Science
The scientist is not the person who gives the right answers; he is one who asks the right questions
- Claude Levi-Strauss – French anthropologist
Science curriculum statement
We want our children to be naturally curious about the world around them, enabling them to develop a range of scientific skills. We want them to develop an understanding of the uses and implications of science, how it has changed and shaped our lives and how important it is in an increasingly scientific world. Scientific enquiry skills are embedded in each topic the children study and these topics are developed throughout the years, continuously building on prior knowledge. We teach science with an exciting cross-curricular approach, where possible linked to class topics, in line with national curriculum requirements.
Our curriculum intent for science
With these aspirations, our intent for the science curriculum are:
- To promote children’s curiosity about the world around them and to enable them to pose and answer scientific questions about their world.
- To encourage children to understand the uses and implications of science today, and for the future.
- To develop scientific knowledge and understanding through the disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics.
- To develop the skills of investigation, including observing, measuring, predicting, explaining, communicating and evaluating.
- To develop the use of computing in investigating and recording.
- To develop the use of scientific language, and enrich their vocabulary to support their understanding of the world around them.
Science is a core subject in the national curriculum. The programmes of study for each year group describe a sequence of knowledge and concepts. Our intent is for children to develop a secure understanding of the knowledge and concepts, as well as developing positive attitudes. ‘Working Scientifically’ specifies the understanding of the nature, processes and methods of science for each year group, so children are equipped with a range of scientific skills which they build on progressively throughout their time at Blackthorns.
Children in the foundation stage are taught the science elements through the Early Years Curriculum strand: Understanding the World. Science based learning linked to this strand in Reception is investigative and exploratory, designed to make children question and find answers to the challenges they discover. These learning opportunities are linked closely to the topics and key stories which form the Early Years curriculum.
Implementation
In ensuring high standards of teaching and learning in science, we implement a curriculum that is progressive throughout the whole school. The curriculum scheme of work which we use is ‘The Education People – Primary Science Scheme of Work’. This is an enquiry-based scheme of work which focuses on there being 10 big ideas to explore within primary science which are revisited throughout the year groups. The scheme also focuses on learning about significant people who have made a difference to the world around us with each topic linking to two key scientists or people who use science within their field of work.
This scheme of work begins in Year 1 and builds on the knowledge and investigative skills developed during the children’s Reception year.
We further enhance the science curriculum through an annual STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) week in the Spring Term and engage in regular trips and welcome visitors in to school to further enrich the children’s learning and passion for the subject. Where possible, we utilise our grounds and outside areas to enhance the children’s learning experiences.
Impact
The impact of the delivery of our science curriculum is that we aspire for all children to excel in the subject and to have a curiosity about the world around them which prepares them well for their move in to secondary education where they will study the separate sciences. The vast majority of our children will be achieving at an age-appropriate level and will demonstrate the disciplinary skills required to be a scientist.
How do we assess science?
The best assessment practice uses regular and formative assessment to ensure that children are consolidating their learning, building on their previous learning and have regular opportunities to demonstrate that they know what they have been taught.
This takes place in science in a variety of ways including recapping learning at the start of lessons, home learning tasks to consolidate and deepen knowledge, low stakes quizzes and meaningful investigations which help to implement the scientific knowledge learned into practical tasks.
In addition, summative knowledge is demonstrated through end of unit quizzes, events such as science fairs (where parents are invited in to see the pupil’s outcomes) and sharing learning with other children. Each science unit has focus questions which the children refer to throughout the unit and their answering of these questions (in a range of ways) builds towards teacher’s assessments of their knowledge against national curriculum expectations.