiology.  Explain the hormonal regulation of the reproductive system.
 Discuss the ethical and cultural considerations related to human reproduction.
Extension Work:
 Research and present on reproductive technologies and their ethical implications.
  Explore the evolution of human reproductive strategies compared to other species.
Female Reproductive Understand the structure and  Identify the organs and tissues of the female reproductive system.
system function of the female  Describe the menstrual cycle and its hormonal regulation.
reproductive system.  Explain the process of ovulation, fertilization, and implantation.
 Discuss common reproductive health issues and their prevention.
Extension Work:
 Research and present on cultural beliefs and practices related to female
reproductive health.
 Investigate advancements in reproductive medicine and their impact on female
fertility.
Pregnancy Explore the stages of pregnancy  Describe the stages of prenatal development.
and fetal development.  Explain the role of hormones during pregnancy.
 Discuss factors that can affect pregnancy outcomes.
 Evaluate the importance of prenatal care for maternal and fetal health.
Extension Work:
 Research and present on pregnancy complications and their management.
 Investigate cultural traditions and rituals associated with pregnancy and childbirth.
Adolescence Understand the physical,  Identify physical changes associated with puberty.
emotional, and social changes  Describe cognitive and emotional changes during adolescence.
that occur during adolescence.  Discuss the impact of peer relationships and social media on adolescent
development.
 Explore strategies for promoting positive adolescent health and well-being.
Extension Work:
 Research and present on the impact of adolescent development on mental health.
 Investigate cross-cultural differences in adolescent rites of passage and coming-of-
age rituals.
PHYSICS
Contact & non-contact Understand the difference  Identify examples of contact and non-contact forces.
forces between contact and non-  Describe the impact of contact and non-contact forces on objects.
contact forces and their effects  Explain how contact and non-contact forces relate to everyday situations.
on objects.  Demonstrate understanding through practical experiments.
Extension Work:
 Research and present real-life applications of contact and non-contact forces in
engineering or sports.
 Investigate the role of contact and non-contact forces in natural phenomena such
as earthquakes or planetary motion.
Hooke’s Law Understand Hooke’s Law and its  Define Hooke’s Law and explain its significance.
application in measuring  Calculate spring constants and extension using Hooke’s Law equation.
elasticity.  Interpret graphs related to Hooke’s Law experiments.
 Apply Hooke’s Law to solve problems involving springs and elasticity.
Extension Work:
  Explore advanced applications of Hooke’s Law in engineering or material science.
 Conduct experiments to investigate factors affecting the elasticity of materials other
than springs.
Biomechanics Introduce the concept of  Define biomechanics and its scope.
biomechanics and its relevance  Analyse the biomechanics of simple movements.
to human movement.  Explain the relationship between biomechanics and sports performance.
 Evaluate how biomechanics can be applied to improve performance or prevent
injuries.
Extension Work:
 Research and present case studies on how biomechanics is used in designing
prosthetics.
 Investigate the biomechanics of animal movements and compare them to human
movements.
Magnetism Investigate and describe the □ Concept of magnetic fields and recognize that magnets create invisible fields that
basic properties of magnets, exert forces on other magnets and certain materials.
including attraction, repulsion, □ Use appropriate terminology to explain magnetic field lines.
and the presence of poles. They □ Identify materials that are attracted to magnets and understand the distinction
will differentiate between between magnetic and non-magnetic materials.
permanent magnets and □ Recognize that not all metals are magnetic and explore the factors influencing
temporary magnets. magnetism in materials.
Magnetism continued Demonstrate the Earth’s □ Demonstrate an understanding of the Earth's magnetic field and explain how a
magnetic field and investigate compass works.
magnetic polarity □ Recognize the geographic north and south poles and understand how compass
needles align with magnetic field lines.
□ Identify and describe everyday applications of magnetism, such as in magnetic
locks, refrigerator magnets, and magnetic toys.
□ Understand the practical uses of magnets in technology and daily life.
Introduction to Comprehend the fundamental □ Understand the concept of electromagnets, including how the strength of the
electromagnetism principles of electromagnetism, magnetic field can be controlled by adjusting the current flow, and recognize the
including the relationship practical applications of electromagnets in various devices.
between electricity and □ Identify and describe the everyday applications of electromagnetism in
magnetism, the concept of technologies such as electric motors, doorbells, speakers, and magnetic locks,
electromagnets, and the connecting theoretical concepts to real-world uses.
application of these principles in
everyday devices and
technologies.
CHEMISTRY
Chemical reactions Understand the basic types of  Identify and classify chemical reactions into categories such as synthesis,
chemical reactions and their decomposition, single displacement, and double displacement.
characteristics.  Balance chemical equations for different types of reactions.
 Describe the observable changes that occur during each type of reaction.
  Predict the products of given chemical reactions based on reactants and reaction
type.
Extension Work:
 Investigate real-world examples of each type of chemical reaction and their
industrial applications.
 Explore advanced topics such as redox reactions and combustion reactions.
Naming compounds Learn how to name compounds  Understand the rules for naming binary compounds containing a metal and a non-
composed of metals and non- metal.
metals, as well as compounds  Apply the rules for naming compounds containing two non-metals (covalent
composed of two non-metals. compounds).
 Practice naming compounds and writing their chemical formulas.
 Demonstrate proficiency in naming compounds through exercises and
assessments.
Extension Work:
 Investigate the naming conventions for complex compounds and coordination
compounds.
 Explore the historical development of chemical nomenclature and its significance in
chemistry.
Naming compounds II Expand knowledge of chemical  Identify common compounds and their chemical formulas.
nomenclature by learning to  Understand the rules for naming common acids, bases, and salts.
name common compounds and  Learn systematic naming conventions for complex organic compounds.
their systematic names.  Practice naming various compounds accurately and consistently.
Extension Work:
 Research and present on the nomenclature of complex molecules such as
polymers and biomolecules.
 Explore the IUPAC (International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry) naming
system and its importance in standardizing chemical nomenclature.
Rates of Reaction I Investigate the effect of  Understand the relationship between temperature and reaction rate based on
temperature on the rate of collision theory.
chemical reactions  Conduct experiments to measure the rate of reaction at different temperatures.
 Analyse experimental data to determine the effect of temperature on reaction rate.
 Draw conclusions and make predictions about the impact of temperature on
reaction kinetics.
Extension Work:
 Explore the concept of activation energy and its role in temperature-dependent
reactions.
 Investigate practical applications of temperature control in industrial chemical
processes.
Rates of Reaction II Explore the effect of pressure on  Understand how changes in pressure affect the rate of reaction, particularly in gas-
the rate of chemical reactions phase reactions.
 Conduct experiments to investigate the relationship between pressure and reaction
rate.
  Analyse experimental data to determine the effect of pressure on reaction kinetics.
 Compare and contrast the impact of pressure and concentration on reaction rates.
Extension Work:
 Investigate the application of high-pressure techniques in industrial processes such
as polymerization and food preservation.
 Explore the role of pressure in environmental chemistry, such as atmospheric
reactions and air pollution control.
Rates of Reaction III Examine the effect of reactant  Understand the relationship between reactant concentration and reaction rate
concentration on the rate of according to the collision theory.
chemical reactions.  Perform experiments to measure reaction rates at different concentrations.
 Analyse experimental data to identify patterns and trends in reaction kinetics.
 Make predictions and draw conclusions about the effect of concentration on
reaction rate.
Extension Work:
 Investigate the concept of reaction order and its relationship to reactant
concentration.
 Explore the role of catalysts in modifying reaction rates and their industrial
applications.
States of matter & Particles 1. Concept of states of □ Differentiate between solids, liquids, and gases based on the arrangement and
theory (Brownian motion) matter, including solids, movement of particles, as well as the characteristics exhibited by each state.
liquids, and gases, and □ Describe the behaviour of particles in each state of matter, explaining how particle
recognize the arrangement and motion contribute to the observable properties of solids, liquids,
characteristics that and gases.
define each state. □ Observe and describe Brownian motion in a fluid medium, recognizing the
Explore Brownian motion, continuous, random movement of microscopic particles suspended in a liquid or
understanding the random gas.
movement of particles in a fluid □ Connect observations of Brownian motion to the kinetic theory of matter,
medium and its implications for understanding how the motion of particles provides evidence for the kinetic model
the kinetic theory of matter. and the fundamental principles of thermodynamics.
Melting points and boiling Understand the fundamental □ Identify the melting and boiling points of common substances, understanding that
points concepts of melting and boiling these values are characteristic properties of materials.
points, recognizing them as □ Interpret phase changes in terms of energy input or release, recognizing the energy
temperature thresholds transformations associated with substances changing from solid to liquid (melting)
associated with changes in states and liquid to gas (boiling).
of matter. □ Apply their understanding of melting and boiling points to real-world scenarios,
such as explaining why different substances have different cooking temperatures or
how temperature influences material properties in everyday life.
Diffusion in particles Define diffusion and explain the □ Comprehend the relationship between particle movement and temperature in the
process, understanding how context of diffusion, recognizing that higher temperatures increase the speed of
particles move from areas of high particle motion.
 concentration to areas of low
concentration
WORKING SCIENTIFICALLY
Asking Scientific Questions (page □ Describe how scientists develop an idea into a question that can be
2 – 3) investigated
□ Identify independent, dependent, and control variables.
Planning investigations (page 4 - □ Describe how to write a plan for an investigation
5) □ Recognise what makes data accurate and precise
□ Describe a risk assessment
Core skills Recording data (page (6 – 7) □ Describe how to make and record observations and measurements
□ Calculate a mean from repeat measurements
□ Present data appropriately in tables and graphs
Analysing data (page 8 – 9) □ Find a pattern in data using a graph or chart
□ Interpret data to draw conclusions
Evaluating data (page 10 – 11) □ Describe the stages in evaluating data
□ Suggest ways to improve a practical investigation