Science
Science
Intent
At Willowcroft we are passionate about creating Science Capital in our children. We want our children to build up their knowledge, attitudes and experiences of Science that they will need later in life. We are interested in discovering what children already know about Science and what sort of everyday engagement they have with this subject outside of the classroom.
Science is a body of knowledge built up through experimental testing of ideas - answers may not always be achieved first time and aspects of the experiment may need changing or repeating. Science is a practical way of finding reliable answers to questions we may ask about the world around us. Science at Willowcroft develops children's ideas and ways of working that enable them to make sense of the world in which they live through investigation. Science is also a collaborative activity where ideas and suggestions are shared and investigated together with children taking the lead. Through practical activities, team work and good quality resources, children experience and learn how to work together and appreciate each other's Science Capital.
Our aims in teaching Science will include:
- Encouraging the development of positive attitudes towards Science through cross-curricular links, educational visits and visitors to the school.
- Providing our children with an enjoyable experience of Science, so that they will develop a deep and lasting interest and may be motivated to explore Scientific concepts further.
- Valuing Science as a vehicle for the development of language skills, and we will encourage our children to talk constructively about their Science experiences supporting their use of scientific vocabulary.
LEAP Curriculum - Implementation
Language
| Making sense of the world involves using and developing language to communicate meaning. The direct and engaging experiences of Science can provide a rich context for the development of language as children communicate about their observations and discoveries. The use of language to communicate ideas is essential to the development of scientific understanding. The more engaging experiences children have in Science, the greater opportunity for them to understand and independently use the vast scientific vocabulary from each area of the science curriculum. |
Experiences
| Teachers are encouraged to make Science learning as practical as possible both inside and out of the classroom. Aspects of the Science curriculum link with Forest School, PE, Mathematics and Design and Technology and cross-curricular links are encouraged. Annually, the OPEN academy trust hold a Science event promoting the idea of children independently planning, conducting and reporting their findings of an investigation to a wider audience. Bright Sparks offer an after-school Science club with each session practically themed on either a biology, chemistry or physics topic. Willowcroft are part of the Enthuse partnership and are linked to the company Vertex, who will visit their linked schools to deliver workshops about how Science impacts their workplace and the wider world. Teachers are strongly encouraged to ensure one of their educational visits for the year is Science related. |
Amethyst
| Resilience, resourcefulness, reflectiveness and reciprocity are evident in all Science based learning. Science inspires natural curiosity and the desire to ask questions of the world around us. Successful investigations and experiments are not always guaranteed. Children will discover that scientists can take years of modifying and adapting their work based on previous experiences in order to make a breakthrough. Scientific findings can be supported or challenged by others but with the same goal in mind: to provide an answer or solution to the world around us. |
Power to change the world
| Many scientists are the unsung heroes of our time: they work with no global recognition. In order to solve the threat of climate change, hunger and other challenges, we need scientists and their tireless efforts to help our society to further advance. Those who are committed to pushing the boundaries even further, who don’t stop trying, even when they fail at first. Every day scientists around the world strive to provide answers to global challenges, going to great lengths and making huge personal sacrifices to solve the great challenges of our time. |
Impact
Impact will be measured through a collection of rich evidence (photographs of experiments, quotes from children, journaling) that will be kept in Floor books.