Science Curriculum at Abbotts Ann CofE Primary School

Intent:

At Abbotts Ann CofE Primary, we want our science curriculum to reflect our core school values of curiosity, courage and compassion. We want children to be naturally curious about the world around them. We want to embrace their sense of wonder about natural phenomena and to guide them into becoming enquiry-based learners so they can  confidently make sense of the world in which they live. We hope that children will have the courage to be able to challenge the ideas presented to them and know how to safely carry out investigations and experiments.

We want our children to develop an understanding of the key skills required in Science, through fun and stimulating science lessons. We have a hands-on, enquiry-based curriculum which promotes questioning, challenge, working practically, investigating, evaluating, making choices, working independently and promotes the use of scientific vocabulary.

Overall, we hope children develop an understanding of how science has changed and shaped their lives, how important and relevant it is to their lives today

 and how vital it is to the world’s future prosperity.

“I was a real scientist, doing experiments”- Penguins

Implementation:

At Abbotts Ann CofE Primary School Scientific enquiry skills are embedded in each topic the children study and these topics are revisited and developed throughout their time at school. Topics, such as Plants, are taught in Key Stage One and studied again in further detail throughout Key Stage Two. This allows the children to grow in their understanding, build upon their prior knowledge and increase their enthusiasm for the topics whilst embedding this procedural knowledge into the long-term memory.

Science teaching at Abbotts Ann involves adapting and extending the curriculum to match all pupils’ needs to ensure they are challenged and achieve success, regardless of their starting point. Where possible, science is linked to class topics. Science is taught as discrete units and lessons where needed to ensure coverage in line with the National Curriculum requirements. Teachers plan to suit their children’s interests, current events, their own teaching style, the use of any support staff and the resources available. Opportunities are sought to teach science through all of the primary subjects. Science planning resources such as TigTag help to provide a rich stimulus of resources that can aid learning.

“I loved doing the Chromatography. It felt like a real investigation.”- Owls class

Impact:

By the end of KS2 children will:

• Demonstrate a love of science work and an interest in further study and work in this field
• Retain knowledge that is pertinent to Science with a real life context.
• Be able to question ideas and reflect on knowledge.
• Be able to articulate their understanding of scientific concepts and be able to reason scientifically using rich language linked to science.
• Demonstrate a high love of other skills through their work, including mathematical skills such as organising, recording and interpreting results.
• Work collaboratively and practically to investigate and experiment.