Download level 7 and 8 ideas

Should I give my little
sister my old mobile
phone?
Weigh up the evidence
linked to the health and
safety of mobile phones
AF1.7.2
Decide how different
pieces of scientific
evidence relate to this
question or support your
argument AF1.7.3
Evaluate the relative
importance of the
arguments presented by
others in the scientific
community AF1.8.2
Arrive at an informed opinion about a scientific matter, after considering
the associated ethical, medical and financial issues.

Some people say that GM
foods are dangerous. I
have just eaten a
sandwich made from GM
wheat.
What should I do?
Weigh up the evidence
linked to the health and
safety of GM foods
AF1.7.2
Decide how different
pieces of scientific
evidence relate to this
question or support your
argument AF1.7.3
Evaluate the relative
importance of the
arguments presented by
others in the scientific
community AF1.8.2
Arrive at an informed opinion about a scientific matter, after considering the
associated ethical, medical and financial issues.

An argument FOR the
production of GM crops
We can make crops that are resistant to
attack from insects, so crops won’t be
lost and people, particularly those in the
third world won’t be faced with famine.
But the argument AGAINST the
production of GM crops might be:
How long will ‘clever crops’ last?
Many genetic modifications
result in crops that repel pests
because they taste horrid, or
even poison the insect. But
pests evolve – eventually a
resistant strain of insect will
arise - and the problem returns.
But then your counter argument might
state:
Yes, but…… if we can solve the problem for
now, by the time the pests have evolved there
might well be another solution because there
will have been even more research to identify
more ideas and discoveries!
Has the no smoking in
public places ban
worked?
Formulate questions that
can be investigated by
bringing together
information from a range
of sources AF4.7.1
Assess the strength of
evidence deciding
whether it is strong
enough to support a
conclusion AF5.7.3
Critically interpret
evaluate conflicting
evidence AF5.8.3
Weigh up the evidence
linked to the health and
safety of exposure to
radioactive sources
AF1.7.2
If the Ukrainian tourist
how different
board were encouraging Decide
pieces of scientific
evidence relate to this
people to visit the
question or support your
Chernobyl nature reserve argument AF1.7.3
what would your advice Evaluate the relative
importance of the
be?
arguments presented by
others in the scientific
community AF1.8.2
Arrive at an informed opinion about a scientific matter, after considering
the associated ethical, medical and financial issues.

The Diamond 9
approach
A thinking skills/discussion activity
The purpose of diamond ranking is to provoke
discussion or reflection about the relative
importance of a range of factors. AF1.7.2
The purpose of diamond ranking is to
provoke discussion or reflection about the
relative importance of a range of factors.
AF1.7.2
most
important
1
2
3
5
4
14
6
15
16
least
important
MRSA: Hospital Superbug?
• MRSA stands for Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus
aureus.
• Staphylococcus aureus is a bacterium that is often found on
the skin.
• People who have Staphylococcus aureus on their skin are
perfectly healthy and normal.
• However, if it gets in the body, for example in the lungs or
under the skin, it can cause infections such as boils and
pneumonia. These infections can be treated.
• Methicillin is an antibiotic that is no longer used.
• Antibiotics are used to kill bacteria.
• Staphylococcus aureus is spread by physical contact (skin
to skin) or through droplets (sneezing and coughing).
• If MRSA is passed onto someone who is already ill, a more
serious infection can occur.
Statements to go on cards
• Nurses wash their hands between all patients.
• The hospital food is tasty.
• All visitors must wash their hands on arriving and
leaving.
• Visitors are not allowed to bring flowers.
• Visitors are only allowed during visiting hours.
• Patients have their sheets changed every day.
• A supervisor checks the cleaner’s work regularly.
• The ward is always cleaned with antibacterial cleaner.
• All doctors wear gloves.
Assemble a diamond 9
Using the following statements decide
what are the most important things to
consider when …..
• building electrical circuits?
• handling radioactive sources?
• explaining how a plant makes it’s food?
• handling acids and alkalis?
• explaining what our solar system is?
Electric circuits – easy to construct?
• A complete circuit must be set up before an electric current will flow
• A switch is added to a circuit to control it (on/off)
• An ammeter must be connected in a circuit if the current is to be
measured
• Fuses are necessary because they will melt when the current is too
high, protecting circuit components
• A battery transfers energy to a circuit
• The mains electricity supply has a voltage of 240V
• All batteries have a positive and negative terminal
• Bulbs, batteries and switches are the main components of electrical
circuits
• The size of the current in a circuit depends on the number of cells
A complete circuit must be
set up before an electric
current will flow
A switch is added to a
circuit to control it (on/off)
An ammeter must be
connected in a circuit if the
current is to be measured
Fuses are necessary
because they will melt
when the current is too
high, protecting circuit
components
A battery transfers the
energy to a circuit
The mains electricity
supply has a voltage of
240V
The radiation surrounding
us is called ‘background
radiation’
Bulbs, batteries and
switches are the main
components of electrical
circuits
The size of the current in a
circuit depends on the
number of cells
Radioactivity – using radioactive
sources
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Radioactive sources must be held at arms length
Radioactive sources must be stored in a lead-lined box
Atoms which have become charges are called ions
An atom contains a central nucleus containing protons and
neutrons
A Geiger Counter is necessary to measure the amount of radiation
given off by a source
Gloves and long tongs are vital when handling radioactive sources
The radiation surrounding us is called ‘background radiation’
A thin sheet of metal is needed to absorb beta radiation
Alpha radiation is absorbed by skin and (a thin sheet) paper
Radioactive sources must
be held at arms length
Radioactive sources must
be stored in a lead-lined
box
Atoms which have become
charges are called ions
An atom contains a central
nucleus containing protons
and neutrons
A Geiger Counter is
necessary to measure the
amount of radiation given
off by a source
Gloves and long tongs are
vital when handling
radioactive sources
The radiation surrounding
us is called ‘background
radiation’
A thin sheet of metal is
needed to absorb beta
radiation
Alpha radiation is absorbed
by skin and (a thin sheet)
paper
Photosynthesis – how does a plant
make its food?
• Raw materials required for photosynthesis are carbon dioxide and
water
• The formula for carbon dioxide is CO2
• Chlorophyll in the chloroplasts are needed for photosynthesis to
take place, absorbing light
• Leaves have a large surface area to absorb sun light
• Glucose and oxygen are the products of photosynthesis
• Leaves can be tested for starch using iodine
• The roots support the plant and absorb water and nutrients
• The top surface of a leaf is covered in a cuticle to make the leaf
waterproof
• Carbon dioxide comes from the air and enters the leaf through
small holes called stomata
Raw materials required for
photosynthesis are carbon
dioxide and water
The formula for carbon
dioxide is CO2
Chlorophyll in the
chloroplasts are needed for
photosynthesis to take
place, absorbing light
Leaves have a large
surface area to absorb sun
light
Glucose and oxygen are
the products of
photosynthesis
Leaves can be tested for
starch using iodine solution
The roots support the plant
and absorb water and
nutrients
The top surface of a leaf is
covered in a cuticle to
make the leaf waterproof
Carbon dioxide comes from
the air and enters the leaf
through small holes called
stomata
Acids & Alkalis – how should they
be handled?
• When using acids and alkalis goggles must be worn
• Laboratory acids can be corrosive so all safety procedures must be
followed
• Treat contact with the skin and eyes with lots of cold water
• All acids taste sour and produce salts when neutralised
• Lemonade and vinegar are acidic
• Alkalis taste very nasty – just like soap!
• Kitchen acids are used a lot in cooking because they can add taste
to food
• Laboratory acids and alkalis should always be stored in a safe
place
• Concentrated acids turn red, indicating they are harmful – treat
with caution
When using acids and
alkalis goggles must be
worn
Laboratory acids can be
corrosive so all safety
procedures must be
followed
Treat contact with the skin
and eyes with lots of cold
water
All acids taste sour and
produce salts when
neutralised
Lemonade and vinegar are
acidic
Alkalis taste very nasty –
just like soap!
Kitchen acids are used a
lot in cooking because they
can add taste to food
Laboratory acids and
alkalis should always be
stored in a safe place
Concentrated acids turn
red, indicating they are
harmful – treat with
caution
Space – what is our solar system?
• At the centre of our solar system there is one star which we call the
sun
• Nine known planets orbit our sun at different distances from it
• The word planet comes from the Greek word for ‘wanderer’
• Pluto is a very cold planet
• Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system
• It takes 365 ¼ days for the Earth to orbit once around the sun
• A comet is a lump of rock and ice travelling at velocity
• Planets are held in orbit around the sun by a gravitational force
• Our sun (at the centre of the solar system) is just one star in a
group of stars called a galaxy. Our galaxy is called the Milky Way
At the centre of our solar
system there is one star
which we call the sun
Nine known planets orbit
our sun at different
distances from it
The word planet comes
from the Greek word for
‘wanderer’
Pluto is a very cold planet
Jupiter is the largest planet
in the solar system
It takes 365 ¼ days for the
Earth to orbit once around
the sun
A comet is a lump of rock
and ice travelling at velocity
Planets are held in orbit
around the sun by a
gravitational force
Our sun (at the centre of
the solar system) is just
one star in a group of stars
called a galaxy. Our galaxy
is called the Milky Way