Science Curriculum Intent @ TJ

At Thomas Jolyffe Primary School, our vision is to give children a science curriculum which enables them to confidently explore and discover the world around them, so that they have a deeper understanding of the world we live in. We aim to create fun and stimulating science lessons that nurture children’s natural curiosity and their on-going development. Through a hands-on, enquiry-based curriculum which promotes questioning, challenge, working practically, investigating, evaluating, making choices, working independently and using scientific vocabulary. Children also develop an understanding of how important and relevant science is to their lives, now and in the future through, Science Days, science workshops and educational visits.

Science Curriculum Implementation @ TJ

At TJ we ensure high standards of teaching and learning in science, we implement a curriculum that is progressive throughout the school. We use a science scheme called ‘Engaging Science’ in KS1 and KS2. The scheme is organised into topics and year groups and designed around the statutory requirements for Primary Science and gives full coverage of the National Curriculum.

At the start of each topic teachers take time to find out what our children already understand and want to find out through KWL grids. Through teacher modelling and questioning, we want our children at TJ to wonder and be amazed by the world around them as we recognise that some of our children sometimes lack experiences. Key scientific language is modelled and taught throughout lessons enabling our children to be familiar with and use vocabulary accurately. We are committed to providing exciting, hands on and practical experiences for all children at TJ. In turn this will help promote independent learning, curiosity and a love for enquiry and knowledge. Teachers are also encouraged to plan trips and invite visitors in to enhance our children’s learning experience when possible.  Once a year, the whole school takes part in National British Science week taking part in practical science activities which engage and enthuse children.

Science Curriculum Impact @ TJ

At Thomas Jolyffe we intend that the impact of our science planning and delivery  will mean that:

• Children enjoy and are enthusiastic about science.
• Children are confident to use and explain scientific vocabulary.
• Children can ask questions about their science learning and reflect on their knowledge.
• There is a clear progression of children’s work and teachers’ expectations.
• Children are becoming increasingly independent in science, and completing pupil lead investigations.
• Children complete pre-assessments (KWL) to ensure any misconceptions of a topic are addressed.
• Pupil voice is used to further develop the Science curriculum, through questioning of pupils’ views and attitudes towards science to assess the children’s enjoyment of science and to motivate learners.
• Teachers assess children's progress using Insight, which shows Science National Curriculum objectives.  If any child is not fully secure in the objective, then teachers know which "gaps" then need to be plugged.

How Children become Scientists @ TJ

In Reception, children begin their scientific journey at Thomas Jolyffe by learning how caterpillars turn into butterflies, visiting the Forest School and watching how flowering plants change.  They investigate different materials thinking about the most suitable materials for making boats and raincoats.  They learn about different environments, such as India and the seaside, which link with geography.

In Year 1, children’s learning progresses by finding out about different kinds of plants and animals.  They find out about materials and how they can be grouped.  Children learn to name the body parts and find out about the five human senses.  They observe changes across the four seasons and the weather associated with each season.

Progressing into Year 2, children learn in a little more depth about what animals and humans need in order to survive and grow. They explore and compare the difference between things that are living, dead and things that have never been alive. They learn to identify and compare the suitability of everyday materials for particular uses.  By the end of year 2 children can observe and describe how seeds and bulbs grow into mature plants, making them KS2 ready.

At the start of the Juniors, Year 3 children start to broaden their understanding of how their bodies work and how to keep healthy.  They learn about light and how shadows are formed. Children compare and group materials based upon whether they are attracted to a magnet as well as observing how magnets attract and repel. Children discover how to compare different kinds of rocks and describe how a fossil is formed.

In Year 4, children progress to learn about classification of living things.  They investigate different states of matter, observing how some materials change state when they are heated or cooled.  Children find out how sound travels and learn how to make simple electric circuits, leaving them equipped to progress into the upper KS2 curriculum of science.

By the end of Year 5 children have learnt to describe the differences in life cycles of mammals, amphibians, insects and birds. They learn about forces, finding out the effects of water resistance, air resistance and friction.  Children investigate reversible and irreversible changes in some materials.  They learn to describe the movement of the Earth, and other planets, relative to the sun.

Children in Year 6 learn about the circulatory system and how the heart functions.  They recognise the impact of diet, exercise, drugs and lifestyle impacts the way their bodies function. Classification, first introduced in year 4, is built upon and children learn to give reasons for classifying plants and animals based on specific characteristics. Evolution and how plants and animals are reproduced is also studied in year 6, along with learning about different kinds of electrical circuits and how to build circuits from circuit diagrams, leaving the children in good stead for science at KS3.

Mr J Oakley

Science Leader