Science

 Subject Leader – Mrs Morris

Science Intent 

• At Damson Wood, we aim for all children to have a variety of theory and practical-based experiences around Science and to be able to develop enquiring minds.  
• All children will have the opportunities to use a range of skills such as observation, planning and investigation to help them answer given questions.  
• We want to encourage our children to explore and for this to lead to them asking about the world around them, seeing how Science fits into their everyday lives. We aim for our children to strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the world not just for the here and now, but for the future and to show them how Science can be taken further, inspiring them to consider jobs in this field and to see that anyone can be involved in Science, no matter what their background and beliefs.  

• We want our children to become more confident in sharing their ideas and also value the ideas that others have around different concepts. We will encourage our children to become independent learners who are not afraid of a challenge. This will be done through effective questioning and the activities we provide. 
• In Nursery and Reception, we will provide experiences that help children to begin to understand the physical world around them. We will encourage them to explore different environments and to ask questions. 
• Our children will be encouraged to talk about what they see and to use a wide range of vocabulary which is carefully planned to support the current topic.  
• This is also a time, when children are taught how we can care for the natural world around us.  
• During these early stage, children will also begin to note down and record observations as part of working scientifically.  

• Hands-on experiences are key in children beginning their Science journey, and is something which should be continued into Key Stage One.  
• At Damson Wood Infants, we will promote ‘working scientifically’ throughout all of the topics we teach. Key Scientific vocabulary will be taught and continually re-visited to help embed this into longer-term memory. We will re-visit and revise learning throughout the year to strongly embed subject knowledge. This will enable our children to leave infant school with a secure base upon which to further develop their knowledge and scientific enquiry skills as they move into Key Stage 2.  

National Curriculum Subject Content

Plants

Year One

• Identify and name a variety of common wild and garden plants including deciduous and evergreen trees.
• Identify and describe the basic structure of a variety of common and flowering plants including trees.

Year Two

• Observe and describe how seeds and bulbs grow into mature plants.
• Find out and describe how plants need water, light and suitable temperature to grow and stay healthy.

Animals, including humans

Year One

• Identify and name a variety of common animals including fish, reptiles, birds, mammals and amphibians.
• Identify and name a variety of common animals that are carnivores, herbivores and omnivores.
• Describe and compare the structure of a variety of common animals.
• Identify, name, draw and label the basic parts of the human body and say which part of the body is associated with each sense.

Year Two

• Notice that animals including humans have offspring which grow into adults.
• Find out about and describe the basic needs of animals including humans for survival.
• Describe the importance for humans of exercise, eating the right amounts of different food and hygiene.

Everyday Materials

Year One

• Distinguish between an object and the material from which it is made.
• Identify and name a variety of everyday materials, including wood, plastic, glass, metal, water and rock.
• Describe the simple physical properties of a variety of everyday materials.
• Compare and group together a variety of everyday materials on the basis of their simple physical properties.

Year Two

• Identify and compare the suitability of a variety of everyday materials for particular uses.
• Find out how the shapes of solid objects made from some materials can be changed by squashing, bending, twisting and stretching.

Year 1 Seasonal Changes

• Observe changes across the four seasons.
• Observe and describe weather associated with the seasons and how day length varies.

Year 2 Living things and their habitats

• Explore and compare the differences between things that are living, dead and things that have never been alive.
• Identify that most living things live in habitats to which they are suited and describe how different habitats. provide for the basic needs of different kinds of animals and plants, and how they depend on each other.
• Identify and name a variety of plants and animals in their habitats including micro-habitats.
• Describe how animals obtain their food from plants and other animals, using the idea of a simple food chain and identify and name the different sources of food.

During years 1 and 2, pupils should be taught to use the following practical scientific methods, processes and skills through the teaching of the programme of study content:

• asking simple questions and recognising that they can be answered in different ways
• observing closely, using simple equipment
• performing simple tests
• identifying and classifying
• using their observations and ideas to suggest answers to questions
• gathering and recording data to help in answering questions.