Hey with Zion CofE / Methodist Primary School

Science

Purpose of study

A high-quality science education provides the foundations for understanding the world through the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics. Science has changed our lives and is vital to the world’s future prosperity, and all pupils should be taught essential aspects of the knowledge, methods, processes and uses of science.

Through building up a body of key foundational knowledge and concepts, pupils are be encouraged to recognise the power of rational explanation and develop a sense of excitement and curiosity about natural phenomena. Through lessons in school and through our links with Oldham’s Regional Science Centre they are encouraged to understand how science can be used to explain what is occurring, predict how things will behave, and analyse causes.

Aims

The national curriculum for science aims to ensure that all pupils:

  • develop scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding through the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics
  • 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

Enquiry-based and Literacy-loaded curriculum
We are increasingly following a Literacy-loaded and enquiry-based approach to the study of our foundation subjects. This means that where appropriate, activities will link with aspects of core texts covered in English lessons, adding context and depth to the learning, and will be framed in ways which heighten children's engagement. Our children tell us that this helps them greatly: http://heywithzion.primaryblogger.co.uk/2018/11/29/thinking-about-thinking/

Key stage 1

The principal focus of science teaching in key stage 1 is to enable pupils to experience and observe phenomena, looking more closely at the natural and humanly-constructed world around them. They are encouraged to be curious and ask questions about what they notice. They are helped to develop their understanding of scientific ideas by using different types of scientific enquiry to answer their own questions, including observing changes over a period of time, noticing patterns, grouping and classifying things, carrying out simple comparative tests, and finding things out using secondary sources of information.

They begin to use simple scientific language to talk about what they have found out and communicate their ideas to a range of audiences in a variety of ways. Most of the learning about science is done through the use of first-hand practical experiences, but there is also be some use of appropriate secondary sources, such as books, photographs and videos. Pupils learn read and spell scientific vocabulary at a level consistent with their increasing word reading and spelling knowledge at key stage 1.

Lower key stage 2 – years 3-4

The principal focus of science teaching in lower key stage 2 is to enable pupils to broaden their scientific view of the world around them. They do this through exploring, talking about, testing and developing ideas about everyday phenomena and the relationships between living things and familiar environments, and by beginning to develop their ideas about functions, relationships and interactions.

They ask their own questions about what they observe and make some decisions about which types of scientific enquiry are likely to be the best ways of answering them, including observing changes over time, noticing patterns, grouping and classifying things, carrying out simple comparative and fair tests and finding things out using secondary sources of information. They draw simple conclusions and use some scientific language, first, to talk about and, later, to write about what they have found out.

Upper key stage 2 – years 5-6

The principal focus of science teaching in upper key stage 2 is to enable pupils to develop a deeper understanding of a wide range of scientific ideas. They do this through exploring and talking about their ideas; asking their own questions about scientific phenomena; and analysing functions, relationships and interactions more systematically. At upper key stage 2, they encounter more abstract ideas and begin to recognise how these ideas help them to understand and predict how the world operates.

They also begin to recognise that scientific ideas change and develop over time. They select the most appropriate ways to answer science questions using different types of scientific enquiry, including observing changes over different periods of time, noticing patterns, grouping and classifying things, carrying out comparative and fair tests and finding things out using a wide range of secondary sources of information. Pupils are taught to draw conclusions based on their data and observations, use evidence to justify their ideas, and use their scientific knowledge and understanding to explain their findings. Pupils learn to read, spell and pronounce scientific vocabulary correctly.

Our study units:

Key Stage One:

Animals including humans
All living things and their habitats

Animals including humans
All living things and their habitats

Everyday materials and their uses
Sound

Everyday materials and their uses
Sound

Light
Plants

Seasonal changes
Plants

Lower Key Stage Two:

Sound
Electricity

States of Matter
Forces and Magnets

Rocks
Animals including humans

Rocks
Animals including humans

All Living Things and Plants
Light

Plants
Light

Upper Key Stage Two:

Forces
Earth and Space

Electricity
Earth and Space

Evolution and Inheritance
Properties and Changes of Materials

Evolution and Inheritance
Properties and Changes of Materials

Light
All Living Things

Healthy Living
Animals including humans