Science

At Maple Grove, teachers create a positive attitude to science learning within their classrooms and reinforce an expectation that all pupils can achieve high standards in science. At Maple Grove, we ensure the aims of the National Curriculum are taught that all pupils :

• Develop scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding through the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics.
• Develop an understanding of science's nature, processes and methods through different types of scientific enquiries that help them answer scientific questions about the world around them.
• Are equipped with the scientific knowledge required to understand the uses and implications of science today and for the future.

Our whole school approach to the teaching and learning of science involves the following;

• Science will be taught in every half term around a key question. This is a strategy to achieve a greater depth of knowledge.
• Existing knowledge is checked at the beginning of each topic via the vocabulary mind maps, recapped and built on over the unit. This ensures that the children's starting points inform teaching.
• Our planning involves problem-solving opportunities that allow children to apply their knowledge and find answers. Children are encouraged to ask questions and be given opportunities to use their scientific skills and research to discover the answers. This curiosity is celebrated within the classroom. Planning involves teachers creating engaging lessons, often involving high-quality resources to aid understanding of conceptual knowledge. Teachers use precise questioning in class to test conceptual knowledge and skills and assess pupils regularly to identify those children with gaps in learning so that all pupils keep up. Tasks are selected and designed to provide appropriate challenges to all learners, in line with the school's commitment to inclusion.
• We build upon the knowledge and skill development of the previous years. As the children's knowledge and understanding increases, they become more proficient in selecting, using scientific equipment, collating and interpreting results; they become increasingly confident in their growing ability to come to conclusions based on real evidence.
• Working Scientifically skills are embedded into lessons to ensure that skills are systematically developed throughout the children's school career, and new vocabulary and challenging concepts are introduced through direct teaching. This has developed through the years in keeping with the topics.
• Teachers demonstrate using scientific equipment and various Working Scientific skills to embed scientific understanding. Teachers find opportunities to develop children's understanding of their surroundings through outdoor learning and workshops with experts.
• At the end of each topic, key knowledge is reviewed by the children, rigorously checked by the teacher and consolidated as necessary.