At Woolacombe School we believe that our Science lessons should develop confidence, curiosity, enjoyment and a growing understanding of the world around us. We encourage children to ask questions and ensure that they are taught the skills, knowledge and vocabulary required to explore and answer these questions through discussion, research and experimentation.
Each term all national curriculum elements are taught through a new cross curricular topic. This topic drives the rest of the curriculum and links with Science are made. In particular, key links with Computing, Maths, History, Geography and English have been embedded into the Science curriculum. Children are also given the opportunity to help shape their learning through elicitation of their current understanding and collection of their questions about the upcoming science topic.
Reception Class Learning about healthy eating through their Super Heroes Topic!
From exploring why the Mary Rose Sank to helping Jack grow the tallest beanstalk, our Science sequences are always embedded in a context designed to inspire and capture children’s imaginations. As a result of this, children make links with and build upon their prior knowledge with each new topic and gain solid scientific knowledge and understanding as well as key enquiry skills.
Science isn’t just confined to the classroom! We explore our school grounds, including our wooded area and ensure that we utilise our wonderful location as a rural and coastal school by leading sea school and farm school sessions, exploring a variety of aspects of science within the context of our local beaches, sand dunes and countryside.
Forest School
Sea School
Farm School
Science clubs also enrich our learning throughout the year by giving children the opportunity to develop their skills further and experience an even wider variety of experiences in a small group setting.
Aims
The aims of teaching Science at Woolacombe School are:
- To develop confidence, scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding through the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics.
- To develop understanding of the nature, processes and methods of science through different types of science enquiries that help them to answer scientific questions about the world around them
- To equip children with the scientific knowledge required to understand the uses and implications of science, today and for the future.
Working Scientifically
Working scientifically specifies the understanding of the nature, processes and methods of Science and underpins the teaching of Science at Woolacombe School. Working scientifically skills are embedded into the curriculum through the following lines of enquiry:
– observing over time
– pattern seeking
– identifying
– classifying and grouping
– comparative and fair testing (controlled investigations)
– researching using secondary sources.