Science

At Beechwood, we encourage children to be inquisitive and see science as the world around them, whilst developing specific skills and knowledge to help them reason scientifically.

Intent

The intent  is to provide a broad and balanced, age-appropriate programme which enables children to build upon their investigative skills as they consider the world around them and to engage with changing explanations about how the world works. The key aims include; scientific skills, enquiry based learning and pupil engagement (SEE).

Scientific Understanding should enable children to:

• ask relevant questions and use these to plan scientific enquiries; recognising and controlling variables where necessary;
• set up practical enquiries safely, using appropriate techniques, apparatus and materials during both fieldwork and class work;
• gather, record, classify and present data in a variety of ways, using a range of scientific equipment of increasing complexity;
• become ‘scientific thinkers’ by developing attitudes of curiosity, co-operation, perseverance, responsibility and independence;
• use the data gathered to make sense of evidence, test out hypothesis, find patterns in observations and evaluate processes and outcomes;
• use systematic and logical reasoning, solve problems and communicate their findings;
• develop understanding on how their actions affect the environment around them;
• develop the skills to work in a variety of ways including, working together in groups, independently, in partners and as a whole class;
• have an enjoyable experience of science so that they will develop a deep and lasting interest and become inspired to follow this path further.

Implementation

Children’s scientific and technological understanding differs within all classes and pupils are provided with suitable learning opportunities for all children by matching the challenge of the task to the ability of the child or group. To achieve this,  numerous strategies are implemented including:

• setting common tasks which are open-ended and can have a variety of responses;
• setting tasks of increasing difficulty;
• providing resources of different complexity, matched to the ability of the child or group;
• exploring the five types of enquiry question and encourage children to create their own enquiry questions as well as providing problem solving opportunities;
• completing KWL grids to monitor the impact of lessons and units taught;
• at least 40% of all lessons to include practical scientific enquiry so that investigative work is an integral part of science learning.

Science is taught as a discrete subject on a weekly basis, from Year One to Year Six.

Why is it important to learn science?

• To understand the world around us.
• To create new knowledge, improving education and increasing the quality of our lives.
• To make us more observant.
• To allow us to analyse and solve problems.
• To allows us to invent.
• To enable us to have awe and wonder about the world.

What jobs will learning science help with?

• Scientist
• Vet
• Researcher
• Conservationist
• Doctor /Nurse
• Food production
• Astronaut
• Microbiologist
• Pharmacist
• Forensic scientist
• Zoologist
• Environmentalist

Long Term Overview