Science
What science looks like at orchard Fields
At Orchard Fields we recognise the importance of Science in every aspect of daily life. As one of the core subjects taught in Primary Schools, we give the teaching and learning of Science the prominence it requires. Orchard Fields will develop the natural curiosity of the children, encourage respect for living organisms and the physical environment and provide a curriculum based on the children being the scientist. They are the thinkers, the talkers and the doers, discovering and embedding their learning through carefully structured discussions, collaboration, investigation and recording.
In a science lesson you will see:
- Thinking and talking time through carefully planned questions, images or demonstrations – giving children the opportunity to think through, listen to, reflect on, discuss and debate each other’s ideas and questions.
- Lessons are mostly practical and are planned to engage and excite the children enabling children to showcase the relevant working scientifically skills and apply the scientific knowledge and vocabulary they have learnt.
- High quality questioning whereby all children feel confident to offer answers and ideas, knowing they will be valued. These questions will enable children to show greater depth thinking and allow teachers to assess the children’s understanding.
- Learners are supported during lessons by adults to meet their specific needs and a collaborative working environment is highly encouraged during science lessons enabling children to support, challenge and learn from each other.
- Science working walls are consistent throughout the school enabling children to use them effectively to support their learning. They will have key scientific vocabulary displayed (with definition mats to further support where needed) and investigation planning posters to help children plan and evaluate investigations independently. Children also use the working scientifically apple focusing on the key features of scientific enquiry enabling children to identify the scientific skills they are using.
- Their learning is linked to science industry, children learn about how their lesson/ unit of work relates to the real world and learn about careers in that sector of science whilst challenging stereotypes. In doing so children gain in their confidence and ability to become increasingly independent in their science learning and will equip important life skills and hopefully raise their aspirations, developing some future scientists.
Intent
At Orchard Fields we recognise the importance of Science in every aspect of daily life. As one of the core subjects taught in Primary Schools, we give the teaching and learning of Science the prominence it requires. Orchard Fields will develop the natural curiosity of the children, encourage respect for living organisms and the physical environment and provide opportunities for critical evaluation of evidence.
We aim to give all children a strong understanding of the world around them whilst acquiring specific skills and knowledge to help them to think scientifically, to gain an understanding of scientific processes and also an understanding of the uses and implications of Science, today and for the future.
All children are encouraged to develop and use a range of skills including observations, planning and investigations, as well as being encouraged to question the world around them and become independent learners in exploring possible answers for their scientific based questions. Specialist vocabulary for topics is taught and built up, and effective questioning to communicate ideas is encouraged. Pupils learn and practise the key features of scientific enquiry, learning to use a variety of approaches to answer relevant scientific questions.
