Science

Science at Newton Hill Community School

Through high-quality science teaching, we aim to help our pupils understand how major scientific ideas have played a vital role in society. Moreover, we aim to prepare our pupils for life in an increasingly scientific and technological world.

We aim to do this by:

  • Delivering high quality, interesting and engaging science lessons;
  • Using scientific contexts to develop and consolidate cross curricular skills in literacy, maths and ICT;
  • Teaching science in a global and historical context; including the contributions of significant scientists from a range of cultures;
  • Developing and extending pupils’ scientific knowledge and understanding;
  • Developing pupils’ ability to work scientifically and involve pupils in planning, carrying out and evaluating investigations;
  • Developing pupils’ scientific vocabulary and ability to articulate scientific concepts clearly and precisely;
  • Ensuring that all pupils are appropriately challenged to make good progress in science.

At Newton Hill Community School, teachers plan and deliver high-quality and engaging science lessons incorporating a range of teaching and learning styles. At Newton Hill Community School, teachers will provide opportunities for pupils to:

  • Learn about science, where possible, through first-hand practical experiences;
  • Develop their research skills through the appropriate use of secondary sources;
  • Work collaboratively in pairs, groups and/or individually;
  • Plan and carry out investigations with an increasing systematic approach as they progress through school;
  • Use equipment safely and sensibly;
  • Develop their questioning, predicting, observing, measuring and interpreting skills;
  • Record their work in a variety of ways e.g writing, diagrams, graphs, tables;
  • Read and understand scientific vocabulary appropriate for their age;
  • Be motivated and inspired by engaging science displays which include key vocabulary and relevant questions;
  • Learn about science using the outdoor learning environment, where appropriate;
  • Understand the uses and implications of science today and for the future.

Science in EYFS

The Foundation Stage has developed carefully constructed teaching and learning opportunities, which are underpinned by The Early Years Framework (2021) and the Educational Programme: Understanding the World.

Understanding the world involves guiding children to make sense of their physical world and their community. The frequency and range of children’s personal experiences increases their knowledge and sense of the world around them – from visiting parks, libraries and museums to meeting important members of society such as police officers, nurses and firefighters. In addition, listening to a broad selection of stories, non-fiction, rhymes and poems will foster their understanding of our culturally, socially, technologically and ecologically diverse world.

As well as building important knowledge, this extends their familiarity with words that

support understanding across domains. Enriching and widening children’s vocabulary will

support later reading comprehension.

Children in the EYFS learn about themselves, nature, talk about seasonal changes, observe changes over time and group and classify.

As well as topic work and the discrete teaching of language, knowledge and skills, children in EYFS are given the opportunity to continually practice and embed their learning through the areas of continuous provision set up in the indoor and outdoor learning environments. A language rich, knowledge and skill-based curriculum prepares children for their journey into Year 1.

At the end of the Early Years Foundation Stage, children at the expected level of development will:

ELG: The Natural World

Children at the expected level of development will:

  • Explore the natural world around them, making observations and drawing pictures of animals and plants;
  • Know some similarities and differences between the natural world around them and contrasting environments, drawing on their experiences and what has been read in class;
  • Understand some important processes and changes in the natural world around them, including the seasons and changing states of matter.

Science in KS1 and KS2

In Key Stage 1, the main aim of science is to enable pupils to experience and observe phenomena, looking closely at the natural and human-constructed world around them. Our children are encouraged to be curious and ask questions about their observations. The children take part in different types of scientific enquiry including observing changes over a period of time, noticing patters, grouping and classifying, introduction to comparative tests and beginning to use secondary sources to research information. They will communicate their ideas using simple scientific knowledge and can present their work in a variety of ways. Working scientifically is taught throughout the curriculum.

In Key Stage 2, we enable the children to broaden their scientific view of the world around them. They are encouraged to do this through exploring, talking about, testing and further developing ideas about every day life and the wider world around them. They develop their scientific enquiry skills by asking their own questions about what they observe and deciding the best way to answer them including observing changes over a period of time, noticing patters, grouping and classifying, comparative and fair tests and using secondary sources to research information. The children are then taught how to draw their own conclusions to talk and write about their findings.

BBC Bitesize
 
BBC Bitesize has a number of useful resources on their website. They have information for each science topic in both written and video formats. As well as this, they have quizzes, activities and games for the children to play and test their knowledge.
Oxford Owl Oxford
 
Owl have further information on the National Curriculum and what science looks like in your child’s year group. It also has some advice of how you can help with your child’s learning of science at home and some downloadable resources.
National Geographic Kids
Here children can find out lots of interesting facts about our planet, animals and all other aspects of science. They can read facts, watch videos and answer quiz questions.
NASA Kids Club
 
NASA have their own website where the children can find out about their missions. There are a number of games that support the children’s learning and an extensive photo gallery.
Science Museum
 
Here are a number of interactive games that the children can play for free.