Science

The study of science is focused on developing an understanding of natural phenomena and the man-made world including the ways in which science impacts on people’s lives and the environment. Our curriculum covers all areas of science learning, including living things, plants, humans and animals, materials; properties, changes and matter, Earth and space, forces, energy, electricity and electromagnetism and waves. Pupils are taught essential aspects of the knowledge, methods, processes and uses of science.

Learning in science is practical and hands-on and allows learners to collect first-hand evidence from observation and/or experimentation within the different areas/branches of scientific study.

In Science, learners will have the opportunity to

experience situations in which problems are posed, having the opportunity to develop their own solutions;
develop a working understanding of safety and care;
formulate testable hypotheses;
develop skills of using equipment and measurement, making decisions about when, what and how to measure;
organise and record data and draw conclusions from results;
develop written and oral reporting skills, alongside a scientific vocabulary to use in communicating findings and ideas.

As a result of our science curriculum, learners will become equipped with the scientific knowledge required to understand the uses and implications of science, today and for the future. They will understand the limitations of their own experiments and develop an understanding of science being dynamic and that ideas and theories are constantly evolving even if they cannot yet be tested. International learning in science includes learning about science in different times and places and how current scientific thinking and exploration are influenced by culture, religion and attitudes to guardianship of the future.

Our aspiration is that children are inspired to be curious about natural phenomena and develop key knowledge and concepts in order to understand how science can be used to explain what is occurring, predict how things will behave, and analyse causes, both in and out of school.

To be successful, learners must:

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
use of a range of materials and develop scientific skills and key techniques as part of the practical process of investigation
evaluate materials, processes and scientific data
develop the appropriate vocabulary and subject-specific terminology to describe
understand the effects of science on people’s lives and its impact on the wider world
connect learning within different aspects of science and between science and other subjects (e.g. design technology, ICT)
Engage with ethical issues associated with scientific activities and experimentation by themselves and others.

Implementation

EYFS Understanding The World

Understanding the world involves guiding children to make sense of their physical world and their community. The frequency and range of children’s personal experiences increases their knowledge and sense of the world around them – from visiting parks, libraries and museums to meeting important members of society such as police officers, nurses and firefighters. In addition, listening to a broad selection of stories, non-fiction, rhymes and poems will foster their understanding of our culturally, socially, technologically and ecologically diverse world. As well as building important knowledge, this extends their familiarity with words that support understanding across domains. Enriching and widening children’s vocabulary will support later reading comprehension.

Toddlers and young children will be learning to:

Repeat actions that have an effect.
Explore materials with different properties.
Explore natural materials, indoors and outside.
Explore and respond to different natural phenomena in their setting and on trips

3 and 4-year-olds will be learning to:

Use all their senses in hands-on exploration of natural materials.
Explore collections of materials with similar and/or different properties.
Talk about what they see, using a wide vocabulary.
Plant seeds and care for growing plants.
Understand the key features of the life cycle of a plant and an animal.
Begin to understand the need to respect and care for the natural environment and all living things.
Explore and talk about different forces they can feel.
Talk about the differences between materials and changes they notice

Children in reception will be learning to:

Explore the natural world around them
Describe what they see, hear and feel whilst outside.
Understand the effect of changing seasons on the natural world around them.

Year 1

Autumn Term	Spring Term	Summer Term
Science Units
We are what we eat We will be learning about the vital role of food in sustaining human life, as well as its importance in history and culture throughout the world. As scientists and nutritionists, we will be studying the different types and amounts of food our bodies need so that we can plan healthier diets and enjoy healthier lives.	Sensational Like all living things, we use our senses to experience the world around us. As we experience new things these get saved in our memory and we can build connections and begin to establish our likes and dislikes. Do you know your senses help keep you safe?	Live and Let Live We will be learning about living things and what they need in order to survive. How do we know what living things need? How do you know that you are alive, but a stone has never been alive?
+ Topic Based Science
Living Things - animals	Physical processes - air resistance	Living Things - plants

Year 2

Autumn Term	Spring Term	Summer Term
Science Units
What’s It Made of? We will be learning about a variety of materials ranging from wood, plastic and fabric to glass, gold and steel. As scientists, we will be carrying out a series of investigations to learn more about the properties of these materials and how they can help us. Why do we use different materials to make different objects or to do particular jobs?	Superhumans We will be learning about how our bones, muscles, senses and nerves all connect to make us human. As scientists, we will be investigating the ways in which these body parts interact with our brain, enabling us to see, hear, smell, taste and touch.	It’s Shocking We will be learning all about electricity and the things that we use it for on a daily basis, ranging from lights and computers to mobile phones and cars. As scientists, we will be investigating the unique features of static and current electricity and the reasons why they are so important in the modern world. How would our lives be different without electricity?
+ Topic Based Science
	Everyday Materials

Year 3

Autumn Term	Spring Term	Summer Term
Science Units
How Humans Work We will be learning about the different functions of the human body, including how we see, hear, digest, breathe and move. We will also investigate how to maintain a healthy lifestyle, and the effects of diet and exercise on the body	Material World We will be learning about the hundreds of different materials that are used to make everyday objects. We will need to be scientists to test the properties of different materials. Some materials absorb water; some are magnetic, and some allow electricity to pass through them. But with so many different materials to choose from, how do we decide which to use?	The Nature of Life We will be learning about where all life begins and ends. We will need to be Scientists and Technologists to investigate how all living things grow, adapt, feed and reproduce. We will need to use our International awareness to decide if all life forms matter and whether there are some plants or animals that are more important than another?
Bright Sparks We will be learning about electricity and its importance on our daily lives. Can you imagine how your life would be without electricity? As scientists we will investigate how electricity flows through wires and how switches work. Do you know that there are materials that don’t allow electricity to pass through them? We will also find out how electricity is produced in our countries and explore ways to save electricity.
+ Topic Based Science
		Living Things and Their Habitats

Year 4

Autumn Term	Spring Term	Summer Term
Science Units
Making Waves Sound and light are all around us – from the sound of thunder and the flash of lightning in a storm to a mobile phone ringing and flashing when someone calls us. We are surrounded by lights and sounds. But what is sound? How are sounds made? How do we see and hear? And why do we see lightning before we hear the thunder? We will need to be scientists, musicians and designers to find out all about light and sound waves!	Feel the Force We will be learning about forces and how they push and pull us along. We will need to be scientists to investigate different kinds of forces and learn how to measure them. Without forces nothing on Earth or in the wider Universe would start moving or once started they wouldn’t stop! How do we know forces are always in action? What can we see and feel that shows us forces are at work?	Let’s Plant It! In this unit, we will need to be ‘botanists’, a special kind of scientist who studies plants. We will be learning all about plants and how they grow. Plants live all over the world and without plants humans and animals would not be able to live.
Topic Based Science
Materials - rocks and states of matter	Materials and physical processes	Plants, Animals, Living Things and Their Habitats Materials - rocks and soils

Year 5

Autumn Term	Spring Term	Summer Term
Science Units
Fascinating Forces We will be learning about forces and how for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction, this is what keeps an object floating on water (buoyancy) or up in the air. We will need to be scientists to investigate how surface area affects air resistance acting upon an object. We will learn the difference between mass and weight and about comparing density. We will also need to be innovators to plan and make our own powered boat using our scientific and technical knowledge. Without forces, swimmers can’t swim smoothly in the pool and planes can’t fly! Can we see forces? Or should we say, can we see and feel the effect of forces?	Full Power Electricity is one of the most important discoveries ever made and we have learned how to use it to power almost every aspect of our lives. But who discovered electricity and how does it work?	Making New Materials We will be learning about the marvellous materials that surround us, and how they can be shaped, combined, condensed, frozen, melted and burnt. We will need to be chemists and cooks, scientists and creators of new materials. Have you ever wondered how new materials are made? Let’s find out!
+ Topic Based Science
Earth and Space		States of matter Living Things and Their Habitats Materials - rocks and soils

Year 6

Autumn Term	Spring Term	Summer Term
Science Units
Being Human Your body is designed to help you to breathe, move, eat, respond, reproduce and live. How do the different parts of your body function and how are humans different from other animals?	Existing, Endangered, Extinct From tiny tadpoles to giant squid, living things exist in an amazing variety of forms. Why is there so much variety and how do scientists sort, identify and classify the millions of species living today?	Look, Hear! Whether we are driving around in our cars, working, or relaxing at home, we are turning on lights, music, TV, radio, computers and mobile phones. We are plugged in to sound and light 24 hours a day. But what is the science behind sound and light?
+ Topic Based Science
Materials and their properties	Materials - rocks and soils The Earth and Space Weather

Science Policy

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