Science Year 6 The Science of Sport

All sorts of pitches need good quality, durable and well looked after grass. Can you explore and classify a range of grasses and suggest the best for the job? Have a go at maintaining your own section of grass and investigate the best conditions to tantalising turf.

Science Objectives
i) Describe how living things are classified into broad groups according to common observable characteristics and based on similarities and differences, including microorganisms, plants and animals.

Working Scientifically

1. Plan different types of scientific enquiries to answer questions, including recognising and controlling variables where necessary.
2. Take measurements, using a range of scientific equipment, with increasing accuracy and precision, taking repeat readings when appropriate.
3. Record data and results of increasing complexity using scientific diagrams and labels, classification keys, tables, scatter graphs, bar and line graphs.
4. Identify scientific evidence that has been used to support or refute ideas or arguments.

Explore the science of sports kit materials and why some fabrics are better than others. Carry out an investigation and compare the materials different sports balls are made from. Examine the properties of Paralympian biomechanical materials and how they impact on disability sport.

Science Objectives
i) Compare and group together everyday materials on the basis of their properties.

ii) Give reasons, based on evidence from comparative and fair tests, for the particular uses of everyday materials, including metals, wood and plastic.

Working Scientifically

1. Plan different types of scientific enquiries to answer questions, including recognising and controlling variables where necessary.
2. Take measurements, using a range of scientific equipment, with increasing accuracy and precision, taking repeat readings when appropriate.
3. Record data and results of increasing complexity using scientific diagrams and labels, classification keys, tables, scatter graphs, bar and line graphs.
4. Use test results to make predictions to set up further comparative and fair tests.
5. Report and present findings from enquiries, including conclusions, causal relationships and explanations of and degree of trust in results, in oral and written forms such as displays and other presentations.
6. Identify scientific evidence that has been used to support or refute ideas or arguments.

Can you identify the invisible impact of forces on a sport? Explore how friction and air resistance can be used to improve performance and have a go at creating exact sizes of impact forces needed to score goals.

Science Objectives
i) Explain that unsupported objects fall towards the Earth because of the force of gravity acting between the Earth and the falling object.

ii) Identify the effects of air resistance, water resistance and friction, that act between moving surfaces.

iii) Recognise that some mechanisms, including levers, pulleys and gears, allow a smaller force to have a greater effect.

Working Scientifically

1. Plan different types of scientific enquiries to answer questions, including recognising and controlling variables where necessary.
2. Take measurements, using a range of scientific equipment, with increasing accuracy and precision, taking repeat readings when appropriate.
3. Record data and results of increasing complexity using tables.
4. Use test results to make predictions to set up further comparative and fair tests.
5. Report and present findings from enquiries, including conclusions, causal relationships and explanations of and degree of trust in results, in oral and written forms.
6. Identify scientific evidence that has been used to support or refute ideas or arguments.

Extended Writing Opportunity
Persuasive writing: Complete research or investigations into the materials used for various sports balls or bats/rackets and clubs and write a sports company advertising leaflet extolling the virtues of the new equipment.

Explore the ways that nutrition, exercise and injury prevention impact on sports performance. Design an eating and exercise plan as well as your own warm up and warm down routine.

Science Objectives
i) Recognise the impact of diet, exercise, drugs and lifestyle on the way their bodies function.

Working Scientifically

1. Identify scientific evidence that has been used to support or refute ideas or arguments.

Are you born with sports talent or can training alone get you to the top? Explore the science behind biological and environmental characteristics in the sports arena.

Science Objectives
i) Recognise that living things produce offspring of the same kind, but normally offspring vary and are not identical to their parents.

Working Scientifically

1. Take measurements, using a range of scientific equipment, with increasing accuracy and precision, taking repeat readings when appropriate.
2. Report and present findings from enquiries, including conclusions, causal relationships and explanations of and degree of trust in results, in oral and written forms.
3. Identify scientific evidence that has been used to support or refute ideas or arguments.

Extended Writing Opportunity
Information text: Create a sports information leaflet about the factors that impact on sports talent.

Can you ensure the stadium lights are positioned correctly to avoid distracting shadows? Can you make sure that the flood lights are bright enough and can be switched on and off manually and by timer? Can you make the case for alternative forms of energy to run sports stadiums? The game is afoot!

Science Objectives
i) Associate the brightness of a lamp or the volume of a buzzer with the number and voltage of cells used in the circuit.

ii) Compare and give reasons for variations in how components function, including the brightness of bulbs, the loudness of buzzers and the on/off position of switches.

iii) Use recognised symbols when representing a simple circuit in a diagram.

Working Scientifically

1. Plan different types of scientific enquiries to answer questions, including recognising and controlling variables where necessary.
2. Take measurements, using scientific equipment, with increasing accuracy and precision.
3. Record data and results of increasing complexity using scientific diagrams and labels.
4. Report and present findings from enquiries, including conclusions, causal relationships and explanations of and degree of trust in results, in oral and written forms.
5. Identify scientific evidence that has been used to support or refute ideas or arguments.

Other Curriculum Areas
Design and Technology

• Use research and develop design criteria to inform the design of innovative, functional, appealing products that are fit for purpose, aimed at particular individuals or groups. Generate, develop, model and communicate their ideas through discussion, annotated sketches, cross-sectional and exploded diagrams and prototypes. Understand and use electrical systems in their products.