Science

Subject Leader: Mr P. Hoodless

Intent

At Haslam Park , it is our intention to recognise the importance of Science in every aspect of daily life. We give the teaching and learning of Science the prominence it requires. The Scientific area of learning is concerned with increasing pupils’ knowledge and understanding of our world, and with developing skills associated with Science as a process of enquiry. It will develop the natural curiosity of the child, encourage respect for living organisms and the physical environment and provide opportunities for critical evaluation of evidence. We intend to build a Science curriculum which develops learning and results in the acquisition of knowledge and build a Science curriculum which, enables  all children  (particularly disadvantaged pupils and pupils with SEND) to become enquiry based learners.

Implementation

• A clear and comprehensive scheme of work in line with the National Curriculum where teaching and learning should show progression across all key stages within the strands of Science.
• Children have access to key language and meanings in order to understand and readily apply to their written, mathematical and verbal communication of their skills.
• Children will use a range of resources to develop their knowledge and understanding that is integral to their learning and develop their understanding of working scientifically.
• Long term overviews in line with the National Curriculum where teaching and learning should plan for practical investigative opportunities within Science lessons.
• Children will reflect on previous learning and cross curricular links will be made wherever possible.
• Scientific vocabulary is taught and developed through all topics and this is reinforced using the knowledge organisers.
• Through the science curriculum children will use a range of secondary resources to help develop their knowledge and understanding For example : - digital technology, reference books, sensors, photographs.
• They will take part in relevant educational visits, Forest school to link and transfer their understanding of the importance of the world and how it should be treated.
• Children will be able to build on prior knowledge and link ideas together, enabling them to question and become enquiry based learners.
• Attainment will be assessed each half term through related topic assessment tasks. Children will complete a pre learning task before the unit and a post learn at the end of the unit.
• Where applicable links to Science will be made to develop the children’s topical learning.

Impact

• Most children will achieve age related expectations in Science at the end of their cohort year.
  · Children will retain knowledge that is pertinent to Science with a real life context.
• Children will be able to question ideas and reflect on knowledge.
• Children will work collaboratively and practically to investigate and experiment.
• Children will be able to explain the process they have taken and be able to reason scientifically.

Please find below our science curriculum overview for 2023- 2024

Please see the document below for a copy of the National Curriculum programme of study.

The 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 knowledge required to understand the uses and
  implications of science, today and for the future. 

At Haslam Park Science is taught in every year group for an afternoon a week throughout the school year.

Below you can see the different units we will be covering this year in Science across school.

Knowledge Organisers

We are continuing using knowledge organisers to help support the children in their learning.

A knowledge organiser is a document,  that contains key facts and information that children need to have a basic knowledge and understanding of a topic.

Most knowledge organisers will include:

• the essential facts about the topic
• key vocabulary or technical terms and their meanings
• images such as  diagrams

Knowledge Organiser can be found  Haslam Park Primary School - Science (haslam-park.bolton.sch.uk)

Working Scientifically

At Haslam Park we value the importance of children applying their scientific knowledge through investigations. We explore the 5 different types of enquiry with the children through completing experiments and investigations.

Comparative and Fair Testing

Which materials are the most absorbent?

Which parachute will slow a person down the most?

Identifying and Classifying

Which offspring belongs to which animal?

 Which materials are magnetic?

Observations Over Time

How does a tadpole change over time?

How does a bean change as it germinates?

Pattern Seeking

Do bigger seeds grow into bigger plants?

Is there a relationship between a mammal’s size and gestation period?

Research

What are the different ways that seeds disperse?

What happened when Charles Darwin visited the Galapagos islands?

Here we introduce seven science skills which children develop 

• asking questions
• making predictions
• setting up tests
• observing and measuring
• recording data
• interpreting and communicating results

• evaluating

The theme for Science week this year is 'TIME'.

We will be thinking about time, how it affects our lives and to explore science in the world around us. 

Have a look at some of the fantastic science learning the children have done through working scientifically!