Science
At Thorp Primary School we are scientists! We plan lessons to inspire the pupils to experiment and investigate the world around them and to help them raise their own questions such as “Why…?”, “How…?” and “What happens if…?”
We want the children at our school to love science and we aim to provide the children with the science knowledge and investigational skills that they need to equip them with the knowledge required to understand the uses of science today and for the future. We want our children to have high aspirations, be ambitious, naturally curious about the world around them. The science curriculum has been carefully designed and sequenced so that it helps children to develop their science capital.
Intent
The science curriculum is ambitious and allows our children to become independent and resilient – like all curriculum areas. The science curriculum promotes curiosity and a love and thirst for learning. We want to equip our children with all the statutory requirements of the science National Curriculum and also prepare them for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences in the next stage of their education and beyond. We also celebrate innovation, encourage children to be inquisitive and respect the ideas of others when making suggestions for how to proceed with scientific investigations and when making predictions. Each year group has been assigned inspirational local, national or international scientists from the fields of Biology, Physics or Chemistry and have the opportunity to find out about significant scientists such as Thomas Edison, Mary Anning and Brian Cox.
We want our children to know the scientific knowledge and skills within each curriculum topic that we teach to aid their knowledge about key areas of Scientific Enquiry, Life Processes and Living Things, Materials and their Properties, and Physical Processes through a variety of teaching and learning strategies. We want our children to understand that science is the study of the physical world, involving a collection of facts from observations, physical experiments and working scientifically from which they form ideas of their world. We provide opportunities for children to actively learn and the curriculum has a heavy emphasis on investigation where children can make predictions, observations, carry out fair testing and evaluations using a range of methods to communicate their scientific knowledge and present this in a systematic and scientific manner.
Implementation
Through the teaching of science, children will be given opportunities to explore, use and apply content and investigate through experiments. Assessment data is collected by staff at the end of each term using our data tracking program. Staff knowledge is vital at Thorp Primary School; therefore, we ensure that staff are equipped to teach and deliver up to date content by providing effective CPD and appropriate resources.
Impact
If the curriculum is delivered to its full potential, we will see a huge impact on our children’s knowledge of science. We will see children develop scientific knowledge and understanding through the specific strands of science: biology, chemistry and physics. Children will have the opportunities to explore different types of scientific enquiries that will help them to answer scientific questions about the world around them and most importantly, if we gain the desired outcome, our children will be equipped with the scientific knowledge required to understand the uses and implications of science, today and for the future.
Useful Links For Parents
Science is such a great subject because it really gives you a chance to get creative and have some fun with children.
You’ve probably already got resources and reading materials that cover the curriculum, so we’ve decided to collect some more out-of-the-box activities and websites that will aid children to study science in a slightly different way.
Warning: some of these activities (particularly the experiments) may need parental supervision.
1. National Geographic Kids
This child-friendly website is great to teach and inspire children and is filled with fun and unique activities – like How to Make a Paper Bowl Jellyfish!
2. NASA Kids’ Club
A place to play games and learn about space. These games support national education standards in STEM — science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
3. Why and How? Primary Science Teaching Trust
This website offers a variety of different resources covering many topics, including things like “Titanic Science,” “Growing Music” and “Garden Watch.”
4. 5 Science Experiments You Can Do At Home
Make science fun with these fantastic experiments!
5. STEM Learning
This Planet Science collection for parents contains a selection of appealing science-based activities for students and their parents which are designed to entertain and make science an enjoyable activity for all.
6. WOW Science
A child friendly gateway to high quality primary science resources on the internet and beyond. Resources for children to explore either alone or together with their parents.
7. First Discovers
A website that provides parents with science based activities that are ‘hand on’ and fun!
8. Association for Science Education
The Association for Science Education (ASE) is the largest subject association in the UK. We are an active membership body that has been supporting all those involved in science education from pre-school to higher education for over 100 years.
9. 63 Easy Science Experiments for Kids to Do at Home – Mommy Poppins
You can actually do some pretty mind-blowing, hands-on science experiments at home using stuff you probably have lying around the house.
10. Science Bob – Experiments
A variety of science experiments you can do at home!
11. Sublime Science – 101 Sublime Science Experiments
101 awesomely fun science experiments you can do at home with ‘stuff’ you’ve already got from Dragons’ Den winner and Sublime Science founder, Mad Marc (Wileman!)
Curriculum Road Map
Knowledge Organisers
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Year 4
Year 5
Year 6
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