Physics

During two lessons a week spent studying Physics, pupils engage in a range of activities designed to develop their scientific literacy and numeracy, with considerable time spent on experimental work to consolidate understanding of the theory and develop investigative skills.

Pupils investigate how sound travels through materials, study the frequency, wavelength and pitch of different sounds using an oscilloscope, and investigate the speed of sound. The workings of the human ear are examined and noise pollution is also considered.

KS2 learning on electrical circuits is consolidated with a review of how to make simple components work and the use of circuit diagrams, and is extended with practical investigations to measure current, voltage and resistance in series and parallel circuits. Electrical safety is also included. Magnetic fields and the effect of current on these fields is explored, and girls make their own electromagnets to investigate ways to increase their strength.

Experiments with transparent, translucent and opaque materials help pupils understand transmission and absorption of light, and reflection and refraction are investigated using ray boxes. We split light using prisms to produce a spectrum, and consider colour in terms of light absorbed and reflected.  There is usually an opportunity for independent, project-based learning towards the end of the year.