"The important thing is to never stop questioning." Albert Einstein.
"Primary science ignites pupils' curiosity and offers opportunities to develop their observation, questioning and reasoning skills whilst increasing their appreciation, knowledge and understanding of the world around them and stimulating a lifelong interest in science." Society of Biology
Active learning
Collecting and sorting autumn leaves encourages early classification skills.
Looking for spiders
Curiosity about living creatures sparks early scientific learning.
Weather watch
A question about where rain comes from sparked an investigation into weather changes.
Noticing changes
Our ice investigation taught children about the reversible reactions of freezing and melting.
Cause and consequence
Children predicted what would happen if salt and warm water were added.
Making connections
Learning from the classroom was transferred to the real world.
Science in play
Hands-on bubble exploration makes learning fun.
Spring walk
Discovering new life, growing things and the wonder of nature all around us.
Spring walk
Investigating plants, animals, and habitats in the local environment to develop knowledge of living things and ecosystems.
Spring walk
Children are encouraged to use all their senses.
Practical experiences
Planting seeds teaches children how living things grow through careful observation.
Very hungry caterpillars
We watched five caterpillars metamorphosise up close.
Butterfly release
Following their transformation, the children were excited to release the butterflies.
Progression of understanding
From observing the butterflies in their natural environment, children learned that they are attracted to colourful flowers.
Butterfly lifecycle
Learning about the butterflies helped children grasp the concepts of continuity and change.
Comparing and contrasting
Through our core texts, children in Reception contrast their local habitat with global environments
Finding out more
Children are supported to use books and technology to find out more about the world around them.
Scientific thinking
By observing which everyday object float and sing, children begin to draw conclusions about different materials.
Observing and recording
Children are encouraged to independently make observations of the natural world.
Curriculum Intent
At Ladbrooke JMI School we believe that science draws on children’s natural interest and curiosity in the world around them. Lessons will allow our children to be actively involved in investigations through generating their own questions and planning and setting up their own tests. Through our science curriculum, we will develop in children strong observational skills, high quality scientific language, opportunities to record data in a variety of ways and the ability to develop well thought out conclusions.
The five senses – Tasting!
Year 1 got to taste bitter, sweet, salty and sour foods.
Bean Observation
Year 1 worked very hard to grow their very own bean.
Boltons farm trip
Year 2 got the opportunity to attend Boltons farm. They learnt all about moving and handling a cow, milking a cow, looking at animal x-rays and more!
A Trip to the zoo!
Year 1 and 2 got the chance to attend Hertfordshire Zoo to learn about all animal habitats. The children were amazed at the animals they can into counter with!
Materials - Rocks
Year 1 explored a variety of materials one material being rocks.
Implementation
The science curriculum is a balance of scientific knowledge and investigative skills and children are encouraged to work scientifically and follow their own line of enquiry.
We follow the White Rose Scheme for Science. The White Rose Science curriculum meticulously maps out the progression of both scientific knowledge and working scientifically skills (substantive and disciplinary knowledge) throughout the academic year. This strategic alignment ensures that the knowledge and skills are tailored to each year group, and the small-step approach guarantees sufficient coverage and time for effective teaching and consolidation of these essential skills. Each small-step is accompanied by a National Curriculum link, indicating the covered substantive knowledge and the disciplinary skill.
In each step of our curriculum, practical ideas are integrated to encourage children to consolidate and deepen their understanding of both knowledge and skills-based concepts. These practical ideas are complemented by accompanying worksheets specifically designed to offer additional, adaptable opportunities for reinforcing learning associated with the small-step approach. Moreover, each block includes an enquiry question selected from one of the five enquiry types, further enriching children’s understanding of the scientific enquiry process.
Environmental Centre Visit
Children were collecting data to check the biodiversity of pollinators.
Plant Dissection
Year 3 took apart a variety of flowers to identify the different parts and their function.
Light and Shadow
We set up a practical activity to see how the distance between a light source and an object affects the shadow.
Volcano Eruption
Using bicarbonate of soda, vinegar as an acid and washing up liquid as an accelerator, we recreated a volcanic eruption.
Testing Rock Absorbency
Children poured water over a variety of different rocks, to see which ones absorbed more water than others.
Electricity
Year 4 enjoyed using different electrical components, to create their own circuits, resulting in their bulb lighting up.
States of Matter
Looking at the properties of different materials, children identified and sorted pictures into solids, liquids and gases.
Melting Ice Experiment
Using water or varying temperatures, we timed how long it took to melt an ice cube, to note the effect heat has on the rate of melting a solid.
Tooth Decay Experiment
Children placed eggs into cups of different flavoured drinks, to see the effects they have on the eggshell, as this reacts in a similar way to the enamel on our teeth.
Tooth Decay Experiment
After 10 days, we studied the eggs and made observations and the changes we could see.
Data Collection
The children have counted different living things in the local area, at different times of year, to discuss how weather conditions affect the numbers we see.
Impact
The successful approach at Ladbrooke results in a fun, engaging, high-quality science education that provides children with the skills and knowledge for understanding the world around them. All children will feel that they are scientists by displaying curiosity, asking questions and having the skills to investigate. Learning outside the classroom is embedded throughout our science curriculum and children have opportunities to take part in workshops, trips and interactions with experts. This ensures pupils have access to positive role models within the field of science.
Forces
In year 5 we made parachutes of different sizes. We investigated whether the surface area of the parachute affected the time it took to fall.
Forces
In year 5 we made parachutes of different sizes. We investigated whether the surface area of the parachute affected the time it took to fall.
Earth and Space
Year 5 have been learning about how the Earth, Sun and Moon move. We worked in groups of three to show how the Earth rotates around the Sun and how the Moon orbits the Earth.
Earth and Space
Year 5 have been learning about how the Earth, Sun and Moon move. We worked in groups of three to show how the Earth rotates around the Sun and how the Moon orbits the Earth.
Earth and Space
Year 5 have been learning about how the Earth, Sun and Moon move. We worked in groups of three to show how the Earth rotates around the Sun and how the Moon orbits the Earth.
Forces
In our unit on properties of materials, year 5 tested materials to see if they were hard, soft, magnetic and waterproof.
Forces
In our unit on properties of materials, year 5 tested materials to see if they were hard, soft, magnetic and waterproof.
Light
Year 6 were testing to see which materials allow light to pass through them.
Electricity
In their topic on electricity, year 6 built circuits with switches and bulbs.
Electricity
In their topic on electricity, year 6 built circuits with switches and bulbs.
Electricity
Year 6 attached paper to a motor and built it into their circuits.
