SCIENCE IN CHINLEY PRIMARY SCHOOL
Science in our school is about developing children’s ideas and ways of working that enable them to make sense of the world in which they live through investigation as well as using and applying process skills. This allows children to develop a body of knowledge through experimental testing of ideas. Science is also methodology, a practical way of finding reliable answers to questions we may ask about the world around us.
Knowledge
Preparing our children for life in an increasingly scientific and technological world
Fostering concern about, and active care for, our environment
Helping our children acquire a growing understanding of scientific ideas and concepts in the world
Attitudes
Encourage the development of positive attitudes to science
Building on children’s natural curiosity and developing a scientific approach to problems
Encouraging open-mindedness, self-assessment, perseverance and responsibility, both in a team and independently
Skills
Giving children an understanding of scientific processes and skills of observation, measuring, predicting, hypothesising, experimenting, communicating, interpreting, explaining and evaluating
Developing the use of scientific language, recording and techniques, including ICT
Enabling children to become effective communicators of scientific ideas, facts and data
Purpose
We aim to encourage a positive attitude towards science by producing a structured programme that teaches skills, knowledge and concepts. We aim to teach children to show respect for living things and their environment and demonstrate a responsible attitude towards safety. Children will be taught the skills required to plan, hypothesise, predict, design and carry out investigations, interpret results, draw conclusions and communicate their findings.
‘Working scientifically’ must always be taught through and clearly related to the teaching of substantive science content in the programme of study. Throughout the notes and guidance in the curriculum, examples show how scientific methods and skills might be linked to specific elements of the content
Children in the Foundation Stage (Reception and Nursery) are taught science elements through the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum, in the Understanding of the World objectives/targets. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/335504/EYFS_framework_from_1_September_2014__with_clarification_note.pdf Understanding the world involves guiding children to make sense of their physical world and their community through opportunities to explore, observe and find out about people, places, technology and the environment.
