Science
Intent
It is our intention to develop a lifelong curiosity and interest in the Sciences in all young people. When planning for the Science curriculum, we intend for children to have the opportunity, wherever possible, to learn through varied, systematic investigations, leading to them being equipped for life to ask and answer scientific questions about the world around them. As children progress through the year groups, they build on their skills in Working Scientifically, as well as on their scientific knowledge, as they develop greater independence in planning and carrying out a range of tests to answer a variety of scientific questions. The PlanIt Science scheme of work ensures that children have a varied, progressive and well-mapped-out science curriculum that provides the opportunity for progression across the full breadth of the science national curriculum, starting with EYFS through to KS1 and KS2. This curriculum is supplemented by the Ogden Trust’s high quality resources that ensure a tailored approach for our children.
How Parents Can Help
1. Be interested
Find out their termly topics and take an interest — find relevant books in the library or bookshop. Have interesting conversations where you are both learning at the same time.
2. Take a trip
Take a trip to a science museum, a zoo or an aquarium. These don’t necessarily need to be completely related to what they are learning about at school. Any visit can help their curiosity and engagement with science generally.
3. Make it personal
Find out about famous scientists and research unique and exciting inventions up to and including the present day. Who knows, you may have the next Stephen Hawking or Marie Curie at home.
4. Get hands-on
Look up fun, practical science experiments you can do at home with everyday objects.
For example:
- Ask ‘What happens when you mix food colouring in milk?’ Then add washing up liquid and watch what happens.
- Why not try making your own mini exploding volcano? Just add bicarbonate of soda, food colouring, washing up liquid and vinegar. Then stand back and watch the eruption!
- Cooking is also a great opportunity to mix ingredients, add heat and examine changing states.
- Try exploring changing states with ice and water to begin to see those changes that can be reversed and those that can’t.
- A real favourite would have to be ‘gloop’ — use water and cornflour (add food colouring too if needed) to explore solids and liquids. Just be prepared to get messy!
Anything where they can be hands-on and see the science happen in front of their eyes is guaranteed to be get them interested.
Further Support And Useful Weblinks
- The National Curriculum for science
- BBC for video clips and activities
- The Science Museum for information, games etc.
- The Children’s University of Manchester Science pages
- The Royal Institute’s annual Christmas lectures make science real for children and are available online, along with lots of other educational goodies
- National Geographic Kids
