Smithycroft Secondary School

Tracking Information – Science

BGE Science Benchmarks

http://www.smithycroft-sec.glasgow.sch.uk//Websites/SchSecSmithycroft/UserFiles/file/Science/SciencesBenchmarksPDF.pdf

S1 Science

Term 1	Intro to Science Pupils will learn the importance of safety in the lab and how to use the equipment effectively. Matter Pupils will learn about the different states of matter and how to apply this knowledge in unfamiliar circumstances. They will examine models of matter and learn how to explain the changes in terms of energy being gained or lost by a substance. Optics Pupils will learn using practical investigation how refraction can cause a change of direction of light as it passes through different materials. They will describe the practical, everyday applications of refraction e.g. in corrective lenses. They will study the visible and Electromagnetic Spectrum.
Term 2	Breathing Pupils will learn about the overview of the need for oxygen through investigating the structure and function of the respiratory system. Energy Pupils will revise types of energy and carry out practical investigations into the way that energy can be changed from one form to another. They will learn about the advantages and disadvantages associated with the use of renewable energy sources and their benefits to society.
Term 3	Awesome Acids Pupils will learn about acids and bases to investigate how these can be identified through the use of different indictors. The will use a variety of indicators to test both common laboratory and everyday substances. Pupils will carry out practical activities to investigate what happens to the pH of an acid when it is added to a base. Cells Pupils will learn about how animals and plants are made of cells. Cells form the basic "building blocks" for living things. Some cells have specialised functions that relate to their structure.
Term 4	Digestion Pupils will learn about the overview of the need for food and water through investigating structure and function of the digestive system. Reproduction In this topic learners will follow the journey of how an embryo forms when the nuclei of a sperm fuses together with an egg cell nucleus in the process of fertilisation. Learners will investigate how the structure of the male and female sex cells is related to their function.

S2 Science

Term 1 -2

Biodiversity

Pupils will study the natural world and will learn about how living organisms are categorised and how they are adapted for survival. Following this they will learn about the process of photosynthesis and how this connect all living organism on Earth.

Chemical World

Pupils will be able to describe and classify elements by both their chemical and physical properties. They will investigate how this information is important to elements position on the Periodic Table. They will study the Periodic Table, from this, they will be able to name compounds and identify the elements in a compound. Through practical activities they will investigate signs of a chemical reaction and be able to describe how to make and break compounds.

Electricity and Forces

Pupils will investigate the similarities and differences between parallel and series circuits. They will use this knowledge to discuss the advantages of parallel circuits in everyday examples. Through practical activities pupils will investigate forces to explain how certain conditions can reduce friction.

Term 3-4

Microbes and Immunity

Through practical investigations pupils will learn about what essential resources micro-organisms need for growth. They will learn about how microbes can cause disease and how our bodies defend themselves as a first line of defence. Pupils will be able to explain how vaccinations can protect individuals and populations from disease.

Chemistry in Action

Through practical investigation pupils will study physical methods of separation e.g. filtration, distillation and chromatography. They will be able to describe solubility of substance in different solvents and then explain the link between relevant quantity of solute and concentration of a solution.

Heat and EM Spectrum

Through practical investigation, pupils will be able to explain how heat is transferred by conduction, convection and radiation. They will apply this knowledge to everyday situations such as heat loss in buildings. Pupils will demonstrate an understanding of thermal energy efficiency to explain how to reduce heat loss e.g. in double glazing.

S3 Science

Term 1	Agriculture and Food Production Pupils will learn about the differences and similarities between organic and intensive farming methods in relation to crop yield. They will investigate different types of fertiliser, the use of pesticides and their impact on Biodiversity.
Term 2	Heart and Circulation Pupils will learn about the need to live a healthy lifestyle. The will study an overview of the cardiovascular system through the use of a variety of instruments to monitor and record aspects of health e.g. pulse rate, blood pressure etc. They will research one condition that is currently screened for e.g. cholesterol.
Term 3	Reactions of Metals Pupils learn about the physical and chemical properties of metals. Through investigation pupils will be able to explain how electricity can be produced when different metals are used as electrodes. Pupils will further discuss a range of factors including the combination of metals used, electrolyte used, electrolyte concentration and distance between electrodes in a simple chemical cell. Biodiversity and Climate Change Pupils learn about the association between carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere and increasing global temperatures as a result of the greenhouse effect. They will examine information on human impact, such as, pollution caused by burning fossil fuels, deforestation and desertification.
Term 4	Electrical Circuits Pupils will expand their knowledge on the similarities and differences between parallel and series circuits. They will use this knowledge to discuss the advantages of parallel circuits in everyday examples. Mass and Weight Pupils will learn to use the formula W = mg to describe weight as a force caused by the gravitational pull on an object. They will form predictions about the effects on the weight of an object due to the gravitational field strength in different positions in the universe.

S3 Introduction to Biology

Term 1	Ecosystems and Distribution of Organisms Pupils will study the natural world by learning ecological terms such as species, biodiversity, population etc. They will investigate a range of habitats and organisms to be able to explain their interdependence. They will learn about competition between and within the same species and how this affects biodiversity. Through the use of various sampling techniques pupils will be able to identify limitations and sources of error. They will build on their knowledge of classification of organisms through the use of paired-statement keys. They will study data relating to indicator species and be able to comment on the environmental quality of a habitat.
Term 2	Photosynthesis and Energy in Ecosystems Pupils will build on their knowledge from S2 to gain a deeper understanding of photosynthesis. They will learn about the light and dark reactions and where these take place. They will investigate limiting factors, through practical activity, and then analyse the data to present conclusions based on their findings. They will analyse the link between photosynthesis in plants to the energy that is transferred through a food web. They will learn about pyramids of energy and numbers.
Term 3	Food Production Pupils will learn about the differences and similarities between organic and intensive farming methods in relation to crop yield. They will investigate different types of fertiliser, the use of pesticides and their impact on Biodiversity. Pupils will learn about the Nitrogen Cycle and how this relates to the use of fertilisers. Pupils will also discuss the use of GM crops, bioaccumulation, biological control and the use of pesticides to increase crop yield.
Term 4	Evolution Pupils will learn about how mutations can result in an organism becoming better suited to its environment. Over time, variation can result in a species evolving in response to its changing environment. New alleles are produced by mutation and over time this can result in a new species forming through speciation. Pupils will learn how to describe this process in terms of Natural Selection and Speciation.

S3 Introduction to Chemistry

Term 1	Reaction Rates Pupils will learn to follow the progression of a reaction via change in mass, volume or concentration. Through practical investigations pupils will be able to collect this data, present it in an appropriate format and then analyse it. Pupils will be able to describe collision theory, catalysts and carry out average rate of reaction calculations.
Term 2	Atomic Theory and the Periodic Table Pupils will learn about the Periodic Table and the structure of the atom. They will be able to classify elements by their physical and chemical properties and justify their position in the Periodic Table based on their findings. Pupils will learn about the terms atomic number, mass number and isotopes.
Term 3	Chemical Changes, Structure & Formulae Pupils will learn about the properties of a range of substances and be able to classify them as covalent, ionic or metallic in relation to their bonding. Pupils will build on their knowledge of formula. They will learn how to write complex formulae and carry out calculations based on their formulae.
Term 4	Acids and Bases Pupils will build on their knowledge from S1/2 to gain a deeper understanding of acids and bases. They will learn about the pH scale and the use of indicators to identify a substances pH. They will carry out experiments to help them understand neutralisation. They will learn about all the different forms a base can take and be able to name the products from each.

S3 Introduction to Physics

Term 1	Electrical and Electronic Circuits – Potential Difference Pupils will work practically to investigate electrical and electronic circuits. They will develop knowledge gained in S2 to enhance their understanding of electric charge/fields, voltage, ohms law and power. Conservation of Energy principles will also be developed with emphasis on their application to real life.
Term 2	Wave Parameters and Behaviour – Sound – Intro to Light Pupils will learn about energy transfer in waves, the definition of transverse and longitudinal waves. They will investigate sound as an example of a longitudinal wave and electromagnetic radiation and water waves are examples of transverse waves. Pupils will develop the skill of calculating the frequency, period, wavelength, amplitude and wave speed for longitudinal and transverse waves. Pupils will use appropriate relationships to solve problems involving wave speed, frequency, period, wavelength, distance, number of waves and time. Pupils will learn the knowledge that diffraction occurs when waves pass through a gap or around an object. They will compare long wave and short-wave diffraction by drawing diagrams using wave fronts to show diffraction when waves pass through a gap or around an object.
Term 3	Velocity and Displacement – Acceleration Pupils will learn the definition of acceleration in terms of initial velocity, final velocity and time. They will learn to use appropriate relationships to solve problems involving acceleration, initial velocity (or speed), final velocity (or speed) and time.
Term 4	Newtons Laws – Conservation of Energy Pupils will learn about energy conservation and of energy conversion and transfer. They will learn to use appropriate relationships to solve problems involving work done, unbalanced force and distance/displacement. Pupils will learn the definition of gravitational potential energy and the use of an appropriate relationship to solve problems involving gravitational potential energy, mass, gravitational field strength and height. Pupils will study the application of Newton’s laws and balanced forces to explain constant velocity (or speed), making reference to frictional forces.

S4 Biology (National 3,4 & 5)

Term 1	Cell Structure and Transport across Membranes Pupils will learn about the cell ultrastructure and functions in a typical plant, animal, bacterial and fungal cell. Following this they will focus on the cell membrane and investigate the movement of substances into and out of a cell by diffusion and active transport through the selectively permeable membrane. DNA and Proteins Pupils will learn about the structure of DNA and how the base sequence determines the amino acid sequence in proteins. Pupils will be able to discuss the wide variety of proteins through studying both their function and structure. Through investigations pupils will learn about enzymes and the types of reactions that they catalyse.
Term 2	Genetic Engineering Pupils will learn about genetic engineering and its therapeutic use. They will discuss the morals and ethics behind a range of therapeutic treatments and food production methods. Respiration Pupils will learn about the stages involved in respiration and how energy is released by the breakdown of glucose.
Term 3	Producing new Cells and Control Pupils will learn about the stages of mitosis and its importance in growth and repair. They will discuss stem cells and the specialisation of cells. Reproduction Pupils will learn about how reproduction occurs in both plants and animals. They will learn the stages of fertilisation and the formation of the embryo.
Term 4	Variation, Transport and Absorption of Materials Pupils will learn about continuous and discrete variation, genetics, monohybrid crosses and the ratios involved. They will be able to explain why predicted ratios among offspring is not always achieved. Pupils will study the cardiovascular digestive systems.

S4 Chemistry (National 3,4 & 5)

Term 1	Homologous Series & Everyday Consumer Products Pupils will able to name, draw and describe the properties of the alkanes, alkenes, cycloalkanes, alcohols and carboxylic acids. They will carry out investigations into the properties and chemical tests to distinguish each homologous series.
Term 2	Energy from Fuels Pupils will carry out a wide range of experiments to be able to identify an exothermic and endothermic reaction. They will collect data and use this information to calculate how much energy is release from a substance. Metals Pupils will investigate the properties and reactions of metals. They will learn how to describe a metallic bond. They will learn how the electrochemical series relates to the extraction of metals from their ores. They will learn how heat and electricity can be used to extract metals. They will set up and investigate electrochemical cells to describe how different pairs of metals produce different voltages. Using this knowledge, they will study redox reactions.
Term 3	Properties of Plastics Pupils will learn about the uses and properties of polymers. They will be able to describe how polymers are formed by addition polymerisation. Following this they will learn how to name and draw addition polymers. Fertilisers Pupils will learn about the importance of N, P, K as nutrients for healthy growth in plants. They will learn about the Haber and Ostwald Process.
Term 4	Nuclear Chemistry Pupils will learn about radioisotopes and the three types of radiation; alpha, beta and gamma. They will be shown how to carry out balanced nuclear equations using nuclide notation. Pupils will investigate the use of radioisotopes and be able to carry out half-life calculations. Chemical Analysis Throughout their S3/S4 experiences in Chemistry pupils will be required to safely use a variety of chemical apparatus commonly found in the lab.

S4 Physics (National 3,4 & 5)

Term 1	Electrical Power Pupils will build on their knowledge and experience from S3. They will learn the definition of electrical power in terms of electrical energy and time. They will use appropriate relationships to solve problems involving energy, power and time. Pupils will learn about the effect of potential difference (voltage) and resistance on the current in and power developed across components in a circuit. They will use appropriate relationships to solve problems involving power, potential difference (voltage), current and resistance in electrical circuits. Pupils will be expected to select an appropriate fuse rating given the power rating of an electrical appliance. Specific heat capacity Pupils will learn that different materials require different quantities of heat to raise the temperature of unit mass by one degree Celsius. They will use appropriate relationships to solve problems involving mass, heat energy, temperature change and specific heat capacity. Pupils will study the knowledge that the temperature of a substance is a measure of the mean kinetic energy of its particles. Specific latent heat Pupils will learn that different materials require different quantities of heat to change the state of unit mass and that the same material requires different quantities of heat to change the state of unit mass from solid to liquid (fusion) and to change the state of unit mass from liquid to gas (vaporisation). Gas laws and the kinetic model Pupils will learn about pressure in terms of force and area. They will use appropriate relationships to solve problems involving pressure, force and area. Pupils will learn to describe kinetic models and account for the pressure of a gas. Pupils will describe the relationship between Kelvin and degrees Celsius and the absolute zero of temperature, and the explanation of the pressure–volume, pressure–temperature and volume-temperature laws qualitatively in terms of a kinetic model. Pupils will carry out experiments to verify the pressure–volume law (Boyle’s law), the pressure–temperature law (Gay-Lussac’s law) and the volume–temperature law (Charles’ law).
Term 2	Electromagnetic spectrum The pupils will study the relative frequency and wavelength of bands of the electromagnetic spectrum, typical sources, detectors and applications for each band in the electromagnetic spectrum and knowledge that all radiations in the electromagnetic spectrum are transverse and travel at the speed of light. Refraction of light Pupils will learn that refraction occurs when waves pass from one medium to another. They will describe refraction in terms of change of wave speed, change in wavelength and change of direction (where the angle of incidence is greater than 0°), for waves passing into both a denser and a less dense medium. Nuclear radiation Pupils will study the nature of alpha (a), beta (ß), gamma (?) radiation, ‘ionisation’ and the effect of ionisation on neutral atoms. They will learn about the relative ionising effect and penetration of alpha, beta and gamma radiation. They will learn to use appropriate relationships to solve problems involving activity, number of nuclear disintegrations, dose rate, equivalent dose and time, absorbed dose, equivalent dose, energy, mass and weighting factor. Pupils will examine graphical or numerical data to determine the half-life of a radioactive material. They will learn to qualitatively describe fission, chain reactions, their role in the generation of energy, fusion, plasma containment, and their role in the generation of energy
Term 3	Velocity–time graphs Pupils will learn to draw or sketch velocity–time or speed–time graphs from data. They will interpret velocity–time graph to describe the motion of an object and the determination of displacement from a velocity–time graph. Projectile motion Pupils will learn to explain projectile motion in terms of constant vertical acceleration and constant horizontal velocity. They will learn to use appropriate relationships to solve problems involving projectile motion from a horizontal launch, including the use of motion graphs. Pupils will also study satellite orbits in terms of projectile motion, horizontal velocity and weight. Vectors and Scalars Pupils will learn to define the terms vector and scalar quantities. They will identify force, speed, velocity, distance, displacement, acceleration, mass, time and energy as vector or scalar quantities. They will calculate the resultant of two vector quantities in one dimension or at right angles, determination of displacement and/or distance using scale diagram or calculation, determination of velocity and/or speed using scale diagram or calculation and the use of appropriate relationships to solve problems involving velocity, speed, displacement, distance and time.
Term 4	Space exploration Pupils will build on their basic awareness of our current understanding of the universe and the challenges of space travel. They will learn to use the following terms correctly and in context: planet, dwarf planet, moon, Sun, asteroid, solar system, star, exoplanet, galaxy, universe. They will learn to use Newton’s second and third laws and their application to space travel, rocket launch and landing. Cosmology Pupils will learn to use of the term ‘light year’, the conversion between light years and metres a basic description of the ‘Big Bang’ theory of the origin of the universe and a knowledge of the approximate estimated age of the universe. They will also study the use of the whole electromagnetic spectrum in obtaining information about astronomical objects, identification of continuous and line spectra.

S4 Science (National 3/4)

Term 1 & 2	Fragile Earth – Energy Pupils will learn about various forms of energy from both renewable and non-renewable sources. They will carry out practical investigations to determine what is the most energy efficient and cost-effective methods of generating electricity. The will look at human impact on the environment as a result of burning fossil fuels. Fragile Earth – Metals Pupils will study the use of metals in everyday applications such as mobile phones, computers, electronics and cars. They will learn about the ethical issues surrounding mining and what metals we could see value in for the future. They will carry out practical experiments involving metal extraction techniques.
Term 3	Human Health – Threats to Health Within the Threats to Health unit learners will study the main features of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. They will focus on the respiratory and circulatory systems. They will carry out practical activities to measure various health parameters such as blood pressure, recovery time, body fat and pulse rate. Human Health – Health Claims Pupils will choose to investigate a topical health issue where they will report on their findings by analysing a range of data. They will learn about the health benefits to the individual and the greater population when vaccination programmes are carried out successfully.
Term 4	Applications of Science – Telecommunications Pupils will learn about telecommunications and its everyday applications such as satellites, fibre optics and radio. They will examine a range of scenarios and must analyse the data to decide what is the best means of communication. Applications of Science – Materials and Safety Pupils will learn about new “Smart Materials” and will be asked to examine a range of scenarios to decide which material would be most suitable to use based on its properties. Pupils will also explore a range of practical activities based on electrical safety.

S5/6 Biology (National 5 Biology and Higher Human Biology)

	Higher	National 4/5
Term 1	Nervous System Pupils will build on their knowledge from National 5 to examine the structures and functions of the peripheral, autonomic and somatic nervous systems. Perception and Memory Following their studies of the brain and nervous systems, the pupils will explore the concepts of perception and memory. They will focus on perception of sensory information, segregation of objects, distance and recognition. This unit offers pupils an insight into how they might improve their effectiveness as learners, through their deeper understanding of short and long-term storage. Neurotransmitters Pupils will build on their National 5 knowledge on the structure and function of neurons and neurotransmitters. They will study converging, diverging and reverberating neural pathways. They will analyse a range of situations where mood, behaviour, use of drugs and the feeling of pleasure and pain are experienced as a series of chemical pathways. Communication and Behaviour Pupils will learn about the importance of infant attachment studies to demonstrate the foundation of stable relationships through secure attachment. They will follow the path of a developing infant to examine the effect of; socialisation, learning, verbal and non-verbal communication, experience, reinforcement, discrimination social facilitation, de-individuation and internalisation.	Cell Structure and Transport Across the Membranes Pupils will learn about the cell ultrastructure and functions in a typical plant, animal, bacterial and fungal cell. Following this they will focus on the cell membrane and investigate the movement of substances into and out of a cell by diffusion and active transport through the selectively permeable membrane. DNA and Proteins Pupils will learn about the structure of DNA and how the base sequence determines the amino acid sequence in proteins. Pupils will be able to discuss the wide variety of proteins through studying both their function and structure. Through investigations pupils will learn about enzymes and the types of reactions that they catalyse.
Term2	Reproduction Pupils will study the structure and function of reproductive organs and gametes and their role in fertilisation. Hormonal Control Pupils will study the role of hormones in puberty, sperm production and the menstrual cycle. Controlling Fertility Pupils will learn about infertility treatments, contraception and cyclical fertility versus continuous fertility. Ante- and Post- Natal Screening Pupils will learn about the importance of antenatal screening and postnatal screening in the developing foetus. Cardiovascular System Pupils will learn about the structure and function of arteries, capillaries and veins in the cardiovascular system. They will study the structure of the heart including, cardiac output, the conducting system and the cardiac cycle. They will study the pathology of many cardiovascular diseases.	Genetic Engineering Pupils will learn about genetic engineering and its therapeutic use. They will discuss the morals and ethics behind a range of therapeutic treatments and food production methods. Respiration Pupils will learn about the stages involved in respiration and how energy is released by the breakdown of glucose. Producing New Cells Pupils will learn about the stages of mitosis and its importance in growth and repair. They will discuss stem cells and the specialisation of cells. Variation, Transport and Absorption Pupils will learn about continuous and discrete variation, genetics, monohybrid crosses and the ratios involved. They will be able to explain why predicted ratios among offspring is not always achieved. Pupils will study the cardiovascular digestive systems.
Term 2/3	Division and Differentiation Pupils will build on their knowledge of mitosis in somatic cells. They will be able to describe how cells differentiate into different forms of cells. They will learn about stem cells and their uses, by looking at both embryonic and tissue cells. They will follow embryonic development from a blastocyst through to a fully-grown foetus, by observing cellular differentiation. Pupils will further develop their understanding of cellular division and differentiation by studying forms of cancer and how it develops from a primary to secondary tumour. Structure and replication of DNA Pupils will build on their knowledge of the structure of DNA and how it replicates in a cell. Gene Expression Pupils will follow on from their knowledge of DNA by deepening their understanding of how phenotype is expressed as a result of gene expression through the process of transcription and translation. Genes and Proteins in Health and Disease Pupils will build on their knowledge of proteins and their structure. They will examine the results of single gene mutations and chromosome structure mutations. Human Genomics Pupils will learn about bioinformatics and the use of technology to identify DNA sequences. Pupils will study the applications of this technology such as personalised medicine and the analysis of an individual’s genome in order to create a DNA profile. Metabolic Pathways Pupils will study both anabolic and catabolic pathways. They will carry our practical activities to investigate how enzymes can control these pathways by their presence or absence. Cellular Respiration and Energy Systems Pupils will build on their knowledge of cellular respiration.	Ecosystems & Distribution of Animals Pupils will study the natural world by learning ecological terms such as species, biodiversity, population etc. They will investigate a range of habitats and organisms to be able to explain their interdependence. They will learn about competition between and within the same species and how this affects biodiversity. Through the use of various sampling techniques pupils will be able to identify limitations and sources of error. They will build on their knowledge of classification of organisms through the use of paired-statement keys. They will study data relating to indicator species and be able to comment on the environmental quality of a habitat. Photosynthesis and Energy Pupils will build on their knowledge from S2 to gain a deeper understanding of photosynthesis. They will learn about the light and dark reactions and where these take place. They will investigate limiting factors, through practical activity, and then analyse the data to present conclusions based on their findings. They will analyse the link between photosynthesis in plants to the energy that is transferred through a food web. They will learn about pyramids of energy and numbers. Food Production Pupils will learn about the differences and similarities between organic and intensive farming methods in relation to crop yield. They will investigate different types of fertiliser, the use of pesticides and their impact on Biodiversity. Pupils will learn about the Nitrogen Cycle and how this relates to the use of fertilisers. Pupils will also discuss the use of GM crops, bioaccumulation, biological control and the use of pesticides to increase crop yield.
Term 4	Non-Specific Immunity Pupils will build on their knowledge of immunity from National 5 Biology to study the bodies capacity to protect itself from pathogens. They will study a range of non-specific defences including physical barriers, inflammatory responses, phagocytosis and apoptosis. Specific Immunity Pupils will learn about the bodies specific immune responses including immune surveillance, clonal selection theory, T and B lymphocytes and immunological immunity. Infectious Diseases Pupils will learn about various disease-causing pathogens, transmitted by direct physical contact, water, food, body fluids, inhaled air or vector organisms. They will investigate epidemiological studies to describe the spread of diseases as sporadic, endemic, epidemic or pandemic. Vaccination Pupils will learn about the importance of vaccinations for the individual and the general population. They will be able to describe how active immunity is developed by vaccinations thus creating immune memory. They will learn about public health immunisation programmes, herd immunity, antigenic variation and clinical trials. Pupils will examine the statistical significance of the data collected.	Evolution Pupils will learn about how mutations can result in an organism becoming better suited to its environment. Over time, variation can result in a species evolving in response to its changing environment. New alleles are produced by mutation and over time this can result in a new species forming through speciation. Pupils will learn how to describe this process in terms of Natural Selection and Speciation.

S5/6 Chemistry

	Higher
Term 1	Rates of Reaction Pupils will build on their knowledge from National 5 relating to Collision Theory. Through practical investigations, they will learn about how conditions can be altered to control the rate of experiments. They will also be able to identify if a reaction is exothermic or endothermic. They will build on this knowledge when they learn about activation energy and activated complexes. Periodic Table and Structure Pupils will learn about patterns of periodicity in the first 20 elements and how they are categorised according to bonding and structure. They will study covalent radius, ionisation energy and electronegativity arcos periods and down groups. Trends in the Periodic Table Pupils will expand their knowledge of covalent bonding and will be introduced to polar covalent bonding. Pupils will relate this knowledge to the bonding continuum and the difference in the electronegativity between bonded atoms. Bonding in Compounds Pupils will learn about intermolecular forces of attraction acting between molecules known as van der Waal’s. They will study London dispersion forces, permanent dipole-permanent dipole interactions and hydrogen bonding. They will learn how to rationalise physical properties in terms of nature and strength of the intermolecular forces which exist between molecules. Pupils will carry out practical activities relating to polarity and solubility.
Term 2	Industrial Processes & Calculations from Equations Pupils will learn about industrial processes and how they are designed to maximise profit and minimise the impact on the environment. Pupils will build on their skills in balancing equations. They will learn about molar volume and how to determine quantities using balanced equations. % Yield and Atom Economy Pupils will learn about the efficiency with which reactants are converted into the desired product is measured in terms of the percentage yield and atom economy. Pupils will consider balanced equations, the limiting reactant and the reactant(s) in excess then identify these by calculation. Equilibrium Pupils will learn about reversible reactions and how this may result in costly reactants failing to be completely converted into products. Pupils will study changes in concentration, pressure and temperature and how these can alter the position of equilibrium. A catalyst increases the rate of attainment of equilibrium but does not affect the position of equilibrium. Chemical Energy Pupils will carry out practical activities to calculate enthalpy for industrial processes including the reasons they are necessary. They will build on their knowledge of enthalpy by calculating enthalpy of combustion, Hess’s Law, molar and mean bond enthalpy. Oxidising and Reducing Agents Pupils will carry out a range of practical activities to investigate oxidising and reducing agents in redox reactions. Pupils will learn that the strongest reducing agents are found in group 1 whilst the strongest oxidising agents come from group 7, the electrochemical series can be used to indicate the effectiveness of oxidising and reducing agents, oxidation and reduction reactions can be represented by ion-electron equations, including those involving molecules or group ions, ion-electron equations can be combined to produce redox equations, uses of oxidising agents and compounds, group ions and molecules can also act as oxidising or reducing agents. Chemical Analysis Chromatography Pupils will learn that in chromatography, differences in the polarity and/or size of molecules are exploited to separate the components present within a mixture. Pupils will analyse examples of chromatograms to interpret of the results of chromatography. Volumetric Analysis Through practical activity pupils will carry out volumetric analysis of titrations and redox titrations
Term 3	Esters, Fats and Oils Pupils will build on their knowledge of homologous series from National 5 in order to draw, name and identify esters, and whether a substance is a fat or an oil. Pupils will carry out experiments to test the properties of these substances and then make esters by condensation. Pupils will study the chemical and physical properties of esters, fats and oils. Pupils will learn about the importance of fats and oils, and how oils can be converted to fats by hydrogenation. Proteins Pupils will learn about the importance of proteins in animal tissue and how they are involved in the maintenance of life processes. Pupils will learn about the structure of proteins, essential amino acids and peptide links. In particular pupils will carry out practical activities involving enzymes.
Term 4	Cooking and Oxidation of Food Pupils will build on their knowledge of proteins in terms of shape and the denaturing of the molecules. Pupils will learn about the chemistry of cooking and how this relates to aldehydes and ketones. Pupils will be shown how to name and draw straight chain, branched chain and isomers of aldehydes and ketones. Pupils will carry out practical activities to differentiate between an aldehyde and a ketone. Pupils will also learn about alcohols and carboxylic acids. They will study naming, formulae, oxidation, structure, properties of alcohols and reactions of carboxylic acids. Pupils will also investigate antioxidants in foods and be able to form ion-electron equations. Soaps, Detergents and Emulsions Pupils will learn about the production of soaps, how soaps work, the structure of soap ions, how detergents work and what an emulsion is. Fragrances Pupils will learn that fragrances can be made from essential oils which are concentrated extracts from plants. Pupils will learn that terpenes are the key components in essential oils and that these are unsaturated compounds formed by joining terpene units together. Skin Care Pupils will learn about the damaging effect of UV light on skin and the action of sun-block. We will discuss free radical formation, free radical scavengers, structure and chain reactions.

S5/6 Physics

	Higher
Term 1/2	Monitoring and measuring a.c. Pupils will build on their knowledge that a.c. is a current which changes direction and instantaneous value with time. They will learn to use appropriate relationships to solve problems involving peak, r.m.s. values, determination of frequency, peak voltage and r.m.s. values from graphical data. Current, potential difference, power and resistance. Pupils will learn to use appropriate relationships to solve problems involving potential difference, current, resistance, power and potential divider circuits. Electrical sources and internal resistance Pupils will learn to use the terms electromotive force (e.m.f.), internal resistance and terminal potential difference (t.p.d.), ideal supplies, short circuit and open circuit. They will use appropriate relationships to solve problems involving e.m.f., t.p.d., current and internal resistance. Determination of internal resistance and e.m.f. using graphical analysis. Capacitors Pupils will learn to use appropriate relationships to solve problems involving capacitance, charge and potential difference. They will learn that the total energy stored in a charged capacitor is the area under the charge against potential difference graph. They will use data from a charge against potential difference graph and use appropriate relationships to solve problems involving energy, charge, capacitance and potential difference. They will have an awareness of the variation of current and potential difference with time for both charging and discharging cycles of a capacitor in a CR circuit (charging and discharging curves) and an awareness of the effect of resistance and capacitance on charging and discharging curves in a CR circuit. Conductors, semiconductors and insulators Pupils will build on their knowledge that solids can be categorised into conductors, semiconductors or insulators by their ability to conduct electricity. They will gain an awareness of the terms conduction band and valance band. p-n junctions Pupils will gain an awareness that, during manufacture, the conductivity of semiconductors can be controlled, resulting in two types: p-type and n-type. They will learn that when p-type and n-type materials are joined, a layer is formed at the junction. The electrical properties of this layer are used in a number of devices. Motion — equations and graphs Pupils will learn to use appropriate relationships to solve problems involving displacement, velocity and acceleration for objects moving with constant acceleration in a straight line. They will learn to interpret and draw motion-time graphs for motion with constant acceleration in a straight line, including graphs for bouncing objects and objects thrown vertically upwards. They will gain an awareness of the interrelationship of displacement, velocity and acceleration-time graphs. They will carry out calculations based on displacement, velocity and acceleration from appropriate graphs. Forces, energy and power Pupils will learn to use appropriate relationships to solve problems involving balanced and unbalanced forces, mass, acceleration, and gravitational field strength. The will gain experience in the interpretation of velocity-time graphs for a falling object when air resistance is taken into account. They will gain an awareness of the effects of friction on a moving object (no reference to static and dynamic friction.) They will use Newton’s first and second laws to explain the motion of an object and free body diagrams and appropriate relationships to solve problems involving friction and tension (as a pulling force exerted by a string or cable). They will be able to explain, in terms of forces, of an object moving with terminal velocity. Collisions, explosions and impulse Pupils will use the principle of conservation of momentum and an appropriate relationship to solve problems involving the momentum, mass and velocity of objects interacting in one dimension. They will gain the knowledge of energy interactions involving the total kinetic energy of systems of objects undergoing inelastic collisions, elastic collisions and explosions. They will learn to use appropriate relationships to solve problems involving the total kinetic energy of systems of interacting objects and the use of Newton’s third law to explain the motion of objects involved in interactions. Gravitation Pupils will build on their knowledge that satellites are in free fall around a planet/star. Resolution of the initial velocity of a projectile into horizontal and vertical components and their use in calculations Use of appropriate relationships to solve problems involving projectiles. They will gain the knowledge that the horizontal motion and vertical motion of a projectile are independent of each other. Pupils will learn to use Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation to solve problems involving, force, masses and their separation. Special relativity Pupils will gain the knowledge that the speed of light in a vacuum is the same for all observers and that measurements of space and time for a moving observer are changed relative to those for a stationary observer, giving rise to time dilation. Pupils will use appropriate relationships to solve problems involving length contraction, time dilation and speed. The Expanding Universe Pupils will gain the knowledge that the Doppler effect causes shifts in wavelengths of sound and light, that the light from objects moving away from us is shifted to longer (more red) wavelengths and that the redshift of a galaxy is the change in wavelength divided by the emitted wavelength. They will use appropriate relationships to solve problems involving the observed frequency, source frequency, source speed and wave speed.
Term 3/4	The standard model Pupils will use orders of magnitude and awareness of the range of orders of magnitude of length from the very small (sub-nuclear) to the very large (distance to furthest known celestial objects). They will gain a knowledge of the standard model of fundamental particles and interactions, an awareness of evidence supporting the existence of sub-nuclear particles and the existence of antimatter. They will study fermions, the matter particles, that consist of quarks (six types) and leptons (electron, muon and tau, together with their neutrinos). Knowledge that hadrons are composite particles made of quarks that baryons are made of three quarks, and that mesons are made of quarkantiquark pairs. Forces on charged particles Pupils will gain knowledge that charged particles experience a force in an electric field, that fields exist around charged particles and between charged parallel plates, direction of movement of charged particles in an electric field, the relationship between potential difference, work and charge gives the definition of the volt, moving charge produces a magnetic field and an awareness of the basic operation of particle accelerators in terms of acceleration, deflection and collision of charged particles. They will learn to sketch of electric field patterns for single-point charges, systems of two-point charges and between two charged parallel plates. They will use appropriate relationships to solve problems involving the charge, mass, speed and energy of a charged particle in an electric field and the potential difference through which it moves. Nuclear reactions Pupils will use nuclear equations to describe radioactive decay, fission and fusion reactions with reference to mass and energy equivalence. They will use appropriate relationships to solve problems involving the mass loss and the energy released by a nuclear reaction. They will have an awareness of coolant and containment issues in nuclear fusion reactors. Wave particle duality Pupils will have an awareness of the photoelectric effect as evidence supporting the particulate model of light. They will gain knowledge that photons of sufficient energy can eject electrons from the surface of materials, that the threshold frequency is the minimum frequency of a photon required for photoemission and that the work function of a material is the minimum energy required to cause photoemission. They will use appropriate relationships to solve problems involving the frequency, energy of a photon and maximum kinetic energy of photoelectrons, the threshold frequency of the material and the frequency of the photon. Interference and diffraction Pupils will have knowledge that coherent waves have a constant phase relationship and have the same frequency, wavelength and velocity. They will be able to describe the conditions for constructive and destructive interference in terms of the phase difference between two waves. They will have the knowledge that maxima and minima are produced when the path difference between waves is a whole number of wavelengths or an odd number of half-wavelengths respectively. They will use appropriate relationships to solve problems involving the path difference between waves, wavelength and order number. Refraction of light Pupils will be able to define absolute refractive index of a medium as the ratio of the speed of light in a vacuum to the speed of light in the medium. They will have an awareness of the variation of refractive index with frequency. Knowledge of critical angle and of total internal reflection. Pupils will be able to use appropriate relationships to solve problems involving absolute refractive index, the angle of incidence, the angle of refraction the wavelength of radiation in each medium and the speed of the radiation in each medium (Including situations where light is travelling from a more dense to a less dense medium.) Spectra Pupils will gain the knowledge that irradiance is the power per unit area incident on a surface, that irradiance is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from a point source, Bohr model of the atom, the terms ground state, energy levels, ionisation and zero potential energy in relation to the Bohr model of the atom and the mechanism of production of line emission spectra, continuous emission spectra and absorption spectra in terms of electron energy level transitions. They will learn to use appropriate relationships to solve problems involving irradiance, the power of radiation incident on a surface, the area of the surface. Calculations involving energy levels and the frequency of the radiation emitted/absorbed.