our vision
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We aim, through science, to ensure that every child leaves our schools with a deep understanding and knowledge of science concepts. We want our children to be equipped to go forth with curiosity, passion and a desire for discovery. Our children will be brave, inquisitive learners throughout their time at the school and beyond.
intent
The National Curriculum for Science is at the heart of our learning intentions but we choose to follow a Knowledge based curriculum to help pupils develop a deep and secure knowledge and understanding of science at each stage of their learning It facilitates all children being able to know more and remember more by giving them time to learn and explore.
Our Science curriculum has been thought through carefully through the use of Primary Knowledge Curriculum. It has appropriate coverage, it is structured and builds knowledge incrementally. Pupils will be encouraged to use the science knowledge and apply it to investigations that test a theory or set out to answer a question.
The use of a ‘Hook’ at the start of a unit will be used to supplement and engage pupils. The STEM is also a resource to be used to support the teaching and learning. The STEM website support the teachers on their subject knowledge and ideas where personalisation is needed.
Science lessons will have a strong Oracy focus. The national Curriculum reflects the importance of quality and variety of language that pupils hear and speak are key factors in developing their scientific vocabulary and articulating scientific concepts clearly and precisely.
EYFS:
Science is taught within ‘knowledge and understanding the world’ area of learning. It is introduced indirectly through activities that encourage children to explore, problem solve, observe, predict, think, make decisions and talk about the world around them. Early Years science also helps children with skills in other Foundation Stage areas, such as physical development and creative development.
implementation
Our science curriculum builds knowledge incrementally. Lessons are sequenced and knowledge is built upon previous lessons and year groups. This helps children to master the knowledge and concepts whilst building up an extended specialist vocabulary. This incremental approach helps teachers address gaps and support children’s scientific knowledge and skills.
Teachers provide a learning question and ‘Steps to Success’ criteria at the start of each lesson to enable all learners to achieve their objective. Children are supported and challenged throughout lessons, by ‘Step for depth’ tasks, pictorial scientific word mats and sentence stems. A ‘prior knowledge’ task is set at the beginning of each lesson to check for retention of concepts, processes and overall understanding. At the end of each unit, the children have an end of unit quiz to assess their knowledge and see in future lessons what specifically needs to be a focus.
It is important that all children have the opportunity to work scientifically to develop their methods and skills. Through the use of first-hand practical experiences children will be encouraged to use the knowledge they learn in Science and apply it to investigations that test a theory or set out to answer a question. Visitors, workshops and trips are planned to enhance, enrich and embed children’s learning experience.
Learning Sequences - one lesson or a series of lessons.
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Assess/Review – What do the children already know? How do you know? What can you do to check? Prior Learning
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Vocabulary – Introduce, rehearse, recap keywords
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Teach – teaching of the content and skills needed for success. Ensure there is modelling, checking and questioning,
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Talks Task – children asked a question to practise/learn the particular content through discussion and conversation.
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Apply – application of the knowledge learned in different contexts – these will show appropriate challenge for all.
- Assess/Review – check what the children know now through low takes assessment and identify next steps
impact
Children will retain more information and build upon their knowledge over the years at Nelson Infant from where they began to the end of Year 2. They will learn that the people who have contributed to science are diverse and many voices make up the story of science. Our children will be brave, inquisitive learners quipped with curiosity, passion and a desire for scientific discovery.
Through our science curriculum children will:
- be engaged and challenged
- be able to succeed in all science lessons because learning will be appropriately scaffolded
- make good and better progress from their starting points
- know how and why science is used in the outside world
- talk enthusiastically about their science lessons
Assessment and monitoring in science:
• Lesson observations, book monitoring and learning walks
• Gathering pupil voice
• Moderating pupils work to ensure accurate assessments are made
• Tracking pupils’ progress
• Frequent low stakes tests - EoUQ (End of Unit Quizzes) will be undertaken every half term.
Key websites to support planning and assessment: