Science

Middle School Science is an integrated course of Biology, Chemistry and Physics, focused on investigative design and exploration. The curriculum emphasizes deep conceptual understanding, challenging students to apply scientific knowledge to real world contexts and situations. Lessons have an experimental focus which prioritise teacher demonstrations and student-led investigations to build essential data recording, processing and interpretation skills. This is always used in conjunction with relevant content to facilitate the development of a deep understanding of scientific concepts. 

Our assessments are varied and feature group projects, investigation reports, creative tasks as well as unit tests. Students further their scientific curiosity through regular peer and teacher feedback, helping them reflect on their progress in each unit. The curriculum is supported through a variety resources including booklets, presentations and revision anchor documents. Units are aligned with the K–12 UWCSEA Science standards and benchmarks. Our resources for units are located here: MS UWCSEA Science Google Site.

The programme in Grade 6 is designed to help students gain confidence in working and thinking like scientists. There is a strong focus on experimental design and developing the skills needed to explain scientific concepts. This is all embedded in a curriculum that lays the foundations of modern Science. 

• Becoming a Scientist: What does it mean to think and act like a scientist?

• Water for Everyone: What makes water so unique, and why does it matter for our future?

• Building Blocks of Life - Cells and Reproduction: How do the structures within living things help them grow, survive and create new life?

• Reaction Detectives - Chemical Reactions and pH Scale: How can we use clues to uncover hidden chemical reactions?

• Energy and Sustainability - Powering Our Future: How can understanding energy help us design a better world?

The Grade 7 curriculum further builds on scientific concepts and is made relevant to the students lives where possible. Investigations continue to be a large focus throughout the curriculum, along with an increase in emphasis on teaching independent study skills and facilitating student-led projects.

• Growing as a Scientist: How do scientists improve their ideas and investigations over time?

• Properties and Patterns - Elements, Mixtures and Compounds: How do scientists use patterns in properties to make predictions?

• Energy in Living Things - Cellular Respiration: How do interacting systems sustain life by managing the flow of energy within?

• Changing Climates - Heat Transfer: To what extent can we use scientific models to redesign the human world for a warming world?

• Outbreak! Microbes and Disease: How might innovations develop out of our need to adapt to the environment?

The programme in Grade 8 is designed to push students to become critical thinkers who make links between the Science topics studied throughout middle school. There is a strong focus on communication of deep conceptual understanding which both cements learning from previous years while actively preparing students for the high school curriculum. Investigations continue to be used to broaden scientific thinking.

• Keep Shining - The Physics of Light: How does the interaction of light and materials transform energy into what we see.

• The Story of Diversity - Genetics and Variation: How do variations in genes create both our uniqueness and the diversity of life? 

• Science Festival: How might science be a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable world?

• Chemistry in the Environment: How do humans impact chemistry in the world?

• Out of this World - Forces and Motion: How does changing the force exerted on matter within a system change its form and motion?