The theme for year 7 is ‘Sustaining Planet Earth’.  In the autumn term, learners are challenged with ‘big questions’ across the IDiscover curriculum. 

STEM

In STEM lessons, learners learn about different types of structures and the way that forces can affect them, before designing a structure to hold hydroponics equipment.  This is linked to growing larger volumes of food in a smaller footprint area linking to the importance of 'Sustaining Planet Earth'. In groups they will design, build and test a tower to destruction measuring the loads applied and calculating the strength to weight ratio to find which team’s tower has been most successful in aiding food growth production.

In digital design, learners create their e-portfolios in readiness to upload work they are proud of from a range of different subjects. They will then move onto understanding how Excel/Google Sheets work by designing a spreadsheet which mimics a bank statement that will look at incomings and outgoings. In addition, learners will further develop their understanding of staying safe online.

Design technology

In Design technology, learners will begin the year by using a variety of hand tools and machine power tools to create a planter to be used in the Eco space area of the school for growing vegetables to be used later in the year in food lessons. As the year progresses pupils will learn about materials as well as health and safety issues related to Design Technology as well as Science lessons and work areas.  Pupils will also use vacuum forming machines and composite materials to create moulds and garden statues. 

Textiles

In textiles. they will develop their practical skills by learning how to use a sewing machine and explore different decorative techniques. Learners will also explore the origins of natural fibres, where they originate and look into the environmental impact this has as well as the impact it has on the animal and the planet.

Food

Learners will be completing a number of makes, that incorporate skills and techniques relevant to everyday cooking e.g. Knife skills, handling food, hygiene food storage, food preparation, recipe writing, etc. There are also links to the IDiscover theme of 'sustaining the planet' with students looking at hydroponics growing vegetables, Soil conditions and pollination, which will give students the knowledge to be able to plant and grow food that they can cook in the future. Learners link to active wellbeing by considering and calculating the number of calories in what they produce. Always considering and using healthy options in their bakes/makes.

Science

Learners begin the year with 'Safety in Science'.  Here they learn to work safely in the laboratory; from recognising hazard symbols to identifying key pieces of scientific apparatus.  On this aspect, learners work collaboratively with design technology, as many safety issues are common to both subjects.  Learners have the opportunity to gain their Bunsen burner license. 

Following this, learners move on to ‘Enquiry Processes 1’ in which they learn how to ask scientific questions, carry out fair test enquiries and collect data. Towards the end of the Autumn term learners move on to the biology topic, ‘Organisms 1’.Here, they learn about the building blocks of life - cells, before focusing on the human skeleton, joints and muscles.

 

Digital Design

During the spring term students will use a range of programming applications to help them understand and identify the code that is needed to perform particular actions. They will learn about loops/repetitions and how these can be used to make the code more efficient. They will then see how a condition can be used with a loop to make a set of instructions only happen if a certain criteria is met.  

STEM/Digital Technology/Textiles

Students will be completing a blended learning activity looking at ergonomic design of seating.  The project will bring together a range of skills and activities connected with DT, Textiles and STEM lessons and be delivered via Loom pre-recorded sessions that students can view /review.  Lessons will bring together investigating, designing, problem solving, design skills, practical skills and extended project based blended learning.  Students will begin by learning some basic principles of good and bad ergonomic design of seating as well as the impact that ergonomics has on design and engineering.  They will then look at a series of design eras, before designing and writing a specification that can be applied to a range of seating in the style of that era.   Students will then make use of their new found knowledge of ergonomic design and make an ‘ergonome’ to aid them in developing their seating proposal.  After that we will look at and practice modeling a scale version of a seat again making use of the ergonome that students have made in previous activities.

As students develop their seating concept they will problem solve their way through card prototypes and then make use of these new card modeling skills to create a scale card prototype of their final idea.

Once they have a final model they will need to consider a range of finishing applications including upholstery choice, sort furnishing design and materials selection based on knowledge gained from a range of research activities.  Finally, students will need to explain a number of planning considerations that they took account of while making their prototype and evaluate the models final outcome both as a designer as well as seeking ‘client feedback’ on their work considering what they will ask the potential client and then interviewing them. 

Science

Learners begin the spring term with 'Matter 1 in which they will complete work on the particle models of solids, liquids and gasses.

Following this, learners move on to ‘Ecosystems 1’ in which they learn how organisms depend on each other for survival and how protecting biodiversity leads to sustainable food sources for the future.This links with our iDiscover theme and allow pupils to investigate how the sustaining of biodiversity could benefit the vegetables they grow in the planters designed in design technology for the Eco garden last term.

STEM

In STEM lessons, learners learn about different types of structures and the way that forces can affect them, before designing a structure to hold hydroponics equipment.  This is linked to growing larger volumes of food in a smaller footprint area linking to the importance of 'Sustaining Planet Earth'. In groups they will design, build and test a tower to destruction measuring the loads applied and calculating the strength to weight ratio to find which team’s tower has been most successful in aiding food growth production.

TEXTILES

In textiles, learners will continue to develop their practical skills by learning how to use a sewing machine and explore different decorative techniques. Learners will also explore the origins of natural fibres, where they originate and look into the environmental impact this has as well as the impact it has on the animal and the planet.

DT

In Design technology, learners will finish their planter builds and place them in the ECO garden outside before filling them with soil to be used in the Eco space area of the school for growing vegetables to be used later in the year in food lessons. As the year progresses pupils will learn about materials as well as health and safety issues related to Design Technology as well as Science lessons and work areas.  Pupils will also use vacuum forming machines and composite materials to create moulds and garden statues. 

SCIENCE

Learners begin the summer term with 'Ecosystems 1’ in which they learn how organisms depend on each other for survival and how protecting biodiversity leads to sustainable food sources for the future. This links with our iDiscover theme and allow pupils to investigate how the sustaining of biodiversity could benefit the vegetables they grow in the planters designed in design technology for the Eco garden last term. Learners will be asked to investigate how human actions have an effect on the environment and to design their own brand of pesticide with limited environmental impact. Later in the term they will move onto ‘Reactions 1’, a chemistry topic with an emphasis on the reactions of acids and alkalis.

FOOD

Learners will be completing a number of makes, that incorporate skills and techniques relevant to everyday cooking e.g. Knife skills, handling food, hygiene food storage, food preparation, recipe writing, etc. There are also links to the IDiscover theme of 'sustaining the planet' with students looking at hydroponics growing vegetables, Soil conditions and pollination, which will give students the knowledge to be able to plant and grow food that they can cook in the future. Learners link to active wellbeing by considering and calculating the number of calories in what they produce. Always considering and using healthy options in their bakes/makes.

DIGITAL DESIGN

During the summer term learners will understand how software is used to create and manipulate images, they will then use this knowledge to design their own images for different purposes. Learners will then start to understand how creators use animation software to create animations used on websites, cartoons and films. They will apply this knowledge into designing their own animations using basic animation software. Lastly, students will have the opportunity to create a website in groups which will highlight content covered across the IDiscover team this year.