Skip to content
Oak National Academy
Oak National Academy
View my library
0
Teachers
Pupils

AQA (KS4)

KS3 & KS4 science curriculum

Unit sequence

Skip to units

Filter and highlight

Year group

Category (KS3)

Exam subject (KS4)

Learning tier (KS4)

Highlight a thread
Science
Year 9

Carbon cycle and climate change

7 lessons

Threads

  • BQ08 Chemistry: How can substances be made and changed?
  • BQ09 Chemistry: How can we explain changes in the air, land and oceans?
  • BQ15 How can we live sustainably to protect Earth for a better future?

Description

This unit explores the rock cycle and the formation of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks. It also examines the atmosphere's composition, human-induced carbon dioxide production, and its impact on climate. Focus is on interpreting data, identifying patterns, and presenting explanations.

This unit builds on pupils’ prior learning from Earth's resources, where they explored how natural resources are utilised and the importance of sustainable management. It deepens their understanding by examining the carbon cycle and its role in climate change, focusing on human impacts such as carbon emissions. This prepares pupils for the next unit, Atmosphere and changing climate, where they will apply their knowledge to explore the composition and evolution of Earth’s atmosphere and the ongoing impacts of climate change.

  1. Physical weathering and erosion
  2. Formation of sedimentary rock
  3. Fossils and the rock cycle
  4. Formation of fossil fuels
  5. Gases in the atmosphere
  6. Atmospheric carbon
  7. The carbon cycle

  • Rocks may contain sand, grit, bits of seashell, fossils or crystals.
  • Sedimentary rocks contain distinct grains that are stuck together.
  • Sedimentary rocks may contain fragments of shell or fossils, or larger pieces of grit or pebbles cemented together.
  • Igneous rocks contain crystals that point in many directions.
  • Metamorphic rocks contain large crystals that all line up.
  • Most rocks are a mixture of one or more types of mineral, or of fragments of other rocks and fossils.
  • Burning coal, oil or gas in power stations makes carbon dioxide gas and other pollutants.
See lessons in unit

91 units shown,

Need help with our new curriculum?

Visit our help centre for technical support as well as tips and ideas to help you make the most of Oak.

Go to help centre