Science at Randwick

“You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.”
― Jane Goodall

At Randwick, children are naturally curious, making new discoveries by interacting with each other and the world around them. Our science curriculum nurtures this experiential learning through hands-on lessons that are investigative in nature. Children are taught the scientific principles which underpin the topic that they are studying; giving them a solid understanding on which to base their investigations.

Science topics at Randwick are taught as part of a two year rolling program and the children’s skills are further strengthened through Working Scientifically. Explicit teaching of these skills allows children to make connections between the science topics they have covered and explore science beyond the scope of the National Curriculum.

We feel that it is important to build the children’s science capital to inspire a love of science. During investigations, children explore concepts which are connected to their lives. The aim being, for the children to feel at home with science and to see it as something that is useful and important, both in life and for society.

School trips to science centres and visits from scientists are experiences which further nurture our children’s science capital. Meeting scientists and talking to them about their work influences how the children view science and help them to feel more connected with the science which surrounds them.

In EYFS, children explore the natural world around them, making observations and drawing pictures of animals and plants; know some similarities and differences between the natural world around them and contrasting environments, drawing on their experiences and what has been read in class; understand some important processes and changes in the natural world around them, including the seasons and changing states of matter. The children will also explore and understand the importance of healthy food choices.

The science curriculum in primary schools in England

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a806ebd40f0b62305b8b1fa/PRIMARY_national_curriculum_-_Science.pdf

Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)

In the EYFS, science is included within the Understanding the World and Communication and Language areas of learning. As with other learning in Reception, your child will mainly learn about science through games and play – which objects float and sink during water play, for example. Activities such as these will help your child to develop important skills such as observation, prediction and critical thinking.

Key Stage 1 (Years 1 and 2) and Key Stage 2 (Years 3 to 6)

The content of science teaching and learning is set out in the 2014 National Curriculum for primary schools in England. Within this, certain topics and areas are repeated across year groups, meaning that children may revisit a particular topic in each year of primary school but with increasing difficulty and with a different focus each time.

For example, the area of animals, including humans is examined in every single year group, with a very clear progression of knowledge and understanding over the six years:
In Year 1 this involves: looking at the human body, recognising animal groups and sorting these animals.
By Year 6, this will have developed into knowing the internal structure of the human body in relation to circulation, classifying living things based on more complex characteristics and exploring scientific research into this classification.

The more detailed content for each year group is as follows:

Year 1

Plants (basic structure)
Animals including humans (basic knowledge of parts of human body and comparing animals)
Everyday materials (describing properties)
Seasonal changes.

Year 2

Plants (what plants need to grow)
Animals including humans (needs for survival, food and hygiene)
Use of everyday materials (explore and compare materials for uses)
Living things and their habitats (explore variety of habitats, simple food chains).

Year 3

Plants (life cycles)
Animals including humans (nutrition, skeleton and muscles)
Rocks (fossils and soils)
Light (reflection and shadows)
Forces and magnets (magnetic materials, attracting and repelling).

Year 4

Animals including humans (digestive system, teeth and food chains)
Living things and habitats (classification keys)
States of matter (changes of state, evaporation and condensation)
Sound (vibration, pitch and volume)
Electricity (simple circuits, insulators and conductors).

Year 5

Animals including humans (human development from birth to old age)
Living things and their habitats (life cycles and reproduction in humans and plants)
Properties and changes of materials (dissolving, separating materials, reversible and irreversible changes)
Forces (gravity, air resistance, water resistance, friction)
Earth and Space (Earth, Sun and Moon, the solar system).

Year 6

Animals including humans (circulatory system, diet and exercise, healthy living)
Living things and their habitat (classification, characteristics of plant and animal groups)
Light (how it travels, how we see, shadows)
Electricity (voltage and power in circuits, circuit components, symbols and diagrams)
Evolution and inheritance (how living things have changed over time, fossils, dinosaurs, adaptation to environment).

These are incorporated into our two year cycle.

Alongside these areas runs the Working Scientifically element. This focuses on the skills the children need to become accurate, careful and confident practical scientists. Children are expected to master certain skills in each year group and there is a very clear progression of these set out for each school to refer to. For example:
In Year 1 a child may have to ask questions, carry out a simple test, record simple data and then try to answer questions.
By Year 6, they should be able to plan and carry out a fair test by using equipment accurately and taking exact readings or measurements. They are also expected to be able to draw conclusions from their results and record them using a range of graphs and charts.

How can I support my child in science?

1. Be interested

Find out their termly topics (we will provide this information each term, or you can always ask their teacher) and take an interest — find relevant books in the library or bookshop, do some research, brush up your own knowledge about the topic! Then you can have interesting conversations where you are both learning at the same time.

2. Take a trip

Why not take a trip to a science museum, a zoo or an aquarium? These don’t necessarily need to be completely related to what they are learning about at school. Any visit can help their curiosity and engagement with science generally.

3. Make it personal

Find out about famous scientists and research unique and exciting inventions up to and including the present day. Who knows, you may have the next Stephen Hawking or Marie Curie at home!

4. Get hands-on

Look up fun, practical science experiments you can do at home with everyday objects.

For example:

Ask ‘What happens when you mix food colouring in milk?’ Then add washing up liquid and watch what happens.
Why not try making your own mini exploding volcano? Just add bicarbonate of soda, food colouring, washing up liquid and vinegar. Then stand back and watch the eruption!
Cooking is also a great opportunity to mix ingredients, add heat and examine changing states.
Try exploring changing states with ice and water to begin to see those changes that can be reversed and those that can’t.
A real favourite would have to be ‘gloop’ — use water and cornflour (add food colouring too if needed) to explore solids and liquids. Just be prepared to get messy!
Of course, there are also some wonderful science kits available to buy to push your scientists further – making crystals, rockets and even bouncy balls.

Explore nature together - gardening, bug hunting and bird watching are all excellent and simple activities to support the curriculum
Ask open-ended questions to nurture curiosity e.g. I wonder why.....
Encourage children to discuss and explain their ideas - be patient and kind

Anything where they can be hands-on and see the science happen in front of their eyes is guaranteed to be get them interested.