Within The Staffordshire Schools Multi Academy Trust science helps to teach children an understanding of natural phenomena and aims to stimulate their natural curiosity and encourage them to find out why things happen. Children learn to ask scientific questions and begin to understand the way in which science will affect their future on a personal, national and global level.
Through teaching science we aim to build upon children’s natural curiosity. The school has a set out scheme of work which enables each student within each year group to explore their interest and inquisitiveness. Our science units hope to enable children to know and understand the properties of materials, electricity, light, sound and natural forces. We also hope to then advance that knowledge; children will explore the physical processes which can change the properties of materials, electricity, light, sound and natural forces. Children will also be encouraged to know and understand the life processes of living things; this includes both humans and animals. Within these units children will learn about food chains and life cycles.
The Staffordshire Schools Multi Academy Trust offers children many opportunities for them to acquire investigative skills. The schemes of work across the Trust stimulate our children to investigate both independently and as a group. We also strive to motivate children to ask scientific questions. Children have plenty of opportunities to develop scientific skills which include - observing, exploring and ordering; posing questions and devising experiments to answer questions; use equipment, including computers, to test out theories, record findings and analysis data. Children also have chance to evaluate evidence and present their conclusions clearly and accurately by interpreting findings critically and communicating findings to teachers and other children.
Children learn best in science through first hand experiences. This could be through observing mini-beasts in their natural habitat, rolling a toy car down a ramp or investigating if the tallest person in the class has the longest stride. Children also need opportunities to share what they know, ask questions to extend their own understanding and to reflect on their work and what they have learned. Teachers endeavour to provide practical experiences through which children can explore their ideas and develop their knowledge and understanding of science.
‘The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.’
Albert Einstein
Planning is the responsibility of the class teacher with help from the Science Coordinator. The Early Learning Goals will inform planning for children in the Early Years Foundation Stage and the National Curriculum programmes of study for all other year groups.
Planning is used to set clear, achievable goals, ensure that work is matched to pupils' abilities, experience and interests, ensure that there is continuity, progression and adequate subject coverage within each year group and throughout the school. It also provides criteria for assessment and the evaluation of teaching and learning and finally provides real experiences through which pupils can learn.
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