Science
Science stimulates and excites pupils’ curiosity about phenomena and events in the world around them. It also satisfies their curiosity with knowledge. Because science links direct practical experience with ideas, it can engage learners at many levels. Scientific method is about developing and evaluating explanations through experimental evidence and modelling. This is a spur to critical and creative thought. Through science, pupils understand how major scientific ideas contribute to technological change – impacting on industry, business and medicine and improving the quality of life. Pupils recognise the cultural significance of science and trace its world-wide development. They learn to question and discuss science-based issues that may affect their own lives, the direction of society and the future of the world.
Our Science provision is designed to help our children:
• Ask and answer scientific questions
• Plan and carry out fair scientific investigations and equipment, using equipment including computers
• Know and understand the life processes of living things
• Know and understand the physical processes of materials, electricity, light, sound and natural forces
• Know about materials and their properties
• Evaluate evidence and present their conclusions clearly and accurately
Teaching and learning style
The school uses a variety of teaching and learning styles in science lessons. Our principal aim is to develop the children’s knowledge, skills and understanding. We do this through a mixture of whole-class teaching and individual / group activities. Teachers encourage the children to ask as well as answer scientific questions. The children have the opportunity to use a variety of secondary sources of information, where it will enhance learning as well as gaining first hand experiences, for example, the use of books, photographs, graphs, diagrams, models and IT.
Teachers may employ the following methods when delivering science sessions:
• Setting common tasks that are open-ended and can have a variety of responses
• Setting tasks of increasing difficulty (we do not expect all children to complete all tasks)
• Providing a range of challenges with different resources
• Using additional adults to support the work of individual children or small groups
• Incorporating high order questions that apply to scientific thinking to extend the most able children in science
Planning
This subject is a component subject within the Primary Learning Pathways Curriculum (and a core subject in the national curriculum). Teachers plan using the Science Progression (and rolling programme) to produce medium term plans. Units may be enquiry or area led and links may be made to other subjects. Our units are typically designed to run half termly but may be shorter blocks or specific projects. Science is taught through discreet (standalone) subject work. Challenges, enquiry and investigation generally drive these projects. Science is taught through discreet (standalone) subject work and may be blocked into days / sessions according to the project based approach.
STEM & Learning Opportunities
Much of our Science delivery is enabled and enhanced by our STEM partnership work. We are learning partners with the OGDEN trust and work closely with several local schools to enhance Science opportunities the local area. Our STEM projects help curriculum coverage but also significantly raise the profile of and interest in this subject. STEM projects and events are coordinated at Subject Leader level. Examples include Space Detectives, Big Bang, Bloodhound and more. Along with this work additional experiences include science clubs, specialist trips and Phiz Lab work, Met Office Science Camp etc.
Other partnership work includes habitat study work with Exmoor National Park. We are learning partners and use the moor to deliver first hand learning experiences. Ecosystem, environmental and conservation work is enhanced through our visits and ranger contact.
https://www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/learning/resources
Outdoor Learning
The school emphasises the outdoor learning environment and large elements of the science curriculum are delivered through our well developed programme. The school outdoor learning area has been developed to assist with ecosystem, habitat, lifecycle and growing elements of science.
Science in the Early Years
We teach science in the Early Years as an integral part of the theme work covered during the year. It comes under Understanding the World in the EYFS. Children must be supported in developing the knowledge, skills and understanding that help them to make sense of the world. Their learning must be supported through offering opportunities for them to use a range of tools safely; encounter creatures, people, plants and objects in their natural environments and in real-life situations; undertake practical ‘experiments’; and work with a range of materials