Course
Lower Secondary Science
Cambridge Lower Secondary Science for ages about 11 to 14. Biology, chemistry, physics and Earth and space, taught so the ideas are ready when IGCSE and IB build on them.
What we cover
What each stage covers, unit by unit. A student new to a unit usually takes two sessions; one is enough to revise it before a school test. After each session, parents get a short note on what was covered and what to practise.
Stage 7
- 1
Cells
Plant cells; animal cells; specialised cells; cells, tissues and organs
- 2
Materials and their structure
Solids, liquids and gases; changes of state; the water cycle; atoms, elements and the Periodic Table; compounds and mixtures
- 3
Forces and energy
Gravity, weight and mass; the Solar System; movement in space; tides; energy and where it goes
- 4
Grouping and identifying organisms
Characteristics of living things; viruses; species; using and constructing keys
- 5
Properties of materials
Metals and non-metals; metal mixtures; separating mixtures; acids, alkalis and the pH scale
- 6
Earth physics
Sound waves and echoes; structure of the Earth; changes in the Earth; solar and lunar eclipses
- 7
Microorganisms in the environment
Microorganisms; food chains and webs; decay
- 8
Changes to materials
Simple chemical reactions; neutralisation; investigating acids and alkalis; detecting chemical reactions
- 9
Electricity
Flow of electricity; circuits; measuring current; conductors and insulators; adding or removing components
Next: Stage 8
Stage 8
- 1
Respiration and moving
Blood; the respiratory system; breathing and gas exchange; aerobic respiration; joints and muscles
- 2
Nutrition
A balanced diet; energy stores; lifestyle and health
- 3
Ecosystems
Ecosystems and habitats; bioaccumulation; invasive species
- 4
Materials and solutions
The Rutherford atom; charges in the atom; chromatography; concentration; solubility and temperature
- 5
Chemical changes
Word equations; purity; impure products; exothermic and endothermic changes; reactivity of metals; inert substances
- 6
Motion and forces
Speed; distance/time graphs; balanced and unbalanced forces; turning forces; pressure; pressure in gases and liquids; diffusion
- 7
Light and space
Reflection; refraction; dispersion; colour; galaxies; asteroids
- 8
Magnets
Magnetic fields; electromagnets; what makes an electromagnet stronger; the Earth's magnetic field
- 9
The Earth and its resources
Climate and weather; ice ages and warm periods; the atmosphere and climate; renewable and non-renewable resources
Next: Stage 9
Stage 9
- 1
Photosynthesis and the carbon cycle
Photosynthesis; the carbon cycle; climate change
- 2
Properties of materials
Atomic structure and the Periodic Table; trends in Groups; why elements react; simple and giant structures
- 3
Forces and energy
Density; heat and temperature; conservation of energy; thermal energy transfer; cooling by evaporation
- 4
Maintaining life
Plants and water; transpiration; excretion in humans; keeping a fetus healthy
- 5
Reactivity
Reactivity and displacement; salts and ways of making them; rearranging atoms
- 6
Sound and space
Loudness and pitch; interference of sound; formation of the Moon; nebulae; tectonics
- 7
Genes and inheritance
Chromosomes, genes and DNA; gametes and inheritance; variation; natural selection
- 8
Rates of reaction
Measuring rates of reaction; surface area; temperature; concentration
- 9
Electricity
Parallel circuits; current and voltage; resistance; practical circuits
Next: IGCSE Science
Ask about a unit
Tell me your child's stage and the unit their school is on, and I'll suggest where to start.