Science at The Links
Curriculum Intent
Our intent at the Links is to encourage children to be naturally curious about the world around them. Our science teaching has been developed to ensure full coverage of the curriculum from Nursery to Year 6 and to foster a sense of wonder about natural phenomena. Throughout our schools children are encouraged to develop and use a range of working scientifically skills including questioning, researching and observing. We promote and celebrate inquisitive minds through hands on learning and investigation. Scientific knowledge and vocabulary is taught, developed and revisited as the children progress through school.
Curriculum Implementation
To ensure high standards of teaching and learning in Science, we implement a curriculum that is progressive throughout the school. Planning for science is a process in which all teachers ensure that the school gives full coverage of The 2014 National Curriculum programmes of study for Science and Understanding of the World in the Early Years Foundation Stage.
- Teachers will begin each topic with a hook for learning (feely bag with objects, close up of pictures to identify, a prop, a video clip). The hook strategy is a short opening into a lesson that prepares the children for the upcoming topic that they will be learning. The hook is meant to be a short (ten seconds to three minutes), engaging moment prior to the start of a topic, grabbing the children’s interest and attention and promoting curiosity, excitement and the use of scientific enquiry skills.
- At the start of each topic teachers take time, through discussion, to find out what our children already understand and want to find out. Children generate questions around the topic. These are then added to the working wall and planned for within a topic develop children’s interest and knowledge and understanding. Opportunities to ask further questions and deepen scientific knowledge and understanding arise throughout the topic.
- Introduce key vocabulary to deepen knowledge and understanding with the expectation that children will use and apply this vocabulary.
- Every lesson combines knowledge, skills and understanding and working scientifically.
- The use of technology, wherever appropriate, to aid teaching and learning.
- Teachers plan opportunities for cross curricular activities such as writing and maths (linking to current and prior learning outcomes) to deepening their knowledge and understanding.
- Children are given the opportunity to read around their topic through carefully chosen books to deepen their knowledge and understanding.
- Children are tested on their knowledge, skills, understanding and scientific enquiry in a fun and engaging way (kahoott/quizzizz).
Science Week at The Links
Science at Home
Parents and carers are an important part of the learning process. Please click on the links below to find further ways to support your child’s learning in Science.
