Science
"The important thing in science is not so much to obtain new facts as to discover new ways of thinking about them." - William Lawrence Bragg
Welcome to Science at Acklam Whin
At Acklam Whin, our science curriculum is designed to ignite curiosity and foster a deep, continuing interest in the world around us. We recognise that all children possess a natural interest and innate curiosity about their surroundings and, at Acklam Whin, we aim to nurture this. We encourage our students to question, explore, and investigate; helping them develop a better understanding of the world they live in.
Our ambitious and well-balanced science curriculum builds upon the strong foundations of knowledge and understanding established in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). Throughout their primary education, students experience a carefully planned progression of scientific knowledge, skills, and vocabulary. At each stage of their learning journey, children are challenged and encouraged to maintain an inquisitive approach to their studies.
High Quality Science Curriculum
Our aims are to:
- Develop a strong foundation in scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding through the core disciplines of biology, chemistry, and physics.
- Foster a deep understanding of scientific processes and methods, enabling students to engage in a range of scientific inquiries.
- Equip our students with the scientific skills needed to develop critical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and a sustained curiosity about the world.
Our Approach
Our approach is skills-based, as we believe that scientific knowledge is best acquired through active, hands-on experiences that build and develop key scientific skills. Our curriculum clearly outlines the knowledge, skills, and vocabulary that students will acquire at each stage of their education. Our use of knowledge organisers ensures clear end goals and provides a well-structured sequence of lessons, enabling pupils to progress effectively throughout their learning.
Think and Act like Scientists
At Acklam Whin, we foster a positive attitude toward science, making it an exciting and integral part of our curriculum. We encourage all children to ‘think’ and ‘act’ like scientists, with high academic ambitions for all children. Our aim is to provide children with the confidence to apply their knowledge, skills, and understanding in real-life contexts, both inside and outside the classroom. Through a variety of rich and practical enquiries, students develop their disciplinary knowledge of working scientifically, as well as their understanding of how science applies to the real world. Our teachers creatively inspire a sense of wonder about the natural world, encouraging exploration, questioning, and investigation. By making science engaging, hands-on, and relevant, Acklam Whin offers a unique, enriching learning experience that motivates students to explore the world scientifically and fosters a sense of responsibility for the future.
Laying the Foundations
At Acklam Whin, we begin fostering natural curiosity, questioning, and observation skills in our Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) children. Understanding the World is one of the specific areas of the EYFS curriculum, allowing children to explore the natural world around them. Through this exploration, they discover similarities and differences between their environment and contrasting settings while gaining an understanding of important processes and changes in the natural world, such as seasonal changes and states of matter.
We encourage our children to embrace their roles as scientists by utilizing their senses to investigate and develop their natural curiosity. Students learn to articulate observations regarding change and to notice and discuss similarities and differences. Importantly, children in the EYFS are guided to care for and respect the natural world.
Working Scientifically
Working scientifically in primary schools involves a structured approach that integrates hands-on experiences, inquiry-based learning, and the development of critical thinking. At Acklam Whin, we promote the practice of working scientifically by enhancing our students’ scientific skills. Scientific skills – such as observing, asking and answering questions, and planning enquiries – are progressively mapped across the curriculum. This ensures that children are provided with opportunities to develop each individual skill, enabling them to think and act like scientists and preparing them for their educational journey beyond primary school.
Big Ideas of Science
Our curriculum follows the National Curriculum. We follow the ‘Big Ideas of Science’. These are: Animals, Plants, Materials, Weather, Earth & Space, Energy and Forces.
Children are able to talk about the Big Ideas of Science and use our Acklam Whin Road Map to connect their knowledge. Over time, pupils can recall and active their prior learning to develop a rich understanding of the curriculum.
Knowing more, Remembering more
Achievement is defined at Acklam Whin as children being able to know more, remember more and do more. At Acklam Whin, we are committed to ensuring that our students make excellent progress across the science curriculum through assessments of both knowledge and skills. At the end of each unit of work, students complete a multiple-choice quiz to demonstrate their learning. Additionally, they have the opportunity to engage in discussions with their teachers, where they can articulate and reflect on their understanding of the knowledge taught. Students also demonstrate their understanding of scientific skills by participating in skills-based lessons, during which they are encouraged to independently identify and focus on a specific scientific skill.
We encourage our children to embrace their roles as scientists by utilizing their senses to investigate and develop their natural curiosity. Students learn to articulate observations regarding change and to notice and discuss similarities and differences. Importantly, all children are guided to care for and respect their natural world.
