Science
Science at Colville generates excitement and curiosity about the world and above all respect for the environment and all living things.
Our Intent
Our science curriculum is designed to inspire curiosity and foster a lifelong love of learning. We provide our students with a rich and comprehensive understanding of scientific concepts and practices by creating a stimulating learning environment that encourages critical thinking, problem-solving, and scientific exploration from EYFS to KS2. In addition to this, we equip our students with the necessary skills and knowledge to become proficient in the sciences, fostering a deep appreciation for the natural world and its interconnectedness.
Students are taught to understand how science can be used to explain what is occurring, make predictions and analyse causes. Our curriculum also encourages students to become enquiry-based learners, collaborating through researching, investigating and evaluating
experiences.
We ensure that the Working Scientifically skills are built upon and developed throughout students’ time at our school; this enables them to apply their knowledge of science when using equipment, conducting investigations, building arguments and explaining concepts well.
Ultimately, our goal is to nurture a generation of scientifically literate individuals to become responsible global citizens and future leaders in the field of science.
Implementation
Based upon the Collins Snap Science scheme and the individual needs of our students and locality, a skills and knowledge progression map highlights the objectives taught in each year group. Concepts and themes are revisited (e.g. environment, living things, classification, fossils) and built upon through the course of a student’s time at Colville to ensure that they are sequenced appropriately and maximise learning for all children.
We have integrated hands-on practical activities, engaging investigations, and interactive learning experiences into our lessons to stimulate students' curiosity and promote active participation. Our skilled and dedicated teachers employ a variety of teaching strategies, including group discussions, experiments, and the use of digital resources to cater to diverse learning styles. This also supports the development of vocabulary, which is explicitly taught and modelled by teachers in every lesson. Key scientific knowledge and language is revisited frequently, to make learning memorable, relevant and easy to retrieve. We encourage students to ask questions, make predictions, and draw conclusions, fostering a deep understanding of scientific principles. Furthermore, we regularly assess students' progress to tailor our teaching methods and ensure that each student is supported and 
challenged appropriately.
School trips, workshops and fieldwork are provided in order to give first-hand experiences, which enhance pupil’s understanding of the world beyond their own locality.
Impact
The successful approach at Colville results in a fun, engaging, high-quality science education that provides children with the foundations and knowledge for understanding the world in which we live.
By the end of our science curriculum, we have
- Deepened students’ learning in the subject so that they are able to become independent thinkers.
- Enabled the acquisition of a wide range of scientific knowledge, understanding and skills.
- Encouraged students to ask questions and search for answers.
- Developed their knowledge and understanding of the changing world and the role that they can play.
- Developed students' competence in scientific enquiry skills (i.e. finding patterns, comparative/fair testing, observation over time).
- Enabled students to apply their mathematical knowledge to their understanding of science, including collecting, presenting and analysing data.
- Encouraged students to be enthusiastic about their surroundings and their place within society.
- Enabled students to express well-balanced opinions, rooted in excellent knowledge and understanding about current and contemporary issues in society and the environment.
Knowledge Organisers to support learning
Year 1: Using our Senses, Everyday Materials, Looking at Animals, Plant Detectives
Year 2: Materials, Take Care, Growing Up, What is in your habitat?
Year 3: Amazing Bodies Part 1, Rock Detectives, Can you see me?, The Power of Forces, How does your garden grow?, Amazing Bodies Part 2
Year 4: In a State, Good Vibrations, Switched On, Where does all that food go?, Human Impact Who am I?
Year 5: Circle of Life, Marvelous Mixtures, Feel the Force, The Earth and Beyond, Everyday Materials, Reproduction in Plants and Animals
Year 6: The Nature Library, Body Pump, Body Health, Everything Changes, Danger! Low Voltage, Light up your world
Primary Science Quality Mark GILT Award
