Science
Science is awesome. We having been learning about the planets and it blew my mind!
Year 6 pupil
Intent
At Clowne Junior School, 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.
Our aim is:
- for all children to understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of Science so that they can understand the world through the disciplines of Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
- to nurture our children with their understanding with how Science has changed our lives and how it is vital to the world’s future prosperity.
- to instill excitement and curiosity about the subject and how it explains the world around them so they are inspired to think about the subject in a meaningful and responsible way.
Implementation
Over the academic year, children will study different units of learning in Science on a half-termly basis.
Using the SNAP Science scheme to ensure progression throughout the school, every lesson follows a set pattern:
- The 'Explore' activity to excite the children’s curiosity about a scientific phenomenon and provide a focus for their questions and investigations. This activity is designed as a rich formative assessment opportunity for children to reflect on what they already know and identify what they need to learn next.
- The ‘Core’ lessons, within in each unit, cover all the objectives from the National Curriculum’s Programme of Study.
- The ‘Enrichment’ lessons provide extra breadth and depth for the topic.
- The 'Reflect and Review' activity at the end of each lesson gives the children the opportunity to communicate what they have learned.
Knowledge Organsiers
Children are provided with a knowledge organiser at the start of each topic. This details the key knowledge and vocabulary that children will encounter during the upcoming unit of work. This is not used as part of an assessment but to support children with the acquisition of knowledge and as a reference document.
Resources
As previously mentioned, Clowne Junior School uses the Collins’ SNAP Science Scheme to deliver our Science lessons. Snap Science is a dynamic, comprehensive programme, packed with inspirational resources that help us to deliver outstanding Science learning throughout school.
This includes;
- SNAP Science Scheme of Work
- Practical resources organised into topic boxes for each unit
- A wide range of books to support each learning theme
- Online resources
- Cross-Curricular Learning
Marking and Feedback
The purpose of marking and feedback is to identify children’s understanding of a topic’s concepts and to inform the planning or need for extra support from the teacher in the next lesson.
Linky Thinks
This activity provides children with the oppurtunity to consolidate their learning from the whole topic. Each pupil is provided with hexagons that have key vocabulary from the unit. The pupils can make links and explanations between this key vocabulary creating a 'map' of their learning.
Impact
- We aim to deliver an engaging science curriculum that sparks curiosity and enjoyment through hands-on activities, interactive lessons and real‑world links. We support children in developing a strong scientific vocabulary, enabling them to communicate their ideas confidently through discussion and presentation.
- We encourage inquiry by creating a classroom environment where children feel comfortable asking questions and reflecting on their learning. A clear progression of skills and knowledge helps pupils understand expectations and supports teachers in providing appropriate challenge.
- We also promote independence by giving children opportunities to plan, carry out and evaluate scientific investigations. Through this, they build problem‑solving skills, resilience, and critical thinking.
Together, these approaches ensure children not only develop secure scientific understanding but also a lasting enthusiasm for science.
This holistic approach ensures that our students not only learn scientific concepts but also develop a passion for science that will inspire them throughout their lives