Science Dept - Summer Term Update

S1/2 Sciences plans in summer 

Edinburgh University will be delivering workshops to pupils on 21st May at Pitlochry HS. 

S1> S2 

S1 pupils will be working on the Energy  and Space topics. During the Energy topic pupils will be learning about different types of energy and looking at Fossil fuels and Renewable Energy. As part of this pupils will be conducting an Energy survey as part of their John Muir Award. Pupils will be working in class to help prepare them for their visit to Dundee Science Centre. 

 In addition they will be doing a litter pick after the Heartland Festival for their John Muir Award.  

 S2 > S3 

Pupils will be moving into their chosen subjects as they progress to S3. 

Biology 

Pupils will be looking at how living things are interdependent and therefore depend upon each other to survive. They investigate food chains, food webs, competition, etc and how humans impact Biodiversity. This topic is done in the summer term so we can take advantage of outdoor learning and our wonderful climate. 

Chemistry 

Pupils will be learning about how substances interact and what affects the rate of a reaction between chemicals. Pupils will be developing their practical skills and graph skills during this topic. 

 Physics 

Pupils will be investigating floating and sinking. They will discover how you can use density to work out whether something will float. They will then go on to some engineering challenges, where they will be given a challenge, with a measurable outcome. Their solutions will then be ranked against each other to find the best solution. 

 Apps of Science 

Pupils will be learning about human health. They will be measuring pulse rates and pulse recovery rates.  They will be finding out about and measuring blood pressure, lung capacity and peak flow.  

 S3 -> S4 

Biology 

Pupils will be working on the Life on Earth Unit. This involves pupils being outdoors doing sampling techniques and measuring abiotic factors. In addition we look at how species adapt to an ever changing environment.  

Chemistry 

Pupils will be working on Natures Chemistry looking at a variety of Organic compounds. We will be learning how Fossil fuels are used and the Chemistry behind this.  Pupils will be learning about the Chemistry of Hydrocarbons, alkanes, alkenes, cycloalkanes, alcohols and carboxylic acids and how they are used in society. 

 Physics 

Pupils will be finding out about the rules of electrical circuits and how they are applied to series and parallel circuits. Pupils will also be carrying out an investigation to show Ohms Law and the situations where Ohm’s Law does not apply.