science

The journey so far…

Science at Canon Peter Hall aims to promote the wealth of opportunities for STEM careers that exist within the local community. When engaging in Science, children are encouraged to “Be a Scientist” taking on the professional role of a Scientist by engaging with substantive scientific knowledge through our “Scientist’s Lens.”

As a church school, we believe and promote that ALL of God’s children are valued. Research shows that STEM subjects can often be regarded as being “too difficult” for less able pupils, with too many Literacy led activities detracting from the substantive and disciplinary scientific knowledge. Our Science curriculum has been planned in a way which is rigorously inclusive for ALL, with a focus on exciting, practical, inclusive and knowledge led activities.

INTENT

What do we want our Science curriculum to achieve?

  • To spark an interest in the awe and wonder of Science and the STEM careers available to them
  • To impart and enable children to engage with and process the substantive and disciplinary knowledge of the National Curriculum to prepare them for Secondary Physics, Chemistry and Biology and their future career.
IMPLEMENTATION

Our Science pedagogy is reflective of the research conducted into the science of learning, with lessons designed to take account of the need for regular, spaced retrieval to prevent children forgetting the knowledge acquired within each Science lesson and unit of learning, avoiding cognitive overload, and sequencing long and medium term plans to enable children to make links to prior learning and build schemas.

A typical unit of learning in Science includes:

  • Retrieval of linked learning from previous years and an opportunity to address any existing misconceptions
  • Substantive and disciplinary knowledge progressively sequenced to enable children to form links and build schemas
  • Quizable knowledge organisers to aid retrieval and vocabulary teaching

 

A typical science lesson includes:

  • The teacher clearly setting out the focus substantive knowledge and enquiry skills for the lesson
  • Retrieval practice and recall of prior learning 
  • Pre teaching of Tier 2 and 3 vocabulary
  • Exploration of misconceptions
  • Direct instruction to effectively impart knowledge
  • Opportunities for children to work scientifically, with reference to the lens.
  • Engaging, exciting, inclusive and knowledge led activities that impart knowledge to ALL, taking account of barriers to learning.
  • Examples of how this scientific knowledge is used in real life contexts and the world of work
IMPACT

What do we want our children to become as a result of the Science curriculum?

  • Educated and enthusiastic about and prepared for the STEM careers available to them locally and nationally.
  • Inquisitive about the natural, and chemical processes of the world and the laws of physics.

 

What do we believe is right for our children to learn from the study of Science?

  • To have an awareness of the STEM careers available to them locally and nationally.
  • To develop children as scientists by teaching and planning regular, progressive practice of the discipline of Science (enquiring, predicting, investigating, gathering, presenting and analysing evidence.)  
science long term plan
SCIENCE Project Overviews:
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