Spring 2021:

Year 7

This term our year 7 pupils have moved onto the Structure and Function of Body Systems in science. We started the unit by looking at how our bodies are organised and looking at the different organ systems that make up our body.

We then moved onto gas exchange within our bodies, and how our lungs are adapted for gas exchange, and then we looked at some information about why we breathe in and out.

Pupils then went onto looking at the skeleton, they were asked to think about what problems we would have if we didn’t have a skeleton. Pupils were given information on how the skeleton provides the body with physical protection and protection against diseases.

Year 8

We are now into the Ecosystems Processes unit in year 8 science lessons. We have looked at photosynthesis and the structure and function of the leaf and its role in photosynthesis. We have looked into the mineral’s plants need for growth and the effects a lack of these minerals can have on the plant.

Year 9

In year 9 we have moved into the interesting topic of detection. Very much based around forensic science pupils have delved into the world of fingerprints, and how the police and forensic scientists use them to solve crimes. We have looked at blood typing, why it is important that the correct blood type is known for transfusions and the implications if the incorrect blood is transfused, and finally time of death. Pupils looked at the methods forensic scientists and forensic pathologists use to determine the time of death of a person and contributed their own ideas as to why that would be important for police when solving crimes. The final topic to be covered in this unit is pathology, the role of the forensic pathologist and how dental records can be used to solve crimes. Mr Handley’s class experienced a mock crime scene, lifting fingerprints to solve the crime of the missing biscuits.

Year 9: Extracting DNA from a Banana.

This week in Year 9 science lessons we have been extracting DNA from bananas as part of our DNA fingerprinting topic. 

This can be done with equipment at home as well,

I have attached the link below for you to see the video and instructions:

https://askabiologist.asu.edu/activities/banana-dna

Year 10

We have been looking at rates of reaction in BTEC science with year 10 and to make it fun we looked at the ‘decomposition of hydrogen peroxide, to produce a foam, catalysed by potassium iodide’ (elephant’s toothpaste)

Year 10 & 11 – BTEC

We have been very busy in our BTEC lessons completing coursework and undertaking practical’s. As part of the Chemistry and Our Earth unit we covered factors that affect the rate of reaction, and as a fun experiment pupils looked at the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide, to produce a foam, catalysed by potassium iodide – elephant’s toothpaste.

Year 11

Year 11 will not be sitting an exam this year due to covid-19 so have been working hard on their assignments ready for the final moderations in June.

Autumn 1:

This term in Year 7 we have been working on our scientific skills and have just started the cells topic, we have looked at our own cheek cells (animal cells) under the microscope and onion cells (plant cells).

In year 8 we are covering the Health and Lifestyle topic, we have looked at the 7 nutrients our bodies require for a healthy balanced diet and we are currently looking into the digestive system, how our food travels through our body and how all the minerals and nutrients are taken from our food and stored in our body.

Year 9 have just completed the new technology in Biology unit, looking into inherited diseases and the use of biotechnology in industry, as part of the unit we made our own yoghurt using good bacteria. We are now moving onto turning points in Biology, including vaccines, antibiotics and DNA.

Finally, years 10 and 11 have made a start on their BTEC coursework; I have seen some excellent pieces of work so far, the detail everybody is including is brilliant and I very much look forward to that very first assignment being submitted.

All pupils are working extremely hard in lessons and contributing their own ideas using scientific thinking and vocabulary, we have lots more practical experiments planned for the rest of the academic year.