You Will Need
Provided Resources
- Images of grass structure and types
- Properties of good sports turf & conditions for growth
- Grass grading system
- Investigation questions & equipment (including turf)
There is a lot more to sport than meets the eye and it is your job to explore the science behind it. Investigate and explore the grounds, the kit, the people, the physics and night time matches... and even reflect on your own sporting prowess in this revision block that can be taught across a half term, or in the form of a science week.
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
Provided Resources
Teaching
Activities
Investigation - classification
Identify characteristics of grass and create their own classification key for given grasses.
Vocabulary
Classification, grass, angiosperm, growth, monocotyledon, key, variables, conditions for growth, conclusions
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
Provided Resources
Additional Resources
Weblinks
Thermoplastics in Prosthetics from Intro to Materials Science
3D printed cycling prosthetic from 3d Printing Industry
Teaching
Activities
Investigation - fair testing, exploring, pattern seeking
Identify and compare the properties of sports top materials.
Vocabulary
Materials, properties, fair test, investigate, fitness for purpose, comparison
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
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.
Provided Resources
Additional Resources
Weblinks
Bend it like Beckham free kick tutorial from Coach My Skills
Teaching
Activities
Investigation - fair testing, exploring, pattern seeking
Identify the forces that can impact on a sports game and suggest how friction, air resistance and gravity can be exploited in sports.
Vocabulary
Force, push, pull, air resistance, friction, fair test, variables
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.
Provided Resources
Weblinks
The importance of food and nutrition for professional footballers Norwich City
11+ warm up from Tamworth Football Club
24hr food diary for Diego Forlan
Physical activities guidelines for children & young people from the NHS
Teaching
Activities
Investigation - fair testing, exploring, pattern seeking
Investigate the impact of exercise on the human body and the impact of nutrition on sports performance.
Vocabulary
Diet, exercise, muscles, heart rate, lifestyle, fitness, injury
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
Extended Writing Opportunity
Information text: Create a sports information leaflet about the factors that impact on sports talent.
Provided Resources
Additional Resources
Weblinks
Growth charts from www.rcpch.ac.uk
Measuring lung capacity from www.YouTube.com
Flexibility from www.topendsports.com
Teaching
Activities
Investigation - analysing secondary sources
Identify the influence of inheritance and environmental factors on sports performance.
Vocabulary
Inheritance, environmental factors, genetic, muscles, heart rate, cardiac capacity, lung capacity
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
Other Curriculum Areas
Design and Technology
Provided Resources
Weblinks
Floodlights at Somerset Cricket Ground
Sports & area flood lights from Abacus Lighting
Teaching
Activities
Investigation - fair testing, exploring, pattern seeking
Design and create circuits to ensure floodlights in a stadium are bright enough.
Vocabulary
Circuit, voltage, cell, battery, bulb, switch, timer, bright, dim, light meter
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