Our Science curriculum is designed to spark children’s curiosity and enquiry about the world around them. We wish for our children to challenge, investigate and enquire about key scientific concepts and build these progressively through time using scientific enquiry skills rooted in regular practical, purposeful science.
Links across the curriculum
• Close links to maths through the learning and progressive development of scientific skills. These skills include accurate measuring, recording and presenting data. • Close links with DT in providing the concepts used to underpin effective design. • English is used as a driver to support the accurate use of written and oral explanations alongside the accurate use of scientific vocabulary. • Through having strong links to Art it enables the children to have realistic and accurate plans and designs.
Science at YPS Big Ideas
To think like a scientist. • To foster inquisitiveness, ask questions and explore the world around them. • Investigate like a scientist using learnt skills and concepts to underpin practical work. • Understand the role and importance of key scientific figures across disciplines. • Have access to quality resources to support scientific discovery. •
Retrieval Practice
• Knowledge, skills and vocabulary identified • Low stakes quizzing to develop long term memory. • Deepening knowledge initiative allows for retrieval of theme based knowledge and learning beyond this. • Key concepts are revisited • Vertical and horizontal links across the curriculum supported by shared understanding of retrieval practice strategies. • Big scientific ideas are explored regularly through a range of activities such as the ‘Big Question’, ‘Odd one Out’ and ‘Zoom in Zoom out!’
Content and Sequencing
Children begin learning Science as part of continuous provision in EY as they ‘Understand the World’. The National Curriculum then provides the base for children’s learning, which is extended through topic themes. Topical events supplement children’s learning through specific events (such as the Solar Eclipse) or through STEM events or Science Week. Children are encouraged to think like scientists through understanding and identifying the three core scientific disciplines of: - Chemistry - Biology - -Physics To support and extend the children’s substantive content-based knowledge their science learning is driven through our ‘five lines of enquiry’ which are planned progressively to develop disciplinary knowledge. These five lines of enquiry come under ‘comparing and classifying’, ‘researching and questioning’, ‘fair testing’ ‘seeking patterns ’ and ‘observing over time’.
Outcomes
• Lesson sequences have clear outcomes, which are used to assess against. • Such sequences are derived from the curriculum and ensure skills and knowledge are progressive. • Each sequence contains the scientific vocabulary that the children need to be secure in. • Displays are a means to drive enquiry, retrieve prior knowledge and showcase scientific concepts and key individuals.
Inclusion.
Everyone has access to the Science National Curriculum. Support is provided for those learners who require it, including physical adaptations. Some learners access additional art based experiences as part of a support offer around their needs.