Science

Intent

At Harlands, our intent is to provide a science curriculum to foster inquisitive scientific minds and to develop children’s knowledge and understanding of the world around them. We want them to develop a love for science so that they are inspired to explore science careers available to them, as well as to understand how scientific discoveries have played a significant role in shaping the way in which we live our lives today and may do so in the future.

Implementation

At Harlands, topics are blocked to allow children to focus on developing their knowledge and skills, studying each topic in depth.

• Every year group will build upon the learning from prior year groups therefore developing depth of understanding and progression of skills.
• Children are given opportunities to develop their investigational and experimental skills, including: planning, observing, measuring, predicting, explaining, communicating and evaluating.
• Children are given opportunities to present their learning in different ways using science-specific language.
• Children are given the opportunity to be a science ambassador and work with the science leaders to help promote science in the school.
• There are regular opportunities to review the learning taken place in previous topics as well as previous lessons.
• Common misconceptions are anticipated and addressed.
• Cross-curricular links are planned for, with other subjects such as our outdoor learning programme, PSHCE, Maths, English and Computing.
• Children are given clear learning intentions and teachers use a range of resources to support their teaching, including our wonderful grounds.
• Effective use of education visits and visitors are planned, to enrich and enhance the pupil’s learning experiences within the science curriculum.
• Teachers use Rising Stars and assessment trackers to ensure learning intentions have been met.
• Teachers ensure progression of skills and coverage of the National Curriculum using PLAN matrices.

EYFS

The Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum supports children’s understanding of science through the planning and teaching of ‘Understanding the World’. Children find out about the world around them by learning about materials, plants, animals and the changing seasons. They look at similarities, differences, patterns and change. These activities foster curiosity and encourage explorative play. The children are encouraged to ask questions about why things happen and how things work. Our children make good use of the wonderful grounds we have at Harlands, with timetabled small group outdoor learning sessions throughout the year.

Impact 

The impact of our curriculum will ensure progression over time and across key stages. Although children will have differing starting points when they enter school, our expectation will be that they leave Harlands reaching at least the age-related expectations. We want to empower our children so they understand they have the capability to make an impact on the ever-changing world of science and technology.

Organisation

The school’s long-term Science planning document is used as the basis upon which teachers base their year group planning.

Science is taught both through discrete units of work and through cross-curricular sessions.

Skills Development and Assessment

At Harlands, the National Curriculum guidance for Science at both Key Stages 1 and 2 is used to structure our curriculum provision.

As they progress through the school, the children learn science through a variety of topics that are grounded in physics, biology and chemistry.  These topics are then revisited and developed as the children grow, building on previous knowledge and understanding to form a comprehensive general knowledge of scientific subjects.

An outline of Science topics covered in Years 1-6 appears below.

Wherever appropriate, cross-curricular links to other subjects such as Literacy, Maths, Computing, History, Geography and PE are exploited in order to enrich children’s learning and further their understanding relating to how Science contributes to our everyday lives.

At Harlands, children are taught that an effective scientist has a strong understanding of experimental method.  Our curriculum planning for experimental science, allows them to progress through the following developmental stages:

Key Stage 1

• observing, exploring and asking questions
• collecting evidence to answer questions and linking findings to simple scientific ideas
• evaluating evidence and considering whether tests or comparisons are fair
• learning how they to share ideas and communicate them using scientific language, drawings, charts and tables

Key Stage 2

• creating links between ideas and explaining observations using simple models and theories based on personal experiences
• considering ways in which we can measure and quantify our surroundings using a variety of scientific instruments
• becoming independent scientific investigators, capable of conceiving the aim of a scientific investigation and of controlling the variables as necessary to ensure that they then carry out a fair test

Although children are not always formally tested in Science at the end of KS2, we believe that Science is of great importance, with many links to the other STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) subjects.  For this reason, teachers carefully monitor the children's achievement and progress as they work and plan the curriculum to address their needs. 

Enrichment Opportunities

Wherever possible, Harlands looks to engage in enrichment activities on a local and national level.  These opportunities often STEM from links to local secondary schools and businesses.

Useful Resources

BBC Bitesize Key Stage 1 Science - http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/highlights/curations/zyxydxs

BBC Bitesize Key Stage 2 Science - http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/highlights/curations/z9njqty

Science website that includes a range of great Science ideas and experiments for online and home learning - http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/

Discovery Channel website aimed at fostering enthusiasm and engagement - http://discoverymindblown.com