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Science

At Welwyn St Mary’s Primary school, we believe that science in our school is about developing children’s ideas and ways of working that enable them to make sense of the world in which they live, through exploration, discovery and investigation. Additionally, using and applying process skills, which we believe promotes communication in scientific language involving mathematical and logical thinking. Pupils learn science as far as possible through practical work which ranges from learning how electricity travels through a circuit to recording the pattern of weather and seasons. Working in this way needs co-operation, perseverance and careful thought.   Our own fantastic nature reserve with its ponds and range of plants and wildlife is a wonderful resource for the study of living things and the children love exploring and learning there.

We believe that a broad and balanced science education is the entitlement of all the children at Welwyn St Mary’s. Our aims in teaching science include the following:

  • Prepare our children for life in an increasingly scientific and technological world.
  • Foster concern about, and active care for, our environment.
  • Help children to acquire a growing understanding of scientific knowledge building over time.
  • Help develop and extend our children’s scientific concept of their world.
  • Develop our children’s understanding of the international and collaborative nature of science.

Aims

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

  • Develop scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding through the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics
  • Develop understanding of the nature, processes and methods of science through different types of scientific 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.

This is our minimum offer and we supplement the National Curriculum with a rich programme using local resources, trips and visitors. Science at Welwyn St Mary’s involves plenty of “hands on”, finding out from first hand experience and testing hypotheses, in line with “working scientifically” from the National Curriculum.

Full scientific enquiry, involving the concept of fair testing, will occur in each unit of work where appropriate. There will be many other lessons where aspects of investigations are reinforced. As the children progress through the school a greater emphasis is placed on investigative work. Scientific ideas are developed through practical investigation wherever possible.

Investigations will always be followed by thorough reinforcement of the knowledge and understanding gained from the experience. Children will be given the opportunity to devise and implement their own investigations at school.

Knowledge Organisers can be found on Google Classroom and will be posted as we teach each unit of work.

 

 

Progression Pages