Science | Hertford St Andrew CE Primary School

Lead teacher - Miss Raw

Science is a body of knowledge built up through experimental testing of ideas. Science is also a methodology, a practical way of finding reliable answers to questions we may ask about the world around us.

At Hertford St. Andrew School we believe science should be:

• The entitlement of all children, regardless of ethnic origin, gender, class, aptitude or disability;

• Relevant to supporting the children in understanding the uses and implications of science today and in the future;

• Promoting awe and wonder;

• Encouraging curiosity and questioning;

• Led by children’s own investigative questions;

• Developing confidence;

• Promoting opportunities for children to hypothesise.

Aims

The national curriculum for science aims to ensure that all pupils:

• Develop scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding through the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics;

• Develop understanding of the nature, processes and methods of science through different types of science enquiries that help them to answer scientific questions about the world around them;

• Are equipped with the scientific knowledge required to understand the uses and implications of science, today and for the future.

Our Curriculum

At Hertford St Andrew the children develop their ‘working scientifically’ skills through the following units:

Nursery and Reception	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4	Year 5	Year 6
Plants: Identification	Plants: In the garden	Plants: Growing plants	Plants: Investigating plants
Animals, including humans: Identification	Animals, including humans: Different animals	Animals, including humans: Growth and survival	Animals, including humans: Healthy eating and healthy bodies	Animals, including humans: Teeth and digestion	Animals, including humans: Life cycles	Animals, including humans: Humans and health
Living things and their habitats: Identification	Living things and their habitats: Seasonal changes	Living things and their habitats: Habitats		Living things and their habitats: Classification and interdependence	Living things and their habitats: Life cycles	Living things and their habitats: Classification Evolution and inheritance
Materials: Observation	Materials: Everyday materials	Materials: Use of everyday materials	Materials: Rocks, fossils and soil	Materials: Solids, liquids and gases	Materials: Changes of materials
Light and sound: Senses			Light and sound: Light and shadows	Light and sound: Sound and vibrations		Light and sound: Light
Forces: Movement			Forces: Forces and magnets		Forces: Earth and space Forces
Electricity: Batteries				Electricity: Circuits and components		Electricity: Electricity

Lessons provide the children with the opportunity to explore and investigate, observe and record, present, explain and evaluate, and research using computer-based tools and the fantastic non-fiction books in our school library.

National Curriculum document for Science Science curriculum

British Science Week

At Hertford St Andrew we celebrate British Science Week. Each year the school takes a theme for their science exploration. Previous themes have included minibeasts and space, while for the academic year 2019-20 we used the theme 'Science in Stories' to carry out investigations into light and shadows with Peter Pan in KS2 and materials and their properties to help poor Humpty Dumpty in KS1 and Early Years!

On the last day we invite parents and children to visit the science celebration in the hall, where they can try different experiments and activities run by the older children and staff.

You can find out more about British Science Week at:

British Science Week

Places in the local area to visit:

Bayfordbury Observatory The University of Hertfordshire’s teaching observatory for astronomy and astrophysics. Visit their website to find out more about public open evenings:

Science Museum, London Use their ‘events calendar’ to find out more about events for children, including films in the IMAX 3D cinema.

Natural History Museum, London Use their ‘what’s on’ tool to find out more about events and activities for families, including their ‘investigate for families’ drop-in science activities.