‘Science is understanding the world around us’

National curriculum in England: science programmes of study

What we are learning (Intent)

At Fairburn View Primary School, the Science curriculum develops student’s knowledge in order to prepare them for further education and to develop a life-long appreciation of the subject. We believe that developing our scientific knowledge gives us the tools we need to understand the world around us. It can enable us to interpret the world around us, predict how things will behave and analyse causes. We utilise real experiences whenever possible to allow children to discover their own learning. Science education offers practical opportunities for careful observation, measurement, experimentation and communication in a variety of forms. Through the teaching of evolution, the human body and living things, our children develop an appreciation for the diversity of our planet and our local community. The challenging aspects of science help to further develop our schools core ethos of ‘WE CAN and WE WILL’.

In addition to the school’s main drivers, the Science curriculum aims to:

  1. To give children many different experiences which can be recorded in many different ways.
  2. To help children to develop scientific vocabulary, skills and knowledge.
  3. To teach children to use equipment safely.
  4. To enable children to understand the world around them, through subject knowledge.
  5. To be taught in a way that allows children to be able to work both independently and collaboratively to develop enquiring minds.
  6. To help build children’s confidence to select the most appropriate tools, techniques and materials themselves.
  7. To promote children’s understanding and use of scientific language.
  8. To foster confidence in and enjoyment of science.
  9. To prepare children for further education and the ever-changing work places of the future.

 

 

 

How we are learning (Implementation)

Science is delivered weekly within every year group. It is taught through a variety of means.

For younger children there are opportunities for taking their education outside, for example observing the weather, searching for the signs of spring or learning about human senses, by seeking out sounds, smells, etc. Children are given the opportunity to predict upon, carry out and evaluate experiments, such as: predicting the height of a bean seed, planting, watering and managing the seed and then measuring, evaluating and recording.

Pupils are taught how to use a variety of equipment safety and appropriately, and work with children of different abilities. Children also learn the foundation knowledge across a range of scientific areas, which will then be build upon through KS2.

In KS2 we further develop the skills which were first introduced in KS1, introducing more scientific language and promoting more independence during experiments and the practical aspects of the subject. In KS2 the subject of forces is introduced, opening up a world of discovery for pupils who often have yet to be exposed to the concept. Subjects such as forces are taught in such a way as to promote self-discovery of knowledge, allowing children to become active participants in their education.

Throughout school teachers promote pupils to actively question their learning. Teachers use this to prompt further learning, following pupils interests outside of the curriculum. There are many cross-curricular links within science to Mathematics such as: recording data, creating graphs (bar, pie, etc.), measuring and making calculations. We also promote strong links to literacy and reading through our written observations, labelling, key word handwriting, spelling and our write-ups of key experiments. All Science work is marked with our literacy mark scheme.

Class trips and inviting visitors in to our school to enrich the teaching of our curriculum will be a staple in all year groups, allowing pupils to be inspired and develop a thirst for knowledge.

What we have learned from it (Impact)

As a result, we have a community of enthusiastic, brilliant scientists who have a love for the discovery of new scientific knowledge, especially when done so practically.  Our children, use their exceptional subject knowledge to explain the world around them and also have confidence to ask questions about it.

By the end of KS2, as a result of our aims, we believe all children will:

  • be able to record their experiences in different forms.
  • be able to use and understand a range of scientific vocabulary, skills and knowledge.
  • be able to use equipment safely and appropriately.
  • have a well-rounded understanding of the world around them.
  • be able to work both independently and collaboratively within a group.
  • have a confidence in and enjoyment of science.
  • will be away of the uses of science within future workplaces.

Click here to see our dedicated Science Week page.

Knowledge Organisers for each year group topic are below.

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128 downloads 20-04-2023 6:53
118 downloads 20-09-2023 13:33
Science Policy
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289 downloads 12-10-2023 9:53

Knowledge Organisers

Year 1

Animals including Humans 

Everyday Materials

Plants

Seasonal Change

Year 2

Animals including Human

Everyday Materials

Living Things and Their Habitats

Plants

Year 3

Animals including Humans

Forces and Magnets

Light

Plants

Rocks

Year 4

Animals including Humans

Electricity

Living Things and Their Habitats

Sound

States of Matters

Year 5

Animals including Humans

Earth and Space

Forces

Living Things and Their Habitats

Properties and States of Matter

Year 6

Animals including Humans

Electricity

Inheritance and Evolution

Light

Living Things and Their Habitats