Middle Years Sciences Scope and sequence 2018-2019
Topic Grade 6 GRADE 7
Biology Scientific Inquiry:
-Discuss how to think
and work scientifically
-Formulate inquiry
questions that can lead
to scientific investigation
-Identify variables
- Classify variables as
independent or
dependent for a given
experimental
investigation
- List the main features
of a scientific laboratory
- Formulate rules for safe
laboratory practice
- Evaluate risk in
laboratory activities.
Living things:
Outline and give
examples of the
characteristics of all
living things
Outline and give
examples of the
necessities of all living
things
Outline and give
examples of some
GRADE 8 GRADE 9 GRADE 10
Find out the basic The cell theory states Energy content of food:
Genes and Inheritance: components of a that: • living organisms bomb calorimeter
Define DNA balanced and healthy are composed of cells • Balanced diet
Define genes diet. the cell is the smallest Macromolecules:
Describe the relationship Explore the ways in unit of life • cells come monomers and polymers
between inherited which the science of from pre-existing cells. Carbohydrates and their
characteristics and genes nutrition is used to Microscopy has functions Fats and their
Give examples of the influence what people contributed to our functions Proteins and
relationship between eat. knowledge of living their functions Adverse
inherited characteristics Take action to design a things. All cells can be effects of malnutrition
and genes healthy meal plan to classified as eukaryotic
State the number of meet specific food or prokaryotic, each Interpret how the size of
chromosomes that preferences and having distinct an organism plays an
humans have lifestyles. properties. Plant, animal important role in its
Identify some Identify the metabolism and bacteria cells have relationship with the
characteristics of human and digestion processes. similarities and environment, and issues
chromosomes Define Enzymes , and differences in terms of they face as they get
Define genome state their functions structure and function. bigger.
Define karyotype List Cells different Demonstrate how
Describe how genes and structures and organelles different animals and
characteristics are with specialized plants are adapted to the
inherited functions . environment they live in .
Evaluate our ability to Write down unicellular Suggest how endangered
and the possibility of organisms characteristics large animals like
modifying the genes that , one cell must carry out elephants and tigers , can
make up the human all of the basic functions be protected in the wild
genome of life. The cell or in the zoos , so as to
Identify and describe the membrane regulates the meet their needs and
phases of mitosis and flow of substances into support survivals .
meiosis and out of the cell. The
Describe the role of surface area of the cell
 Middle Years Sciences Scope and sequence 2018-2019
specialized structures of mitosis and meiosis in
different species growth, reproduction,
Outline and make and inheritance of traits
inferences about the Compare and contrast
relationship between the processes of mitosis
specialized structures and meiosis
and their functions Define trait, allele
Compare and contrast dominant, recessive,
specialized homozygous, and
characteristics of heterozygous
different species Distinguish between and
Compare and contrast identify dominant and
specialized necessities of recessive traits and
different species alleles
Describe how we are Describe how genetic
able to use our patterns identified
understanding of living Justify how individuals
things in order to take can be identified through
decisions and actions inherited characteristics
that impact life and genetic patterns
Describe how our using a Punnett Square
decisions and actions are Define DNA fingerprint
limited by the Describe how gel
characteristics of living electrophoresis works to
things. identify a person’s DNA
fingerprint
Justify and evaluate the
extent to which legal
cases should depend on
identifying people
through DNA
Analyze and evaluate
limits the amount of
substances that can flow
into and out of the cell.
The transport of
substances into and out
of cells during diffusion
and osmosis is based on
a concentration gradient.
Models help us to
understand complex
biological structures.
List the five kingdoms.
State examples of
features and processes
common to organisms
belonging to each of the
five kingdoms. Describe
the purpose of
classification for a
common international
nomenclature:
facilitating the
positioning of new
species relative to
existing species,
through the kingdoms.
List the main taxonomic
groups as kingdom,
phylum, class, order,
family, genus, species.
Middle Years Sciences Scope and sequence 2018-2019

DNA evidence in order to State that each organism

make judgments about a has a name comprising a
person’s identity genus and species.

Describe enzymes as
catalysts that increase
the rate of biological
reactions in order to
make them useful. State
that enzymes form
enzyme substrate
complexes when the
substrate attaches to the
active site. Describe this
attachment as the Lock
and Key Hypothesis.
State that this catalyses
the reaction and that the
enzyme is subsequently
released unaltered. State
that enzymes are
substrate-specific. List
the factors that can
affect enzyme activity
including the effect of
concentration of enzyme
or substrate, pH and
temperature. List three
enzymes and their
substrates. Describe one
industrial use of
enzymes: for example,
 Middle Years Sciences Scope and sequence 2018-2019

fruit juice production or

production of biological
washing powder.

Chemistry Chemical and physical Matter and chemical Analyze The periodic Describe and classify
changes: reactions: table that shows the bonding: ionic, covalent,
- Classify materials as Classify materials as positions of metals, non- and metallic bonds. How
natural or artificial elements, mixtures, metals and metalloids. electrons are used
Suggest uses for both molecules Describe Metals that differently in each type
natural and artificial Outline the structures of tend to lose electrons of bond. Simple models
materials compounds and and so they form cations. to demonstrate each
Outline the three polymers Non-metals tend to gain type.
principal states of matter Describe the main electrons so they form Find out how different
in terms of their physical features of the periodic anions. Classify Elements types of bonding affect
properties table in a group that has the physical and chemical
Identify physical changes Outline atomic structure same oxidation state and properties.
and describe changes of in terms of nuclei, therefore similar Explore : the relationship
physical state as: electrons and their chemical properties. between bond types in
melting, boiling, respective electric Shielding is the decrease molecules and the
condensing, freezing charges in attraction between an location of their
Classify mixtures, Explain conservation of electron and the nucleus elements in the periodic
suspensions, solutions mass in chemical in any atom with more table ;
and pure substances reactions than one electron shell. • Interpret bonding
Define solution, solute, Outline chemical As the number of relationships, including
solvent reactions in terms of electron shells increases, intermolecular forces,
Explain dissolving as a word equations shielding increases. • No affect macromolecular
physical process of Distinguish metals and change occurs as you properties of substances.
binding a solid, liquid or non-metals in terms of move across a period.
gas in another liquid their physical properties Effective nuclear charge
Demonstrate separation Identify reactivity series is the positive charge
techniques for mixtures and patterns within the experienced by the
 Middle Years Sciences Scope and sequence 2018-2019
and suspensions that periodic table
exploit the properties of Outline different types of
the substances chemical reaction:
Outline the use of combustion, thermal
evaporation and decomposition, oxidation
condensation in (and reduction),
separation of solutions displacement
Identify chemical and Explain uses of metals in
biotic chemical changes terms of their physical
such as burning, properties
oxidation, Describe how chemical
decomposition. processes can be used to
extract a metal from its
ore
Describe the properties
of acids and alkalis in
terms of their reactions:
acid + metal, acid +
carbonate, acid + alkali
Describe the use of
indicators to measure
acidity and alkalinity, and
outline the pH scale
electrons due to the
charges in the nucleus.
• No change occurs as
you move down a group.
• The charge increases
from left to right across a
period because protons
are being added to the
nucleus. Vertical and
horizontal trends in the
periodic table exist for
atomic radius, ionization
energy and electro
negativity. Define the
atomic radius as the
distance between the
nuclei of two atoms of
the same element, or the
size of an atom. The
atomic radius: •
increases as you move
down a group because
more electron shells are
being added that are
further away from the
nucleus • decreases as
you move across a
period. Ionization energy
is the amount of energy
it takes to remove the
most loosely held
electron from an atom.
Middle Years Sciences Scope and sequence 2018-2019

The ionization energy: •

decreases as you move
down a group because of
shielding • increases as
you move across a period
because the electrons
are more tightly held to
the nucleus due to the
effective nuclear charge.
Define Electro negativity
is the tendency of an
atom in a bond to pull
electrons towards it. The
electro negativity: •
decreases as you move
down a group because
the atom has a weaker
ability to accept
electrons • increases as
you move across a period
because the charge on
the nucleus becomes
stronger and so the atom
can attract more
electrons. Properties of
fluorine and its use in
municipal water.”
 Middle Years Sciences Scope and sequence 2018-2019

Physics Forces and distances: Find out how energy Gravitational force, Newton's laws of
Outline how a changes form and type, electromagnetic force. motion-accidents and
coordinate system is but is never created or Repulsion and safety get further
used to specify location destroyed , and how attractions. explored through the
Determine the distance work is done when Magnetism and concepts of forces, mass
between two points energy changes. Electricity. and acceleration Concept
using coordinates Explore simple machines Electric and magnetic of impulse-the change in
State that distance is for doing work and how field. momentum of human
measured in metres they make work more Magnetic materials have bodies is important when
State that displacement efficient , the use of the ability to attract studying car safety
accounts for direction of energy resources globally some materials, and the Change in momentum
travel , and some of the ability to attract and Conservation of energy
Apply the relationship problems with global repel other magnets. The Types of mechanical
average dependency on fossil meaning of the term energy and the
distance fuels. “magnetic field” and calculations involving
Take action to increase understanding that the kinetic energy and
speed = time access to a simple Earth is surrounded by potential energy
State that speed is machine that can make a one sketch the field lines Transfers of energy-
measured in m s−1 real difference to around a bar magnet, explore these within the
Explain that any change people’s lives – a water label the north and south context of road
in velocity – whether pump. poles and show the accidents.
caused by change in direction that a “free
speed or in direction –is Electricity and moving north pole”
an acceleration magnetism would move in.
State that acceleration is Find out how electrical Concept of force and
measured in m s−2 and magnetic fields frictional force: force as a
State that force is affect the space around cause−consequence
measured in nektons them. relationship; the
Outline that matter is Explore how to control frictional force and its
kept together by electric current by importance in motion; air
electrostatic attraction configuring electric resistance Gravitational
and kept apart by circuits and components. force: universal law of
 Middle Years Sciences Scope and sequence 2018-2019

electrostatic repulsion Take action to use gravitation, acceleration

Describe force systems in knowledge and due to gravity.
terms of force arrows to understanding of
show size and direction electrical circuits to help Contact forces and non
of forces others have fun while contact forces, balanced
Explain that unbalanced learning . force (net force).
forces cause motion or Equilibrium (net force
deformation =0).
Outline the relationship Vectors and scalar
between force, mass and quantities , how to
acceleration calculate the resultant
using trigonometry and
parallelogram.
Moment calculations to
find the balanced point.

Find out what makes a

Environmental Sciences Systems: Ecospheres interactions: healthy environment and
State the characteristics Describe the how environments
of all ecosystems characteristics of a changes.
Describe differences system Explain how human
between various Define the ecospheres: actions can have
ecosystems biosphere, hydrosphere, consequences for the
Define ‘ecosystem’ geosphere, and environment.
Define and give atmosphere Discuss some about
examples of populations Describe the natural positive change in the
Define and give systems that maintain environment.
examples of habitats life on Earth
Define and give Describe how the
examples of abiotic and ecospheres interact
biotic factors in Identify the processes
 Middle Years Sciences Scope and sequence 2018-2019

ecosystems and events that

Define ‘biome’ contribute to the current
State the main biomes of conditions on Earth
the world List cycles of matter,
Describe, compare and including the water cycle
contrast different Compare and contrast
biomes according to their cycles of matter
abiotic and biotic factors Outline how energy
and interactions flows through the
State and describe ecospheres
interactions between Analyze a climatograph
organisms in healthy Organize climate data to
ecosystems create a climatograph
Outline scientific Identify and outline
innovations that have some patterns in climate
helped to keep and weather around the
ecosystems healthy and world
in balance Compare and contrast
climate data from
different cities
Outline the unique
properties of water that
have an influence on
climate and weather
Define leeward and
windward
Describe the rain shadow
effect
Design and conduct an
investigation to
determine how the
temperatures in water,
Middle Years Sciences Scope and sequence 2018-2019

air and earth vary over

time
Outline the plate
tectonic theory
Define convergent,
divergent and transform
boundaries
Describe the effects of
plate movement
Distinguish between
convergent, divergent
and transform
boundaries
List different types of
seismic activity around
the world
Describe how early
warning systems work
Evaluate the use of early
warning systems
Describe Pangaea
Describe how models
help people understand
different Earth systems