Cale Green Primary SchoolScience
Science at Cale Green Primary School
At Cale Green Primary School, we recognise the importance of Science in every aspect of daily life. As one of the core subjects taught in Primary Schools, want our children to be naturally curious about the world around them. Our curriculum has been developed by staff to ensure full coverage of the National Curriculum and to foster a sense of wonder about natural phenomena.
The Scientific area of learning is concerned with increasing pupils’ knowledge and understanding of our world, and with developing skills associated with Science as a process of enquiry. It will develop the natural curiosity of the child, encourage respect for living organisms and the physical environment and provide opportunities for critical evaluation of evidence.
We also know that learning in science requires children to develop and use many ‘life-long skills’ such as the ability to communicate and to listen, to turn-take, to question and adapt thinking, to problem-solve and to be creative. Our intent is that through the science curriculum, children will develop the interpersonal skills, growth mind-set, perseverance and resilience needed to transfer and be successful in all areas of their learning and life.
At Cale Green Primary School, in conjunction with the aims of the National Curriculum, our Science teaching will offer opportunities for children to engage in the subject by:
- developing scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding through the specific disciplines of Biology, Chemistry and Physics;
- developing 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 and how science links to engineering, computing, the arts and maths (STEAM).
- developing the essential scientific enquiry skills in a progressive way across the key stages to deepen their scientific knowledge
- Using a range of methods in a progressive way across the key stages to communicate their scientific information and present it in a systematic, scientific manner, including I.C.T., diagrams, graphs and charts.
- Developing a respect for the materials and equipment they handle with regard to their own, and other children’s safety.
- Developing an enthusiasm and enjoyment of scientific learning and discovery.
- Supporting the school’s value of ‘Learning and Living Together’ by using the local area to enhance provision in science including outdoor learning opportunities and drawing upon unique expertise in our school community and cultural diversity
- Supporting the school’s value of ‘Learning and Living Together’ by ensuring the curriculum is inclusive and accessible to all learners
- Helping children to understand the relevance of learning in the classroom and how this links to scientific developments in the wider world
- Supporting children to learn the possibilities for careers in science as a result of our community links and connection with national agencies such as the STEM association, MOSI and MMU.
- Using Pupil voice to further develop the Science curriculum, through questioning of pupil’s views and attitudes to Science to support the children’s enjoyment of science and to motivate learners.
- Ensuring governors are involved in decisions about what is being taught and that parents have the opportunity to discuss the science curriculum at parent consultations and through regular class visits.
At Cale Green Primary School, children will have weekly lessons in Science throughout Key Stage 1 and 2, using the National Curriculum Programme of Study as a basis for learning. In addition, we actively seek to make links between science and other curriculum areas though the learning opportunities provides.
In Early years, science is taught through the children learning about the world around them in their learning through play, continuous provision and specific science-based activities.
At Cale Green we want our children to be naturally curious about the world around them. We endeavour to ensure that the Science curriculum we provide will give children the confidence and motivation to continue to further develop their skills into the next stage of their education and life experiences.
Our curriculum has been developed by staff to ensure full coverage of the National Curriculum and to foster a sense of wonder about natural phenomena. We are committed to providing a stimulating, engaging and challenging learning environment. Throughout our school children are encouraged to develop and use a range of working scientifically skills including questioning, researching and observing for ourselves. We will promote and celebrate these skills. We want our children to have a broad vocabulary. Scientific language will be taught explicitly and built upon as topics are revisited in different year groups and across key stages.
Where possible, the curriculum has been designed to take the local context into account and support ‘Living and Learning Together’. Examples include utilising Cale Green Park and the school grounds for environmental studies and taking into account the diverse cultural make-up of our school community to make learning relevant to children when exploring how science has advanced over time or using local expertise to enhance learning.
Additional learning opportunities will be regularly provided in Science such as educational visits linked to the science and STEM curriculum, links with local high schools to offer children enhanced science experiences, an extra-curricular STEM club, links with school ambassadors and local companies to provide enrichment activities, participation in National events such as ‘The Great Science Share’ and ‘National Science Week’, visits to Eureka Children’s Museum, MOSI and MMU.
Through our planning, we involve problem solving opportunities linking subject areas together so children make connections in their learning and that allow children to find out for themselves. Children are encouraged to ask their own questions and be given opportunities to use their scientific skills and research to discover the answers. This curiosity will be celebrated within the classroom. Planning will involve teachers creating engaging lessons, often involving high-quality resources to aid understanding of conceptual knowledge. Teachers will use precise questioning in class to test conceptual knowledge and skills, and assess children regularly to identify those children with gaps in learning, so that all children keep up and lessons are inclusive to for all learners.