Science

Science at Sir Francis Hill 

Intent

         The Science Curriculum at Sir Francis Hill Primary aims to instill curious minds in our pupils. We want our children to approach learning with questions and we aim to equip them with the skills to find answers independently. We intend children to be taught substantive knowledge and disciplinary skills throughout their education, with opportunities to revisit and evaluate their own learning. By the time they leave us at the end of primary school, they should be equipped to handle challenges and approach them with a scientific mindset. This should prepare them for further learning and possible future careers.

Implementation

The science curriculum is delivered through a structured and engaging approach that ensures continuity, progression, and depth of understanding. Key aspects of implementation include:

1. Sequenced Learning: The curriculum is designed to build upon previous learning in a coherent and progressive way, gradually introducing more complex concepts as students move through different key stages.
2. Hands-on Investigations: A strong emphasis on practical, investigative work, allowing students to develop their scientific inquiry skills by planning and conducting experiments, making predictions, recording data, and drawing conclusions.
3. Cross-curricular Connections: Science is linked to other subjects such as mathematics, geography, and design technology, reinforcing learning and offering real-world applications of scientific principles.
4. Use of Scientific Vocabulary: Teaching key scientific terminology explicitly, helping students articulate their ideas and understanding with precision and confidence.
5. Inquiry-based Learning: Encouraging students to ask questions, develop hypotheses, and test ideas through exploratory learning and guided inquiry.

Impact

The impact of the science curriculum is measured in terms of students’ knowledge, skills, and attitudes toward science. The intended outcomes include:

1. Scientific Understanding: Students demonstrate a secure understanding of key scientific concepts across biology, chemistry, and physics, as evidenced by their ability to recall facts, explain processes, and apply knowledge to unfamiliar situations.
2. Practical Skills: Students develop a range of practical skills, such as observation, experimentation, data analysis, and evaluation, which are essential for conducting scientific inquiries and solving problems.
3. Critical Thinking: Through the scientific method, students enhance their critical thinking skills, showing an ability to question, hypothesize, test ideas, and evaluate evidence.
4. Engagement and Enthusiasm: Students show a sustained interest and enthusiasm for science, reflected in their participation in lessons, willingness to explore beyond the classroom, and positive attitudes toward the subject.
5. Preparation for Future Learning: The curriculum prepares students for further study in science, equipping them with the foundational knowledge and skills needed for success in secondary education and beyond.

Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Integration

In the EYFS, science is explored through a play-based, experiential approach that promotes curiosity and discovery. The aim is to nurture children's natural interest in the world around them. Key elements of science within EYFS include:

1. Exploration and Observation: Providing opportunities for children to explore their environment, notice changes, and observe living things. This may include outdoor learning, nature walks, or hands-on experiences with materials such as sand, water, and plants.
2. Asking Questions: Encouraging children to ask questions about the world around them, such as “Why does it rain?” or “What happens when I mix these colours?” These questions form the basis for scientific inquiry and reasoning.
3. Investigative Play: Incorporating play-based activities that involve experimentation, such as mixing water with different materials, using magnets to explore attraction, or observing how shadows change during the day.
4. Senses and Discovery: Encouraging children to use their senses to explore and describe the world, supporting early scientific skills such as classification, comparison, and prediction.
5. Adult Support: Adults play a key role in extending children’s learning through open-ended questioning, modelling scientific language, and facilitating investigations in response to children’s interests and curiosity.

The EYFS framework feeds into the science curriculum by nurturing early scientific thinking, curiosity, and observation skills. These early experiences provide a strong foundation for the development of more formal scientific knowledge and skills in Key Stage 1 and beyond.