Science
INTENT
Our main aim in science is to give all children a strong understanding of the world around them whilst acquiring specific skills and knowledge to help them to think scientifically, to gain an understanding of scientific processes and also an understanding of the uses and implications of Science today. At Shakespeare Primary, scientific enquiry skills are embedded in each topic the children study and these topics are revisited and developed throughout their time at school.
Topics, such as Plants, are taught in Key Stage One and studied again in further detail throughout Key Stage Two. This model allows children to build upon their prior knowledge and increases their enthusiasm for the topics whilst embedding this procedural knowledge into the long-term memory. All children are encouraged to develop and use a range of skills including observations, planning and investigations, as well as being encouraged to question the world around them and become independent learners in exploring possible answers for their scientific based questions. Specialist vocabulary for topics is taught and built up, and effective questioning to communicate ideas is encouraged. Concepts taught should be reinforced by focusing on the key features of scientific enquiry, so that pupils learn to use a variety of approaches to answer relevant scientific questions.
IMPLEMENTATION
Coordinators are given extra time to focus the planning, resources and implementation of science. As part of this planning process, teachers need to plan a cycle of lessons for each science topic, which carefully plans for progression and depth. Regular, fast-paced, enthusiastic lessons give children the opportunity to experiment where possible and further develop their scientific enquiry skills. A successful science day is implemented every year which allows children to predict, explore, test and evaluate scientific experiments. This also gives them ownership and allows them to become a scientist for the day. There is a close link with the local high school as a select group of children in years 5 and 6 are given the opportunity to visit science labs and conduct experiments. Children’s books are checked termly to ensure the science standards are being met throughout the school.
IMPACT
Our Science Curriculum is high quality, well thought out and is planned to demonstrate progression. If children are keeping up with the curriculum, they are deemed to be making good or better progress. In addition, we measure the impact of our curriculum through the following methods:
§ A reflection on standards achieved against the planned outcomes;
§ A celebration of learning at the end of science day;
§ Pupil discussions about their learning;
Our science curriculum covers a broad range of topics which allow children to create links from the classroom to their own lives. For example, in KS1 and KS2 children learn about humans which encourages them to make good health and hygiene choices. Our curriculum also encourages the children to think about the world around them and how to care for it by learning about topics such as plastic pollution and the eco systems. The KS2 curriculum allows children to think about our place as part of the solar system and food chains. In year 6 we challenge children’s opinions on evolution and the concept of religion. As a school we encourage our children to enjoy science and we believe this feeds through to an interest in KS3 and beyond.
Year Group Curriculum Maps
Year 1 - Knowledge Organisers
Year 2 - Knowledge Organisers
Year 3 - Knowledge Organisers
Year 4 - Knowledge Organisers
Year 5 - Knowledge Organisers
Year 6 - Knowledge Maps
In Year 4 we have been measuring sounds using a decibel meter on the ipad. Would the sound be louder, the higher we dropped the marble?
Year 3 have been investigating how shadows are formed as part of our light topic.
Year 2 have been exploring seeds and bulbs!
In Year 4 we have been investigating how much quicker ice melts with salt rather than without (3 states of water - States of Matter).
In Science, year 2 have been testing out different objects to see if they can change the shape of them. We did lots of bending, twisting, stretching and squashing. We also played with GLOOP, which was wonderfully weird!
Year 2 have been identifying materials and understanding why different objects are made from particular materials.
In year 2, we have been sorting materials into groups and labelling materials around the classroom.
Year 5 have been testing different materials to find out how absorbent they are.
Year 2 had an amazing time becoming super scientists for the afternoon! The ballon kebab experiment went with a bang!
Year 1 have been testing materials using a torch to find out which materials are transparent, translucent and opaque. Then sorting them into groups.
We are Scientists!!! Year 2 have made balloon kebabs today! Some of them POPPED but we had another go x
In year 6 we have been imagining the end of the world was upon us and have created our own species that should be able to adapt to their new surroundings of water, desert and ice.
In Science we have been discussing the importance of washing our hands. We did the 'pepper experiment' to show how fantastic hand sanitizer is at getting rid of germs!
Year 2 have set their butterflies free!!
Year 2 have been set up a plant experiment this week! Each plant has different conditions. We have predicted how each plant will grow and we will observe them closely to discover the outcome!
At Science club this week, our super scientists had to complete a wheelbarrow challenge. They had to work as a team to build a wheelbarrow and then transport a cup of water around a course without spilling it. Shakespeare won the challenge! Well done team!
Year 2 have been on a trip Farmer Parr’s. They learned all about different animals and their young, what they need and their habitat. They even got go feed, stroke and hold some of them! It was a super day x
Year 2’s new topic in science is PLANTS! We have been labelling and observing plants and trees!!
In Year 4 we have been listening and learning about pitch through our Sound topic. We made our own string instruments and discovered how to create higher and lower pitch.
Year 1 have enjoyed been explorers and hunting for mini beasts.
Year 1 had a lovely afternoon pond dipping. They even used ipods to take their own photographs.
Year 3 had lots of fun exploring and learning about dinosaurs, fossils, rocks and skeletons at the World Museum in Liverpool.
Science club is GREAT!! We have been building bridges out of paper and testing out how many weights it can hold. We have also been learning how to use Bunsen Burners safely and completed a dissolving jelly' experiment xx
Year 2 exploring habitats in our local area
In year 1 we have been learning about what plants need to grow and naming the different parts.
We are full of the joys of SPRING in Class R! 🐸🐥🌞 We have talked about Spring time and been on our 'Signs of Spring Park Walk'. We have explored our nature garden, had stories, found frogspawn and tadpoles and produced life cycles of a frog in different ways!
In year 3, we have been learning all about our skeletons and why they are important for support and protection. Take a look at our fabulous diagrams.
Today, year 2 have been looking at Microhabitats and discovering the minibeasts that live there!
