The document discusses the importance of practical work and investigations in the new KS4 science curriculum. It emphasizes developing students' skills in planning investigations, collecting and analyzing data, developing explanations, and considering social and ethical implications. It provides examples of potential student-led investigations related to the effects of copper pollution on plant growth and germination that could help students learn how science works.

1. Practical work to deliver ‘How Science Works’

10. Effect of human activity on the environment Hydroponics 3abc 4a Tissue culture 4a Natural selection 1c 3abc Growth 1ab 2bcd Photosynthesis 1b 4c Productivity 1b 2bcd 3abc Inter/intra specific competition 3abc Variation Pods/seeds 2bcd Crop variation – length, girth, mass ( 1a 2bcd ) and flavour (3b) Evolution (wild types) 1c Supermarket selection 4bc Crops e.g. carrots, sugar cane, rice, wheat, beans, rcbr, lettuce, tomatoes 2a Genetics 1c Ethics 3c G.M crops 1cd , 3c 4abc Species hybridisation Selective breeding 3abc Commercial varieties 1d Farming 3ac Customer choice 4bc Nutrients 3bc 4b organic insecticides intensive Fertilisers 1ab 2bcd Food miles 4b Efficiency and waste 3abc 4 Protein, carbohydrates carotene TLC Graph work 1b , 2bcd

11. Hydroponics 4a Germination of plants 1a 1b 1c 1d 2a,2b,2c,2d 3a,3b,3c Selective breeding Contemporary science Genetic modification Ethical issues 4a Variation and natural Selection 5b Effects of human activity on the environment 8a Seed viability

17. Collecting primary data 10 200 175 150 125 100 75 50 25 0 mean 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 % Nos (ppm) Shoot/root length (mm) Germination Cu

18. 70 7 200 70 7 175 100 10 150 100 10 125 90 9 100 90 9 75 80 8 50 90 9 25 100 10 10 90 9 0 % Nos Cu (ppm) Germination

19. Comparison of seed germination rates 92 23 Coriander 88 22 Linseed 94 23.5 Fenugreek 100 25 Wheat 88 22 White Mustard % Numbers germinated /25 Seed

22. Using secondary data 62 50 64 56 55 65 70 65 55 50 78 100 10 10 2.0 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 70 7 200 9.1 6 12 10 10 10 4 12 70 7 175 3.8 6 4 2 2 16 2 2 2 2 2 100 10 150 10.3 10 17 13 11 16 4 11 14 5 2 100 10 125 12.2 6 10 27 16 17 6 2 6 20 90 9 100 11.6 20 4 9 14 14 15 15 5 8 90 9 75 16.1 12 9 19 8 2 24 37 18 80 8 50 21.9 2 14 28 19 44 16 42 30 2 90 9 25 60.3 75 88 14 84 94 52 66 22 48 90 9 0 mean 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 % Nos Cu (ppm) Root length (mm) Germination

26. A leading UK Plant Scientist says “ plants need minute quantities of copper because some oxidase type of enzymes require copper to function, and because copper is involved in electron transfer during photosynthesis. However, amounts in excess of 30 parts per million are usually toxic. Root growth is impaired as the copper binds to cell membranes, damaging them” Full article available to read OLD SCIENTIST Volume 1, Issue 1 4th December 2006 Copper not so harmful