Science

Science at Stillness

Intent

By the time children leave us they will have developed their knowledge and understanding of scientific concepts. In Y3 and Y4 pupils will broaden their scientific view of the world around them through exploring, talking about, testing and developing ideas about everyday phenomena and the relationships between living things and familiar environments, and by beginning to develop their ideas about functions, relationships and interactions.

Children should be able to ask their own questions about what they observe and make some decisions about which types of scientific enquiry are likely to be the best ways of answering them, including observing changes over time, noticing patterns, grouping and classifying things, carrying out simple comparative and fair tests and finding things out using secondary sources of information. In Y5 and Y6, the children will learn about more abstract ideas in science and begin to recognise how these ideas help them to understand and predict how the world operates.

Implementation

The science curriculum is woven into many different cross-curricular activities at Stillness Junior School. Teachers create a positive attitude to science learning within their classrooms and reinforce an expectation that all pupils are capable of achieving high standards in science.

Science is taught in planned and arranged topic blocks by the class teacher, to have a project-based approach. This is a strategy to enable the achievement of a greater depth of knowledge and progression across the year groups.

Each new unit of work begins with a recap of the previous related knowledge from previous years. This helps children to retrieve what they have learnt in the earlier sequence of the programme of study, and ensures that new knowledge is taught in the context of previous learning to promote a shift in long-term memory.  Key vocabulary for the new topic is also introduced as part of this ‘unit introduction’ and children are shown the ‘Topic Vocabulary be it as part of the classroom display or it is incorporated into the teaching of each lesson.  This provides definitions and accompanying visuals for each word to ensure accessibility to all.  This approach also means that children are able to understand the new vocabulary when it is used in teaching and learning activities and apply it themselves when they approach their work.

The KWL process is used throughout each unit of work. Once children know the new vocabulary for the unit and how it relates to previous learning, the children are asked what they already know specifically about the new topic. This provides the teacher with an insight into the children’s ‘starting points’ for the topic, to enable the use of assessment to inform planning.

Within all lessons, teachers plan a phase of progressive questioning which extends to and promotes the higher order thinking of all learners. The questions that teachers ask within the same lesson phase focus on the children’s own work and how they might change or create an outcome and justify a choice they have made which is based on their evaluation.

Through our planning, we involve problem-solving opportunities that allow children to apply their knowledge, and find out answers for themselves. Children are encouraged to ask their own questions and be given opportunities to use their scientific skills and research to discover the answers. This curiosity is celebrated within the classroom. Planning involves teachers creating engaging lessons, often involving high-quality resources to aid understanding of conceptual knowledge. Teachers use precise questioning in class to test conceptual knowledge and skills. Tasks are selected and designed to provide appropriate challenge to all learners, in line with the school’s commitment to inclusion.

We build upon the knowledge and skill development of the previous years. As the children’s knowledge and understanding increases, they become more proficient in selecting, using scientific equipment, collating and interpreting results. This creates a platform for them to become increasingly confident in their growing ability to come to conclusions based on real evidence.

Teachers demonstrate how to use scientific equipment, and the various Working Scientifically skills in order to embed scientific understanding. Teachers find opportunities to develop children’s understanding of their surroundings by accessing outdoor learning and workshops with experts.

Science Week allows all pupils to come off-timetable, to provide broader provision and the acquisition and application of knowledge and skills. They are able to experience success having learned something new.

Impact

The successful approach here results in a fun, engaging, high-quality science education that provides children with the foundations and knowledge for understanding the world. Our engagement with the local environment ensures that children learn through varied and first hand experiences of the world around them.  Learning outside the classroom is embedded throughout the science curriculum.  Through workshops and trips, children have the understanding that science has changed our lives and that it is vital to the world’s future prosperity. From this exposure to a varied curriculum, all children learn not only that Science is everywhere, but also that they can be actively involved in the process, further creating a school of motivated learners with a sound scientific understanding.

Science Overview

Year 3:

Autumn 1 – Year 3 – Animals Including Humans Knowledge Organiser

Autumn 2 – Year 3 – Rocks Knowledge Organiser

Spring 1 – Year 3 – Forces & Magnets Knowledge Organiser

Spring 2 – Year 3 – Light Knowledge Organiser

Summer 1 – Year 3 – Plants Knowledge Organiser

Year 4:

Autumn 1 – Year 4 – Animals Including Humans Knowledge Organiser

Autumn 2 – Year 4 – States of Matter Knowledge Organiser

Spring 1 – Year 4 – Electricity Knowledge Organiser

Spring 2 – Year 4 – Sound Knowledge Organiser

Summer 1 – Year 4 – Living Things & Their Habitats Knowledge Organiser

Year 5:

Autumn 1 – Year 5 – Earth and Space Knowledge Organiser

Autumn 2 – Year 5 – Properties and Changes of Materials Knowledge Organiser

Spring 1 – Y5 – Living Things and their Habitats

Spring 2 – Year 5 – Animals Including Humans

Summer Term – Year 5 – Scientists and Inventors

Year 6:

Autumn 1 – Year 6 – Electricity Knowledge Organiser

Autumn 2 – Year 6 – Evolution Inheritance Knowledge Organiser

Spring 1 – Year 6 – Living Things in their Habitats Knowledge Organiser

Spring 2 – Year 6 – Animals Including Humans Knowledge Organisers

Summer 1 – Year 6 – Lights Knowledge Organisers

Beyond the Curriculum

At Stillness Juniors our learning goes beyond the curriculum and is supplemented in a number of different ways. We enrich our knowledge through workshops – some led by our wonderful parents, themed days, school trips, team sports, and afterschool clubs to name some. Head over to our gallery and our Instagram page where you will see a showcase of these activities.