Science Curriculum Visio
Substantive Threads: Science
Each unit within the Science curriculum at Sandgate is designed to progressively develop the following practical and theoretical strands of substantive knowledge:
- The natural world: exploring, categorising and describing, developing scientific concepts
- Living things: myself, plants and animals, and human life
- Energy and forces: light, sound, heat, magnetism and electricity, and forces
- Materials: properties and characteristics of materials, materials and change
- Working scientifically: questioning, observing, predicting, investigating and experimenting, estimating and measuring, analysis, recording and communicating, understanding representations and models
Disciplinary Threads: Science
Each unit within the Science curriculum at Sandgate is designed to progressively develop children’s knowledge of the discipline of Science. Units have been organised around developing this in the following areas:
- Methods to answer scientific questions: reflecting the diversity of scientific methods, e.g. identifying, experimentation (fair testing), classification and grouping, pattern seeking, observing over time.
- Apparatus and techniques, including measurement: carrying out specific procedures knowledgably safely and proficiently, with accurate measurement and data recording.
- Analysis, presentation and evaluation of scientific data to draw valid conclusions: presenting and processing scientific data in a variety of ways, including graphs and tables, used alongside substantive theory to draw tentative conclusions.
- Development of scientific knowledge over time: knowing how scientific laws and theories develop over time.
Intent
The aim of our science curriculum is to enable pupils to understand, enjoy and marvel at the world around them through enquiry-based lessons that challenge their thinking and focus on our local environment. We aim to encourage our pupils to develop a positive and practical approach to science. We also seek to develop key scientific skills, combine knowledge with practical application and establish cross-curricular links, where appropriate.
Implementation
A range of science topics are taught in every year group, linked where appropriate to other themes and curriculum areas. Scientific enquiry skills are embedded in each topic and these are revisited and developed throughout the children’s time at St Mary's. Topics such as Living Things or Materials, for example, are taught in Key Stage One and studied again in further detail throughout Key Stage Two. Some areas are revisited several times in the course of an academic year: when studying plants, children will observe plants in the school grounds over all the seasons. This model allows children to build upon their prior knowledge and increases their enthusiasm for the topics, providing progression in skills and knowledge, and developing mastery.
All children are encouraged to develop and use a range of skills including observations, planning and investigations, as well as being encouraged to question the world around them and become independent learners in exploring possible answers for their science-based questions. Specialist vocabulary for topics is taught and built up, and effective questioning to communicate ideas is encouraged
Impact
In order that all our children can access and excel at science, our lessons are predominantly practical with learning captured in photographs and pupil voice wherever possible.