Integrated Science Book 1

Integrated Science, from the Wreake Valley Academy, is a series of three books designed to support science teaching of students aged 11 to 14. They provided a balanced science curriculum that included biology, chemistry, physics and encouraged scientific investigation as a way of promoting scientific thinking and engagement in science.

Book 1 was for use with students in the first year of secondary education (now referred to as year seven). Each section of the book had extension work for the more able students.

The chapters in the book cover the following areas of science:

1. Useful techniques: a unit describing techniques in science investigations: making a solution, filtration, evaporation.

2. Single substances and mixtures: a unit exploring what are mixtures or single substances and how dissolving, filtering, evaporation and condensing can be used to separate substance. Chromatography is also explored.

3. Measuring: measuring techniques and units for length, long distances, volume, temperature, weight.

4. Grouping and classification: putting objects into groups according to common characteristics, characteristics of living things.

5. Classification of living things: plant and animal characteristics, classifying animals into vertebrates and invertebrates, classifying vertebrates into fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. Defining a species.

6. Acids: reactions of different acids with different materials, the use of litmus as an indicator and its colour change with acids, the reaction of stomach power with acids, the colour change with an alkali and litmus, pH.

7. Heating substances: observation of changes due to heating, whether the substance melts, boils, burns or smokes. Weight changes due to heating, reduction of copper sulphate and colour change, word equations, heating water (heating curves).

8. Forces and movement: measuring speed, acceleration, deceleration, change of speed, measuring forces, friction.

9. Skeleton and movement: arm bones and joints, muscles and movement, streamlining.

10. From generation to generation: zygote, sperm, egg, womb, pregnant, placenta, embryo, birth, growth, puberty, fertilisation, contraception, venereal disease.

11. Electricity (1) circuits, series and parallel, fuses.

12. Electricity (2) : circuit symbols and diagrams, electric current, resistors and resistance, magnets, compasses, electromagnets