Science
Intent
Our carefully designed science curriculum is intended to spark our pupils’ curiosity in the world around them and help them develop skills in science as a process of enquiry.
We know that children love to experiment and so we make sure that in each topic we have plenty of opportunity to learn core science skills through hands-on science.
As children progress through the year groups, they build on their skills in working scientifically, as well as on their scientific knowledge, as they develop greater independence in planning and carrying out fair and comparative tests to answer a range of scientific questions.
The curriculum has been designed so that core skills, in observation and prediction, for example, are extended and deepened as the children move from year group to year group through the school. Our curriculum helps the children to consolidate and retain the science knowledge they have learnt and also reinforce key scientific vocabulary from each unit.
Our learning programme ensures that children have a varied, progressive and well-mapped-out science curriculum that provides the opportunity for progression across the full breadth of the science national curriculum for KS1 and KS2.
Implementation
Science is a core subject and is taught by the class teacher. When planning for the Science curriculum, we use the curriculum planning and resources from Kent Science /Hamilton Trust as a starting point.
The acquisition of key scientific knowledge is an integral part of our science lessons. Our curriculum plan which lays out clear expectations for the development of knowledge and skills enables children to learn and retain the important, useful and powerful vocabulary and knowledge contained within each unit.
The progression of skills for working scientifically are developed through the year groups and scientific enquiry skills are of key importance within lessons. The progression of these skills is set out in the Science Progression Map with each lesson having a clear focus. They complete investigations and hands-on activities while gaining the scientific knowledge for each unit.
Teachers ask probing questions, using their subject knowledge, to help support the children’s own enquiry based learning. These questions allow the class teachers to assess children's levels of understanding at various points in the lesson. They also enable opportunities to recap concepts where necessary.
There is also the opportunity to regularly review and evaluate children's understanding. Activities are effectively adapted so that all children have an appropriate level of support and challenge.
Impact
In Science, progress is measured through a child’s ability to know more, remember more and explain more. Our children can think scientifically, make predictions and carry out investigations to deepen their understanding.
They make links from Science to other curriculum areas, building connections in their thinking and learning.
Our children are well prepared for Science in secondary school, with carefully developed core skills, written and practical methods to support learning at a more advanced level.
Links:
Science National Curriculum on the DFE Website
BBC Bitesize KS1
BBC Bitesize KS2
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BrainPop Science
BrainPOP offers educational animated videos and lessons covering different science topics. Each featured science topic comes with illustrative videos, quizzes, and accompanying activities.
Science Kids
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