Personally Tailored Teaching
Biology in years 1 to 3 at The Edinburgh Academy
GeitsThe Biology curriculum is designed to follow the Scottish 5-14 guidelines as well as Key Stage 3. Overall, the emphasis in the Geits is very much on practical work and the acquisition of good technical skills, coupled with data recording and analysis. The year begins with an introduction into the properties of living things and the various environmental factors that allow life to exist. This is followed by some simple data gathering exercises, which are used to introduce the pupils to the handling and manipulation of data, as well as presentation of data graphically. We then examine a range of organisms in their environments with the emphasis on Scottish organisms. The term finishes with the use of the light microscope in viewing a range of plant and animal cells. |
Terms 2 & 3In the second term we focus on the types of reproduction across a range of organisms, including humans. This is used to introduce animal life cycles, which form the basis of the work in the first half of the summer term. The pupils spend the first half of the summer term working on projects where the growth and development of a variety of animals is recorded by measurements made over an extended period. Reproduction in flowering plants is also covered. As far as possible we intend to emphasise the acquisition of good practical skills, together with data recording and analysis. |
Biology in Years 2 & 3
Second Year |
Third Year |
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We start the Autumn term looking at the growth and development of plants from seed. From here we progress on to an examination of the major organ systems of humans and other mammals. We finish the term by looking at microorganisms, including a series of experiments using safe micro-biological techniques. |
In the thirds year we begin preparation for the GCSE work, and try to give pupils a flavour of the approach taken in later years. We cover a number of topics involving Biology and its applications in the wider world. Some of these share themes with material covered in PSD lessons e.g. food and nutrition, puberty, contraception and STIs. We shall also look at how we affect the world we live in and the potential consequences of our actions and what we might do about it. |
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Term 2 |
Experimental skills |
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In the Spring term we explore how organisms detect and respond to stimuli, including sight, hearing and taste. From this we move on to coverage of the various ways animals move on land in water and in the air, involving a number of experiments. |
During the course there is an emphasis on not just the acquisition of knowledge, but also on how science works, one of the major themes in the new GCSE courses. We will be encouraging students to develop their ability to plan and carry out experiments. |
Term 3 |
Data skills |
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The summer term is largely devoted to Ecology, culminating in a field trip to the rocky shore at Yellowcraigs Bay near Dirleton. During this time the pupils use a variety of Ecological sampling techniques and apply them to different situations in the school grounds and then again at Yellowcraigs. This topic leads in to a treatment of the various ways organisms survive in extreme environments such as deserts and Antarctica. |
Pupils will also be given the opportunity to examine data generated from a range of Biological situations and analyse and interpret the data in the light of their Biological knowledge. |
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