Science

Science

Subject Overview

Our vision:

‘Developing a love for learning to fulfil our potential and be our best’

At Kelbrook Primary School we celebrate individuality to help all our pupils fulfil their potential and achieve their best. Every child has limitless potential; we work in partnership with all stakeholders in our school community, to unlock our pupils’ individual talents. At Kelbrook, we want our children to develop a love for learning in a nurturing, family orientated environment, providing them with the skills and attributes to flourish as they progress on their educational journey. Kelbrook is a happy school in the heart of our village; with the strength of community and family at its core.

For our children to fulfil their potential and be their best, at Kelbrook Primary School we have six core values:

Kindness, Confidence, Honesty, Responsibility, Independence, Respect

We aim to inspire curiosity and confidence in Science. Our curriculum is designed to be engaging, inclusive, and progressive, so our children develop the knowledge and skills they need to succeed.

At Kelbrook Primary School, we believe that Science helps children make sense of the world around them. Through practical experiences and enquiry-based learning, we inspire pupils to become curious, confident and knowledgeable young scientists.

Curriculum Intent

Our intent for Science at Kelbrook Primary School is to:

Develop a strong understanding of scientific knowledge and concepts across biology,chemistry and physics.
• Build scientific enquiry skills through practical investigation and exploration.
• Encourage curiosity, questioning, creativity and independent thinking about the world around us.
• Develop children’s ability to work scientifically by observing, predicting, testing, recording and evaluating.
• Prepare pupils for the next stage of their learning and help them understand the importance of science in everyday life.

Curriculum Implementation

Science at Kelbrook Primary School is taught through:

Engaging, practical lessons that develop children’s scientific knowledge,understanding and enquiry skills.
• A carefully sequenced curriculum that follows the National Curriculum and builds knowledge progressively.
• Practical investigations and hands-on learning opportunities.
• Age-appropriate resources, scientific equipment and real-life contexts.
• Opportunities for discussion, observation, questioning and problem-solving.
• Regular revisiting of prior learning to strengthen understanding and retention.
• The development of scientific vocabulary to support pupils in explaining their ideas confidently.

Lessons are adapted to meet the needs of all pupils, including SEND and those requiring additional challenge.

Curriculum Impact

By the time pupils leave Kelbrook Primary School, they will:

Have agoodunderstanding of the scientific knowledge and concepts outlined in the National Curriculum.
• Be able to work scientifically by planning investigations, making observations, recording results and drawing conclusions.
• Use scientific vocabulary accurately and confidently.
• Show enthusiasm, curiosity and confidence in Science.
• Understand how science affects the world around them and its importance in everyday life.
• Be prepared for secondary school learning.

Progress is monitored through teacher assessment, pupil discussions, practical investigations and outcomes in work.

What Children Learn

Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)

In EYFS, children develop their understanding of the world through exploration, observation and first-hand experiences. They are encouraged to ask questions, investigate, make predictions and talk about what they notice. Children learn to observe changes in the natural world, recognise similarities and differences between living things and their environments, and develop an understanding of how and why things happen. Through play-based and practical learning, they build curiosity, confidence and the communication skills needed to share their ideas and discoveries. These experiences provide the foundations for scientific thinking and learning as they move into Key Stage 1.

Children in Reception are encouraged to observe, ask questions, make predictions and investigate the world around them. Their learning is linked to the Early Learning Goals within Understanding the World, and this provides a foundation for future scientific learning.

Key Stage 1 (Years 1–2)

Children develop their scientific knowledge and enquiry skills through the study of:

Health and how humans grow and stay healthy.
• Animals, including humans, focusing on survival and growth.
• Everyday materials and their properties.
• Plants and what they need to grow and thrive.
• Living things and their habitats.
• Animals other than humans and how they adapt to their environments.
• Seasonal changes, including weather patterns and changes throughout the year.

There is a strong emphasis on observation, questioning, practical investigation and the development of scientific vocabulary in KS1. Pupils learn to explore the world around them, make predictions, carry out simple enquiries and communicate their findings.

Lower Key Stage 2 (Years 3–4)

Children build on their prior learning and develop their understanding of:

Plants, including their parts, functions,growthand life cycles.
• Animals, including humans, focusing on nutrition, skeletons, muscles and healthy lifestyles.
• Rocks and soils.
• Forces and magnets.
• Light and how we see objects.
• Living things and their habitats, including identifying and classifying plants and animals in the local environment.
• Electricity and simple circuits.
• States of matter and how materials change.
• Sound and how it is produced and travels.

Pupils develop their scientific enquiry skills by making careful observations, gathering evidence, carrying out fair tests, recording results and drawing conclusions from their investigations.

Upper Key Stage 2 (Years 5–6)

Children deepen their scientific understanding through the study of:

Animals, including humans, with a focus on body systems,healthand healthy lifestyles.
• Properties and changes of materials.
• Forces and their effects.
• Light and how it travels.
• Earth and Space.
• Living things and their habitats, including classification and adaptation.
• Electricity and electrical circuits.
• Evolution and inheritance.

Pupils develop increasingly sophisticated enquiry skills by planning investigations, selecting appropriate equipment, recording and analysing data, evaluating evidence and communicating conclusions using scientific vocabulary. They are encouraged to think critically, ask questions and apply their scientific knowledge to real-world contexts.

Enrichment Opportunities

We aim to enhance learning through:

Educational visits and visitors.
• Science Week activities.
• Outdoor learning opportunities.
• Cross-curricular investigations.

How Parents Can Help at Home:

You can support your child by:

Talking about what they are learning in school.
• Encouraging them to ask questions about the world around them.
• Exploring nature and seasonal changes together.
• Visiting museums or science centres.
• Watching age-appropriate science programmes and documentaries.
• Reading information books and researching topics together.

Subject Leader

Caitlin Morgan (Maternity cover)

Role: Subject Leader for Science

Science Long Term Plan

Cycle A	Autumn 1	Autumn 2	Spring 1	Spring 2	Summer 1	Summer 2
EYFS	Sounds – listen to sounds outside and identify the source. Make sounds Humans – Describe people who are familiar to them and learn how to take care of themselves.	Forces – Explore how to change how things work. Explore how the wind can move objects. Explore how things move in water.	Materials including changing materials Explore and make objects from a range of materials, including natural materials. Observe, measure and record how materials change when heated and cooled. Compare how materials change over time in different conditions.	Earth and Space – Learn about the Solar System and stars. Learn about space travel	Animals excluding humans Living things and their habitats Explore plants and animals in the surrounding natural environment. Name and describe animals that live in different habitats.	Light – Explore shadows. Explore rainbows
Seasonal change – Play and explore outside in all seasons and in different weather. Observe living things throughout the year.
Year 1/2	Find out about the work of famous scientists modern and historical.	Health – how we grow and stay healthy	Animals – Animal survival and growth	Plants -Plant growth	Environment – Living things and their habitats	Material Properties – use of materials.
Seasonal changes – Observe and describe weather associated with the seasons and how day length varies.
Year 3/4	Electricity	Sound	Animals – Teeth and the digestive system	Environment – living things and their habitat	Construct and identify a variety of food chains, identify producers, predators and prey.	Material Properties – use of materials.
Use the school environment to observe and identify how a habitat changes. This could include a focus on the relationship between the plants and animals within a habitat. Use a journal to observe, record and review over a period of time.
Year 5/6	Environment – Evolution and inheritance	Light and astronomy – how light travels	Animals including humans – Exercise, health and the circulatory system.	Living things and their habitats – classification	Electricity	Communicating recording -more advanced ways of recording data – link to previous learning.
Use the local environment to identify a variety of plants that live there focusing on their adaptations for survival.