Science

INTENT:   

At Lakeside, we want to instil in children curiosity and investigation (Working Scientifically) across a variety of units of study. The Science curriculum fosters a healthy curiosity in children about our universe and promotes respect for the living and non-living. We believe science encompasses the acquisition of knowledge, concepts, skills and positive attitudes. At Lakeside, we recognise the importance of Science in every aspect of daily life. As one of the core subjects taught in Primary Schools, we give the teaching and learning of Science the prominence it requires.  We will be studying a range of subjects including: animals including humans, plants and living things and their habitats. The children will be provided with opportunities to investigate these areas first hand by growing their own plants, observing natural habitats and building their own habitats for living things. As well as learning about living things, the children will also study different materials and their uses progressing to investigate rocks and soils and states of matter. Pupils will be able to use this knowledge to build upon the knowledge they have previously gained about living things and what they need. We nurture children’s inquisitive nature to explore and question the world around them through our enquiry-based topics including light, electricity and forces and magnets. This will provide opportunities for children to question, predict and investigate and experiment to find the answers. We facilitate purposeful activities for children to apply the skills, knowledge and understanding and to communicate this to a range of audiences. This will develop the natural curiosity of the child, encourage respect for living organisms and the physical environment and provide opportunities for critical evaluation of evidence. We have a nature area within school and have access to a wildlife haven on our doorstep. (Alvaston Park). ​

Curriculum Design, Coverage & Progression

The science overview details how the national curriculum objectives are mapped out and integrated into topics in each year group, to show full coverage and progression of skills.  The key scientific vocabulary to be taught is added to the overview to show clear progression of technical terms. Educational visits and ‘Wow’ events are incorporated into the curriculum to engage and enhance the learning experiences.  The Science synopsis shows how each year group curriculum build on previous knowledge and skills. Our science curriculum for Yr1-6 builds on the Understanding the World; the world and technology strand of the Development Matters document.  The Lakeside curriculum encompasses all the elements of our whole school curriculum, providing all of its pupils with equal access to a rich, broad, balanced and differentiated curriculum matched well to pupils’ ages, abilities, interests, aptitudes and special needs.

Children can achieve aspects of the Harmony Pledge through the Science curriculum, for example being able to generate ideas, explore possibilities and apply skills to solve problems is explored through the learning on the environment.

IMPLEMENTATION          

The Science section of the year groups ‘What we are learning about’, outlines the knowledge and skills that will be the focus of the each topic and poses the ‘Big Question’.  The knowledge organiser is shared with the children at the start of the topic and sent to parent/carers to support with home learning.  This includes key facts, knowledge and technical terms that will be taught during the topic, children are encouraged to pose questions, discuss what they already know and identifying links with prior learning using the knowledge organiser.

Year groups share the ‘Big Picture’ at the start of a science unit to outline to the children the knowledge and skills that will be achieved by the end of the unit.  The ‘Big Picture’ is shared again at the start of each lesson in the sequence, to reinforce the previous lesson’s learning and assess children’s understanding, through questioning, low stakes quizzing and peer discussions.  Teachers will build into the unit time to research and answer questions posed by the children.  At the end of the topic, the ‘Big Question’ is explored to ascertain if the learning throughout the topic concluded in answering it.

Scaffolds are a common feature to support children’s learning within lessons, for example the use of language structures, displayed vocabulary, knowledge organisers and visual stimuli.

The topic journey is showcased on the working wall, this is used to display learning produced, photographs, key concepts and answers to the questions explored at each stage of the topic.

Science lead will carry out pupil voice alongside a book look for pupils to share their learning and share about their science knowledge.  Staff voice is used to identify effective resources, subject knowledge, support CPD needed and what is working well.

Science is celebrated through central displays and working walls within the classroom based around the current topic.

For the Synopsis of Science at Lakeside and the Science Curriculum Coverage and Progression document, see below: 

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