Subject Overview

Science Overview

At Eldon Primary School we have high expectations, enthusiasm and a passion for Science. We aim for high levels of engagement and commitment to learning using a wide range of teaching strategies, incorporating practical science skills. We aim to develop knowledge, skills and understanding using a wide range of activities, discussions, quality questioning and the use of high-quality resources.  We encourage active participation in learning through practical work and trips which stimulate pupil’s inquisitiveness. The creative curriculum approach is adopted using key questions as a basis for learning and investigation.

INTENT

The 2014 national curriculum for science aims to ensure that all pupils:

● develop scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding through the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics

● 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

● are equipped with the scientific skills required to understand the uses and implications of science, today and for the future.

We understand that it is important for lessons to have a skills-based focus, and that the knowledge can be taught through this subject.

IMPLEMENTATION

Teachers create a positive attitude to science learning within their classrooms and reinforce an expectation that all pupils can achieve high standards in science. Our whole school approach to the teaching and learning of science involves the following;

Ethos

At Eldon Primary School we have high expectations, enthusiasm and a passion for science.  We aim for high levels of engagement and commitment to learning using a wide range of teaching strategies, incorporating practical science skills. We aim to develop knowledge, skills and understanding using a wide range of activities, discussions, quality questioning and the use of high-quality resources.  We encourage active participation in learning through practical work and trips which stimulate pupil’s inquisitiveness.  The creative curriculum approach is adopted using key questions as a basis for learning and investigation.

Science is good at Eldon Primary School when;

• We apply our ‘working scientifically skills’ to solve problems, explore, observe and investigate.
• We ask questions and work together to discover the answers
• Science has a wow factor and promotes a sense of awe and wonder
• Our learning is enhanced by outdoor learning, specialist visitors and we have access to quality resources
• We are involved in creating and carrying out investigations and can share and explain our ideas and conclusions

Scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding

The programmes of study describe a sequence of knowledge and concepts. While it is important that pupils make progress, it is also vitally important that they develop secure understanding of each key block of knowledge and concepts in order to progress to the next stage. Children’s starting points are identified at the beginning of each science topic and the children are able to convey and record what they know already. At the end of the block, children’s knowledge is checked in line with the key knowledge identified prior to the teaching block. Pupils should be able to describe associated processes and key characteristics in common language, but they should also be familiar with, and use, technical terminology accurately and precisely. They should build up an extended specialist vocabulary and teachers ensure that this is developed within each lesson and throughout each science topic. The science curriculum ensures that children are provided with regular opportunities to apply their mathematical knowledge to their understanding of science, including collecting, presenting and analysing data. Through use of the KWL strategy, children are also able to suggest what they would like to learn at the start of each teaching sequence and this ensures that teachers are able to adapt the programme of study to ensure that this is informed by children’s interests and to maximise their engagement with and motivation to study science.