Science

Intent:
At Manorcroft, our children are scientists! Our intent is to give all children a broad and balanced science curriculum, which enables them to build a strong understanding of the world around them whilst acquiring specific skills and knowledge to help them think scientifically. Throughout the children’s science education journey, we aim for every child to become a more independent scientist, regularly questioning the world around them, exploring their own and others’ ideas with an ever-expanding bank of scientific vocabulary. We want our children to develop a love for science and remember their science lessons in our school.

Implementation:
At Manorcroft, Science topics are taught in accordance with the National Curriculum 2014 and Early Years Framework 2021. To support the delivery of the Science curriculum, we use Cornerstones, a resource to facilitate the teaching and learning of science through rich and meaningful projects. A project-based approach means the subject is taught within a wider context, allowing children to make strong links and embed their knowledge in new and often real-life contexts. For example, each year group completes at least one LTI (Love to Investigate) where they will investigate real-life questions such as ‘Why does pollution affect habitats?’ and ‘Why do birds have different beaks?’

The curriculum is planned and sequenced so that children have the substantive knowledge and vocabulary to understand subsequent projects. In addition, children are taught disciplinary knowledge, enabling them to understand and explore the knowledge they acquire, as well as use it to work scientifically, questioning new concepts by carrying out investigations. Children are given the opportunity to predict, plan, make observations, conclude and present their findings using science specific language, observations and diagrams. In each year group, children are encouraged to call upon their previous knowledge, allowing them to build and expand on it. Children begin making links with what they already know plus their new knowledge, thus cementing new concepts into their long term memory. Furthermore, each project’s place in the academic year has been carefully considered, ensuring children can make first-hand observations, for example, ‘Enchanted Woodland’ is taught during the Autumn Term and ‘Wriggle and Crawl’ when the weather is milder.

Science is taught within and beyond the classroom as part of our commitment to outdoor learning.

Impact:
Within each project, children take part in an ‘Innovate Challenge’, which allows them to apply the knowledge and skills they have learnt to a real life problem independently. Many of the cross-curricular projects taught at school involve science, so children have rich and meaningful opportunities to apply their new knowledge and skills. Following this, children take part in the ‘Express Stage’, where they have an opportunity to demonstrate their understanding to a larger audience, be it their peers, another year group or sometimes their parents. Teachers use ongoing formative assessment along with recording termly summative data to assess children's progress.

By the time children leave Manorcroft, they will have developed a natural curiosity, be respectful for all living organisms as well as the physical environment, and evaluate evidence with a critical eye. They will be enthusiastic science learners and understand that science has changed our lives and that it is vital to the world’s future prosperity.