The National 3 and 4 Course will develop learners’ interest and enthusiasm for environmental science in a range of contexts, as well as their investigative and experimental skills.

The Course aims to develop an understanding of environmental issues. It provides a range of up-to-date topics which are relevant to society. Through the Course, learners will investigate the key areas of the living environment, the Earth and its resources and sustainability as well as sustainable development.

The Course allows flexibility and personalisation within each Unit by allowing choice in the topics studied. Throughout the Course, learners will be able to develop their communication and collaborative working skills and other relevant skills for everyday life and employment.

The aims of this course are to enable pupils to:

• develop basic knowledge and understanding of environmental science
• develop an understanding of environmental science’s role in scientific issues and relevant applications of environmental science in society and the environment
• develop scientific inquiry and investigative skills
• develop scientific analytical thinking skills in an environmental science context
• develop the use of technology, equipment and materials, safely, in practical scientific activities
• develop problem-solving skills in an environmental science context
• develop practical fieldwork skills in an environmental science context
• use scientific literacy in everyday contexts
• establish the foundation for more advanced learning in environmental science

Attendance – Three periods each week

The National 3 and 4 Environmental Science course consists of three units. Living Environments, Sustainability and Earths Resources.

Living Environments

This Unit will explore the following key themes:

1. Sampling and identifying living things, from different habitats, to compare their diversity
2. Factors influencing the distribution of living things
3. The process of photosynthesis and why plants are vital to sustaining life on Earth
4. The use of different types of chemicals in agriculture and their alternatives
5. The potential impact of chemicals and their alternatives on the world’s food production.

Sustainability:

This Unit will explore the following key themes:

1. Processes which may contribute to climate change
2. The possible impact of atmospheric change on the survival of living things
3. The causes and possible consequences of an environmental issue and ways to manage the impact

Earth’s Resources:

This Unit will explore will explore the following key themes:

1. Renewable energy sources including benefits and potential problems
2. Formation, characteristics and uses of minerals
3. Formation, characteristics and uses of common rocks
4. Formation, characteristics and uses of soils
5. Useful substances which can be extracted from natural resource

All National 3 and 4 Environmental Units are assessed internally. Each unit will comprise of various assessments which are linked to the outcomes set. All outcomes must be passed to gain an overall award. Assessment is recorded as a Pass/Fail by the school and moderated by the SQA.

National 3 and 4:

Woodlouse Experiment and Write-up

Short Scientific Report- National 3 (30-50 words) and National 4 (50-70 words)

A set of questions for each of the following units:

Living Environments

Sustainability

National 4 pupils will also complete an Added Value Unit

Ongoing formative assessment will take place in the classroom. This continuous process of discussion is an essential part of the learning and teaching process in Environmental Science.

National 3 and 4 candidates will carry out a more formal learner’s conversation at various times within the year. This is an opportunity for pupils to discuss with staff what their strengths and weaknesses across each unit.

Reporting to parents is in line with the school calendar of tracking, reporting and parent evenings.