Working Scientifically lenses

Holly

“Once upon a time people asked questions about the world, and they told stories to explain things. But we watch carefully and find out facts! We are Scientists!”

Larch

“Once upon a time people asked questions about the world, and they told stories to explain things. But we watch carefully and make simple tests. We check our ideas to see if they make sense! We are Scientists!”

Willow

“Once upon a time people asked questions about the world, and they told stories to explain things. But we watch carefully and make simple tests. We check our ideas to see if they make sense! We look for differences, similarities, and changes, and we use evidence to make conclusions. We are Scientists!”

Ash

“Once upon a time people asked questions about the world, and they told stories to explain things. But we watch carefully and measure things and make fair tests. We organise our information and record it in lots of different ways. We check our ideas to see if they make sense! We look for differences, similarities, and changes, and we use evidence to make conclusions. We are Scientists!”

Oak

“Once upon a time people asked questions about the world, and they told stories to explain things. But we can plan scientific enquiries, take accurate measurements and think of variables. We can organise our information and record it with scientific diagrams and graphs. We use test results to make predictions, and use evidence to support or disprove ideas. We are Scientists!”

Intent

Science at the Belfry CEVA Primary School is about developing our children’s knowledge and understanding of the world in which we live. We aim to develop their awe, wonder and curiosity through investigation, experiments and questioning.  Science teaching seeks to build on the children’s own experiences. The subject can stimulate and excite children to explore their natural curiosity about phenomena and events in the world around them and beyond. 

Our Science curriculum draws on the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics which ensures an excellent breadth of study for all year groups. We follow The National Curriculum programmes of study for each year group. From plants, animals, habitats and materials in Key Stage One, to magnetism, electricity, space and evolution in Key Stage Two. Science is delivered, wherever possible as part of cross-curricular topics. Development Matters is used in Reception where children learn about similarities and differences in relation to places, objects, materials and living things. They make observations of animals and plants and explain why some things occur, and talk about changes.

Please see National Curriculum for Science for more information on this programme of study.

Implementation

We foster child led learning through open ended lines of scientific enquiry encouraging children to plan, predict, experiment, measure and record their scientific findings. Working scientifically forms the basis to all our science lessons. Through practical work children are encouraged to develop the skills of observation, measuring and recording with accuracy. They develop the ability to make predictions and to hypothesise and to evaluate explanations. The children are taught to use the following practical scientific methods, processes and skills:

Questioning

Observing

Classifying

Pattern Seeking

Testing

Researching

Presenting Data

Through Science, children begin to understand how major scientific ideas contribute to technological change and have an impact on industry, business, medicine and improving the quality of life. They start to question and discuss science-based issues which may affect their own lives, the direction of society and the future of their world. Environmental science leads children to understand the importance of sustainability and the role which they can play personally through recycling etc.

We are currently using the Oak Academy science resources to deliver our curriculum.

Impact

Reception Understanding the World by making plants from playdoh, studying the different parts, Summer 1, 2021

Year 3 and 4 work on skeletons, and adaptation 

Year 5 and 6 work on circuits, and static electricity

Year 1 and 2 work on parts of the body, and senses