Science

 "Science has changed our lives and is vital to the world's future prosperity, and all pupils should be taught essential aspects of the knowledge, methods, processes and uses of science." (The National Curriculum 2014)
 
Young children are naturally curious. At St Chad's, we strive to give our children practical, investigative opportunities which encourage them to become independent learners with inquisitive and enquiring minds.
 
Our school aims for science are to:
 
•            Build on children’s natural curiosity

•            Teach the children scientific knowledge

•            Teach the children scientific skills

•            Stimulate the children to investigate and question

•            Teach the children to communicate ideas using appropriate scientific language

•            Teach the children to evaluate and record their findings and suggest explanations

Our children have many opportunities to share their love of science through their theme learning.
We promote a hands-on practical approach to learning, where links with the real world are made evident. Working scientifically is an essential component of the curriculum; skills of enquiry are developed through regular research, observations, investigations and enrichments opportunities.
 
The Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum (Nursery/Reception) and the Key Stage 1 National Curriculum (Year 1/Year 2) provides us with a basis of the knowledge, skills and techniques that our children will learn throughout their time at St Chad's.
 
In the early years, each child will start to gain the science knowledge that they will build on throughout their primary school years, such as developing their skills of observation, prediction, critical thinking and discussion. Science in the Foundation Stage is introduced indirectly through activities that encourage children to explore, problem solve, observe, predict, think, make decisions and talk about the world around them. It’s called ‘understanding the world’. Early Years science also helps children with skills in other Foundation Stage areas of the national curriculum, such as physical development and creative development.

 The national curriculum for science aims to ensure that all children:

  • develop scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding through the areas of biology, chemistry  and physics
  • develop understanding through different types of science enquiries that help them to answer scientific questions about the world around them
  • are equipped with the scientific knowledge required to understand the uses and implications of science, today and for the future
Across Key Stage 1, children are taught to work scientifically:
  • ask simple questions and recognising that they can be answered in different ways
  • observe closely, using simple equipment
  • perform simple tests
  • identifying and classifying
  • use their observations and ideas to suggest answers to questions
  • gather and record data to help in answering questions
 
In Year 1, children are taught the following programmes of study:
 
Plants
  • identify and name a variety of common wild and garden plants, including deciduous and evergreen trees
  • identify and describe the basic structure of a variety of common flowering plants, including trees

Animals, including humans

  • identify and name a variety of common animals including fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals
  • identify and name a variety of common animals that are carnivores, herbivores and omnivores
  • describe and compare the structure of a variety of common animals (fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals including pets)
  • identify, name, draw and label the basic parts of the human body and say which part of the body is associated with each sense
Everyday materials
  • distinguish between an object and the material from which it is made
  • identify and name a variety of everyday materials, including wood, plastic, glass, metal, water, and rock
  • describe the simple physical properties of a variety of everyday materials
  • compare and group together a variety of everyday materials on the basis of their simple physical properties
Seasonal changes
  • observe changes across the four seasons
  • observe and describe weather associated with the seasons and how day length varies
In Year 2, children are taught the following programmes of study:
 
Living things and their habitats:
  • explore and compare the differences between things that are living, dead, and things that have never been alive
  • identify that most living things live in habitats to which they are suited and describe how different habitats provide for the basic needs of different kinds of animals and plants, and how they depend on each other
  • identify and name a variety of plants and animals in their habitats, including microhabitats
  • describe how animals obtain their food from plants and other animals, using the idea of a simple food chain, and identify and name different sources of food
Plants
  • observe and describe how seeds and bulbs grow into mature plants
  • find out and describe how plants need water, light and suitable temperature to grow and stay healthy
Animals, including humans
  • notice that animals, including humans, have offspring which grow into adults
  • find out about and describe the basic needs of animals, including humans, for survival (water, food and air)
  • describe the importance for humans of exercise, eating the right amounts of different types of food, and hygiene
Uses of everyday materials
  • identify and compare the suitability of a variety of everyday materials, including wood, metal, plastic, glass, brick, rock, paper and cardboard for particular uses
  • find out how the shapes of solid objects made from some materials can be changed by squashing, bending, twisting and stretching