Science at key stage 3    (Year 7)

• represent the Sun, Earth and Moon by spheres and identify them in a model or diagram representing the system
• use the model to explain how day and night occur, involving the Earth's rotation
• use the model to explain the passing of a month and of a year
• use the model to explain why the Sun appears to move across the sky during a day

• distinguish between luminous and non-luminous objects

• sequence the phases of the Moon over a 28-day period
• explain how the view from the Earth of the Moon causes the phases in a regular sequence

• sequence a series of images showing stages of an eclipse
• explain, using a model and diagrams, how eclipses of the Sun and Moon occur
• describe the evidence eclipses provide about the solar system, eg relative sizes and distances of the Moon and the Sun, and other phenomena, eg roosting of birds

• describe the experience of a solar eclipse

• describe that the axis of spin of the Earth is at an angle to the Sun
• identify on a diagram or model parts of the Earth which are experiencing different seasons, due to their relative position to the Sun

• interpret graphical data produced by a datalogger and relate this to knowledge about variations in day length and climate in different seasons

• describe how differences in orbit and rotation time affect phenomena, eg day length, year length
• write an organised, continuous explanatory text of about 250 words

• label a diagram showing the Sun, planets and asteroid belt and the natural satellites of the planets of the solar system
• explain that the planets orbit the Sun in similar ways to the Earth, but that their orbits take different times to complete
• describe how information on the planets in our solar system is obtained and used
• present relevant information about a planet in the solar system in an appropriate form, eg for a future visitor
• read information text with understanding
• use appropriate reading strategies to find information

• frame a relevant question about which data from secondary sources can be collected
• present data on comparisons between characteristics of planets in a suitable way, eg table, chart or graph
• present evidence of relationships in data on aspects of planets

• state that within our solar system only Earth is known to support any life forms
• describe the conditions necessary for life in the solar system
• describe how strongly their evidence supports or does not support the idea of life elsewhere in the solar system

• explain that we can see the Sun and other stars because they are light sources
• explain that we only see the stars at night because the Sun is much nearer to us and appears brighter
• use the idea of the Earth's rotation to explain the apparent movement of the stars in the night sky

• produce relevant questions and correct answers to them