If you’re thinking about the changes to Science curriculum at KS3 next year, you might want to browse through our contributions matched to the new curriculum. We’ve taken the new ‘Range and Content’ section of the new curriculum (Copyright QCA) and linked to the best current Teachable.net files for that topic. Just click on the topics for examples of content in that area.

3.1 Energy, electricity and forces (Physics)

• (This includes the properties and behaviour of light and sound, renewable energy sources and emerging technologies such as fuel cells)
• Energy can be transferred usefully, stored, or dissipated, but cannot be created or destroyed
• Forces are interactions between objects and can affect their shape and motion (including pressure effects, linear motion and turning moments)
• Electric current in circuits (including current and voltage in series and parallel circuits) can produce a variety of effects (electrical devices are designed to make a variety of effects caused by electric currents, including heating, chemical changes, and magnetic effects).

3.2 Chemical and material behaviour (Chemistry)

• the particle model provides explanations for the different physical properties and behaviour of matter
• elements consist of atoms that combine together in chemical reactions to form compounds (including the different properties of compounds due to the number and type of atoms and their arrangement)
• the development and organisation of elements in the periodic table
• elements and compounds show characteristic chemical properties and patterns in their behaviour (this can be exemplified by the reactions of metals and non-metals, and acids and bases).

3.3 Organisms, behaviour and health (Biology)

• life processes are supported by the organisation of cells into tissues, organs and body systems
• the human reproductive cycle includes adolescence, fertilisation and foetal development
• conception, growth, development, behaviour and health can be affected by diet, drugs and disease
• the importance of healthy eating complemented by regular exercise, and effect of drugs such as alcohol, tobacco and cannabis on mental and physical health. It also includes the effect of bacteria and viruses, such as those associated with transmitted infections
• all living things show variation (inherited and environmental variation and variation through genetic engineering and selective breeding), can be classified and are interdependent, interacting with each other and their environment
• behaviour (including human and animal behaviour) is influenced by internal and external factors and can be investigated and measured.

3.4 The environment, Earth and universe

• geological activity (including the rock cycle process, rock formation and weathering) is caused by chemical and physical processes
• astronomy and space science provide insight into the nature and observed motions of the sun, moon, stars, planets and other celestial bodies
• human activity and natural processes can lead to changes in the environment.

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