Science
Intent
At Parkhill, we want our children to love science. Our intent is to give every child a broad and balanced science curriculum which enables them to confidently explore and discover what is around them, so that they have a deeper understanding of the world we live in. We want them to have no limits to what their ambitions are and grow up wanting to be forensic scientists, astronauts or microbiologists.
We want our children to remember their science lessons in our school, cherish these memories and develop their thirst for scientific learning.
To achieve this, our curriculum is coherently planned and sequenced with opportunities for cross curricular links. It involves exciting, practical hands-on experiences that encourage curiosity and questioning. Our aim is that these stimulating and challenging experiences help every child secure and extend their scientific knowledge and vocabulary, as well as promoting a love and appetite for learning.
Implementation
At Parkhill, science topics are taught within each year group in accordance with the National Curriculum.
- Every year group will build upon the learning from prior year groups therefore developing depth of understanding and progression of skills.
- Teachers promote enjoyment and foster interest of the scientific disciplines; Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
- Children explore, question, predict, plan, carry out investigations and observations as well as conclude their findings.
- Children present their findings and learning using science specific language, observations and diagrams.
- At the start of each topic children will review previous learning and will have the opportunity to share what they already know about a current topic.
- Children are given a knowledge organiser at the start of each topic which details some key scientific vocabulary. These are used as a reference tool to support children with their acquisition of knowledge.
- To support teaching, teachers access a range of resources including Explorify, PLAN science and TAPPS (Teacher Assessment in Primary Science).
- Effective use of education visits and visitors are planned, to enrich and enhance the pupil’s learning experiences within the science curriculum. For example, hatching chicks, planetarium visitor and use of the outside area.
- Effective modelling by teachers ensures that children can achieve their learning intention, with misconceptions addressed within it.
- A range of assessment methods are used throughout the topics so that teachers can address any misconceptions. For example, concept cartoons, verbal/written outcomes, presentations, quizzes and assessment tasks.
- Using the assessment data tracker allows us to use data to inform future practice.
Impact
Our children will reach at least age related expectations for science. They will be able to articulate their understanding using rich scientific language. They will have acquired range of desirable skills to support their future development, such as working collaboratively, confidence to voice opinions and organisational skills. Our science curriculum will lead pupils to be enthusiastic science learners and understand that science has changed our lives and that it is vital to the world’s future prosperity. At Parkhill, we want to empower our children, so they understand they have the capability to change the world.