Science

Children are naturally curious. Science at primary school should nurture this curiosity and allow them to ask questions and develop the skills they need to answer those questions. 

What Science Knowledge is taught at Lakeside? 

Each year the key science knowledge builds on learning from the previous years.

The long term overview to show which knowledge is taught in each year group can be found in the documents below.

Science in Early Years

        Science at Foundation Stage (reception) is covered in the ‘Understanding the World’ area of the EYFS Curriculum.  It is introduced indirectly through activities that encourage your child to explore, problem solve, observe, predict, think, make decisions and talk about the world around them.  Early Years Science also helps children with skills in other Foundation Stage areas of the National Curriculum, such as Physical Development and Expressive Arts and Design.   During their first year at school your child will explore creatures, people, plants and objects in their natural environments.  They will observe and manipulate objects and materials to identify differences and similarities.  For example, they may look at an egg whisk, sand, paper and water to learn about things that are natural and manmade and their different functions.  They will also learn to use their senses, feeling dough or listening to sounds in the environment, such as sirens or farm animals. They will make observations of animals and plants and explain why some things occur and talk about changes.   Your child will be encouraged to ask questions about why things happen and how things work. They might do activities such as increasing the incline of a slope to observe how fast a vehicle travels, or opening a mechanical toy to see how it works. Your child will also be asked questions about what they think will happen to help them communicate, plan, investigate, record and evaluate findings. 

Science statements in Early Years Curriculum 

Children know about similarities and differences in relation to places, objects, materials and living things

They talk about the features of their own immediate environment and how environments might vary from one another

They make observations of animals and plants and explain why some things occur, and talk about changes

Science activites - see pictures below

Autumn 1 

Foundation Stage 

Explored Autumn and made a self portrait out of leaves. 

Key Stage 1

Observed mini-beasts in Forest School to identify their features using a maginifying glass. 

Had a visit from Zoolab to look and hold different mini-beasts and learn some facts. 

Year 3/4

Investigated the properties of custard and compared it to water. They tested the custard and water by putting ping pong balls in it, they tried to shape it and cut it. 

Year 4 

Entered a potions labratory where they had to guess what the mystery potions were. They did this by tasting them, guessing what the potion did and what it was made of.

Year 5

Went into Forest school to classify different mini-beasts using equpiment and an app on the Ipad. 

Year 6

Dissected an animal heart to see how the heart works and its different parts. 

Autumn 2 

Foundation Stage

Children used the text "Owl Babies" to explore nocturnal animals. Here is the provision the children used. 

KS1 

Used water to make music.

Measured how far sounds travels.

Year 3/4

Dissected owl pellets to find out what owls eat. 

We had a visit from some predator birds and got to handle them. 

Year 4

Visited the deep. 

Made food chains using the coral as a starting point. 

Year 5 

Went in the Wonderdome and saw space in different ways. 

Investigated what makes rockets take off. 

Year 6 

Visited Hall Cross Academy and made fireworks in the science lab.

Spring 

Foundation Stage 

Children learnt about dinosaurs and this was the provision they used. 

Key Stage 1

They investigated their heart rate and how to increase it. They also found out if you could build a bridge out of paper. 

Year 3/4

Investigated circuits and how to light a bulb. 

Year 4

Had a workshop from The Canal River Trust who explained all about flooding and how it affects the enviroment. They also experimented with different circuits type to see what were good insulators and conducators. 

UKS2

We had an amazing visit from WEST. Some women scientists and some women who are engineers at Amazon paid us a visit. They came in to talk to us about different jobs in the STEM.org profession. We got to work with a robot and they kindly donated the school our own robot to keep and use.

PQSM - Primary Quality Science Mark - Achieved in May 2022

https://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/education/doncaster-primary-receives-quality-mark-for-its-commitment-to-excellence-in-science-teaching-3718574

Supporting Science at home

Taking part in a Science invesgation at home can be a great way to have fun with your child. 

There are lots of great websites with ideas on for you to try at home. If you do any please upload them to the website. We would love to see them. 

https://www.stem.org.uk/home-learning/primary 

https://www.science-sparks.com/ 

https://pstt.org.uk/resources/curriculum-materials/Science-Fun-at-Home