Science/ Understanding the World- Being Scientists!

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Programme 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 should be encouraged to recognise the power of rational explanation and develop a sense of excitement and curiosity about natural phenomena. They should be encouraged to understand how science can be used to explain what is occurring, predict how things will behave, and analyse causes.

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.

Pupils should be able to describe associated processes and key characteristics in common language, but they should also be familiar with, and use, technical terminology accurately and precisely. They should build up an extended specialist vocabulary. They should also apply their mathematical knowledge to their understanding of science, including collecting, presenting and analysing data. The social and economic implications of science are important but, generally, they are taught most appropriately within the wider school curriculum: teachers will wish to use different contexts to maximise their pupils’ engagement with and motivation to study science.

The EYFS learning goals: 

The Natural World

• Explore the natural world around them, making observations and drawing pictures of animals and plants.
• Know some similarities and differences between the natural world around them and contrasting environments, drawing on their experiences and what has been read in class.
• Understand some important processes and changes in the natural world around them, including the seasons and changing states of matter

KS1 Pupils should be taught to: 

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 should be encouraged to be curious and ask questions about what they notice. They should be 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 should 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 should be done through the use of first-hand practical experiences, but there should also be some use of appropriate secondary sources, such as books, photographs and videos.

‘Working scientifically’ is described separately in the programme of study, but must always be taught through and clearly related to the teaching of substantive science content in the programme of study. Throughout the notes and guidance, examples show how scientific methods and skills might be linked to specific elements of the content. Pupils should read and spell scientific vocabulary at a level consistent with their increasing word-reading and spelling knowledge.

Intent

At Dunchurch, all pupils will leave with an understanding of the important scientific knowledge and be able to use and apply scientific skills to understand the world that they are part of. The children will have an understanding of natural animal and human world, how we have evolved from the beginning of time, and the application of science in our everyday lives. They will have used a range of engaging resources, actively engaged in scientific discovery and explored key scientists from a range of backgrounds and cultures as well as studying modern world climate and scientific issues. The children will also know about some relevant scientist and the impact they have had on the world.

All children will have had the opportunity to present their own work in a range of ways as well as develop their scientific skills to discuss, analyse, measure, classify and question, before presenting their findings. Working practically, Explore and investigate, children will work collaboratively and systematically to answer a question.

Through teaching and learning in science, children will gain an understanding of the world locally and globally and the challenges the modern world is facing. Scientific skills such as questioning, testing, analysing, predicting and concluding will prepare the children for life in an increasingly complex modern world

Implementation

To ensure high standards of teaching and learning in science we implement a curriculum that is progressive throughout the whole school. Science is taught weekly through sequential and coherent patterns which build upon previous learning. Science focuses on the knowledge and skills stated in the National Curriculum. Pupils are encouraged to apply their scientific skills in all areas of the curriculum, questioning their understanding of the world they experience, and developing ways to explore and answer their questions and to provide possible solutions which can be tested. Teachers plan lessons for their class using our progression of knowledge and skills documents. This progression document ensures the curriculum is covered and the skills/knowledge taught are progressive from year group to year group.

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. At Dunchurch, we measure the impact through regular assessment opportunities, discussions with the children and through evidencing the skills and knowledge within the children’s written and practical learning. The children will be able to select appropriately from a variety of techniques to investigate and provide answers to questions, making links to the local and wider world.