Intent
At the Bedonwell Federation, we aim to broaden children’s scientific view of the world around them by ensuring a high-quality and inclusive education is provided. children will acquire and develop key knowledge and skills to progress their science learning from that first spark of curiosity through to child-led enquiry. They will be equipped to communicate, initiate and explore their ideas, raise questions and plan investigations demonstrating an understanding of working scientifically.
Whilst providing creative and engaging science lessons, our children will be encouraged to observe, challenge and express opinions in order to form conclusions on social and environmental issues affecting our world today and for the future. Additionally, this will enable children to work collaboratively, uphold our Bedonwell ‘Golden Values’ and promote positive attitudes towards science.
We have carefully considered chronology in our science planning that builds progressively on pupils’ knowledge and skills from Nursery to Year 6. We use the National Curriculum as a basis for our planning and personalise and extend it to suit our specific context.
At Bedonwell we are enthusiastic about our science, ensuring pupils take an active part in their learning. Together, we have developed the following science principles.
Pupils at Bedonwell will:
- receive fun and engaging science lessons which challenge all pupils.
- broaden their scientific view of the world around them, by exploring their ideas through questioning, discussion and testing.
- demonstrate an understanding of ‘working scientifically’ by identifying the different types of scientific enquiry.
- secure their knowledge of scientific enquiry by recognising patterns and relationships in their results and making simple conclusions.
- progress to planning their own investigations, analyse data systematically and use evidence to justify their conclusions.
- use IT to enhance their own learning of science.
- develop skills to use scientific vocabulary accurately within their explanations and written work.
- record their work, neatly in science books, including drawings, diagrams, charts and graphs.
- express opinions and make decisions on social and environmental issues whilst promoting the Bedonwell ‘golden values’.
- embrace science challenges within the wider community.
Implementation
EYFS:
Science in the Nursery and Reception years are explored through the Personal, Social & Emotional Development (PSED) and Understanding the World (UtW) areas. Appropriate scientific objectives are covered and made explicit to the children so that they develop an understanding of science from an early age. Early Years Foundation Stage guidance, involves guiding children to make sense of their physical world and their community through opportunities to explore, observe and find out about people, places, technology and the environment.
Children at Bedonwell are encouraged to explore daily through play, active learning, creating and taking part in mixed activities both teacher-led and child initiated. Pupils of all abilities have the opportunity to secure their understanding and develop their skills and knowledge in each topic and through planned progression, pupils are offered an increasing challenge as they move through the Federation
KS1 & KS2 Curriculum
Pupils of all abilities will have the opportunity to secure their understanding and develop their skills and knowledge in each unit, and through planned progression, pupils are offered an increasing challenge as they move through the key stage.
Practical science is central to engaging science lessons which will enhance and progress children’s learning through observations, obtaining evidence, encouraging independent thinking and talking about ideas.
Development of scientific enquiry skills will be achieved through investigations and experiments, using different scientific enquiry approaches, such as: identifying and classifying, comparative and fair testing, pattern-seeking, problem-solving, investigating over time, using secondary sources. These skills will progress to child-led enquiry by the end of Key Stage 2.
Impact
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Develop their scientific knowledge, skills and conceptual understanding through practical and contextualised learning.
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Develop understanding of the nature, processes and methods of science through different types of science enquiry that help them answer scientific questions about the world around them.
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Be equipped and prepared for life experiences by developing their awareness of how science influences and affects our everyday lives.
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Become effective communicators of scientific knowledge, skills and concepts by using a range of scientific and technical vocabulary appropriately.
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Encourage their scientific thinking and positive attitudes by developing the skills of open-mindedness, perseverance, objectivity and collaborative learning.
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Experience appropriate and stimulating activities, which challenge and motivate them to achieve their full potential.
The Great Science Share
Our Year 6 pupils took part in the 'Great Science Share' day. Please watch the video to see some of the amazing experiments that they conducted, plants grown overtime, food bakes and nature collectables.
websites
http://www.bbc.co.uk/terrificscientific
http://www.sciencefun.org/kidszone/experiments/
http://www.sciencemadesimple.com/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/websites/4_11/site/science.shtml