SCIENCE
"Science is magic that works."
Kurt Vonnegut
CURRICULUM
At Kingswood Primary School, our science curriculum is designed to give our pupils a secure understanding of science and the world around them by teaching a clear progression of scientific knowledge and skills from EYFS, through to KS1 and 2.
In science we intend for children to:
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develop scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding through the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics
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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
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be equipped with the scientific skills required to understand the uses and implications of science, today and for the future. We understand that it is important for lessons to have a skills-based focus, and that the knowledge can be taught through this
INTENT
At Kingswood Primary School, we encourage children to be inquisitive throughout their time at the school and beyond. The science curriculum fosters a healthy curiosity in children about our universe and promotes respect for the living and non-living things. We believe science encompasses the acquisition of knowledge, concepts, skills and positive attitudes. Throughout the programmes of study, the children will acquire and develop the key knowledge that has been identified within each unit and across each year group, as well as the application of scientific skills. We ensure that the Working Scientifically skills are built-on and developed throughout children’s time at school so that they can apply their knowledge of science when using equipment, conducting experiments, building arguments and explaining concepts confidently and continue to ask questions and be curious about their surroundings.
IMPLEMENTATION
Our planning follows the national curriculum objectives while creating meaningful links through the wider curriculum. We follow a spiral curriculum with engaging recall activities, with essential knowledge and skills revisited with increasing complexity, allowing pupils to revise and build on their previous learning, ensuring new learning is approached with confidence. This also allows us to challenge children who are already secure in their understanding. We use planning materials from Kapow which have a different focus each half term. Lessons incorporate various teaching strategies from independent tasks to paired and group work, including practical, creative, computer-based and collaborative tasks. This variety means that lessons are engaging and appeal to those with different learning styles. Guidance for adapting the learning is available for every lesson to ensure that all pupils can access learning, and opportunities to stretch pupils’ learning are available when required. Knowledge organisers for each unit help to identify prior and future curriculum links to make the scheme as meaningful as possible and reinforce key technical terms.
Every classroom has a working science display which reflects their current unit. It displays elements of the science knowledge and working scientifically skills the children are developing. This is also a space for the class to post their science questions and enquiry ideas.
At Kingswood, we ensure that the children are taught all five enquiry types in each year group: comparative / fair testing, research, identifying, grouping and classifying, observation over time and pattern seeking. We use the Kapow progression map to ensure that skills are built on across the three phases.
In addition to learning within the classroom, we provide opportunities to explore science in the natural world through trips to local nature trails in Norwood Park; workshops at Brockwell Gardens Green House and visits to places such as Charles Darwin’s home – Down House. We also use our school grounds to look at micro habitats, carry out enquiries in the playgrounds and plant fruits and vegetables in raised beds.
IMPACT
The impact can be constantly monitored through both formative and summative assessment opportunities. Each lesson includes guidance to support teachers in assessing pupils against the learning objectives and any relevant scientific enquiry skills. Furthermore, each unit has a unit quiz and a knowledge and skills catcher, which can be used at the end of the unit to provide a summative assessment. Opportunities for children to communicate using scientific vocabulary will also form part of the assessment process in each unit. We use Insight online as an assessment tool to track children’s progress and attainment across each topic. Every child is assessed as working towards, expected or greater depth for each topic and working scientifically. Teachers will plan additional activities to help children who are working towards, to secure their knowledge and develop their scientific vocabulary and working scientifically skills.
Pupils should leave our school equipped with the requisite skills and knowledge to success in key stage 3 science. They will have the necessary tools to confidently and meaningfully question and explore the world around them and understand the impact of science on society.