Science

Intent

At Perrymount we recognise the importance of Science in every aspect of daily life, how it has changed our lives and is vital to the world’s future prosperity.  We believe for the children to become scientists, they not only need knowledge, but also the skills to work scientifically and opportunities for skills and knowledge to be applied through a progressive curriculum.  We want science to stimulate and develop curiosity and questioning, through memorable learning experiences, which provides the foundations for understanding the world through the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics. Through this we encourage children to recognise the power of rational explanation and develop a sense of excitement and curiosity about natural phenomena and understand how science can be used to explain what is occurring, predict how things will behave and analyse causes.

Implementation

Teachers create a positive attitude to science learning within their classroom and reinforce our expectation that all children are capable of achieving high standards. Our whole school approach to the teaching and learning of science involves the following:

• Although where possible science is linked to the class themes, weekly discrete sessions are taught to ensure coverage.
• Knowledge organisers are utilised for each unit of work, outlining knowledge (including vocabulary) all children must master.
• Big questions, key ideas and misconceptions are included in curriculum planning and delivery to promote discussion, challenge thinking and ensure a broad and progressive curriculum.
• Wherever possible lessons are linked to children’s’ real-life experiences and which include outdoor learning to develop science through our local environment and community.
• Memorable knowledge and skills have been identified for each of the units to provide progressive acquisition of knowledge.  This is supported by the use of ‘sticky vocabulary and sticky knowledge’, which are displayed in children’s books and revisited regularly.
• Working Scientifically skills are embedded into lessons to ensure that skills are systematically developed throughout the children’s school career and new vocabulary and challenging concepts are introduced through direct teaching. Children are actively encouraged to decide which scientific enquiry is best suited to the task ahead and which skills focus they will utilise.
• Children have the opportunity to develop their science capital through studying science careers across the three specific disciplines and the diverse contribution made towards the subject, online learning such as ‘Reach out Reporter’ and developing Experts and  access to educational visits and visitors across the school year.