Intent
The national curriculum for science aims to ensure that all pupils:
Develop scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding through specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics
Develop understanding of nature, processes and methods of science through different types of science enquiries that help them to answer scientific questions about the world around them
Are equipped with scientific skills required to understand the uses and implications of science, today and for the future.
At Faringdon Infant school we recognise and understand the importance of Science in everyday life and the need for lessons to have a skill based focus, where the knowledge can be taught through this. It will develop and build on the natural curiosity of children, and encourage respect and appreciation of the natural world, for both the living and non-living. It is our intention that the teaching and learning provided develops the key knowledge and shows progression across the school within the strands of Science. Children will acquire and develop the application of scientific skills to ensure that they can apply these when using equipment, carrying out experiments, explaining key concepts whilst being able to reason scientifically, ask questions, explain processes and build on their own curiosity. We aim to immerse children in scientific language and vocabulary, which not only aids children’s knowledge and understanding of the topic, but also of the world around them. It is our intention that children retain the knowledge that is pertinent to Science which also has a real-life context. Where possible, we extend children’s learning through the use of our locality and promote a healthy lifestyle. We endeavour to ensure that the Science curriculum that we provide as well as the desirable learning behaviours encouraged by our Learning Muscles, will give children the motivation, excitement and determination to continue to further develop their skills in the next stage of their education. We hope to prepare our children for this ever growing and changing scientific and technological world in which they live.
SMSC in Science
The teaching of science offers children many opportunities to explore and ask questions regarding some of the fundamental questions in life. Children can develop a sense of awe and wonder about the nature of our world through the many amazing processes that affect living things. Children have the opportunity to discuss, reflect and question many social and moral questions, for example, the effects of pollution and the moral questions that surround this. This opens up the chance for children to reflect on the way in which humans care for the planet and how science contributes to this. Science allows children to learn about and understand why humans are different, it allows them to explore how diverse our planet is and promotes a respect for each other, all living things and the world in which we live.
The document below shows how Science provides opportunities for SMSC throughout the school.
National Curriculum
The document below shows an overview of the core knowledge that should be taught within Science taken from the National Curriculum.
Implementation
Science is taught once a week throughout the year and is taught by individual class teachers who take responsibility for planning and delivering this area of the curriculum. Each lesson is built upon making reference to previous learning. Children are encouraged to ask as well as answer scientific questions. Links are made to the termly theme and other curriculum subjects where appropriate. Science themed trips or visitors are arranged to support children in having first hand experiences, further build on the learning taking place as well as bringing science to life. Children enjoy planned and appropriate experiments.
Lessons are inclusive for all children and are planned to ensure that children of all abilities have access to the curriculum and learning taking place. The planned progression built into the Science curriculum means that children are increasingly challenged as they move through the school.
Assessment of learning is a continuous process throughout the planning, teaching and learning cycle. This is achieved through questioning, recapping prior learning, observations and marking of children's work.
Below is an overview to show the learning that takes place throughout the year in the EYFS and Key Stage 1 within Science. The overview is broken down into terms 1 to 6 and shows the topic/theme for each term. Below each term are the programmes of study and the core knowledge being taught.
Please note: Due to COVID-19 some of the contents in the overviews has been adapted to reflect a recovery curriculum.
Impact - Learning in Action
The aim is not solely to give children the knowledge they need to succeed now, but also for what comes next. Children should be ready to move onto the next stages of their education. Through science we continue to develop children's natural curiosity, respect and appreciation of the world and all of its phenomena. Children are engaged and show enjoyment in their learning of science, as well as challenged by the learning taking place. This is demonstrated in a variety of ways including; displays, children's work, pupil voice, observations and photos.
Click on any of the links below to see science in action in each year group.
Across the year - 2021 to 2022
Across the years - 2019 to 2021