Science at St. Mary’s starts from the premise of practical exploration and the understanding that Science is an everyday presence in everyone’s world. Both key stages experience practical and theoretical lessons where questioning is encouraged. This enables children to develop an age appropriate understanding of the world around them and the part they play in it.
Science Purpose of Study:
A high-quality science education provides the foundations for understanding the world through the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics. Science has changed our lives and is vital to the world’s future prosperity, and all pupils should be taught essential aspects of the knowledge, methods, processes and uses of science. Through building up a body of key foundational knowledge and concepts, pupils should be encouraged to recognise the power of rational explanation and develop a sense of excitement and curiosity about natural phenomena. They should be encouraged to understand how science can be used to explain what is occurring, predict how things will behave, and analyse causes.
Aims:
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
The curriculum is sourced from Snap Science, a scheme of work produced by Collins. The units are planned in such a way that enable children to build on prior knowledge as they move through the school and give an opportunity for enrichment activities which enable children to extend their knowledge in real life situations.
Children in KS1 will develop their knowledge and scientific skills over units which cover Materials, The Seasons, Animals and the Human Body and Plants & Habitats. Many of these units are taught in a cross-curricular way linked to English and Mathematics.
Building on KS1 units studied, children in KS2 develop their knowledge and skills with units on Plants & Habitats, Animals including Humans and Properties of Materials. New units are introduced including Light, Sound, Electricity, Forces, Rocks, States of Matter and Evolution & Inheritance.
