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Buckingham

Significant & Inspirational Scientists

EYFS Science Recommended Reads

Year 1 Science Recommended Reads

Year 2 Science Recommended Reads

Year 3 Science Recommended Reads

Year 4 Science Recommended Reads

Year 5 Science Recommended Reads

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Science

‘I am among those who thinks that science has great beauty.’  Marie Curie.

 

  

Science at Buckingham Primary School

Intent

Science is what young children do: they experiment and discover. With this in mind, as well as the rapidly changing world in which we all live, at Buckingham Primary School we have a high-quality, inclusive science curriculum which encourages curiosity and invites our pupils to ask questions about the world around them. Through our science lessons, we aim to equip all children with the knowledge and skills to answer scientific questions and to instil a life-long love of learning.

Science is in every fibre of our lives and at Buckingham Primary School we encourage our pupils to understand how the subject can be used to explain what is happening in the world around them based on the main principals of biology, chemistry and physics; substantive knowledge. We aim to develop young scientists who are equipped with the scientific knowledge required to understand the methods, processes and uses of science, for both today and for the future. Staff at Buckingham Primary School aim to encourage all of our pupils, from our Early Years Foundation Stage through to Year 6, to appreciate that which is intrinsically awesome and wonderful about scientific concepts.

Implementation

At Buckingham Primary School we follow the National Curriculum Programme of Study for Science using the Snap Science scheme of work, from Collins Connect. Our subject overview will show you precisely when each science topic is taught in each year group, ensuring appropriate progression for all pupils during their time at our school.  Lessons are broken down into small steps, with regular time for children to revisit previous learning, which allows all learners to know more and remember more at each stage of their scientific education. Within the overview for each topic, there are also links to home learning activities which we encourage parents to access and discuss with their children – bringing science alive at home too.

Science overview  

 

 

Disciplinary knowledge:

Our pupils’ disciplinary knowledge, or ‘working scientifically’ skills, is taught throughout all year groups and embedded within the content of the biology, chemistry and physics that is taught. It is essential that our pupils systematically develop their disciplinary knowledge throughout their time at Buckingham Primary School, through the most appropriate substantive contexts, which is mapped out in our progression document. Pupils learn about the diverse ways that science establishes and grows knowledge over time, and that scientific evidence is revised in the light of new findings. In every science topic, the children have the opportunity to ask questions, develop enquiries, plan investigations, collect data, conclude, evaluate and present findings.

Substantive knowledge:

Biology:

The topics covered across the school are; ‘Life Processes’, ‘Structure and Function of Plants, Animals and Humans’, ‘Classification’, ‘Life Cycles’ and ‘Interdependence’.

Chemistry:

The topics covered across the school are; ‘Describing and Using Materials’, ‘Changing Materials’ and ‘Mixing and Separating Materials’.

Physics:

The topics covered across the school are; ‘Forces’, ‘Electricity’, ‘Light’, ‘Sound’ and ‘Earth in Space’.

Enrichment:

We believe that building up a core body of key foundational knowledge and concepts is vital for all of our pupils at Buckingham Primary School. Science, alongside a deep appreciation of, and respect for, the natural world is absolutely essential for our fragile planet’s future. As a member of the National Trust, we have strong links to Stowe Landscape Gardens and encourage every year group to visit at least once a year to enrich children’s scientific learning. At Buckingham Primary School we also run regular school trips to a wide variety of locations to increase our learner’s science capital; The Science Museum in London and The Oxford University Museum of Natural History to name a few.

We have an upcoming, enthusiastic Eco-Council, working to lessen our carbon footprint at Buckingham Primary School. Our outdoor gardening club is also highly popular in the warmer months, allowing children to see biological principals in action.

Over the course of an academic year, staff and visitors deliver a range of exciting assemblies which encourage all children to recognise the power of rational explanation and develop a sense of excitement and curiosity about natural phenomena.

Science week is always an inspiring week at Buckingham Primary School, where year groups often work together on a scientific enquiry and we have a wide range of STEM based visitors. As a school, we have strong links to the Open University and benefit from regular STEM ambassador led workshops.

Impact

The success of Science at Buckingham Primary School can be measured by the appreciation and deep curiosity that our children show for the world around them. All children develop a rich body of substantive knowledge hand-in-hand with the required core disciplinary knowledge, which is assessed regularly by class teachers through ongoing formative assessment.

Science is also formally assessed at three key points throughout the academic year, in line with the other core subjects of English and maths, using the HeadStart Primary assessment materials. This enables teachers to assess pupil’s progress against the Science National Curriculum Programme of Study Statutory Requirements. All teaching staff complete a gap analysis spreadsheet to pin point specific areas of substantive knowledge that specific children need to revisit to make accelerated progress in science, which, in turn, informs future planning.

Children leave Buckingham Primary School ready for their next stage of scientific education in KS3 with a thirst for knowledge and confidence in core disciplinary skills.

Home learning links:

As well as the links included in the science subject overview, please find below some further links to useful science websites to further engage your child at home:

 

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