Science

Mrs McGrath is our curriculum leader for science.  We hold the Science Quality Mark.

Science at Frodsham Manor House

Intent

• To develop pupils’ interest and enjoyment of, science. By building on children’s curiosity, the science curriculum will help to instil a positive attitude towards science in pupils.
• To deliver all the requirements of the national curriculum in relation to science and covering major scientific concepts.
• To ensure all science lessons are purposeful, accurate and imaginative.
• To ensure pupils have sufficient scientific knowledge to understand both the uses and implications of science, today and in the future. This will also give pupils an appreciation of the changing nature of scientific knowledge.
• To develop pupils’ ability to pose questions, investigate these using correct techniques, accurately record their findings using appropriate scientific language and analyse their results.
• To help pupils develop the skills of prediction, hypothesising, experimentation, investigation, observation, measurement, interpretation and communication.
• To make pupils aware of and alert to links between science and other school subjects, as well as their lives more generally.

Implementation

Our Science curriculum is based on a big question which links to the national curriculum. Each class has a set of big questions which they work on throughout the year.

We believe that children need to be given opportunities to learn from one another and to take part in group/ partner work when appropriate but to also have the confidence to work independently when needed

Pupils are taught to understand and use correct scientific vocabulary based on the objectives and skills being taught.

Practical ‘hands on’ learning is at the core of our science teaching and learning. Our lessons will allow for a wide range of scientific enquiry, including the following:

• Pattern seeking
• Observation over time
• Classifying and grouping
• Undertaking comparative and fair testing
• Researching using secondary sources

Opportunities for outdoor learning will be provided wherever possible and each year group will have the opportunity to undertake an external educational visit, which is science based, at least once a year.

Developing skills such as questioning, observing, gathering and recording data, and drawing conclusions are key to excellent science teaching and learning at our school.

Impact

Through our Science teaching and learning, pupils should be able to recall knowledge, use scientific vocabulary and develop scientific skills.

Additional opportunities in science include visits to Space Port, Daresbury Science Labs and Chester Zoo. We often have visitors for science who help with our skills and investigations. Once a year we have a whole school science week based on a theme and have looked at Space, Where my wellies take me, Animals and Habitats and crime scene forensic science.