Science is led by Mrs Townsend

Our focus in Science lessons at Nursteed School is on developing the skills children need to become accurate, careful and confident practical scientists.

We follow the National Curriculum for Primary Schools in England 2014, which sets out a clear progression of science skills in each year group. This begins in EYFS where the children explore the world around them. Then Year 1 with asking questions, carrying out simple tests, recording simple data in order to answer their questions, and progresses by Year 6, to more complex planning and carrying out of fair tests, using equipment accurately and taking precise readings and measurements and presenting results using a range of graphs and charts from which to draw conclusions and finally evaluate their work.  The science skills are developed through the teaching and learning of scientific knowledge as show in the document below. 

First-hand experiences through practical, hands-on science work provide the most powerful learning opportunities to inspire, guide and motivate pupils to develop an inquiring mind and their scientific knowledge of the world around them. A wide range of science equipment  is used by class teachers and children to  support practical, investigative work which in turn helps them to develop enquiring minds.

We use a wide range of resources in order to support our teaching of Science including a range of age appropriate books, films, models, charts and equipment. Trips out within the local area, for example to Drew’s Pond, The Canal and the Museum, as well as visits to places further away, for example The Living Rainforest, Weymouth Aquarium and Bristol Zoo are often linked with science topics to broaden and reinforce learning. We enrich this practical approach, from time to time, by inviting science specialists to come and visit the school, for example  Science Boffins, The Life Education Bus, The Space Dome. 

Our rich and varied school grounds are used for first hand exploration of the natural world supporting the biological based topics in particular. This allows children to think about the environment in which they live, experience the slow and subtle changes of the seasons and consider the impact of damaging a habitat or environment so leading them to develop a greater respect for their world.

SMSC in Science

Spiritual 

• Children look for meaning and purpose in natural and physical phenomena
• Children wonder about what is special about life
• Children have an awareness of the scale living things from the smallest micro-organism to the largest
• Children understand the interdependence of all living things of  lving things  and materials of the earth

Children develop an emotion drive to know more and wonder about the world, the vastness of space and the beauty of natural objects

Moral 

• Children develop an increasing curiosity
• Children develop an open-minded approach to the suggestions of others.
• Children consider that scientific developments may give rise to moral dilemmas
• Children consider the environment.

Social

• Children undertake practical work in groups
• Children develop team working skills
• Children learn to take responsibility for their own and others safety.
• Children understand that science has a major effect on the quality of our lives.
• Children consider the benefits of scientific developments and the social responsibility involved.

Cultural 

• Children learn about scientific discoveries about part of our culture and the culture of others. 
• Children learn about the wide range of men and women from a range of cultures who have made scientific discoveries.