The Science curriculum at Manor Wood is designed to ignite a curiosity about the world amongst all pupils. Lessons are taught in a sequence of learning objectives that develop knowledge and scientific working skills simultaneously. Teachers work in accordance with our school’s ‘Science Skills Progression map’. These skills are developed over their time at Manor Wood. ‘Sticky Knowledge Mats’ with finger-tip knowledge and vocabulary are provided for pupils to support their learning throughout the term and are an integral resource which ‘interrupts the forgetting’ of key knowledge and terminology. We are committed to delivering a rich curriculum which provides children with immersive and memorable experiences.

 
Intent

Knowledge, skills and concepts are developed so that children’s understanding is extended year upon year. Our curriculum is organised around two key principles:

Scientific Knowledge:

Scientific knowledge is the content that forms our units and is guided by our National Curriculum. Teachers have worked together to ensure children across every key stage can deepen their understanding of the three main scientific disciplines:

• Chemistry
• Physics
• Biology

At Manor Wood Primary, children are taught to recognise the importance of science in every aspect of daily life. All children will be provided with a broad and balanced science curriculum, which builds on prior learning and reflects the equality and diversity of our children. All children are taught the knowledge, methods and processes of science to ensure they develop the skills every scientist should have. Through building up a body of key scientific knowledge, children are encouraged to recognise the power of rational explanation and develop a sense of excitement and curiosity. Every child learns about leading contemporary scientists as well as ‘science giants’ throughout every unit, igniting passions and exploring scientific questions that shape our world today. Children learn how science can be used to explain what is occurring, predict how things will behave, and analyse causes. Our curriculum also encourages children to become enquiry-based learners, collaborating through researching, investigating and evaluating experiences. It provides opportunities for the critical evaluation of evidence and rational explanation of scientific phenomena as well as opportunity to apply their mathematical knowledge to their understanding of science, including collecting, presenting and analysing data.

Working Scientifically Skills:

All aspects of ‘Working Scientifically’ from the National Curriculum are interwoven throughout our curriculum to ensure that children understand what it means to be a successful scientist. In Key Stage One, children begin to develop an understanding of how to work scientifically. In Key Stage Two, children continue to embed these skills more independently and at a deeper, more complex level. Pupils at Manor Wood understand what skills scientists use to inform their findings and they explicitly learn and develop the key 'working scientifically' skills displayed below within lessons:

 

Children will be immersed in key scientific vocabulary, which supports in the acquisition of scientific knowledge and understanding.  The following types of scientific enquiries are woven throughout our curriculum: Problem Solving, Pattern Seeking, Comparative/Fair Testing, Research, Observation Over Time and Identifying, Grouping and Classifying to ensure that children are gaining a full breadth of opportunities to engage in learning as scientists.  

Interrupting the ‘Forgetting Curve’:

At Manor Wood Primary School, we are committed to interrupting the forgetting curve and ensuring that key knowledge ‘sticks’ with them as they move throughout school. Science is taught weekly, in our very own STEM lab. This lab was opened by Lucy Hawking, who also recognised the immense value in allowing children to develop and embed scientific skills in a real life.

We prioritise knowledge that is most important for our children to know and include it within each topic’s ‘sticky mat’ which is an integral part of all history lessons and is a tool for pupils to refer back to as they move through a unit. We also embed key knowledge from units which children have studied in prior year groups through the implementation of our ‘Super Six’ and ‘Fantastic Four’ post unit tests.

Implementation

As they progress through school, children build on key knowledge and understanding from previous lessons through a robust and well-designed learning sequence.  Every lesson, they have opportunities to develop a deep knowledge of their working scientifically skills. Children learn the scientific enquiries needed to be successful scientists including how to ask and answer questions, make predictions, carry out investigations, gather data, and use evidence to make conclusions. To ensure working scientifically is deeply embedded for every child, each lesson contains demonstrations or practical activities linked to the concept being taught, so that children can explore and experiment with the challenging ideas contained in the curriculum. We regularly welcome visitors from the local community who have particular links to STEM, developing the children’s cultural capital through science. We place a great emphasis on oracy in Manor Wood, and science is no exception. Children learn and use the correct scientific vocabulary and terminology and we encourage children to speak like scientists by modelling high-quality exploratory language. Children also learn about key scientists from around the world, looking at those who have been important in the development of their field from the past to the present and beyond! We place a great emphasis on the diversity of scientists as we want all our children to see themselves in our curriculum and believe that they are capable of great scientific discoveries too. Science is taught weekly and explicitly throughout the year.

Impact

Children at Manor Wood view themselves as scientists, explorers of the vast world around them as critical thinkers. They develop progressively more refined skills as they journey through school, and build on prior knowledge and understanding as they revisit Scientific Concepts and skills. They reflect on prior learning and ask questions to further their own knowledge. Teachers are supported in planning, delivering and reviewing a rich and progressive curriculum.

Assessment and Progress:

By the end of each unit, pupils are expected to understand and be able to verbalise key knowledge outlined on the relevant ‘Sticky Knowledge Mat’ which has been used throughout lessons. Additionally, all pupils will have had multiple opportunities to develop their disciplinary knowledge throughout the unit too. Throughout the year, pupils will be challenged to remember key parts of that topic knowledge in their end of unit iterative tests known as ‘Fantastic Four’ (Year One & Year Two) and ‘Super Six’ (Year Three, Four, Five & Six).

Further Information:
Cross-curricular Opportunities and STEM ambassadors:

Pupils are given multiple opportunities to enhance their knowledge further within cross-curricular links to Mathematics, ICT and Literacy. Reading and Research remains a valuable Golden Thread, woven throughout our curriculum and Science is certainly no exception. These opportunities expand pupils' banks of related vocabulary whilst providing them with further opportunities to embed their understanding of key concepts. Our devoted team of STEM ambassadors, who lead assemblies, special events and after school clubs, ensure Science is always at the forefront of our curriculum and remains an exciting and valuable part of our children’s learning.

British Science Week is a significant week in our annual calendar which deepens pupils' love for all things Science. Each year, at Manor Wood, we invite guest speakers, local scientists and innovators to lead workshops and events that truly spark the children’s imaginations. Over the last few years, we have welcomed Stephen Hawking’s daughter, scientist and author Lucy Hawking, met with local poet and scientist Lira Lewis, and many more members of our diverse scientific community.