Science
Science
Science
What a St Swithin’s Scientist looks like.
These ideas have been developed and agreed with the children in our school. These are the behaviours and characteristics we believe a St Swithin’s scientist looks like. We are scientists!
Every child should: –
- Develop the ability to think independently, developing their understanding and asking questions of increasing complexity.
- Be able to complete investigations, experimenting, gathering data and reporting their findings in a variety of ways.
- Be able to choose equipment, plan and carry out investigations and enquiries as well as undertake field work.
- Show a good level of scientific knowledge, skills and understanding.
- Build a strong scientific vocabulary, utilizing it in all scientific activities.
- Develop a broad knowledge of scientists and their impact upon society and the world.
Science Catch Up Curriculum Vision
Despite the restrictions placed on schools at this time, Science will retain its essential role as a core subject in our curriculum. As a school, we have examined our science curriculum and planned for how we can cover the content that was missed during lockdown. The aim is to revisit missed learning at an appropriates opportunity depending upon the topic. For example a prior learning activity about Materials will take place prior to the start of the unit of work in Year 2 so that missed learning form Year 1 can be identified and planned for.
With Covid safety measures in place across the school, it will not be possible to carry out interactive investigations in the same manner as previously. However, teachers will still be encouraged to teach the Working Scientifically skills through their science lessons as they would do normally. Key enquiry skills such as discussions, making predictions and planning investigations will all still be possible during this time. However, in some cases, what will change is that the teacher will have to take on a role of demonstrator, rather than setting up shared resources for the children to carry out the work in groups. If and when restrictions change and new guidance is provided, we will be able to resume a greater focus on these activities. Until that point, teachers will lead some investigations themselves and will use online resources more frequently so that children can still be taught about and develop their Working Scientifically skills.
Intent and Design
At Our Lady and St Swithin’s Catholic Primary School working scientifically is at the centre of our science lessons. We endeavour to provide a high-quality science education and we believe that this allows for the greater understanding of the world through the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics.
Science has changed and continues to change our lives. It is vital to our community, country and world’s future prosperity, and all pupils should be taught essential aspects of the knowledge, methods, processes and uses of science.
We aim to do this through continually questioning the experimental design, through building up a body of key foundational knowledge and concepts, our children should be encouraged to develop a sense of excitement and curiosity about the world they live in. They should be encouraged to understand how science can be used to explain what is occurring, predict how things will behave, and analyse causes. Children can leave Our Lady and St Swithin’s with a high level of critical and evaluative thinking which can be transferred to all areas of the curriculum.
Children are naturally curious and passionate about learning. At Our Lady and St Swithin’s, we provide a stimulating science curriculum that nurtures this curiosity and allows pupils to ask questions and develop the skills they need to answer those questions.
All children are encouraged to aim high in science and understand how it can be used to explain what is occurring, predict how things will behave, and analyse causes.
Our three main science aims:
- To develop scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding through the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics.
- To 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.
- That all children are equipped with the scientific knowledge required to understand the uses and implications of science, today and for the future.
Science vocabulary is an important tool to aid learning, understanding and articulating scientific concepts clearly and precisely. Vocabulary is taught discreetly within science lessons to ensure children have a deep understanding and the skills required to progress. This vocabulary is then continually referred to, both within the school environment and in cross-curricular lessons.
We live in a city rich with science facilities and world class establishments that people travel far and wide to visit or work in. In Our Lady and St Swithins’s , we take advantage of links to other schools and outside agencies, organisations, communities to enrich science teaching and learning but also inspire their immediate and future aspirations.
Implementation
At Our Lady and St Swithin’s , we believe that through the study of Science children develop a sense of the world around them. It is not simply the repetition learning of facts, but rather the development of a way of looking at the world around them and of analysing and questioning what they see.
We believe that the natural curiosity of children can be harnessed, and we aim to develop and channel their desire to look, hold, touch and understand what is around them.
Science is a core subject of the National Curriculum and children are expected to acquire a specific body of knowledge but also to develop their ability to work scientifically (raise questions, devise fair tests and respond to their findings). At Our Lady and St Swithin’s, it is intended that through the study of Science the children will become better equipped to make reasoned judgements that will benefit them in their everyday lives.
Teachers will use national curriculum objectives in Key Stage One and Two to plan and teach science lessons. We dedicate 1-2 hours per week to science and aim to use a range of resources to support their planning, teaching and assessment.
The teachers will deliver lessons that will develop the children’s scientific skills and knowledge. Through these lessons, the children will be provided with relevant experiences in a variety of situations. In doing so, we hope to increase children’s independence and develop their process skills, concepts and attitude towards their learning.
It is the responsibility of each teacher to ensure that wherever possible all children experience all Learning Objectives but at a level appropriate to their ability. We challenge the ability of all of our children and encourage them to reach their fullest potential.
Resources are stored and readily accessible to staff members. The equipment is boxed and labelled either as part of a topic or as general equipment. All books and support materials directly relevant to the topics are centrally stored. A selection of teachers support texts are available. A selection of texts that will enhance children’s learning can be found in the school or class library.
Impact
In Our Lady and St Swithin’s it is the responsibility of the subject leader to monitor the standards of children’s work and the quality of teaching in science termly to ensure progression and ensure our environment is fully meeting the needs of our children. The subject leader is also responsible for supporting colleagues in their teaching, for being informed about current developments in the subject, and for providing a strategic lead and direction for science in the school.
The science coordinator gives the Head teacher a regular subject leader report in which she evaluates strengths and weaknesses in science and indicates areas for further improvement. The subject leader has specially-allocated time for fulfilling the vital task of reviewing samples of children’s work and visiting classes to observe science teaching.
