Introduction
A high-quality science education provides the foundations for understanding the world through the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics.
Science has changed our lives and is vital to the world’s future prosperity, and all pupils should be taught essential aspects of the knowledge, methods, processes and uses of science.
Through building up a body of key foundational knowledge and concepts, pupils should be encouraged to recognise the power of rational explanation and develop a sense of excitement and curiosity about natural phenomena.
They should be encouraged to understand how science can be used to explain what is occurring, predict how things will behave, and analyse causes.
Aims of the Clavering Curriculum for Science
The Clavering Curriculum for Science aims to ensure that all pupils:
- develop scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding through the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics;
- develop understanding of the nature, processes and methods of science through different types of science enquiries that help them to 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.
Clavering Learning Foci for Science
1. To learn how to work scientifically (across all three areas: Biology, Chemistry and Physics).
2. To learn about life processes and living things (i.e. Biology).
3. To learn about materials and their properties (i.e. Chemistry).
4. To learn about physical processes (i.e. Physics).
Topics studied in each year group
Year 1:
Biology: Seasonal changes; Animals (including humans) 1; Plants 1
Chemistry: Everyday materials
Year 2:
Biology: Living things & their habitats 1; Animals (including humans) 2; Plants 2
Chemistry: Uses of everyday materials
Year 3:
Biology: Animals (including humans) 3; Plants 3
Chemistry: Rocks
Physics: Light 1; Forces & Magnets 1
Year 4:
Biology: Living things & their habitats 2; Animals (including humans) 4
Chemistry: States of matter
Physics: Sound; Electricity 1
Year 5:
Biology: Living things & their habitats 3; Animals (including humans) 5
Chemistry: Properties & changes of materials;
Physics: Earth & Space; Forces 2; Light 2; Electricity 2
Year 6:
So, what do we know about Chemistry? (revision of all Chemistry units)
So, what do we know about Physics? (revision of all Physics units)
So, what do we know about Biology? (revision of all Biology units; plus new learning about evolution and inheritance)
Note:
1. working scientifically runs throughout every unit;
2. the Clavering Curriculum for Science in Lower School mostly follows the National Curriculum for Science which has no physics units in Year 1 or Year 2;
3. the Clavering Curriculum for Science in Upper School is designed to allow Year 6 pupils the opportunity to revise the full science curriculum.