The materials available in this section will help leaders and teachers sequence the learning for pupils in science in an exciting and meaningful way. The science curriculum utilises the Learning Challenge approach. The sequence of learning and the units ensures that you will have full coverage of the National Curriculum. It follows the programmes of study for each year group. The materials are not for use as a rigid learning sequence, but as the basis for sparking ideas which will work in your school with your children. Many schools and academies have used these with staff as a starting point and then developed their own interpretations and ideas to meet the needs of their context.
- There is an overview for each year group, including an example of what this could be like.
- The key knowledge and skills pupils should know and remember are in a sequence of learning (under substantive and disciplinary knowledge) to support pupils’ long-term retention of key information.
- In addition, the overview provides the overarching enquiry (composite) for each unit of learning and then identifies the tasks or activities (components) they need to cover to help them know more and remember more.
Mostly, there is a learning sequence with a comprehensive range of tasks and activities for each unit of learning.
Within each unit, there is an increased focus on working scientifically and investigation, with at least one component dedicated to this and guided by the process of planning, doing and evaluating. A key figure has also been identified for each unit – a scientist, either past or present, who has had an impact within the area of study. This is to support children with understanding how science has developed within the real world.
Science Vocabulary Overview
Developing children’s vocabulary is a crucial aspect of teaching and learning. An understanding of language opens doors for young minds that they didn’t know existed, enabling them to build the cultural capital necessary to succeed and fulfil their potential.
In science, it is vital that we expose children across the whole of the Primary age range to key vocabulary necessary for development in this subject area. They need to experience the challenging technical language that will help them articulate their understanding more clearly, concisely, and effectively.
Children need to understand key scientific vocabulary to enable them to explain biological, chemical and physical processes and changes, and it is extremely important that the children develop an awareness of the different vocabulary used across each discipline.
This vocabulary overview bears all of this in mind and is in two sections. The first links directly to the science units of learning delivered by the Learning Challenge Curriculum so that teachers and children know exactly the language required for success. For each year group, there is a set of six keywords for each topic. These six keywords, with definitions, are on the knowledge organisers (available separately) for each unit of learning. Alongside the six keywords, is further language children could meet as part of the unit of learning, when and where appropriate. The second section looks at more specific language and vocabulary, and the words children should experience over the course of the year, split up into the three different disciplines of Biology, Chemistry and Physics and then further language is from ‘Working Scientifically’ within the National Curriculum. The ‘Working Scientifically’ vocabulary is phase specific.
The overview is perfect for helping teachers understand and see progression over the year. It makes it easy to see the vocabulary met in previous years, and how their teaching fits in with the rest of the school. For subject leaders, it sets out the required vocabulary for development year by year.
Science Vocabulary Overview – All Year Groups Science Disciplinary Knowledge for ChildrenIf you are not a subscriber, you can purchase these units through our website.
You can purchase them as key stage or whole school bundles of units or as individual units or resources from each unit
You can also purchase many of the other resources such as the Science Vocabularly Overview
