Science Curriculum Summary

Aims

To stimulate children to try to explain how living and non-living things work and to establish links between causes and effects:

Allow children to test ideas using evidence from observation and measurements

Develop investigative skills through planning, obtaining and presenting evidence

Develop the ability to discuss evidence and evaluate

Help children to understand life processes and living things

Help children to understand physical processes in the world around them

Content

Year 3  Rocks, Minerals and soils/ Materials and their Properties/ Teeth and healthy Eating/Magnets/ Mini-Beasts classification and habitat.

Year 4  Moving and Growing/ Habitats/ Keeping Warm/ Solids, Liquids and How They Can Be Separated/ Friction/Circuits and Conductors

Year 5  Keeping Healthy/ Solids, Liquids and Gasses/ Changing State/ Earth Beyond/ Green Plants and Human Lifecycle/ Changing Sounds

Methods of Assessment 

Each topic is assessed when completed. It provides an indication of each pupils understanding and provides information for discussion at Parents’ Evenings and the end-of-year reports. In addition the assessments are added to each pupils work profile.

Teaching Time

4 x 40 minute lessons per week

Boys’ Learning

Teaching methods and styles match current national curriculum and school policy ideals based on a boy-centred approach.

Continuity

Continuity exists between Years 3, 4 and 5. Key Stage 2 continuity needs to be developed.

Cross-Curricular Links

Links exist through Mathematics, English, Art and Drama in Year 3.

Planning

Individual topics are planned from the Medium and Long-Term policies.

Gifted and Talented

Children deemed to be gifted and talented are encouraged to develop their talents through extension tasks and challenging activities.

Special Needs

Differentiation allows children to actively participate at a level which matches their ability and level of understanding.