Romesa, one of our Year 6 Science Ambassadors, has carried out an enquiry into chemical changes.
Science
Our vision for science is for all children to become increasingly passionate and curious about the world around them, understanding their roles and responsibilities as global citizens. Children will develop their independence in thinking, by asking and investigating their own questions through practical experiences and making meaningful links across their learning.
Intent
At Brompton Westbrook Primary School, we want all children to become increasingly passionate and curious about the world around them, understanding their roles and responsibilities as global citizens. Children will develop their independence in thinking, by asking and investigating their own questions. They will build their enquiry skills throughout their time at the school, so they are able to apply their key learning and basic principles to produce explanations, through their investigations. Through providing engaging, practical experiences, linked to real-life contexts, children will make meaningful connections across their learning, and grow their science capital.
We will ensure that the science curriculum taught will foster a curiosity in developing a scientific understanding about our world. As part of developing natural curiosity of the child through science, it will nurture a respect for living organisms and the physical environment, both on a local and global scale. At Brompton Westbrook Primary School, in conjunction with the National Curriculum, our science teaching offers opportunities for children to:
- Develop scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding.
- 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.
- Be equipped with the scientific knowledge required to understand the uses and implications of Science, today and for the future.
- Develop the essential scientific enquiry skills to deepen their scientific knowledge.
- Pose their own scientific questions in relation to a range of scientific enquiries.
- Use a range of methods to communicate their scientific information and present it in a systematic, scientific manner, including I.C.T., diagrams, graphs and charts.
- Understand and apply scientific vocabulary correctly, with clear understanding of meaning.
- Develop a respect for the materials and equipment they handle with regard to their own, and other children’s safety.
- Develop an enthusiasm and enjoyment of scientific learning and discovery.
Implementation:
Teachers create a positive attitude to science within their classrooms and reinforce the expectation that all children are capable of achieving high standards in science.
The National Curriculum provides a structure for knowledge and skill development of science, throughout the school. Children have a variety of lessons, per term, throughout Key Stage 1 and 2, on different topics using a wide range of resources. In Early Years, Science is taught through the children learning about the world around them in their free flow sessions.
We build upon the knowledge and skill development of previous years. Knowledge, skills and assessment organisers ensure key knowledge and vocabulary for each unit are highlighted and practical enquiries are planned for providing children opportunities to apply their knowledge and vocabulary within meaningful contexts. There is a consistent approach to assessment with ongoing AFL opportunities planned for within each unit. Misconceptions are planned for and identified, challenging children’s existing perceptions. Children are encouraged to ask their own questions and are given opportunities to use their scientific skills and research to answer them. The use of ongoing formative assessment, including higher order thinking questioning, allows teachers to constantly monitor progress, address misconceptions and elicit deeper responses.
Working scientifically skills are embedded into lessons and developed throughout the child’s time at the school. Children have opportunities to use the full range of enquiry types, often self-selecting which would be most appropriate to answer the question they have posed.
Developing children’s scientific vocabulary, so that they are confident in explaining concepts using accurate terminology, is a key focus at Brompton Westbrook. Each unit of science has a vocabulary list, accessible to the children each lesson, to support them in learning and using these words in context. Teachers model high expectations, leading to children becoming increasingly confident in applying vocabulary correctly.
At Brompton Westbrook, we strive to take science out of the classroom and into the lives of the children we teach and the community, in which we belong. In additional to weekly science lessons, we hold forest school and outdoor learning sessions, both for children within our school as well as other local schools. The children have opportunities to engage in science clubs. Some children have been appointed as science ambassadors, who are involved in raising and maintaining the profile of science across the school, through their collaboration with staff and other pupils in a range of activities. Assemblies are held termly, which help develop science capital, promoting curiosity in science beyond what is taught in the classroom. Regular events, for example science week, allow us to maintain our strong links within the community and with national agencies like STEM, Enthuse Partnership, NFU and the Royal Engineers.
Ongoing continued professional development of staff and the science leader, with strong collaboration with other science leads across Medway, as well as the Thames Gateway Teaching Schools Hub and STEM, result in the sharing of outstanding practice and the constant endeavour to improve the provision we offer our children.
Impact:
The successful approach at Brompton Westbrook Primary School results in a fun, engaging, high-quality science education, that provides children with the foundations and knowledge for understanding the world and taking their place within it. Our focus on outreach opportunities provides our children with a range of experiences, both within our school setting and beyond, that helps them see science as an important part of their life and culture, broadening their opportunities and access to science related jobs in the future. Children learn the possibilities for careers in science, as a result of our community connections, working alongside a range of science and engineering professionals, ensuring that children have access to positive role models, within the field of science, from the local and wider community. Children leave Brompton Westbrook confident, enthusiastic learners, who recognise the value of science in all aspects of their life. They have the confidence and motivation to take their next steps into secondary science optimistically, with a secure knowledge and understanding of what has been taught.
Ideas to try at home:
For those children with a keen interest in Space, the NASA kids sites provides opportunities to ask questions, carry out investigations, explore the solar system and much more.
https://www.nasa.gov/kidsclub/index.html
For those interested in animals, Wildwood have published free educational resources with optional worksheets: there are also a range of resources and activity ideas on the National Geographic Kids site.
https://kent.wildwoodtrust.org/education/home-education-resources/
https://www.natgeokids.com/uk/
Reachout Reporter news broadcasts are updated weekly and are great at developing children's awareness and understanding of the world around them, The reports are child-friendly and last about 5 minutes, with further links to other reports, which may be of particular interest to the children.
https://www.reachoutreporter.com/
Take a look at the activities on Explorify, including 'Odd one out,' 'Zoom in' and 'What if..' Resources are tailored to suit all ages and are a great way to elicit deeper thinking in science.
https://explorify.wellcome.ac.uk/
The following websites have a range of activities and resources that will develop curiosity, knowledge and working scientifically skills, through engaging in practical enquiry:
https://thestemhub.org.uk/index.php/stem-at-home
https://www.greatscienceshare.org/
There is a range of activities to choose from in the following document, that can be carried out with items you will find in your kitchen cupboard.. Click here to access.
