Intent
The intent of our Meadowside Science Curriculum is to develop children’s deeper understanding of the way the world works. We want children to recognise that there are three main strands of science (biology, chemistry and physics) and to recognise the value of science in our everyday world. We shape children into inquisitive thinkers who can pose their own questions and have the skills and knowledge to seek ways of answering these questions. We give children the opportunity to learn through practical investigations into science and by learning from the experiences of others.
Implementation
At Meadowside Primary School, we teach science every week. For these lessons we use ‘Big Questions’ as a stimulus. These lessons can be practical and skills based or more knowledge based. We have a wide variety of practical equipment which children use to develop their skills. Knowledge based lessons are delivered using a variety of means. As science is subject with a large content, progression has been carefully planned so that children are continually building on and extending the skills or subject knowledge they have learnt previously. We have carefully planned each lesson to give children the opportunity to develop key scientific skills and add to these as they move into the next year groups to prevent any knowledge being lost.
Impact
The children are assessed throughout the year by their class teacher, based on the work being produced in class. The Science subject leader will complete monitoring activities to ensure the curriculum is having the desired impact and gives our subject leader the chance to see strengths and areas for development in the teaching and learning of Science at Meadowside.
Knowledge Organisers:
To help the children remember their learning, we created Knowledge Organisers for each unit of work. These can be found below (this looks a little different in EYFS):
EYFS (Reception)
Science is not a named subject in the EYFS curriculum but it comes under ‘Understadning the World’.
Understanding the World in EYFS helps children make sense of their physical environment, community, and the wider culturally and socially diverse world. Rather than Knowledge Organisers, children’s learning is reinforced through the ‘Big Questions’ and experiential lessons. Examples of our Big Question to help the children remember can be found below:
Physical world and Nature:
What is your favourite animal? Where does it live? What does it eat? Could you keep it as a pet?
Where do different animals live?
Which animals can we keep as pets? Which animal would you like as a pet?
What’s the weather like this week?
Year 1:
Year 2:
Living Things and their Habitats
Year 3:
Year 4:
Living Things and their Habitats
Year 5:
Living Things and their Habitats
Properties and Changes of Materials
Year 6:
Living Things and their Habitats
How can I support my child with Science?
Science is happening around us every day! From little things like the weather and why your heart beats faster when you run to bigger concepts like gravity and how sound and light travel. Children are often much more creative and inquisitive than adults and will often pose questions you are not expecting! Do not be afraid to tell your child you don’t know the answer to their question, as parents and adults, children expect us to know everything, but this can never be true! It is important for children to know that even adults are still learning. Instead of telling your child you simply don’t know the answer to their question, endeavour to help them to find it. Teaching your child how they can find an answer to their question is just as valuable to actually knowing the answer. The BBC/CBBC have a lots of brilliant videos on some of the more complex scientific theories that are explained in ways that children can understand. There are even whole science channels for children on YouTube too.
Encourage your child to be curious. Let them ask questions and allow them some time to ponder the answers or possibilities. Ask them questions about what they think might be happening and why. Get them to make predictions and ask them what has made them think this. You can do this for the smallest of concepts. For example – what do you think will happen if we don’t put the ice cream in the freezer? How do you know? Teach your children to be observant. Do they notice anything different about the changing of the weather? The growth of a plant?
Science has close links to other subjects including Technology, Engineering and Maths. You may see these subjects being referred to as STEM subjects. There are lots of things you can do to foster a love of science (and the wider world around us) at home. Here are a few things you might like to do:
- Complete a simple science experiment at home (there is a wealth of different things you might like to try with a quick Google search!) some suggestions for where to start are in the useful websites below.
- Visit the science museum “We the Curious” in Bristol – this gives children a hands on experience to so many different science concepts
- Watch one of Maddie Moate’s videos on YouTubeKids
- Visit the library and get some books about simple science experiments, science concepts or even some recipe books to try out some baking!
- Learn how to use different resources to find an answer to your question – how can computers help us? How can books help us? How might videos and other forms of media help us?
- Learn about the different careers that involve science – scientists are often portrayed as wild haired white coat wearing men holding test tubes, prove this stereotype wrong by investigating what a “real” scientist looks like and what careers they do!
- Visit the Cheltenham Science Festival
- Take part in some British Science week activities
- Visit a zoo, wildlife park or bird park and find out about animals natural habitats and diets
- Take part in the Great Garden Bird Watch or go on a bug hunt
Useful websites
STEM Learning is the home of STEM
Science | Cheltenham Festivals
Activity packs – British Science Week
70 Easy Science Experiments Using Materials You Already Have (weareteachers.com)