Science

Our Bible Reference:

Intent

The aim of the Science National Curriculum is to ensure that all pupils develop scientific knowledge and understanding about the world God created. Children gain a sense of wonder through asking and exploring their own scientific questions and through investigations and practical science this ensures that the pupils feel like ‘real scientists.’

Through creative learning experiences provided we equip the children with the scientific knowledge required to understand the uses and implications of science, today and for the future. Children are encouraged to become global citizens as they begin to make sense of a changing world through relevant global learning aspects and explore how humans can have a positive and negative impact on the world.

Implementation

A ‘hook’ is used to launch each Science biased unit to provide the children with time to become curious about the learning that they are about to embark on. This promotes thinking and a chance for children to ask questions. The children’s curiosity is then explored through carefully planned activities, completed by a ‘unit outcome’ to consolidate skills and learning.

The units are planned collaboratively within each key stage, making links to inspirational people, a class novel, a poem and visits or visitors. Each classroom develops a unit ‘Working Wall,’ displaying key vocabulary, knowledge and skills to support curriculum content.

Following the release of the EEF document ‘Improving Primary Science’ in 2023 and subsequent Staff Training, we are mindful of the key recommendations, when implementing. Namely:

1.   Developing pupils’ scientific vocabulary – identifying and explicitly teaching and revising.

2.   Encouraging pupils to explain their thinking (verbally or written) – providing a collaborative learning environment that promotes dialogue and, therefore, reasoning and justification.

3.   Guiding pupils to work scientifically - explicitly teaching the knowledge and skills required, giving opportunities for discussion and reflection.

4.   Relating new learning to relevant, real-world contexts.

5.   Using assessment to support learning and responsive teaching - teaching that builds on existing knowledge and experiences; monitoring pupils’ learning to inform responsive teaching, feedback, and next steps and summarising what pupils have learned.

6.   Strengthening science teaching through effective Professional Development.

Impact

The successful approach at Salesbury results in a fun, engaging, high-quality science education, that provides children with the foundations and knowledge for understanding the world. Our engagement with the local environment ensures that children learn through varied and first hand experiences of the world around them. Frequent, continuous and progressive learning outside the classroom is embedded throughout the science curriculum. Through various workshops, trips and interactions with experts and local charities, children have the understanding that science has changed our lives and that it is vital to the world’s future prosperity.

Children learn the possibilities for careers in science, as a result of our community links and connection with national agencies such as the STEM association and the Institute of Education and learn from and work with professionals, ensuring that children have access to positive role models within the field of science from the immediate and wider local community. From this exposure to a range of different scientists from various backgrounds, all children feel they are scientists and capable of achieving. Children at Salesbury overwhelmingly enjoy science and this results in motivated learners with sound scientific understanding.

Scientific Shane says:

AHOMFPT!

Ask Questions

Have Ideas

Observe

Measure

Fair Test

Predict

Tell People