Science
Intent
Our Science Curriculum enables children to become enquiry-based learners collaborating through researching, investigating and evaluating experiences. It encourages respect for living organisms and for the physical environment.
We ensure that all children are exposed to high quality teaching and learning experiences to hook their interest, enabling them to develop a sense of excitement and curiosity about natural phenomena. They are encouraged to ask questions about the world around them and work scientifically to further their conceptual understanding and scientific knowledge.
Our intent is that children will understand how science can be used to explain what is occurring, predict how things will behave, and analyse causes. It will provide opportunities to apply their mathematical knowledge to their understanding of science, including collecting, presenting and analysing data. Children will be immersed in key scientific vocabulary, to support their acquisition of scientific knowledge and understanding.
We aim to ensure all pupils:
- develop scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding
- develop understanding of the nature, processes and methods of science through different types of science enquiries that help them to answer scientific questions about the world around them
- are equipped with the scientific knowledge required to understand the uses and implications of science, today and for the future.
Implementation
Teachers create a positive attitude to science learning within their classrooms and reinforce an expectation that all children are capable of achieving high standards in science.
Science is taught in planned and arranged topic blocks to enable the achievement of a greater depth of knowledge through a sequential and cumulative approach.
Children are involved in problem solving opportunities that allow them to find out for themselves. They are encouraged to ask their own questions and are given opportunities to use their scientific skills and research to discover the answers. This curiosity is celebrated within the classroom. Teachers create engaging lessons, involving high-quality resources to aid understanding of conceptual knowledge. Teachers use regular revisiting in class to test conceptual knowledge and skills and assess children regularly on components and composites, to identify any areas that need revisiting.
Knowledge and skills are cumulative. As the children’s knowledge and understanding increases, and they become more proficient in selecting and using scientific equipment, collating and interpreting results, they become increasingly confident in their growing ability to come to conclusions based on real evidence.
New vocabulary and challenging concepts are introduced through direct teaching. Teachers demonstrate how to use scientific equipment, and the various Working Scientifically skills in order to embed scientific understanding.
Throughout the year, children take part in a range of enrichment opportunities to further enhance their science provision. This includes visits such as local parks to investigate minibeasts and local habitats, to Yorkshire Wildlife Park and Sea-life Centre to further study animals, through first-hand experiences. The annual science day is a fin-filled day of science investigation as the whole school takes on a theme to study in depth, such as innovation.
Impact
The successful approach to the teaching of science results in an enjoyable, engaging, high quality science education, that provides children with the foundations for understanding the world around them.
In addition, pupils will:
- demonstrate a love of science work and an interest in further study and work in this field
- retain knowledge that is pertinent to Science with a real life context
- be able to question ideas and reflect on knowledge
- be able to articulate their understanding of scientific concepts and be able to reason scientifically using appropriate scientific vocabulary
- demonstrate a high love of mathematical skills through their work, organising, recording and interpreting results
- work collaboratively and practically to investigate and experiment
- achieve age related expectations in Science