Science

 Intent

St Columba’s Science curriculum promotes the development of scientific skills over the teaching of scientific knowledge, encouraging curiosity in pupils about the world around them.  Through  practical lessons, we aim to develop pupils’ confidence to ask open-ended questions and determine answers through scientific enquiry.  We hope to raise their aspirations and develop the foundational skills required to succeed in today’s world of rapid scientific development.

Implementation

We intend to do this by:

• A whole school progression map provides teachers with a basis for planning Science which builds from previous years, enabling children to gain scientific knowledge and understanding as they move through school.
• Teachers use metacognitive strategies to ensure pupils know more and remember more.
• Teachers use targeted questioning in class to test conceptual knowledge and skills, and assess children regularly to identify those children with gaps in learning, so that all children keep up.
• ‘Working Scientifically’ skills are embedded into all lessons to ensure these skills are being developed throughout.
• Teachers model use of scientific equipment, alongside ‘Working Scientifically’ skills in order to embed understanding before encouraging children to use equipment independently.
• Use a range of oracy activities to ensure children are using and embedding key scientific vocabulary.
• Teachers have up to date Science displays, rich in vocabulary, for pupils’ to refer to throughout each topic.
• Teachers explicitly use and refer to scientific vocabulary and terminology when teaching.
• We carefully plan opportunities for the children to broaden their experiences through relevant school trips and lessons by visitors.
• We use outdoor learning to support the teaching of Science.
• Children are encouraged to ask questions and are given opportunities to use their scientific skills to find solutions.
• We study influential scientists from around the world and from a variety of different backgrounds.

SEND and disadvantaged pupils are supported in the learning individually. There is no cap on learning as we want all children to achieve their full potential.  Teachers aim to meet all learning needs through differentiation.  Support is guided through information on the      individual pupil’s My Support Plans and through Assessment for Learning.

 Impact

The children will:

• enjoy and be enthusiastic about Science
• be able to question ideas and reflect on knowledge.
• be able to link their science learning to real life contexts.
• be able to articulate their understanding of scientific concepts and reason scientifically using rich language linked to science.
• be able to remember more and link their learning back to previous years.
• have high aspirations, which will see them through to further study and work.

 Pupil Voice

 Examples of Science Work Across KS1 and KS2 

 Progression Documents

st columbas science knowledge progression.pdf

 

st columbas enquiry progression pdf.pdf

 

st columba vocab progression 1.pdf

 

 

Examples of Knowledge Mats