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Science

At Harnham Infant School, our aim in Science is to inspire a thirst for knowledge and generate long-term understanding of Science by delivering the National Curriculum objectives through a broad range of topics, practical and purposeful investigations, first-hand experiences and inspiring media. Through weekly Forest School Sessions and scientific enquiries, children are encouraged to following their own interests and curiosities. Lessons are carefully planned to link ideas across Science and its linked subjects.

 

To ensure the high quality scientific teaching and learning is achieved, we have implemented a progressive curriculum throughout our school. Our carefully sequenced curriculum is used to ensure full coverage of ‘The National Curriculum Programmes of Study for Science across KS1’ and ‘Understanding the World’ for Early Years. All teachers follow the progressive statements when planning to ensure that each year children’s knowledge, skills and experiences are consolidated and built upon. Long term planning in each year group supports generative learning, linked to topics and cross curricular learning, skills and knowledge is explored and revisited using varied approaches throughout the year. After teaching new concepts they are explored and consolidated independently in the enhanced or continuous provision or in Forest School to attach meaning. Science is taught consistently, with at least one Science lesson and one Forest School Session per week. Annual celebrations of Science and STEM linked learning help our children to appreciate how their concepts relate to everyday life.

 

Supporting this progression whole class discussions allow children to build on prior understandings and the experiences of others. As a community of scientific enquiry children are encouraged to challenge their own and others ideas, generating questions and answering them through enquiry. Further to this, child-led and longer term investigations are planned to allow children to make connections and compare observations.

In EYFS, Children are encouraged to explore and investigate the world around them, asking questions such as ‘why’ and ‘how’ does something work. Children are encouraged to explore similarities and differences, conduct simple investigations and articulate their observations and findings. By linking scientific vocabulary children develop an understanding of what science is and the skills involved.

 

In Year 1 and 2, enquiry skills are taught through structured investigations linked to the Nationally Curriculum Programme of Study and working walls encourage a breadth of scientific vocabulary. With increasing independence, children are taught to record their findings on our Enquiry Record Sheet or within their class Science Floor Books. At Harnham Infant School, the experiences and child-led enquiries allow children to be immersed in the scientific world of awe and wonder, and instil belief that every child can be a scientist.

At Harnham Infants the ‘Working Scientifically Skills’ are taught progressively throughout EYFS and KS1. The following symbols used to support the children’s understanding, helping them to make links with their learning and build independence.

Skills.JPG

Science: Intent, Implementation, Impact

 

 

Supporting your child at home with Science:

  • Encourage your child to be curious and ask questions.

  • Support them to explore, investigate and answer their own questions.

  • Share non-fiction books about the world around them.

  • Get out and about exploring nature, the weather and seasons.

  • Encourage your child to help you in the garden, telling them the names of different plants.

  • Visits zoos, farms and pet shops; discussing the animals they encounter and sharing information boards.

  • Talk about the materials that things are made from, discussing why those materials are used.

 

 

Activities, games and short clips:

BBC BITESIZE KS1 Science: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/z6svr82

Oxford owl: https://home.oxfordowl.co.uk/at-school/science-at-primary-school/

Primary Science Teaching Trust: https://pstt.org.uk/resources/science-fun-at-home/

Science videos: https://www.youtube.com/user/scishowkids

Explorify: https://explorify.uk/en/activities 

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Parents/Families please don’t forget to look at your child’s Seesaw account for more information about what they have been learning in Science this week.

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