Dundee City Council Science Topics

Topic Number

Name

Number of Periods

Attainment Targets

Code

Description

1

Science Skills

14

SiS E

pupils are able to:

use appropriate instruments to make measurements of mass, volume and temperature

select and use appropriate apparatus

write structured reports outlining the key stages of experiments and investigations
 

2

Variation & Cells

14

LT E1.2

create and use keys to identify living things

LT E1.3

give examples of inherited and environmental causes of variation
 

LT E2.1

identify and given the functions of the main structures found in plant and animal cells
 

LT F 2.1

describe the different cells are adapted to their functions
 

3

Energy

15

EF E2.1

describe some examples of the interconversion of potential and kinetic energy
 

EF E2.2

give some examples of chemical energy changes
 

EF E2.3

explain the difference between renewable and non-renewable energy resources
 

EF F2.1

distinguish between gravitational potential and chemical potential energy
 

4

Matter

15

ES E2.1

describe the particulate nature of solids, liquids and gases and use this to explain their known properties
 

ES E2.2

describe what is meant by an element
 

ES E2.3

describe how physical properties of elements are used to classify them as metals or non-metals
 

ES E3.1

give examples of simple chemical reactions, explaining them in terms of elements and compounds
 

ES E3.2

describe the effect of temperature on solubility
 

ES F2.3

explain the water cycle using the particulate model

Topic Number

Name

Number of Periods

Attainment Targets

Code

Description

5

The Universe

15

ES E1.1

explain day, month and year in terms of the relative motion of the Sun, the Earth and the Moon
 

ES E1.2

describe the Universe in terms of stars, galaxies and black holes
 

ES F1.1

describe some of the ideas used to explain the origin and evolution of the Universe
 

6

Acids and Metals

16

ES E3.3

describe the use of pH to measure acidity

ES E3.4

describe the process of neutralisation and give some everyday applications
 

ES E3.5

describe what happens when metals react with oxygen, water and acids
 

ES E3.6

describe how metal elements can be extracts from compounds in the Earth’s crust
 

ES F3.3

give examples of chemical reactions using word equations
 

7

Light and Sound

15

EF E1.4

describe what happens when light passes through different materials
 

EF E1.3

explain the effect of the prism on white light
 

EF F1.2

explain the effect of colour filters on white light
 

EF E1.5

explain what happens when sound passes through different materials
 

EF F1.3

describe the relationship between pitch and frequency, and between loudness and amplitude
 

8

Microorganisms

18

LT E1.1

give the main distinguishing features of microorganisms
 

LT F1.1

describe the harmful and beneficial roles of microorganisms
 

LT F1.2

outline the principles of modern biotechnology and explain its significance now and for the future
 

9

Heat

12

EF D1.1

distinguish between ‘heat’ and ‘temperature’
 

EF E1.1

describe the difference between the flow of heat by conduction and convection
 

Topic Number

Name

Number of Periods

Attainment Targets

Code

Description

EF E1.2

give examples of everyday uses of good and poor conductors of heat
 

EF F1.1

describe how energy is transferred by radiation
 

10

Photosynthesis & Respiration & Foods Webs

LT E2.3

identify the raw materials, conditions and products of photosynthesis

LT E3.1

construct and interpret simple food webs and make predictions of the consequences of change
 

LT E3.2

describe examples of competition between plants and between animals
 

LT E3.3

give examples of physical factors that affect the distribution of living things
 

LT F2.2

describe the process of respiration
 

LT F3.1

construct and explain food pyramids
 

11

Parallel Circuits & Electronics

18

EF E1.6

construct a parallel circuit following diagrams
 

EF E1.7

use the terms ‘voltage’, ‘current’ and ‘resistance’ in the context of simple series circuits
 

EF F1.4

describe the structure and function of an electromagnet
 

EF F1.5

analyse the functions of everyday electronic systems in terms of input and output conditions
 

EF F1.6

using prefabricated subsystems, construct simple electronic systems to solve given problems
 

12

Periodic Table

14

ES F2.1

describe some features of the structure of the atom
 

ES F2.2

describe some of the characteristic features of the periodic table
 

ES F3.2

distinguish between chemical and physical changes
 

ES F3.3

give examples of chemical reactions using word equations
 

13

Controlling Reactions

12

ES F3.1

give examples of the ways in which the rates of chemical reactions can be changed
 

Topic Number

Name

Number of Periods

Attainment Targets

Code

Description

LT F2.3

describe the function of enzymes in the control of cellular reactions
 

LT F2.4

describe the effect of pH and temperature on enzyme activity
 

14

Forces