KS3 & KS4 science curriculum

This unit builds on pupils’ prior learning from Aerobic and anaerobic cellular respiration, where they explored how energy is released from glucose. It deepens their understanding by examining how plants transport water, minerals, and gases through specialised exchange surfaces like roots and leaves. This prepares pupils for the next unit, Coordination and control: maintaining a constant internal environment, where they will explore how organisms regulate processes like temperature and water balance to maintain homeostasis.

1. Plant roots are adapted to absorb water and mineral ions
2. Transport systems in plants: xylem and transpiration
3. Observing the structure and distribution of stomata: practical
4. Transport systems in plants: phloem and translocation
5. Observing xylem and phloem using a light microscope: practical
6. The effects of environmental factors on the rate of water uptake by a plant
7. The importance of exchange surfaces and transport systems in plants

• Plants are multicellular organisms – they are made up of millions of living cells.
• Plants do not have a circulatory system (they do not have blood, blood vessels or a heart).
• Cells need to be supplied with nutrients including carbohydrates, proteins, lipids and water for growth and repair.
• Cells need to be supplied with oxygen and glucose for cellular respiration to provide energy for life processes.
• Cells with chloroplasts need to be supplied with carbon dioxide and water for photosynthesis.
• Particles of substances move by diffusion into and out of cells through selectively-permeable cell membranes.
• Exchange surfaces are adapted to maximise the surface area for diffusion of particles across membranes.
• In humans, the circulatory system transports essential substances around the body and minimises the distance they have to diffuse so cells can be supplied quickly.