Science

Intent

Science at Rosedale Primary School should be fully inclusive for all children. We work hard to make lessons as interactive as possible and encourage our children to make predictions, observe first hand, then make conclusions about what we have seen.  We plan for an investigation each half term, because we recognise how children remember much more by being able to participate fully and experiencing first hand. Failing the first time is something we encourage as in science, every day new discoveries are made by continuing to try, making mistakes and using what we already know about something to apply in a different way. Our planning enables the children to develop scientific language and questioning skills. 

We aim to foster a love of science, inspire a curiosity and fascination about the natural and man-made world, a respect for those that live and grow in it, and respect the natural environment for the rest of their lives.  We intend to achieve this by teaching science every week.  Booking where appropriate educational visits as well as enrichment days and activities to support Science week. 

Implementation

For Planning and implementation in science lessons we use the CUSP (Curriculum with Unity Schools Partnership) materials.  These materials have a focus on teaching the knowledge for each subject and support for the children to learn the key facts.

Our science topics are taught in blocks and build upon children's prior knowledge. The table shows the order of topics. 

Impact

Within science lessons we strive to create a supporting and collaborative ethos for learning by providing as many hands on practical experiments as possible giving children ample opportunities to question, investigate and discover answers for themselves as they think scientifically. Our science topics take into account children's prior knowledge and skills and builds upon concepts previously taught using Rosenshine's Principles of Instruction to recall prior knowledge and make links with new learning. 

The impact of the curriculum is measured in the following ways

• assessing children's knowledge before and after a unit has been taught
• observing lessons
• use of progress to highlight understanding of the lesson
• gathering pupils voice about their views - how they think they should learn, what we can do better, things we already do well
• formal recording of standards at the end of each key stage
• annual sharing of progress across the curriculum with parents