Medlock Primary School
Embracing Learning, Realising Potential
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Medlock Science Curriculum
At Medlock, we follow the National Curriculum for Science. The planning is designed to make connections with other subjects as much, and as often as possible. There are also planned opportunities for science concepts to be revisited within Humanities, especially Geography (where ’Plants and Animals’ has been developed as a strand across both subjects). You can find the long term plan for Science and Theme here.
Reading, writing and speaking regularly feature in Science lessons across the year groups. Often teachers use information text in lessons to develop Science knowledge further.
Vocabulary for Science is explicitly taught in every unit. Each topic starts with a vocabulary sheet and each lesson starts with a few words which will be relevant during the lesson. These are then repeated across a topic and beyond so that children have the best opportunity for these words and concepts to become part of their working memory.
Maths is also specifically planned for in science, with age related data-handling activities ranging from Venn diagrams and tables to a range of graphs.
Through the year, we have a termly focus on working scientifically, which allows pupils to develop their skills in three specific areas, which all come together to make up the Scientific Process.
The three branches we use at Medlock are:
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Curiosity (including questioning and hypothesising using the curious caterpillar) These activities involve the pupils commenting on their observations and raising a range of questions for which they compile possible hypothesis.
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Enquiry and fair testing skills (where variables are identified using the post it planner). These activities require children to think carefully about fair testing.
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Recording and reporting (including data handling and developing conclusions). This requires the children to record accurately and conclude using the data they gather.
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There are different types of enquiry skills incorporated within the Medlock Science plan, in line with the National Curriculum, that are specifically taught and used in many Science lessons across year groups. Each term a range of these will be covered in each topic taught, enabling pupils to become proficient in each skill over time. The 5 types of enquiry skills pupils learn and develop are:
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Identifying, classifying and grouping
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Observation over time
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Pattern seeking
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Research
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Fair Testing
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Medlock STEM ambassadors (selected Year 6 pupils) take pride in finding outstanding work completed by pupils across the year groups. They identify good work in the children’s books whilst handing out certificates to take home in recognition of their achievement.
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We actively encourage pupils to visit local museums including the Manchester Museum and MOSI with their families and we provide opportunities for children to visit and extend their work in class throughout their time at Medlock Primary School.
