Science

Our Science Curriculum

Intent

At Our Lady of Lourdes, we aspire for all our children to develop a love for Science and a care for the natural world around them. We will teach children to think, talk and write like a scientist and learn from and appreciate the diverse range of scientists who have made a positive impact on the world and its future. We intend for Science to be an engaging, practical subject which stimulates the children’s own natural curiosity about the world; giving them the opportunity to understand and explore Science in their everyday lives and to build on from prior knowledge. The pupils at Our Lady of Lourdes use first-hand experiences to explore, discover and progress their scientific knowledge, whilst developing their enquiry skills and vocabulary.

Implementation

Teachers will create a positive attitude towards Science within their classrooms and reinforce high expectations for all pupils. We aim to help our children become confident young scientists by delivering a curriculum that builds progressively on prior learning. Children are taught how each new unit of Science connects to their previous learning, enabling them to develop a deeper understanding of scientific concepts within the wider context of the subject.

Working scientifically is embedded throughout every lesson, ensuring that scientific enquiry skills are developed progressively across each child's journey through school. Lessons are practical, engaging and hands-on, inspiring curiosity and encouraging all children to participate actively in their learning. Each lesson has clear learning objectives that are shared with the children so they understand what they are learning and why it is important.

Teachers identify and address misconceptions through discussion, questioning and scientific investigation wherever possible, helping children to develop accurate scientific understanding. Pupils are encouraged to ask their own questions, make predictions and, where appropriate, use their scientific enquiry skills to investigate and discover answers independently. Learning is placed into context by making clear links between classroom science and the world around them, helping children to recognise the relevance of science in everyday life.

Throughout their time in school, children explore the work and achievements of at least two scientists each year, with a strong emphasis on diversity and representation so that all pupils can see themselves reflected in the scientific community. Scientific work is recorded and presented in line with whole-school presentation expectations where appropriate. Learning is regularly revisited through retrieval practice and the reinforcement of key scientific knowledge and vocabulary, ensuring children retain what they have learned and are well prepared for the next stage of their scientific learning.

Impact

Our children will leave Our Lady of Lourdes with a love and passion for Science, they will be able to identify clear links from their learning in class and the everyday world. From this deepening understanding of the world, children will continue to want to explore their own curiosities and will be able to do so confidently by applying their scientific skills such as asking questions, using scientific equipment, performing tests, identifying, and classifying, gathering and recording data. Children at Our Lady of Lourdes have been exposed to diverse Scientists from many fields of work, igniting interests to want to continue to Think, Talk and Write like Scientists throughout their lifetime.