Science

What do we do in Science?

Aims

At Binsted School we aim to:

• stimulate the child’s interest in science.
• provide a variety of scientific experiences which are realistic and relevant to the child’s future.
• provide opportunities for a child to fulfil their scientific potential.
• instruct the child in scientific skills and concepts.
• develop each child’s understanding of scientific concepts and their ability to apply them in everyday contexts.
• facilitate an inquisitive and motivated approach to science through discussion, investigation and active learning.
• encourage the children to ask and answer scientific questions.
• encourage the children to plan and carry out scientific investigations choosing the most appropriate equipment for themselves.
• promote discussion about the children’s work employing suitable scientific vocabulary.
• enable the children to describe their environment in a scientific way.
• enable the children to learn about life processes and living things.
• enable the children to learn about materials and their properties.
• enable the children to learn about physical processes.
• encourage the children to evaluate evidence and present conclusions clearly and accurately.

Structure

Topics are planned over a two year cycle based around the QCA schemes of work. This ensures all the objectives set out in the National Curriculum are covered. Many practical and interactive resources are used to enrich teaching. Some of our science topics are taught as a blocked unit of work and others as a series of weekly lessons. Our science curriculum is based on the four key areas of science learning:

• Experimental and investigative science
• Life processes and living things
• Materials and their properties, and
• Physical processes

Foundation Stage

Science in Reception is taught as an integral part of the topic work covered during the year. The Foundation stage curriculum in based around the Six Areas of Learning set out in the Early Learning Goals. There is scientific content within the learning area Knowledge and Understanding of the World. 

I.C.T.

Children use ICT in Science lessons where appropriate. The children have access to the internet to research information about their Science topics as well as access to our Wizkid Virtual Learning Environment. with links to useful sites and activities as appropriate to their current Science topic. Children have access to word processing, spreadsheet and database packages enabling them to present results and findings in a variety of ways. Each classroom is fitted with an interactive whiteboard enabling the teacher to use video clips and demonstration programmes to enrich lessons. ICT data logging resources are used to monitor external factors such as light levels and temperature and to present results. 

Cross Curricular Links

At Binsted CE Primary we are committed to linking our learning in Science to other curricular areas where appropriate. Science based texts may be used in Literacy lessons and during guided reading sessions. Speaking and listening is actively promoted during scientific investigations. The children develop their writing skills by writing reports in Science. Mathematical skills such as weighing and measuring are an important part of Science lessons. Where appropriate, children record their findings using charts, tables and graphs.