Science
At Irlam Primary School, we have a stimulating Science curriculum which encourages the children to explore the world around them. We will encourage the children to develop a sense of curiosity. By asking questions and seeking answers the children will have a deeper understanding of the world we live in. We will look for opportunities to engage the children through awe and wonder. We aim to develop children’s working scientifically skills as they progress through the school. We offer the children plenty of opportunities to use scientific equipment to conduct experiments. We will extend the use of scientific vocabulary through questioning, predicting and drawing conclusions. We believe science encompasses an acquisition of knowledge, concepts, skills and positive attitudes. Through Science, we aim to give the children the confidence and the skills to be life-long learners who will explore the world around them.
The acquisition of key scientific knowledge is an integral part of our science lessons. Linked knowledge organisers enable the children to learn and retain the important, useful and powerful vocabulary and knowledge contained within each unit. The progression for skills working scientifically are developed through the year groups and scientific enquiry skills are of key importance within lessons. The progression of these skills is set out in the science provision map. each lesson has a clear focus. Scientific knowledge and enquiry skills are developed with increasing depth and challenge as children move through the year groups. They complete investigations and hands-on activities while gaining the scientific knowledge for each unit. Interwoven into the teaching sequence are key assessment questions, identified in green on lesson plans. These allow teachers to assess children's levels of understanding at various points in the lesson. They also enable opportunities to recap concepts when necessary. The sequence of lessons helps to embed scientific knowledge and skills, with each lesson building on previous learning. There is also the opportunity to regularly review and evaluate children's understanding. Activities are effectively differentiated so that all children have an appropriate level of support and challenge. The detailed lesson plans include adult guidance to ensure that teachers are equipped with secure scientific subject knowledge , enabling them to deliver high-quality teaching and learning opportunities while making them aware of possible scientific misconceptions.
Progress is measured through a child's ability to know more, remember more and explain more. This can be measured in different ways in the science units. The use of the green questions ensures opportunities are built into the lesson for ongoing assessment. The impact of using the full range of resources included in the science unit will also be seen across the school with an increase in the profile of science. The learning environment across the school will be consistent with science technical vocabulary displayed, spoken and used by all learners. Whole-school and parental engagement will be improved through the use of science- specific home learning tasks and shared use of knowledge organisers. Children who feel confident in their science knowledge and enquiry skills will be excited about science, show that they are actively curious to learn more and will see the relevance of what they learn in school in science lessons to real-life situations and also the importance of science in the real world.
Should it become necessary for you to continue your learning at home, perhaps because you are isolating, we will make sure that you have access to appropriate learning materials as far as we are reasonably able to do so. We will make this available through your year group home learning area on our website.
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.