At Farnham Common Village Schools, Science stimulates and excites pupil’s curiosity about natural phenomena and events in the world around them. Pupils understand how major scientific ideas contribute toward technological change – impacting on industry, medicine, business and improving quality of life. They learn to question and discuss science based issues that may affect their own lives, the directions of society and the future of the world, encouraging and supporting the development of Science capital. This knowledge base of Science has a practical application to everyday experiences and is therefore important for pupil’s social development. By working scientifically, through tailored investigations involving planning, testing, recording and analysing results, students come to appreciate the nature of the learning process. All teachers, design and plan activities providing opportunities for students to display and to develop and apply their creative and imaginative capacities in Science. These activities also enable them to experience an ongoing sense of success in their teaching and learning which are transferable to other subjects.
We follow the National Curriculum for Science which includes: Scientific Enquiry, Life Processes and Living Things, Materials and their Properties. We endeavour to link Science to the class topics , and to link it to other curriculum subjects including Maths, English, ICT and Design Technology.
Children in Early Years follow the guidelines for Science included in the EYFS 'Understanding the World'. The work is largely exploratory and may involve activities such as looking at insects, or watching ice melt. We also offer a lot of opportunity for Understanding the World within our Forest school provision.
In Key Stage One, Science lessons are focused around animals and their habitats, plants and everyday materials. Activities are practical whenever possible to ensure understanding and the children are encouraged to develop the skills of observation, predicting, experimenting, and recording results. Much use is made of the outside environment which includes a wooded area. Skills are also further developed within Forest School sessions.
In Key Stage Two we study; States of matter, Properties of material, Rocks, Electricity, Plants, Animals including humans, Lifecycles, Evolution and Inheritance, Light and Space. (Please see below for a curriculum coverage road map)
We have participated in Science days at local secondary schools to investigate and find solutions to scientific ideas. We strike a balance between practical science investigation and theory, learning outside when possible.