Intent
At Newbold Church School, science allows every pupil to develop a deeper understanding of the world in which they live. Through a stimulating curriculum, we provide memorable learning experiences allowing all pupils to discover, question and develop their curiosity, knowledge and bank of core skills which will equip them for an ever-changing world.
Science is developing children’s scientific knowledge and understanding of the nature, processes and methods of science, for now and the future.
Our aim is for science to be taught as part of an inspirational and stimulating curriculum, through the delivery of a sequence of lessons building on previous learning.
At Newbold Church School, we encourage children to be inquisitive throughout their time at the school and beyond. The science curriculum fosters a healthy curiosity in children about our universe and promotes respect for the living and non-living. We believe science encompasses the acquisition of knowledge, concepts, skills and positive attitudes. Equipped with these skills and opportunities, our pupils will be confident lifelong learners, exploring the world around them.
Working scientifically skills are embedded into lessons to ensure these skills are being developed throughout the children’s school career and new vocabulary and challenging concepts are introduced through direct teaching. This is developed through the years, in-keeping with the topics.
The successful approach at Newbold Church School results in a fun, engaging, high-quality science education which provides children with the foundations and knowledge for understanding the world.
Implementation
At Newbold Church School, our science curriculum, provided by White Rose Education, follows the National Curriculum and provides children with an array of enriching opportunities, with a strong focus on practical learning.
Our children carry out a range of experiments and investigations, beginning in EYFS all the way through to the end of KS2. The lessons that the children are taught in school have a focus on the 5 different lines of enquiry:
- observation over time
- identifying and classifying
- pattern seeking
- research
- comparative and fair testing
Our science curriculum encompasses the aims of the National Curriculum overview.
Our science curriculum shows a progression of knowledge and skills. Please see our Science Progression Map for details.
Gallery of our science experiments
Year One, exploring their senses.
The children explored their senses by tasting different foods and matching the foods to the 5 groups that the tongue can taste; sweet, sour, savoury, salty and bitter.
The children also investigated how well they could throw a beanbag with accuracy using both eyes open; one eye closed and both eyes closed.
Year One, exploring materials
The children used hoops with material names in to sort out our class toys into the materials they are made of. The children then discovered that some toys contained more than one material. We then looked at crossing hoops and introduced a basic Venn diagram. The children also questioned if a toy was made of 3 or 4 materials.
Year Four, exploring states of matter
Year 4 explored solid materials that can be poured and liquids that flow slower than water.
Supporting Children with SEND to access all elements of the science sessions
All science sessions are planned to ensure that all children are able to access all elements. Specific adaptations are used to ensure all children can operate any resources or equipment they need.
As with all other areas of the curriculum, we use SEND codes to show how we will adapt our teaching to ensure all children are fully supported. This may include reducing the writing aspect of the sessions to enable all children to fully participate.
Where children need 1-1 support with a TA to be able to fully engage in the science sessions, this will be provided.
As part of our monitoring processes we ensure that children with SEND are able to fully access all aspects of the science curriculum.
Pupil Premium Children
As part of our monitoring processes we ensure that children in the receipt of Pupil Premium are able to fully access all aspects of the science curriculum.
Impact
We use a range of strategies to assess what skills and knowledge the children have attained each term including the following:
- Revision of core questions at the start of the lesson
- Book looks
- Pupil Voice
- Regular feedback from each lesson
Useful Websites
For some fun experiments to try at home, visit https://www.sciencefun.org/kidszone/experiments/ You could make a lava lamp, or a bubbling volcano, or try making your own play dough! There are hundreds of fun experiments here, suitable for all ages groups.
STEM- https://www.stem.org.uk/home-learning/primary The STEM website has some great resources for science learning at home.
BBC Bitesize KS1 science - For videos and resources for Key Stage 1 children. There are resources here linked to all of our science topics.
Page last updated October 2023