Science

What does Science look like at St Teresa of Lisieux?

At St. Teresa of Lisieux Catholic Primary School, our vision is to provide a Science Curriculum that is exciting, inclusive and inspiring. Through purposeful, exciting, practical, hands on experience and a rich stimulating environment pupils are given opportunities to explore, ask questions, make observations, investigate their own ideas and be challenged in order to develop an understaning of the world around them.

Intent

At St Teresa of Lisieux Catholic Primary, working scientifically is at the core of our science lessons from EYFS TO Year 6. We believe that providing a high-quality science education allows for the greater understanding of the world through the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics. Science has changed our lives and is vital to our community, country and world’s future prosperity, and all pupils should be taught essential aspects of the knowledge, methods, processes and uses of science.

By continually questioning the experimental design, children are able to leave St Teresa of Lisieux Catholic Primary with a high level of critical and evaluative thinking which can be transferred to all areas of the curriculum.

Children are naturally curious and passionate about learning. At St Teresa of Lisieux Catholic Primary School, we provide a stimulating science curriculum that nurtures this curiosity and allows pupils to ask questions and develop the skills they need to answer those questions.

Children in EYFS are given opportunites to experience, explore and investigate through the learning goal, Understanding the World. All children are encouraged to aim high in cience and understand how it can be used to explain what is occurring, predict how things will behave, and analyse causes. In St Teresa of Lisieux Catholic Primary, the children are inspired to consider careers linked to STEM (science, technology, engineering & mathematics) so they can be involved in the world’s future scientific and technological developments.

 

The national curriculum for science aims to ensure that all pupils:

  • develop scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding through the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics.
  • 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.
  • are equipped with the scientific knowledge required to understand the uses and implications of science, today and for the future.

Science vocabulary is an important tool to aid learning, understanding and articulating scientific concepts clearly and precisely. Vocabulary is taught discreetly within science lessons and built on each year, to ensure children have a deep understanding and the skills required to progress. This vocabulary is then continually referred to, both within the school environment and where possible in cross-curricular lessons.

We live in a city rich with science facilities and world class establishments that people travel far and wide to visit or work in.  In St Teresa of Lisieux Catholic Primary, we take advantage of links to other schools and outside agencies, organisations, communities to enrich science teaching and learning but also inspire their immediate and future aspirations.

 

Implementation

At St Teresa of Lisieux Catholic Primary, we believe that through the study of Science children develop a sense of the world around them. It is not merely the rote learning of facts, but rather the development of a way of looking at the world around them and of questioning what they see.

At St Teresa of Lisieux Catholic Primary School, we believe that the natural curiosity of children can be harnessed and we aim to develop and channel their desire to look, hold, touch and understand what is around them.

Science is a core subject of the National Curriculum and children are expected to acquire a specific body of knowledge but also to develop their ability to work scientifically (raise questions, devise fair tests and respond to their findings).  At St Teresa of Lisieux Catholic Primary School, it is intended that through the study of Science the children will become better equipped to make reasoned judgements that will benefit them in their everyday lives.

In Key Stage One and Two, Science is taught using the National Curriculum objectives, drawing on resources from a variety of sources; including, Switched on Science, Kent Scheme, STEM Education to support this. Each Year Group aims to teach at least two main topics in each term, between one to one and half hours each week. Science topics where possible are linked to a Year Groups termly REAL Project, remaining topics or objectives are taught discreetly.

Teachers deliver lessons that will develop the children’s scientific skills and knowledge. Through these lessons, the children will be provided with relevant experiences in a variety of situations. In doing so, we hope to increase children’s independence and develop their process skills, concepts and attitude towards their learning.

Assessment is ongoing throughout the year – the teacher uses observationsmarking and conversations with pupils to inform their judgements. We also use ‘pre-topic’ assessments to help ascertain prior subject knowledge from the pupils and use this to inform planning for the content of the topic. A final topic assessment also helps us identify the progress from the pupils’ starting points and used by class teachers and subject lead to inform future lessons.

It is the responsibility of each teacher to ensure that wherever possible all children experience all Learning Objectives but at a level appropriate to their ability. We challenge the ability of all of our children and encourage them to reach their fullest potential. At the beginning of a lesson, teachers give children opportunities to recall prior learning. This enables children to consolidate previous learning, while preparing them for future learning. This is particularly important for EAL and SEND children, who may need more time to retain and embed scientific vocanulary and concepts.

Resources are stored and readily accessible to staff members. The equipment is boxed and labelled either as part of a topic or as general equipment. All books and support materials directly relevant to the topics are centrally stored. A selection of teachers support texts are available. A selection of texts that will enhance children’s learning can be found in the school or class library.

 

Curriculum Overview

Whole School Yearly Overview

Progression of Skills in Science

Vocabulary Progression in Science

Primary National Curriculum for Science

 

Useful SCIENCE Web Links:

Key Stage One Science:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/ks1-science/zhsr2sg

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/z6svr82

 

Key Stage Two Science:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/ks2-science/zf3kt39

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/z2pfb9q 

https://www.scienceforkidsclub.com/

This website is packed with articles, worksheets and even a quiz on each section. You will find cool games, videos, worksheets and lots more to help you understand many different science topics.

http://primaryhomeworkhelp.co.uk/science/index.html

Teaching and learning resources to help primary aged children

https://www.natgeokids.com/uk/category/discover/science/

From biology, chemistry, physics and natural history, you’ll discover some incredible secrets, awesome theories and explore some bonkers experiments in our super science for kids.

https://wowscience.co.uk/

Lots of primary science activities on this website.

https://explorify.wellcome.ac.uk/

Get thinking like a scientist!

http://www.switchedonkids.org.uk/

Learn about electricity and electrical safety with this website.

Impact

Science (Elder)

In Science, we worked in groups to dissect flowers to identify the different parts of them which are involved in the process of sexual reproduction.
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Science (Willow)

We have been investigating how hard or soft rocks are. We used sandpaper to rub them and see if there were any loose grains.
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Science (Willow)

Willow class have been very busy studying rocks this week. We used our magnifying glasses to look very closely for features to help us to identify if they were igneous, sedimentary or metamorphic.
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Science Week (Holly)

Year 1 have been learning the instructions for ‘How to Grow a Plant’ so they are ready for planting with Vicky as part of Science Week!
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States of matter (Science)

Reception have been exploring states of matter. We discussed how water freezes and ice melts. We came back into class to find our Arctic animals had been frozen! We discussed that the best way to set them free would be for the ice to melt.
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Curriculum Subjects
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