Science

At Cotmanhay Infant School our principle aim is to give all children a good understanding of the world around them while acquiring the skills and knowledge to help them to think scientifically. We want all our children to have an understanding of scientific processes, the uses and implications of Science, today and for the future.

Science in our school is organised and taught in the context of a topics and themes. Teachers deliver the Science National Curriculum 2014 in ways that are imaginative, purposeful, well managed and enjoyable for all children. Where possible we involve children in “real” hands on scientific activities that allow children at our school to ask questions and answer questions about the world they see around them.

Teachers plan purposeful links between science and other subjects, using ICT and maths in a meaningful way to support understanding in science.  Children are offered a wide range of extra-curricular activities, visits, trips, science clubs and visitors to complement and enhance each child’s learning experience. Children have access to positive role models as a result of community links and connection with national agencies such as the STEM association.

Teachers at our school aim to provide a range of relevant experiences that allow pupils to work scientifically. Children will use different types of scientific enquiry to answer their own questions, including observing changes over a period of time, noticing patterns, grouping and classifying things, carrying out simple comparative tests, and finding things out using secondary sources of information. They will begin to use simple scientific language to talk about what they have found out and communicate their ideas to a range of audiences in a variety of ways.

Science in nursery and reception classes is taught as an integral part of their topic work covered during the year. Teachers in nursery and reception relate the scientific aspect of children’s work to the objectives set out in the Early Learning Goals included in Knowledge and Understanding the World.

Ideas for science learning at home.

Starters for STEM are ten activities that parents can use at home to help children develop their science, technology, engineering and maths skills. These activities are easy-to-resource and provide children with the stimulus to talk about the world around them.

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

This series of videos, produced by the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), the demonstrations use everyday products and require no special equipment. Watch the video or try at home.

https://www.stem.org.uk/resources/collection/4006/primary-science-demonstrations

https://www.stem.org.uk/resources/elibrary/resource/25416/do-try-home

Fun hands on activities using everyday household items.

http://www.sciencefun.org/kidszone/experiments/

https://mommypoppins.com/kids/50-easy-science-experiments-for-kids-fun-educational-activities-using-household-stuff

Here are some programmes that you may want to watch at home.

TV programmes with Science theme:

Backyard Science (on you tube)

Messy Goes to Okido (BBC)

Maddie’s Do you Know (BBC)

Grace’s Amazing Machines (BBC)

Ask the Storybots (Netflix)

Here are some really useful websites you may want to visit with your child at home to support their learning in science.