Science

Exploring Science sparks children’s curiosity about the world in which they live in, encouraging them to become inquisitive, passionate learners!

Science - Our Intent

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Science is planned and sequenced so that new knowledge and skills build on what has been taught before and towards its clearly defined end points.  Children develop understanding of the nature, processes and methods of science through different types of science enquiries to enable children to broaden their scientific view of the world around them.

Long Term Planning

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Take a look at how our children’s learning in science progresses as they move from Year 3 to Year 6 and then into Key Stage 3. All lessons have been carefully considered, planned to cater for the learning needs of all children and with careful links made wherever possible to previous year/next year learning in science and in other subjects.

Our Big Questions (Medium-Term Plan)

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Take a look at how our children’s learning in science progresses as they move from Year 3 to Year 6 and then into Key Stage 3. All lessons have been carefully considered, planned to cater for the learning needs of all children and with careful links made wherever possible to previous year/next year learning in science and in other subjects.

Knowledge Facts

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The answers to all of our ‘Big Questions’ form our Forever Facts. This is the knowledge that we think our children need to remember in future years, well beyond when they have left their year group and when they have left Carbeile Junior School. We have ‘Total Recall’ in all lessons, quizzing the children about past weeks, past topics and even past years learning.

Implementation

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  • Science is coherently planned, linked and sequenced to progressively build children’s understanding of scientific concepts using the Plymouth Science scheme which has been designed by science experts to allow for maximum content coverage.
  • All lessons are planned using skills progressions so that knowledge is taught horizontally across the year group, skills are progressed vertically across the key stage, resulting in diagonal learning.
  • All science is taught as a clear and comprehensive scheme of work in line with the National Curriculum.
  • Investigations are carried out regularly throughout each unit where children use their scientific knowledge and understanding to explain their findings.
  • Children explore, talk about, test and develop ideas.
  • We use our ‘total recall’ time at the start of each science lesson to develop the children’s long-term memory on specific science knowledge.
  • Children who display a specific skill for Science will also be given opportunities to broaden their understanding through workshops with visitors or trips.

Opportunities

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In Science lessons, children can develop vital speaking and listening skills by engaging in discussions, group work, and presentations. Using scientific language when explaining concepts fosters clarity and confidence, while oracy encourages critical thinking, collaboration, and the ability to articulate ideas effectively to peers.

As part of our half termly home learning sheets, there may be an element of Science linked to one or more of the tasks. Please help encourage your child’s enthusiasm and enjoyment in Science by supporting them with this home learning.

Impact

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Science is planned and sequenced so that new knowledge and skills build on what has been taught before and towards its clearly defined end points.  Children develop understanding of the nature, processes and methods of science through different types of science enquiries to enable children to broaden their scientific view of the world around them.

Assessment

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At Carbeile, we place a strong emphasis on assessing students’ understanding in Science. At the end of each unit, we conduct end of unit tests that allow teachers to evaluate what students have learned. These tests help to identify strengths and areas for improvement. Additionally, we incorporate total recall quizzes regularly to reinforce knowledge retention. These quizzes are designed to be short and focused, allowing students to demonstrate their mastery of core concepts.

During lessons, we also engage students in total recall activities, where they verbally share what they have learned. This encourages collaborative discussion and enables teachers to assess comprehension in real-time. Furthermore, higher order questioning is a key component of our assessments. By asking open-ended questions, we challenge students to think critically and explore the subject in deeper ways. This comprehensive approach ensures that we foster a rich understanding of Science.