Science
In September 2016 Meadlands was awarded the Primary Science Silver Quality mark and this year (2019) we are going for GOLD!
Subject Leader: Mrs Wolfreys
Curriculum Intent
Science is alive at Meadlands. From Twitter messaging with astronaut Tim Peake to monitoring the birds that visit our grounds, pupils are encouraged to be curious about the wonderful world around them. At Meadlands, we believe that science is a combination of knowledge and development of scientific skills, such as pattern seeking and research. We want our pupils to become critical thinkers, who are able to challenge and question ideas and test out their own hypotheses. We want our pupils to recognise the impact of human living on the environment and become future citizens, caring and respecting the world around them.
Curriculum Implementation
At Meadlands, we deliver a high quality science education, providing the foundations for understanding the world. Our pupils are taught essential aspects of the knowledge, methods, processes and uses of science. We encourage them to recognise the power of rational explanation and develop a sense of excitement and curiosity about natural phenomena. They are able to understand how science can be used to explain what is occurring, predict how things will behave, and analyse causes.
At Meadlands, we follow the National Curriculum for science which 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
The topics we cover are also outlined in the National Curriculum:
Year 1 – Seasonal Changes, Everyday Materials, Plants and Animals, including Humans
Year 2 – Living Things & their Habitats, Uses of Everyday Materials, Plants and Animals, including Humans
Year 3 – Light, Rocks, Forces & Magnets, Plants and Animals, including Humans
Year 4 – Living Things & their Habitats, States of Matter, Electricity, Sound and Animals, including Humans
Year 5 – Living Things & their Habitats, Properties & Changes of Materials, Forces, Earth & Space and Animals, including Humans
Year 6 – Living Things & their Habitats, Electricity & Light, Evolution & Inheritance and Animals, including Humans
Alongside the topics from the National Curriculum, each class explore the 17 Global Goals. These will help support a science education for tomorrow's world. Through this learning we will develop pupils' understanding of economic growth, how to support a better quality of life as well as tackling climate change.
Each unit is supported by a Knowledge Organiser which details the key facts, vocabulary and skills for each unit.
Celebrating Science
As part of Science Week we were lucky enough to have Professor Bubbleworks come to visit us here at Meadlands. He excited us all in assembly showing us the force of air and the different ways we can use it. This was followed by workshops for each class looking at rockets and how air can be used to power them.
