Science

 

Intent, Implementation and Impact Statement for Science

Intent

At St Mary’s CofE Primary we believe that science should build on children’s curiosity for and wonder of the world around them. We want the children to appreciate both the natural and man-made world around them; ask questions and be able to investigate methodically.

Our science curriculum reflects our five school values

Value

 

Respect

In science, children will:

·         Listen respectfully

·         Empathise

·         Collaborate

·         Co-operate

The science curriculum will:

Have a local, national and global dimension and promote mutual respect and understanding by learning about a wide range of scientific thinking, scientists and phenomena.

Responsibility

In science, children will:

·         Be kind and gentle when exploring the natural world

·         Take responsibility for caring and protecting the school and wider environment

The science curriculum will:

Explore the sustainability of our planet and our role as citizens within it

Creativity

In science, children will:

·         Imagine

·         Problem solve

·         Find patterns

·         Make careful observations

·         Ask questions

The science curriculum will:

Promote curiosity, problem solving and imagination.

Encourage children to appreciate human invention and the natural world

Perseverance

In science, children will:

·         Be resilient

·         Persevere

·         Fail and try again

·         Give their best effort

The science curriculum will:

Offer challenges through first hand experiences.

Wisdom

In science, children will:

·         Question

·         Debate

·         Think about how they learn best

The science curriculum will:

Offer opportunities to be enquiry based and require thought and explanation.

 

  

Implementation

Science is taught discretely in Years 1 to 6 during a weekly science lesson. Links are made with other subjects in the curriculum when they arise e.g. in the term that year 6 learn about electricity in science they also create an object in D&T that requires an electrical circuit. Our planning is based around the resources from https://www.planassessment.com/

We have developed a series of medium term plans which all follow the sequence of:

  • Thinking and questioning
  • Exploring and researching
  • Investigating and testing
  • Applying

This sequence allows children to approach the subject from a point of their current knowledge and understanding; to develop their curiosity and develop their knowledge and then test this using their scientific skills. We use https://explorify.wellcome.ac.uk/ to help children to develop their scientific thinking and apply their vocabulary skills.

We teach children five scientific enquiry types; pattern seeking; research using secondary sources; observing over time; identifying, classifying and grouping and comparative and fair testing.

All children are taught to be familiar with the fair testing sequence which is expanded upon as the children travel through the school:

  • Ask
  • Predict and hypothesise
  • Plan
  • Test
  • Present data
  • Conclude

We use the school grounds and local environment to support our learning and curiosity about science. This includes using our school garden and Forest Schools area. We encourage children to use technology to support their learning and apply their mathematical skills. Science lessons will provide opportunities for children to learn in a variety of ways, including collaboratively and practically.

We work in partnership with local businesses and education providers to enrich our science curriculum. For example, children in KS2 visit Martlesham Wilds to look at the world around us and Woodbridge Independent School to take part in hands-on science events. We have school pets, two guinea pigs, who help the children to learn about taking care of animals aswell as supporting learning in the science topics, for example Year 1 learn about pets

Impact

The impact of our science curriculum can be seen by talking to the children about their interest in this subject and seeing evidence in their books, on learning walls in classrooms and on displays around the school.

Teacher’s use formative assessment methods to identify children’s understanding such as KWI grids, quizzes, PNI grids and discussion. Children’s attainment is updated on Target Tracker throughout the year and attainment steps are updated termly. This allows the class teacher and subject lead to monitor the progress of all children across the school.

Science is monitored by the subject leader each term and the outcomes inform action planning and the SDP.

 

 

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Science Documents

NameFormat
Files
Science Long Term Plan.pdf .pdf
Science Progession of Skills Document.pdf .pdf
Science Progession of Knowledge Document adapted from Planassessment.pdf .pdf