Science

Shaping our science curriculum:

We follow the National Curriculum. We plan science lessons so there is an opportunity to keep returning to concepts and knowledge across phases. Lessons have a clear focus on direct, instructional teaching and interactive oral work with both the whole class and smaller groups. Our science curriculum emphasises scientific knowledge and understanding of scientific concepts.

We teach so that we provide an appropriate balance of:

Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Working scientifically

We ensure that there is careful scaffolding of core competencies so that children can develop understanding of different types of scientific enquiry so they can answer scientific questions about the world around them. Our aim is to equip pupils with the understanding of the uses and implications of science, today and for the future.

We use concepts to give meaning to our science:

In all subjects at Barlow Hall we use six Thinking Concepts:

Continuity and Change over Time
Inter-relationships
Perspectives
Similarities and Differences
Analysing and Interpreting
Cause and Effect

Our science subject concepts are:

Nature
Scientific process
Methods of science

Our science knowledge:

Living things and their habitats, plants, animals including humans
Everyday materials, properties and changes of materials
Seasonal changes
Rocks
Light
Forces and magnets
States of matter
Electricity
Earth and Space
Evolution and Inheritance

Our curriculum is designed so children are taught the knowledge then use their knowledge. We build knowledge from one year to another, moving from a basic understanding to an advanced model where understanding is applied to fluency and then a deep and automatic understanding. In our lessons we build on prior knowledge and link back and forwards to embed our knowledge. We return to key concepts so that are children know more and remember more.