Science at Thorndown Primary School
Subject leader: John Peel (Year 6 Teacher)
Curriculum Statement
Science at Thorndown Primary School aims to excite children’s natural curiosity and also equip them to question and understand concepts and phenomena in the world. The careful structuring of the curriculum throughout the school enables children to build on both their substantive knowledge (product, laws, theories and models) and disciplinary knowledge (the knowledge and practices of science). The journey of science throughout Thorndown aims to provide children with knowledge built upon prior learning so that children can spot relationships between concepts within science. Learning is revisited with the intention of encouraging long term memory to develop future expertise. Through the teaching of skills, knowledge and understanding, pupils engage as scientists through practical experience and enrol on a journey that seeks to explain scientific issues on a personal, national and global scale. Scientific knowledge, methods, uses and processes are taught through a combination of whole class, group teaching and individual work. Various inclusive teaching and learning strategies are adopted within the subject to engage children in investigations which promote co-operation, perseverance, open-mindedness and responsibility. A specific importance is placed upon the learning and application of scientific vocabulary in all lessons, beginning from the early years. Children are provided with a wide range of age appropriate scientific vocabulary throughout their learning journey and are encouraged to use during whole class teaching and independently to embed their understanding. Science also contributes significantly to the teaching of other curriculum areas. It has a key role in English and Maths and is actively promoted by reading, writing, speaking and listening. Without the application of Maths; estimation, prediction, accurate observations, measurements and recording, interpreting results would not be possible
Overview of subject from Foundation Stage to Yr6 for all three terms
| EYFS | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | Year 5 | Year 6 | |
| Autumn term | Understanding
the world |
Everyday materials
Animals including humans |
Living things and their habitats | States of matter
Water cycle |
Electricity
Teeth |
Properties and change of materials
|
Living things and their habitats
Evolution and inheritance |
| Spring
term |
Understanding
the world |
Seasonal changes
Animals and humans |
Everyday materials | Rocks, soils and fossils
|
Light and shadow
Sound |
Forces
Space |
Animals including humans
Electricity
|
| Summer
term |
Understanding the world | Plants
Working scientifically |
Animals and plants
Working scientifically |
Plants
Nutrition, skeleton and bones |
Forces and magnets
Living things and habitats |
Life cycles | Light |
