SCIENCE AT BOURNEHALL
VALUE STATEMENT
At Bournehall Primary School we value science because:
- it makes an increasingly important contribution to all aspects of life
- all children are naturally curious about their environment – science makes a valuable contribution to their knowledge and understanding of the world
A SCIENTIST:
- thinks independently and raises questions about working scientifically and the knowledge and skills that it brings
- has confidence and competence in the full range of practical skills, taking the initiative in, for example, planning and carrying out scientific investigations
- presents excellent scientific knowledge and understanding which is demonstrated in written and verbal explanations, solving challenging problems and reporting scientific findings
- shows high levels of originality, imagination or innovation in the application of skills
- has the ability to undertake practical work in a variety of contexts, including fieldwork
- has a passion for science and its application in past, present and future technologies
(Chris Quigley – Essentials Curriculum)
DELIVERY of our science curriculum
We use PLAN primary science. Key learning, vocabulary and working scientifically skills are carefully planned using small step progression through the science national curriculum from Reception to Year 6, engaging prior learning and deepening understanding year on year.
The following threshold concepts (from Chris Quigley's Essential's Curriculum) are revisited in each year group:
Working scientifically
This concept involves learning the methodologies of the discipline of science.
Biology
These concepts involves becoming familiar with:
- different types of plants, their structure and reproduction
- different types of animals, humans and the life processes they share
- a wider range of living things, including insects and understanding life processes
- understand that organisms come into existence, adapt, change and evolve and become extinct
Chemistry
This concept involves becoming familiar with:
- a range of materials, their properties, uses and how they may be altered or changed.
Physics (not statutory in the English National Curriculum in KS1)
These concepts involve understanding :
- what causes motion
- what causes seasonal changes, day and night
- how light and reflection affect sight
- how sound is produced, how it travels and how it is heard
- circuits and their role in electrical applications.
CONDITIONS FOR LEARNING
Children tell us that they enjoy science and learn best when they:
- can work together to do ‘hands-on’ science
- understand the big picture and small steps
- show what they have learned in different ways
- see and learn scientific words
- can choose from many different resources (including computing)
- see how science is used in the real world
- do science outside the classroom
- use science with other subjects
- have challenges
- ask their own questions
- plan and carry out our own investigations
- share their learning with others
SCIENCE LESSONS :
- starts with a question/problem to solve
- includes a science starter to revisit and deepen substantive knowledge
- encourages creative thinking and reasoning
- has a context that connects with children’s own lives and experiences
- encourages and develops the skills needed for children to ask their own questions and discover science themselves through practical investigations and research
- emphasises the role of evidence to challenge or prove ideas and answer questions
- includes discussion and debate
- makes good use of resources that are exciting, high quality and are of a quantity that allow full participation – including taking every opportunity to use the outdoor environment
- takes into account pupils’ prior knowledge and understanding
- supports children’s application and development of basic skills through communicating their scientific findings and understanding in different ways including talking and writing in different forms using scientific vocabulary, pictures, graphs and using computing
- focuses on only ONE part of an investigation in depth, although all parts of the investigation are completed
NB: science learning should always identify consideration of risk (ref: CLEAPPS – ‘Be Safe’ as a starting point)
