First Year Syllabus

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1C1: Living Things

variety of living things, classifying living organisms as plant or animals (vertebrates / invertebrates)Identifying common plants and animals.

life processes and common characteristics of living organisms, relationships between cells, tissues, organs and systems.

OB38: use a simple key to identify plants and animals, including vertebrates and invertebrates

OB39: investigate the variety of living things by direct observation of animals and plants in their environment; classify living organisms as plants or animals, and animals as vertebrates or invertebrates.

OB40: identify the basic life processes and characteristics common to all living organisms: nutrition, respiration, excretion, growth, reproduction, movement and response

OB41: recall that living things are composed of cells, tissues, organs and systems and that growth results from cell division.

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1C2: The Microscope

functions and main parts of microscope: eyepiece lens, objective lens, stage, focus control & light source.

using a microscope to examine plant and animal cells

OB42: describe the functions of the main parts of a light microscope and use it to examine an animal cell and a plant cell.

OB43: draw one example each of an animal cell and a plant cell, identifying the nucleus, cytoplasm and cell wall (plant cell), and indicate the position of the cell membrane.

OB44: prepare a slide from plant tissue and sketch the cells under magnification

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1C3: Plant Structure

structure and function of the main parts of a typical flowering plant

OB45: identify the main parts of a typical flowering plant and their functions; the root, stem, leaf and flower.

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1C4: Transport in Plants

passage of water and minerals through the plant

transpiration

OB46: associate the transport of water and minerals in the plant with the xylem and the transport of food in the plant with phloem

OB47: carry out simple experiments to show the path of water through plant tissue, and show that water evaporates from the surface of a leaf by transpiration

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1B1: Skeletal System

the role of skeleton in support, movement and protection

function of bone

OB24: identify the main parts of the human skeleton and describe its functions as support, movement and protection

OB25: locate the major bones in the human body including the skull, ribs, vertebrae, collarbone, shoulder blade, humerus, radius, ulna, pelvis, femur, tibia and fibula, using a diagram or a model skeleton

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muscles, tendons, ligaments and joints

function of muscle in relation to movement

OB 26: describe the function of joints and muscles (including antagonistic pairs), tendons and ligaments, and the relationship between these and bones.

OB27: describe the general structure and action of different types of joints: fused, ball and socket and hinged, and identify examples of each; skull, shoulder, elbow, hip, knee

1C6: Reproduction and germination in plants

sexual and asexual reproduction

pollination and fertilisation

seed dispersal

conditions necessary for germination

OB51: distinguish between asexual and sexual reproduction in plants and describe a way in which a named plant can reproduce asexually

OB52: locate and identify the main parts of the flower: sepals, petals, carpel and stamen

OB53: use a suitable flower to identify the stigma, style, ovary, anther and filament

OB54: recall that the stamen/anther produces pollen (which provides the male gamete for fertilisation), that the carpel/ovary produces the egg (which provides the female gamete for fertilisation) and describe how pollen is transferred (wind and insect)

OB55: recall that seed formation follows fertilisation, and describe seed dispersal

OB56: describe seed structure (testa, food supply, radical, plumule)

OB57: recall that seed germination is necessary to produce a new plant.

OB58:investigate the conditions necessary for germination

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1B4: Reproductive System

male and female reproductive systems

menstrual cycle

fertilisation and pregnancy

contraception.

OB31: use wall charts or other illustrative diagrams to identify and locate the main parts of the male and female reproductive system.

OB32: recall that the menstrual cycle lasts about 28 days, that menstruation occurs at the start of the cycle and that a fertile period occurs during the cycle

OB33: describe the following events which occur in relation to human reproduction:

• sexual intercourse
• fertilisation – the fusion between male and female gametes (sperm and egg) resulting in a zygote
• cell division of the zygote, which develops into a foetus within the womb
• pregnancy
• birth
• growth and puberty

OB34: recall that there are many forms of contraception, some of which prevent fertilisation

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2A1: Materials

states of matter

characteristics of solids, liquids and gases

OC1: name three states of matter and describe their distinguishing characteristics

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2A2: Mixtures

separating substances using filtration, evaporation , distillation and paper chromatography

OC 2: separate mixtures using a variety of techniques: filtration, evaporation, distillation and paper chromatography

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2A3: Classification of substances, elements and compounds

classification and properties of elements, compounds and mixtures

the periodic table

classification of elements into metals and non-metals

OC3: describe and distinguish between, an element, a compound and a mixture; recall that all known elements are listed in the periodic table and that, in a chemical reaction, elements may lose their individual properties

OC4: examine a variety of substances and classify these as

• elements or compounds (using the Periodic Table as a reference)
• metals or non-metals

OC5: list the physical properties (state and colour only) of two examples of metallic and two examples of non-metallic elements

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2A6: Mixtures and compounds

difference between a mixture and a compound

OC12: compare the properties of the simple compounds H₂O, CO₂, MgO and FeS to those of the constituent elements

OC13: compare mixtures and compounds made from the same constituents

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2A5: Non-metals

examples of non-metallic elements and their symbols: carbon, sulfur, oxygen, hydrogen and nitrogen

OC9: recall the symbols of the non-metallic elements C, O, S, H and N

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2A7: Water and solutions

water as a solvent

effect of temperature on solubility

formation of crystals

OC14: use cobalt chloride or anhydrous copper sulfate to test for water

OC15: investigate the solubility of a variety of substances in water and the effect of temperature on solubility

OC16: explain the difference between a dilute, a concentrated and a saturated solution

OC17: grow crystals using alum or copper sulfate

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2A8: Acids and bases

classifying substances as acidic basic or neutral

the pH scale

the pH of a variety of common substances

OC18: use litmus or universal indicator to test a variety if solutions, and classify these as acidic, basic or neutral

OC19: investigate the pH of a variety of materials using the pH scale

OC20: give examples of everyday acids and bases

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2B1: Air and oxygen

air as a mixture of gases

preparation and properties of oxygen

products of combustion of carbon and magnesium

OC21: recall that air is a mixture of gases, and state the composition of air (approximately 78% N₂ and 21% O₂, with CO₂, water vapour and other gases making up the balance)

OC22: show that approximately one fifth of the air is oxygen; show that there is CO₂ and water vapour in the air.

OC23: demonstrate and describe what happens when (i) a wooden splint and (ii) a piece of magnesium are burned in air

OC24: prepare a sample of oxygen by decomposing H₂O₂ using MnO₂ as a catalyst (word equation and chemical equation)

OC25: investigate the ability of oxygen to support combustion in a glowing wooden splint and a lighted candle; state two uses of oxygen

OC26: burn carbon and magnesium in oxygen, and test the products using moist litmus

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3A1: Measurement in science

measuring the temperature of various solids and liquids, the melting point of ice and boiling point of water

measuring and recording length, mass, time, volume, temperature; SI units

calculations using recorded data; presenting and communicationg data:

derived data: area, volume (Note: density, speed, velocity and acceleration are covered in second year)

OP1: measure length, mass, time and temperature (SI units); perform simple calculations based on these to find the derived quantities; area and volume

OP2: measure mass and volume of fixed quantities of a variety of solids and liquids

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3A6: Energy

definitions and units for energy

principle of conservation of energy

forms of energy, sources of energy, renewable and non-renewable energy sources

need for energy conservation, national energy needs

OP16: classify sources of energy as renewable or non-renewable

OP17: state the principle of conservation of energy

OP18: explain why the sun is considered our primary source of energy and how this is important in food production and energy supply

OP19: list the advantages and disadvantages of different energy sources, including nuclear sources of energy, as part of the solution to national energy needs

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3A7: Energy conversions

energy conversions

example of energy conversion from everyday experience

OP20: identify different forms of energy and carry out simple experiments to show the following energy conversions

• chemical energy to electrical energy to heat energy
• electrical energy to magnetic energy to kinetic energy
• light energy to electrical energy to kinetic energy

OP21: give examples of energy conversion from everyday experience

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3B3: Light

sources and transmission of light; speed of light; shadows; colour and the visible spectrum; dispersion of white light

OP33: recall that light is a form of energy and that it can be converted into other forms of energy.

OP34: show that light travels in straight lines and explain how shadows are formed

OP35: contrast luminous objects, which are themselves a source of light, with non-luminous objects, which are seen because light is reflected from them.

OP36: recall that white light is made up of different colours which can be separated by dispersion

OP37: produce a spectrum of white light using appropriate apparatus; list the colours of the spectrum

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3B4: Reflection of light

Refraction of light

reflection of light at plane surfaces; image in a plane mirror

refraction: refraction by lenses

applications of reflection and refraction

OP38: investigate the reflection of light by plane mirrors, and illustrate this using ray diagrams; demonstrate and explain the operation of a simple periscope

OP39: show the refraction of light as it passes from: air to glass, air to water, glass to air, water to air; show refraction of light through a lens; demonstrate the operation of a magnifying glass

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3B5: Sound

vibrations and sound; transmission of sound; speed of sound

OP40: show that sound is a form of energy, and explain that sound is produced by vibrations

OP41: show that sound transmission requires a medium and that echoes are reflected sound

OP43: recall that the speed of sound is less than the speed of light

OP44: explain the time lag between seeing and hearing the same event

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3B6: Reflection of sound.

Hearing

reflection of sound: echoes

sound detection in the ear; sound levels; hearing protection

OP42: appreciate that the ear detects sound vibrations and that exposure to very loud sounds can cause damage to hearing

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3C1: Magnetism

forces of attraction and repulsion; magnetic field; the Earth’s magnetic field; the magnetic compass

OP45: carry out simple experiments to show attraction and repulsion between magnets, and test a variety of materials for magnetism

OP46: plot the magnetic field of a bar magnet

OP47: demonstrate that the earth has a magnetic field, and locate north and south

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