Level 5

At Level 5 the student is able to:

Biological science

Living together: past, present and future

SCBS0501

Explain the biological basis of classification of organisms into major groups.

This is evident when the student is able to:

·           identify patterns of similarities and differences between a range of living things

·           define the major characteristics used in the 5-Kingdom system of classification

·           explain why particular sets of features, for example, color, movement and structural features, are useful or not useful, to sort organisms using dichotomous keys.

Living together: past, present and future

SCBS0502

Describe interactions between living things and between living things and their non-living surroundings.

This is evident when the student is able to:

·           describe different interactions in an ecosystem, including competition, predation, collaboration, parasitism, pollination, reproduction and parenting

·           construct a food web of organisms in an ecosystem

·           show graphically relationships between members of food chains, including a parasite-host relationship and producer-consumer relationships

·           describe the effect of changes in the environment on interactions in an ecosystem.

Structure and function

SCBS0503

Relate the structure and organisation of different cells to their function.

This is evident when the student is able to:

·           identify major structural components of cells as viewed at light microscope level

·           determine the function of cells from their observable features

·           describe organisational relationships between organs, tissues, cells and systems.

Structure and function

SCBS0504

Explain how plants and animals obtain, transport and use nutrients.

This is evident when the student is able to:

·           describe the mechanical and chemical processes of digestion

·           describe the role of the circulatory system in transporting the products of digestion to cells

·           illustrate the pathway taken by water and minerals from the soil to the leaves of a flowering plant

·           identify the categories of inorganic and organic nutrients required by plants and animals and the uses to which they are put.

Chemical science

Substances: structure, properties and uses

SCCS0501

Use a simple particle model to explain the structure and properties of solids, liquids and gases.

This is evident when the student is able to:

·           describe the structure of solids, liquids and gases in terms of the arrangement and motion of particles in each physical state

·           relate readily observable properties of matter to particle bonds and energy.

Substances: structure, properties and uses

SCCS0502

Relate the safe use and disposal of common substances to their physical and chemical properties.

This is evident when the student is able to:

·           describe and demonstrate safe laboratory techniques in the handling of substances used in the classroom when heating, cooling, transferring and cleaning up

·           distinguish between common substances that are safe for sink disposal, and those that are not, in terms of solubility in water and effect on the environment

·           describe alternative methods of disposal of common substances that are not safe for sink disposal

·           outline and analyse several environmental problems caused by the inappropriate disposal of toxic substances.

Chemical reactions

SCCS0503

Describe ways of producing a chemical change and influencing its rate.

This is evident when the student is able to:

·           describe the particular conditions needed for some chemical reactions to occur

·           fully explain slow and fast chemical reactions

·           describe factors which affect the rate of a reaction.

Chemical reactions

SCCS0504

Relate simple procedures for preparing and separating mixtures to medical and industrial procedures.

This is evident when the student is able to:

·          describe a range of techniques for separating and concentrating mixtures

·           apply an appropriate method for separating the components of a mixture

·           describe the formation of colloids, including emulsions

·           describe medical and industrial applications of separation techniques.

Earth and space sciences

The changing Earth

SCES0501

Describe the formation, composition and cycling of rocks.

This is evident when the student is able to:

·           identify the lithosphere as the region of the Earth where rocks are formed

·           distinguish between sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic rocks on the basis of their formation and composition

·           describe ways to estimate the age of rocks

·           explain the rock cycle.

The changing Earth

SCES0502

Relate the properties of rocks to the ways in which they are used.

This is evident when the student is able to:

·           describe properties of igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks in terms of composition, grain size, color and texture

·           describe the relationship between rocks, ores and minerals

·           explain why igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks are used for particular purposes.

Our place in space

SCES0503

Describe how the positions of the planets, moon, sun and stars affect natural phenomena.

This is evident when the student is able to:

·          describe how the tides are affected by the positions of the Earth, moon and sun

·           account for the different phases of the moon in the lunar cycle

·           explain the phenomenon of the seasons in terms of relative positions of the Earth and sun

·           account for the apparent annual movement of the stars and constellations across the sky.

Our place in space

SCES0504

Describe major components of the universe.

This is evident when the student is able to:

·           define, in simple terms, what is meant by ‘the universe’

·           summarise major characteristics of selected features of the universe beyond our solar system

·           describe different kinds of evidence which contribute to knowledge of the universe.

Physical science

Energy and its uses

SCPS0501

Describe the characteristics and applications of the transmission and reflection of energy in the form of heat, light and sound.

This is evident when the student is able to:

·           use the terms conduction, convection, radiation and absorption to describe heating and cooling effects

·           describe how insulated containers maintain the temperature of the contents

·           recognise patterns of reflection of light from plane and curved mirrors and relate these to applications of mirrors

·           describe similarities and differences in the way light, heat and sound are transmitted.

Energy and its uses

SCPS0502

Describe the operation of direct current (DC) series and parallel circuits in terms of current and voltage.

This is evident when the student is able to:

·           correctly connect commonly used components in series and parallel circuits

·           describe the operation of series and parallel circuits, using terms such as current and voltage

·           identify from circuit diagrams those circuit elements that are connected in series and those that are connected in parallel

·           relate the brightness of a torch globe to the magnitude of the current in it and the voltage across it

·           link the brightness of two or more globes connected in series and in parallel circuits to the magnitude of the voltage and current.

Forces and their effects

SCPS0503

Describe simple magnetic and electrostatic effects in terms of a field model.

This is evident when the student is able to:

·           describe field patterns surrounding differently shaped magnets and simple combinations of magnets

·           describe attraction and repulsion of magnets and objects near magnets as effects of the magnetic field

·           explain the action of a compass as the movement of a magnet in the magnetic field of the Earth

·           explain attraction and repulsion of charged objects in terms of the electric field around them

·           describe the behaviour of objects in an electric field.

Forces and their effects

SCPS0504

Explain how mechanical systems can direct and modify force and motion.

This is evident when the student is able to:

·           describe the action of mechanical parts, such as gears, pulleys and levers in transmitting and modifying forces

·           describe the action of simple machines that change the size or direction of movement

·           define the operation of one or more examples of simple mechanical systems

·           construct a model to demonstrate the operation of an everyday piece of equipment, tool or appliance

·           describe how the model produces a mechanical advantage.

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