Science

At GilbrookSchool we use an imaginative learning project in creative and interesting ways. We believe in a high quality science education,which provides the foundations for understanding the world through a balanced of mix biology, chemistry and physics. Teachers are able to adapt the science curriculum to suit the very different needs of the individual children in their class.

Science is used to engage and promote childrens learning, they are encouraged to engage in learning opportunities andactivities that are based on first hand experiences, encouraging investigative experiments, exploration, observation, problem solving, prediction, critical thinking, decision making and discussion.

Through science, pupils build up a strong understanding of the world around them. They develop their knowledge through our creative curriculum and our children are encouraged to recognise the power of explanation. They develop a sense of excitement and curiosity about the world around them using both indoor and outdoor environments. A cross curricular approach is used to help maximise the children’s learning opportunities and experiences to enrich their whole holistic learning experience.

They are taught to understand how science can be used to explain what is occurring, predict how things will behave, and analyse data collected. The children are also able to use appropriate methods of recording information such as diagrams, writing, photographs and drawings to present their finding in both a scientific and creative way.

We strongly believe that children should be fully involved in helping to create the science curriculum to help empower their own learning, this in turn will allow them to take ownership of their own scientific progress.

Whilst we create our own very unique and resourceful curriculum that allows the children to explore and develop their scientific knowledge we are guided by the National Curriculum. This ensures that we have the correct science coverage and are teaching to national standards.

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 science enquiries that help them to answer scientific questions about the world around them
Pupils are equipped with the scientific knowledge required to understand the uses and implications of science, today and for the future.

We use Cornerstones as a base for our science learning. This is a topic based learning programme that is utilised at both Key Stage One and Two. To ensure a full curriculum is delivered we carry out a gap analysis of the Cornerstones science subject.

We operate on a three year rolling programme to ensure coverage throughout the age groups.

To help monitor and assess the children’s progress throughout the three year rotation we use Key performance indicators. This allows us to ensure the children are reaching individual targets as well as whole class and year group targets.

KS1

Learning Project	ILP/KPI Focus	Core Skills – KPIs	SEAL & Life Skills	Intent	Implementation	Impact
Term 1 All About Me	To label parts of the body. Name the five senses and how they help us make sense of the world.	Draw around body outline and label internal and external body parts. Hearing bingo, eye spy, kims tray, feely box, smelling pots.	Developing health and personal skills.	Understanding the parts of their body and what they do. Using their senses to explore the world around them.	Differentiated teaching to develop scientific language related to humans and other animals.	Assess against target tracker objectives. Teacher assessment.
Term 2 Scrumdiddly- umtious	Nutrition	Compare and contrast food seagulls may and may not like. – House Keepers Lunch. (Trip) Healthy Eating, Balanced diet, food groups, How the digestive system works.	Developing health and personal skills.	Understanding the parts of their body and what they do. Using their senses to explore the world around them.	Differentiated teaching to develop scientific language related to humans and other animals.	Assess against target tracker objectives. Teacher assessment.
Term 3 Paws, Claws and Whiskers	Animals including humans.	Herbivores and carnivores – sorting Planit – animals unit Labelling body parts – humans and animals. Visit to Chester zoo to investigate habitats How to protect animals and the planet.	Developing health and personal skills.	Understanding the parts of their body and what they do. Using their senses to explore the world around them.	Differentiated teaching to develop scientific language related to humans and other animals.	Assess against target tracker objectives. Teacher assessment.

KS2

Topic	ILP/KPI Focus		Core skills – KPIs	SEAL and life skills	Intent	Implementation	Impact
Term 1.1 A child’s war	NA
Term 1.2 Blue Abyss	Science: living things and their habitats;		Explore and use classification keys to help group identify and name a variety of living things and their local and wider environment.	To have respect for living things and their habitats.	To show empathy for living creatures.	Practical lessons involving our outdoor classroom and farm. Forest schools.	To create habitats for living creatures within our school.
Term 2.1 Mighty Metals	Force and magnets		Notice that some forces need contact between two objects but magnetic forces can act at a distance.	To be able to raise self-esteem and develop motivation.	To work scientifically and carry out scientific investigations.	Pupils to work over a series of lessons to carry out an investigation.	Pupils will be able to develop the confidence to work for extended periods of time.
Term 2.2 Pharaohs	NA
Term 3.1 Burps Bottoms and Bile	Teeth types Tooth decay and oral hygiene. The digestive system.	Fair tests. Simple and practical enquiries. Identify different types of teeth. Describe the functions of the human digestive system.		To promote oral and physical hygiene in themselves. To understand the need for keeping healthy.	To expand their ability to make systematic and careful observations. Take accurate measurements using a range of equipment.	Visit to a surgery/dentist and visiting professional. BBC Bitesize.	To understand and realise the importance of general hygiene including oral hygiene.
Term 3.2 Hola Mexico	Light and shadows		Use the idea that light travels in straight lines to explain why shadows have the same shape as the objects that cast them.