Our Curriculum

INTENT:

Children will:

  • Develop sufficient scientific knowledge to explain the world around them.
  • Recognise that science and scientists’ impact positively on society and aspire to contribute.
  • Plan, carry out and evaluate scientific investigations.

IMPLEMENTATION:

Science will be taught as a separate stand-alone subject.

The children will have weekly science lessons and they will work in green science books.

All lessons follow the National Curriculum that have been selected and adapted to suit the children at St Ambrose Primary School.

Our Science Overview has been mapped out across the school so that there is full coverage of the National Curriculum for Science. It is broad and balanced so that pupils have time to develop, revisit and build on their knowledge and skills throughout their learning journey at St Ambrose.

Lessons will have an opportunity to stretch and challenge the more able pupils.

Helping pupils develop the skills of asking questions, prediction, hypothesising, experimentation, investigation, observation, measurement, recording, interpretation, concluding, evaluating and communication.

Making pupils aware of and alert to links between science and other school subjects, as well as their lives more generally.

A whole-hearted engagement of pupils through scientific discussions.

Our children will receive first hand experiences and practical work alongside secondary sources.

There is a greater emphasis on the scientific processes with working scientifically taught throughout.

Science is inclusive for all pupils including those with SEND.

Wherever possible, Science links to other areas of the curriculum. For example but not limited to:

-Mathematics for data collection and recording.

-Writing about and reading books inspired by the Science Topics.

-History and Geography.

-Catholic Social Teaching.

-British Values.

EYFS

The Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum supports children’s understanding of Science through the planning and teaching of ‘Understanding the World.’ Children find out about objects, materials and living things using all of their senses looking at similarities, differences, patterns and change. Both the environment and skilled practitioners foster curiosity and encourage explorative play, children are motivated to ask questions about why things happen and how things work. Our children are encouraged to use their natural environment around them to explore. Children enjoy spending time outdoors exploring mini-beasts and their habitats, observing the changing seasons, plants and animals. Children regularly participate in cookery and baking sessions which allows them to experience changes in state as ingredients are mixed, heated and cooled.

IMPACT

Our Science curriculum ensures the children learn and master scientific methods, processes and skills through the teaching of the programme of study as outlined in the National Curriculum. We place an emphasis on the behaviour and attitudes of pupils, therefore, we wish for all children to appreciate the importance of science in our world today and how it can help build and shape our future. We want children at St Ambrose to be independent learners, thinkers and investigators who build upon their knowledge, skills and conceptual understanding over time. We wish for all pupils to be able to become problem solvers and explain their own answers to scientific based questions. The children at St Ambrose will also be inspired to have careers in Science.

Pupil Voice

What our children say about Science

"There is three types of science: Biology, Chemistry and Physics." (KS1 Pupil).

"We learn about the world" (KS1 Pupil).

"We do experiments to help us learn new things." (KS1 Pupil).

"It is fascinating investigating and learning about how things work for example, the water cycle and how we can hear sounds." (KS2 Pupil).

"Science helps us in everyday life. For example, inventing machines." (KS2 Pupil).

"You find out new information and help make the world a better place." (KS2 Pupil).

St Ambrose is an Ogden Trust member.

Science Culture and Enrichment at St Ambrose

Trips

Year 2 Safari Park Trip

Year 2 had a wonderful trip to West Midlands Safari park on Wednesday. The children were so well behaved and we all had a wonderful time.

We also deepened our knowledge and understanding of animal habitats as part of our Science topic, 'Living Things and Their Habitats'.

Year 2 also upheld the British Values. We showed respect to all of the animals and rule of law by following the rules of the Safari park to keep the everyone safe.

British Science Week March 2022

St Ambrose have been celebrating Science Week.
Miss Crumpler led a whole school assembly. We were introduced to the theme of growth science week 2022, we watched an experiment and we were inspired by the works of female scientists.
Throughout the week every class watched a live science lesson by NFU. Each class also completed their own science activity. 

Gardening Club

During Lunchtime, we are very lucky to have a volunteer from our school and church community come into school and work with Miss Crumpler to teach the children about gardening. This year we have really enjoyed watching our seeds grow. We have sold some of our plants that we have grown. The school also ran a gardening competition for the Queen's Jubilee and gardening club planted the winning design in the flower box at the front of our school. 

Eco Day 20th January 2022

We are tackling Climate Change Pope Francis says, "Creation is not a property which we can rule over at will; or, even less, is the property of only a few: Creation is a gift, it is a wonderful gift that God has given us, so that we care for it and we use it for the benefit of all, always with great respect and gratitude"
 
The Eco Warriors had a virtual meeting to discuss our Eco day. On Thursday we launched it with an assembly led by Miss Crumpler. We learnt about global warming and looking after our world and shared ideas about how we can all make the world a better place. Together, we looked at the Catholic Social Teaching of Stewardship and how we can care for God's creation.
 
The whole school were then set three challenges to complete during the day.
  1. We reflected on what we use electricity for and how we can save electricity.
  2. We spent part of the day with no electricity.
  3. Inspired by the artist Wassily Kandinsky, we all coloured our own mini worlds using colours that reminded us of God's creation. For example, yellow for sand and blue for the sky. 
In the future we are now more aware of not wasting electricity when we do not need it and we continue to look after God's world.
Emmaus CMAC
St Ambrose Catholic Primary School Ofsted
A School Life Website
School Life iOS Mobile Application
School Life Android Mobile Application