Science

Subject Overview

At PRL, we believe that science should help to develop the way children understand the world through interesting, exciting and motivating experiences. Hands-on practical science is an important part to play when encouraging their natural curiosity and helping to build their confidence. Science is a powerful tool as it also improves both their communication and maths skills as well as helping them develop in many other areas too. Children will cover a variety of scientific topics laid out in the National Curriculum including Seasons, Animals, Plants Everyday Materials, Living Things and their Habitats as well as how to work scientifically.

Curriculum Intent

At PRL, we have designed our science curriculum with the intent that our children will develop an in-depth understanding of the world around them and an understanding of how major scientific ideas have played a vital role in society, to prepare them for life in a scientific and technological world. We are committed to providing a stimulating, engaging and challenging learning environment. Throughout our school children are encouraged to develop and use a range of working scientific skills including questioning, researching and observing for ourselves. Our aim is to build science capital for all our children preparing them for future education and potential careers in the field of Science. We intend to provide all children regardless of ethnic origin, gender, class, aptitude or disability with a broad and balanced science curriculum.

Curriculum Implementation

Planning for science is a process in which all teachers are involved to ensure that the school gives full coverage of ‘The National Curriculum programmes of study for Science 2014’. Teachers create a positive attitude to science learning within the classroom instilling the expectation that all children at PRL have the ability to achieve in science. Throughout their time at PRL all children will experience a wide range of topics to support and enhance their natural inquisitiveness for learning. It is very important that the working scientifically skills are introduced with the aim that all children will be able to plan and carry out investigations in order to find out new things and answer questions. They will be able to record data and explain their findings. We want to ensure that the children grow in confidence and continue to be motivated in order to further the development of their scientific knowledge and skills. At PRL we ensure that the following takes place:

Existing knowledge is checked at the beginning of each topic, as part of the KWL strategy (What I know, What I would like to Know and What I have Learned). This ensures that teaching is informed by the children’s starting points and that it takes account of pupil voice, incorporating children’s interests.
Through our planning, we involve extension opportunities that allow children to apply their knowledge and show a deeper understanding of the topic. Children are encouraged to ask their own questions and be given opportunities to use their scientific skills and research to discover the answers.
Planning involves teachers creating engaging lessons, involving quality resources to aid understanding of conceptual knowledge and using the natural environment around us to see habitats, plants and life cycles first hand.
Teachers use questioning in class to test conceptual knowledge and skills, and assess pupils regularly to identify those children with gaps in learning, so that all pupils progress.
Tasks are selected and designed to provide appropriate challenge to all learners. We build upon the knowledge and skill development of the previous years. As the children’s knowledge and understanding increases, they become more proficient in selecting, using scientific equipment, collating and interpreting results, they become increasingly confident in their growing ability to come to conclusions based on real evidence.
Working Scientifically skills are embedded into lessons to ensure that skills are systematically developed throughout the children’s school career and new vocabulary and challenging concepts are introduced through direct teaching. This is developed through the years, in-keeping with the topics.
Teachers demonstrate how to use scientific equipment, and the various Working Scientifically skills in order to embed scientific understanding.
Teachers find opportunities to develop children’s understanding of their surroundings by accessing outdoor learning and workshops with experts. At the end of each topic, key knowledge is reviewed by the children, checked by the teacher and consolidated as necessary.

Curriculum Impact

By the end of their primary education, our pupils should be equipped to make informed decisions about the scientific opportunities around them. Our Science curriculum within PRL offers a broad range of experiences designed to provide pupils with a progression of scientific understanding, skills and knowledge. All children will have:

A wider variety of skills linked to both scientific knowledge and understanding, and scientific enquiry/investigative skills.
A richer vocabulary which will enable them to articulate their understanding of taught concepts.
High aspirations, which will see them through to further study, work and a successful adult life.

What a ‘typical’ lesson looks like:

At PRL, children receive up to two sessions of science a week. The lesson content progresses week on week and builds on aspects of Understanding the World, taught in EYFS. Where possible, children have the opportunity to explore the content through an investigation or experiment to develop and demonstrate scientific skills.

Teaching & Learning

Science is taught for two hours a week. Lessons will take place in a variety of settings; outside including the pond, the wooded areas and science garden and within the classroom. Lessons vary in form from planning to conducting and finally analysing data from experiments. Lessons are systematically planned to ensure progression of scientific understanding, skills and knowledge. Planning for science is a process in which all teachers take part in referring to the skills progression document.

SEND

At PRL, we aim to meet the needs of all our children by differentiation in our science planning and in providing a variety of approaches and tasks appropriate to ability levels. This involves providing opportunities for SEND children to complete their own projects, with support. This will enable children with learning and/or physical difficulties to take an active part in scientific learning and practical activities and investigations and to achieve the goals they have been set. Some children will require closer supervision and more adult support to allow them to progress whilst more able children will be extended through differentiated activities. By being given enhancing and enriching activities, more able children will be able to progress to a higher level of knowledge and understanding appropriate to their abilities.

Useful Websites / Parent Guides

Explorify

The Science Museum

STEM Learning

Zooniverse

BBC Terrific Science

The Children’s University of Manchester

Reach Out Reporter

Science Sparks

National Farmers Union

Marvin and Milo

The National Schools Observatory