Science
Our intent for science
Science teaching at Crowle Primary Academy aims to give all children a strong understanding of the world around them whilst acquiring specific skills and knowledge to help them to think scientifically, to gain an understanding of scientific processes and also an understanding of the uses and implications of science, today and for the future.
At Crowle Primary Academy, scientific enquiry skills are embedded in each unit the children study and these units are revisited and developed throughout their time at school. Units, such as plants, are taught in Key Stage One and studied again in further detail throughout Key Stage Two. This model allows children to build upon their prior knowledge and increases their enthusiasm for the topics whilst embedding this procedural knowledge into the long-term memory.
All children are encouraged to develop and use a range of skills including observations, planning and investigations, as well as being encouraged to question the world around them and become independent learners in exploring possible answers for their scientific based questions. Specialist vocabulary for topics is taught and built up, and effective questioning to communicate ideas is encouraged. Concepts taught should be reinforced by focusing on the key features of scientific enquiry, so that pupils learn to use a variety of approaches to answer relevant scientific questions.
At Crowle Primary Academy, in conjunction with the aims of the National Curriculum, our science teaching offers opportunities for children to:
- develop scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding through the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics;
- develop understanding of the nature, processes and methods of science through different types of science enquiries that help them to answer scientific questions about the world around them;
- be equipped with the scientific knowledge required to understand the uses and implications of science, today and for the future.
- develop the essential scientific enquiry skills to deepen their scientific knowledge.
- use a range of methods to communicate their scientific information and present it in a systematic, scientific manner, including I.C.T., diagrams, graphs and charts.
- develop an enthusiasm and enjoyment of scientific learning and discovery.
The National Curriculum will provide a structure and skill development for the science curriculum being taught throughout the school.
Implementation of science
Teachers create a positive attitude to science learning within their classrooms and reinforce an expectation that all children are capable of achieving high standards in science. Our whole school approach to the teaching and learning of science involves the following;
- Planning ensures that the school gives full coverage of, ‘The National Curriculum programmes of study for Science’ and, ‘Understanding of the World’ in the Early Years Foundation Stage.
- Due to some mixed year groups in our school, science units are taught on a two year rolling programme. This ensures progression between year groups and guarantees coverage.
- Teachers demonstrate how to use scientific equipment, and the various working scientifically skills in order to embed scientific understanding.
- Working Scientifically skills are embedded into lessons to ensure these skills are being developed throughout the children’s school journey and new vocabulary and challenging concepts are introduced through direct teaching.
- We build upon the learning and skill development of the previous years. As the children’s knowledge and understanding increases, and 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.
- The use of knowledge organisers are used to outline the key knowledge and vocabulary to be taught within each science unit.
Statement of impact
The impact and measure of this is to ensure children not only acquire the appropriate age related knowledge linked to the science curriculum, but also skills which equip them to progress from their starting points, and within their everyday lives.
All children will have:
- A wider variety of skills linked to both scientific knowledge and understanding, and scientific enquiry/investigative skills.
- High aspirations, which will see them through to further study, work and a successful adult life.
- A richer vocabulary which will enable to articulate their understanding of taught concepts.