Offmore Primary School

Welcome to Offmore Primary School

Science

Our intent for Science

At Offmore Primary we aim to provide a stimulating and varied science curriculum. Through a hands-on, inquiry-based approach children experience the joy of exploration and investigation, making their own discoveries. We aim to spark children’s natural curiosity about the world around them and how it works. Real-life experiences and topical scientific breakthroughs and problems (such as the need for green energy or the disposal of plastics) are used so that children can make links between scientific enquiry and real changes in the world we live in. We aim to inspire children to examine to world and environment around them and realise that there are still many, many discoveries still to make.

Across the school, children follow the the National Curriculum for England, along with some additional science content which is designed to enrich and broaden the children's experience of science as part of our creative curriculum.

 

 Inclusion in Science at Offmore

send curriculum inclusion science.pdf

Non-Negotiables for the Science learning journey

We have developed a common approach to thinking like an Offmore Scientist, by following the 5 C’s of Science:

Consider, Carry Out, Collect, Compare and Conclude.

This approach starts in Nursery and is progressively built upon until children are fully confident in:

  •  Asking questions
  • Predicting
  • Developing methods to answer questions
  • Fair testing
  • Collecting results
  • Drawing conclusions
  • Challenging themselves

Science- Skills and Knowledge Organiser

Our Science Skills Progression Document shows the skills covered by each year group at Offmore Primary. Our two year cycle offers a broad and varied curriculum with the chance to revisit key skills. You can find our Science Skills Progression below.

science knowledge and skills progression 1.pdf

Science in the Early Years

science eyfs.pdf

Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Development in Science

science.pdf

Aspiration for Science

Through our purpose driven curriculum, we always aim to pin science to real life problems, experiences and news events. Our vocation stations reflect real life jobs and visitors to school show children how a love of science can underpin a variety of careers.

Aspirations in Science

  • Foundation stage had a visit from a bee keeper and a planetarium
  • UKS2 had a 'virtual visit' from a NASA space scientist 
  • UKS2 were visited by some exotic creatures as part of their 'Ravishing Rainforests' topic
  • LKS2 had a visit from Severn Trent to look at water conservation 
  • LKS2 had a visit from physicist Dr Matt Pritchard to discuss how science can help humans develop super powers!  

Science Learning 2023-2024

 During Spring Term, Year 5/6 children were visited by lots of different animals during their Ravishing Rainforests topic. They got to observe and ask questions about different living creatures! 

During Summer term, Year 5 children visited King Charles to continue to develop their understanding of various scientific concepts. The children had so much fun using the equipment that they have to help further their understanding using the 5 C's! Here is what they got up to: 

 

Session 1 -  For their first session, the Year 5 in Kestrels had a go at extracting DNA from a banana! They had so much fun doing this! They used ethanol, washing up liquid, salt, banana, and filter paper among other pieces of equipment. By the end of it they were able to see the white strings of DNA. During this, they actually completed a word game as they had to wait for their mixture to boil in the water boiler. They had to see how many words they could create from Deoxyribose Nucleic Acid - Hayden was the winner and he won a banana! 

Willow - My favourite part was smashing the banana!

Frankie G - My favourite part was when the teacher told us that 60% of our DNA is the same as a banana! 

 

Session 2 - For the next session, Year 5 in Falcons explored electricity! The shared their knowledge of how to create and complete a circuit. Afterwards, they then tested the electrical charge of different fruits: lemons, limes and oranges. They inserted electrodes into the fruit ensuring they were placed at opposite ends. They connected the electrodes with wires to a Multimeter. The zinc electrode and copper electrode would react with the juice in the fruit.

 

Falcons were able to conclude the lemons produced the best electrical charge! 

Ameliah - My favourite part was inserting the electrodes into the fruit! 

 

Session 3 - For their second session, Kestrels explored electricity like Falcons did two weeks ago! 

Further support and useful websites

KS1 Science on BBC Bitesize

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/z6svr82 

KS2 Science on BBC Bitesize

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/z2pfb9q

Primary Science Glossary for Parents

https://www.theschoolrun.com/primary-science-glossary-parents

Nat Geo Kids

https://www.natgeokids.com/uk/teacher-category/science/

Science experiments to try at home

https://www.science-sparks.com/science-experiments-for-kids/