Science

Through working practically, our Science curriculum aims to develop children who have the resilience, skills and knowledge to independently enquire and think critically about the world around them.

Curriculum by Year Group

Intent

At Steeple Morden Primary School, we recognise how science impacts every aspect of daily life, and without science we would not have made progress throughout history. Through providing opportunities to work practically, our Science curriculum aims to develop children who have the resilience, skills and knowledge to independently inquire and think critically about the world around them.

We are fortunate to be located close to Cambridge Science Park, home to 7,000 scientists and enjoy making the connections we have to industry to help link what we are teaching the children in the classroom to the real world. As one of the core subjects taught at primary level, we give the teaching and learning of science the prominence it deserves.

Our curriculum is designed to:

Encourage Inquiry-Based Learning: Learning science is concerned with increasing children’s knowledge of our world, and with developing skills associated with science as a process of enquiry. Children will develop critical thinking skills by asking questions, conducting investigations, and drawing evidence-based conclusions, thereby enhancing their resilience in tackling scientific challenges.
Promote Scientific Literacy: We aim to ensure every child acquires the knowledge and skills necessary to understand scientific concepts, processes, and terminology, making informed decisions in everyday life.
Sustainability Awareness: Our science curriculum develops the natural curiosity of each child, encouraging them to have respect for living organisms, and instil in pupils the importance of caring for the natural environment.

Implementation

We create a positive attitude to science learning within their classrooms and reinforce an expectation that all children can achieve high standards in science.

Science is taught as set out by the year group requirements of the National Curriculum. This is a strategy to enable the accumulation of knowledge and allows progress in repeated topics through the years.
Children will concentrate on one science skill per term. Term 1 will be dedicated to planning investigations, Term 2 to results gathering and analysis, and Term 3 will be spent evaluating practical work. Although each skill is related and there are links between them, there is minimum crossover as they are taught, so each becomes firmly embedded.
Through our planning, we involve problem solving opportunities, allowing children to find out for themselves how to answer questions in a variety of practical means. Children are encouraged to ask their own questions and be given appropriate equipment to use their scientific skills to discover the answers.
Engaging lessons are created with each lesson having both practical and knowledge elements. Teachers use precise questioning in class to test conceptual knowledge and skills and children are regularly assessed to identify those children with gaps in learning, so that all children keep up.
We build upon the learning and skill development of previous years. As the children’s knowledge and understanding increases, and they become more proficient in selecting and using scientific equipment, collating and interpreting results, they become increasingly confident in their growing ability to come to conclusions based on real evidence.
Working Scientifically skills are explicit in lessons to ensure these skills are being developed throughout the children’s school career and new vocabulary and challenging concepts are introduced through direct teaching. This is developed through the years, in-keeping with the theme of the lesson.
Teachers demonstrate how to use scientific equipment, and the various Working Scientifically skills in order to embed scientific understanding. Teachers find opportunities to develop children’s understanding of their surroundings by accessing outdoor learning and workshops with experts.

Impact

The impact of our science curriculum at Steeple Morden Primary School is evident through:

Our approach to Science results in a fun, engaging, high-quality science education, that provides children with the foundations for understanding the natural world. Our engagement with the local environment ensures that children learn through varied and first-hand experiences. Much learning takes place outdoors so pupils can investigate their immediate environment.
Visits: Through various workshops, trips and interactions with experts, children have the understanding that science has changed our lives and that it is vital to the world’s future prosperity. Children learn the possibilities for careers in science as a result of our community links and connection with national agencies such as the STEM association and AstraZeneca.
Critical Thinking and Resilience: Observations of classroom activities reveal that children actively engage in higher-order thinking, demonstrating the ability to analyse, evaluate, and create scientific questions and solutions while exhibiting resilience in overcoming challenges and setbacks during practical work.
Pupil voice: is used to further develop the Science curriculum, through questioning of pupil’s views and attitudes to Science to support the children’s enjoyment of science and to motivate learners.