Science Curriculum
At Windy Nook Primary we recognise the importance of Science in every aspect of daily life. Our Science curriculum will develop the natural curiosity of children, encourage respect for living organisms and the physical environment and provide opportunities for critical evaluation of evidence. Children will gain an understanding of scientific processes and acquire specific skills and knowledge to help them think scientifically.
Through investigation and using and applying process skills, science in our school develops children’s ideas and ways of working which enables them to confidently explore and discover the world around them, ensuring they have a deeper understanding of the world they live in.
We ensure that staff expose all children to high quality teaching and learning experiences, which allows them to explore their outdoor environment and locality, thus developing their scientific enquiry and investigative skills. These skills and topics are revisited and developed throughout their time at school. Topics such as Plants are taught in Key Stage One and are revisited in further detail throughout Key Stage Two. This model not only allows children to build upon their prior knowledge but also helps increase their enthusiasm for specific topics whilst embedding skills into their long term memory.
Children are immersed in scientific vocabulary which aids their knowledge and understanding of each topic. They are continuously encouraged to develop and use a range of skills such as observations, predictions, planning and investigating and are encouraged to explore and question the world around them enabling them to become independent learners.
We are an inclusive school and intend to provide all children with a broad and balanced science curriculum.
To find out more about our Science curriculum at Windy Nook, please click on the links below:
Science Policy 2024
Curriculum Policy 2024
Key Vocabulary
Key Principles
Pond Outdoor Learning Curriculum
Maths Through Science 2024
PSQM information
PSQM Useful Link
Key Learning
Science Y1 with RRSA Articles
Science Y2 with RRSA Articles
Science Y3 with RRSA Articles
Science Y4 with RRSA Articles
Science Y5 with RRSA Articles
Science Y6 with RRSA Articles
Implementation
We plan using the National Curriculum and aim to provide an enriched science curriculum that gives all children opportunities for practical lessons which include:
- Exciting, practical, hands on experiences.
- Developing and encouraging curiosity and questioning.
- Providing stimulating and challenging experiences to help children secure and extend their scientific knowledge and vocabulary.
- Broadening children’s scientific view of the world around them.
- Promoting a love for enquiry and wanting to explore new things.
- Actively promote working scientifically and ensure there are ample opportunities to explore each type of scientific enquiry.
We implement a curriculum that is progressive throughout the whole school. Teachers use half termly planning to ensure each topic is challenging, exciting and revisits prior learning. This planning ensures that pupils acquire knowledge, vocabulary and skills in a well thought out and progressive manner and that there is coverage across each topic over time. As a result all children are exposed to a wide variety of topics that support their individual curiosity for learning.
In addition to this, learning takes place both inside and outside of the classroom. Every half term we present opportunities for all children to carry out investigations in a range of contexts and give the opportunity for children to make links between science and other areas of learning. Where possible, we consolidate and develop further learning by using outside providers, specific science led activities and science led weeks.
Teachers ensure that pupils embed key concepts in their long term memory. Key skills and objectives for curriculum areas are revisited throughout the year and applied in different contexts. Pupils revisit prior learning through the use of science starters.
In Early Years children are encouraged to comment and asks questions about aspects of their familiar world such as the place where they live or the natural world. They take part in activities and experiences which allow them to talk about some of the things they have observed such as plants, animals, natural and found objects and explore how things happen and how things work.
By the end of Early Years we aim for all children to:
- Know about similarities and differences in relation to places, objects, materials and living things.
- Ensure they are confident to talk about the features of their own immediate environment and how others may differ.
- Make observations of animals and plants and explain why some things occur, and talk about changes.
Throughout Key Stage One and Two we endeavour to provide all children with rich learning experiences that aim to:
- Prepare children for life in an increasingly scientific and technological world.
- Build on their natural curiosity and develop their scientific approach to problems.
- Develop the use of scientific language.
- Encourage open-mindedness, perseverance and self assessment.
- Develop investigative skills – observing, measuring, predicting, experimenting, interpreting, explaining and evaluating.
- Help all children to acquire a growing understanding of the processes and methods of scientific enquiry.
- Develop an understanding of scientific enquiry.
- Explore and understand different types of scientific jobs.
- Promote and develop STEM skills.
Impact
Our Science Curriculum is well thought out, of a high quality and is planned to demonstrate progression. We measure the impact of our curriculum through pupil discussions about their learning and teacher assessments. We want to ensure that children not only acquire the appropriate age related knowledge, but also skills which will equip them in their everyday lives. All children will have:
- A richer scientific vocabulary.
- A wider variety of skills linked to both scientific knowledge and understanding and scientific enquiry/investigative skills.
- High aspirations which they will take with them in both further education and adult life.