Why do we learn science?
Science Intent
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. At Ark Victoria Academy our high quality science education provides the foundations for understanding the world through the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics. Through building up a body of key foundational knowledge and concepts, pupils are encouraged to recognise the power of rational explanation and develop a sense of excitement and curiosity about natural phenomena. We try and encourage our pupils to understand how science can be used to explain what is occurring, predict how things will behave, and analyse causes.
Aims of Our Science Curriculum:
The Ark Victoria Academy Science curriculum aims to ensure that all pupils:
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develop scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding through the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics
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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
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are equipped with the scientific knowledge required to understand the uses and implications of science, today and for the future
Our cohesive and thoughtfully sequenced curriculum supports pupils to become secure in two important aspects of science in which pupils need to build their understanding throughout their time at school. These are:
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Substantive knowledge: refers to the established knowledge produced by science, for example, the parts of a flower or the names of planets in our solar system. This is referred to as ‘scientific knowledge’ and ‘conceptual understanding’ in the national curriculum.
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Disciplinary knowledge: refers to what pupils learn about how to establish and refine scientific knowledge, for example by carrying out practical procedures. By identifying and sequencing this knowledge, it is possible to plan in the curriculum for how pupils will get better at working scientifically throughout their time at school.
(adapted from National Curriculum, 2014)
EYFS
| Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 |
|---|---|
|
Seasonal changes Understand some important processes and changes in the natural world Earth Science |
Materials Similarities and differences in materials. Use what they have learnt about materials in original ways thinking about uses and purposes Properties and changes of matter |
| Spring 1 | Spring 2 |
|---|---|
|
Life cycles of a chick, frog and plants
Living things |
Life cycles of a chick, frog and plants
Living things |
| Summer 1 | Summer 2 |
|---|---|
|
Animal body parts and diet
Living things |
Animal body parts and diet
Living things |
Reception
| Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 |
|---|---|
|
Seasonal changes Understand some important processes and changes in the natural world Earth Science |
Materials Similarities and differences in materials. Use what they have learnt about materials in original ways thinking about uses and purposes Properties and changes of matter |
| Spring 1 | Spring 2 |
|---|---|
|
Life cycles of a chick, frog and plants
Living things |
Life cycles of a chick, frog and plants
Living things |
| Summer 1 | Summer 2 |
|---|---|
|
Animal body parts and diet
Living things |
Animal body parts and diet
Living things |
Year 1
| Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 |
|---|---|
|
Seasonal changes: Autumn and Winter Earth Science |
Animals including humans Living things |
| Spring 1 | Spring 2 |
|---|---|
|
Animals including humans Organisms |
Seasonal changes: Spring and summer Earth Science |
| Summer 1 | Summer 2 |
|---|---|
|
Common plants Organisms |
Everyday Materials Properties of matter |
Year 2
| Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 |
|---|---|
| Animals and survival Living things |
Living things and habitats Ecosystems |
| Spring 1 | Spring 2 |
|---|---|
| Uses of materials All of Spring Properties of Matter |
Uses of materials All of Spring Properties of Matter |
| Summer 1 | Summer 2 |
|---|---|
| Habitats: protecting our environments Living things |
Habitats: protecting our environments Ecosystem |
Year 3
| Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 |
|---|---|
|
Rocks and fossils Properties of matter |
Skeleton and muscles Living things |
| Spring 1 | Spring 2 |
|---|---|
| Light and shadows Energy |
Light and shadows Energy |
| Summer 1 | Summer 2 |
|---|---|
|
Plants: Needs for survival Living things |
Forces and magnets |
Year 4
| Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 |
|---|---|
|
Teeth and digestion Living things |
States of matter Changing matter |
| Spring 1 | Spring 2 |
|---|---|
| Classification and environments Ecosystems |
Classification and environments Ecosystems |
| Summer 1 | Summer 2 |
|---|---|
|
Sound Energy |
Electricity: simple circuits, conductors, and insulators Energy |
Year 5
| Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 |
|---|---|
| Forces |
Earth and Space Earth Science |
| Spring 1 | Spring 2 |
|---|---|
|
Properties and changes of materials Properties and changes of matter |
Properties and changes of materials Properties and changes of matter |
| Summer 1 | Summer 2 |
|---|---|
|
Lifecycles and Growing old Living things |
Lifecycles and Growing old Living things |
Year 6
| Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 |
|---|---|
|
Light and perception Energy |
Classification of species Living things |
| Spring 1 | Spring 2 |
|---|---|
|
Evolution and inheritance Genes |
Evolution and inheritance Genes |
| Summer 1 | Summer 2 |
|---|---|
|
Electricity and circuits: symbolic representation of components/components Energy |
Circulation and lifestyle Living things |
Year 7
| Autumn |
|---|
|
B1.1 Cells B1.2 Reproduction C1.1 Particles P1.1 Contact Forces
|
| Spring |
|---|
|
B1.2 Reproduction C1.2 Elements, Atoms and Compounds P1.2 Space |
| Summer |
|---|
|
B1.3 Interdependence C1.3 Mixtures P1.3 Energy Transfers P1.4 Electric Circuits: Current and Voltage |
Year 8
| Autumn |
|---|
|
B2.1 Tissues and Organs C2.1 Acids and Alkalis C2.2 Changing Substances P2.1 Movement and Pressure |
| Spring |
|---|
|
B2.2 Respiration and Photosynthesis C2.2 Changing Substances P2.2 Magnetism B2.3 Life Diversity |
| Summer |
|---|
|
B2.4 Nutrition B2.3 Life Diversity C2.3 Earth Systems P2.3 Electric Circuits: Resistance P2.4 Light |
Year 9
| Autumn |
|---|
|
B3.1 Growth and Differentiation C3.1 The Periodic Table P3.1 Acceleration |
| Spring |
|---|
|
B3.2 Human Interaction C3.2 Introduction to Quantitative Chemistry P3.2 Heating |
| Summer |
|---|
|
B3.3 Genetics C3.3 Using Resources P3.2 Heating P3.3 Sound and Waves P3.4 Home Electricity |
Year 10
| Autumn |
|---|
|
B4.1 & 2 Organ systems C4.1 Structure and Bonding P4.1 Density & Pressure P4.2 Energy Conservation |
| Spring |
|---|
|
C4.2 Extraction of metals C4.3 Quantitative Chemistry P4.3 Electric circuits and energy P4.4 Radioactivity |
| Summer |
|---|
|
B4.4 Disease B4.5 Plants and Material Cycling C4.4 Energy Changes P4.5 Movement |
Year 11
| Autumn |
|---|
|
B5.1 Feedback and Control B5.2 Controlling Reproduction C5.1 Carbon Chemistry C5.2 Controlling Reactions C5.4 Chemical Analysis P5.2 Electromagnetic Radiation |
| Spring |
|---|
|
B5.3 Evolution C5.3 Our Atmosphere P5.2 Force Fields |
| Summer |
|---|
