South Hill Primary School

At South Hill School we understand that children are naturally curious and enjoy exploring, investigating and asking questions.  This is pivotal to Science learning and allows children to gain a deeper understanding of the world we live in.

 

We aim to provide a quality science education which provides the foundations of understanding the world and creates curious and enthusiastic learners.  We encourage Science to be taught through practical tasks and where applicable, the use of our extensive school grounds, including our forest school programme and the locality of our town.

 

Through Science at our school, we aim to ensure that all children:

• Develop scientific knowledge and understanding as well as fun practical learning skills

• Develop understanding of different types of scientific enquiry that will help them answer scientific  questions about the world around them

• Link learning to real-life and explore through outdoor learning

• Access a Science related trip in all year groups

• Link Science learning to all other subjects in order to deepen understanding

 

GOLDEN THREADS

As part of our Science curriculum, we have carefully mapped out 7 'Golden Threads' which allow us to build on previous knowledge and to make links between what we have already learnt and what we are learning now and in the future: 

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Working Scientifically and Scientific Knowledge

Working scientifically (or investigative skills) focuses on an understanding of practical investigation and the skills needed in order to do so. These skills include, observing, investigating, classification, asking and answering questions, exploring data and working as a team through practical learning. Scientific knowledge is the understanding of scientific facts and phenomena and responding to questions about their scientific learning.

 

EYFS

In the EYFS, the building blocks to Science are taught through ‘Communication and Language’, ‘Physical Development’ and ‘Understanding the world’.

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Key Stage 1 

In Key Stage 1, pupils will experience, observe and investigate the world around them through first-hand practical experiences as well as secondary sources such as books, photographs or videos. They will be encouraged to be curious, ask questions, investigate through different types of scientific enquiry and use simple scientific language.

Scientific Knowledge: Plants, Animals incl. humans, Everyday materials, Seasonal changes, Living things and their habitats

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Lower Key Stage 2 

In Lower Key Stage 2, pupils continue learning about the world around them through exploring, discussion, testing and developing ideas. Pupils will continue to develop working scientifically skills by deciding which type of enquiry is most suitable, drawing conclusions and using increasing scientific vocabulary to discuss and write about their learning.
 

Scientific Knowledge: Plants, Animals incl. humans, Rocks, Light, Forces and magnets, Living things and their habitats, States of matter, Sound, Electricity

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Upper Key Stage 2

In Upper Key Stage 2, pupils develop a deeper understanding of a wide range of scientific ideas through exploring and discussion; asking questions; and analysing functions, relationships and interactions more systematically. They will encounter more abstract ideas and begin to recognise how these ideas help them to understand and predict how the world around them works. They also recognise that scientific ideas change and develop over time.

Pupils will select the most appropriate ways to answer science questions using different types of scientific enquiry and draw conclusions based on their data and observations, using evidence to justify their ideas, and scientific knowledge, understanding and vocabulary to explain their findings.
 

Scientific Knowledge: Living things and their habitats, Animals incl. humans, Properties and changes of materials, Earth and Space, Forces, Evolution and inheritance, Light, Electricity.