Vision
At Wolsingham Primary we want our children to be naturally curious about the world around them. All high quality science education provides the foundations for understanding the world through the specific disciplines of biology, physics and chemistry. Science has changed our lives and is vital to the world’s future prosperity, and all pupils should be taught the essential aspects of the knowledge, methods, processes and uses of science. Through building up a body of key functional knowledge and concepts, pupils should be encourages to recognise the power of rational explanation and develop a sense of excitement and curiosity about natural phenomena. They should be encouraged to understand how science can be used to explain what is occurring, predict how things will behave and analyse causes. In our rapidly evolving world, Science is a vital part of our curriculum intention.
Aims
At Wolsingham Primary our Science curriculum aims to ensure that all pupils:
- develop scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding through the self disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics
- develop understanding of the nature, processes and methods of science through different types of science enquiry that helps them to answer scientific questions about the world
- are equipped with the scientific knowledge the need to understand the uses and implications of science, today and for the future.
Science in the Early Years
A scientist in the early years will explore the natural world around them. They will be inquisitive and gain lots of knowledge through questioning and exploring. They will comment on and ask questions about their familiar world, such as the place they live and the natural world. Through discussions with peers and adults children will talk about some of the things that they have observed, such as plants, animals, natural and found objects. Discussing why things happen and how things work, developing an understanding of growth and decay over time. Throughout their early years, children will talk about foods and healthy lifestyles, including showing some understanding of good practices with regard to exercise, eating, sleeping, hygiene and how these contribute to good health. Through a range of child initiated and adult planned topics, children will experience, and gain some knowledge and understanding about scientific concepts such as light and dark, space, seasons, plants, materials and our bodies. Role play opportunities and visitors into school also contribute towards scientific knowledge and understanding in the early years. They will learn to show care and concern for living things through opportunities such as class pets, visitors in school or in the community. A lot of learning in the early years takes place through purposeful play, both indoors and outdoors. Towards the end of Reception children will be learning skills to equip them for their future learning and later success in Year 1.
Please see our Whole School Long Term Overview and Whole School Long Term Plan to see what our pupils will study during each year.
