Curriculum Intent

At Whitestone Infant School, we intend for children to:

• develop scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding through the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics
• 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
• be equipped with the scientific skills required to understand the uses and implications of science, today and for the future. We understand that it is important for lessons to have a skills-based focus, and that the knowledge can be taught through this

Our Vision

Science at Whitestone Infant School stimulates children’s curiosity and phenomena about the world around them, their environment and events in the world, covering the basic foundations of biology, chemistry and physics.  It teaches children to investigate and explore though methods of enquiry, and heightens their observation, and communication skills through first-hand experiences and secondary sources such as ICT and books. 

Year Reception!

Science in Reception is all about exploring and making sense of the world. It is covered through the Early Learning Goal called 'Understanding of the World'.

At the end of the year, the children will be expected to explore the natural world around them, make observations and draw pictures of animals and plants. The children will 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. The children will be able to understand some important processes and changes in the natural world around them, including the seasons and changing states of matter. 

Year 1 & 2!

In Key stage 1, Science is covered through the Science National Curriculum. It is divided into 2 sections; Working scientifically and the 3 main areas which are biology, chemistry and physics. In Year 1 and Year 2, the children will be taught to use these scientific methods, skills and process through: 

• Asking simple questions

• Recognising questions can be answered in different ways

• Observing closely, using simple equipment

•  Performing simple tests

• Identifying and classifying

• Using their observation and ideas to suggest answers to questions

•  Gathering and recording data to help in answering questions

Year 1!

In Year 1 we learn about:
 

Plants

• identifying and naming common wild and garden plants including trees
• identifying and describing the basic structure of common flowering plants, including trees

Animals, including humans

• identifying and naming common animals including fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals
• identifying and naming common animals that are carnivores, herbivores and omnivores
• describing and comparing the structure of a variety of common animals
• identifying, naming, drawing and labelling the basic parts of the human body and say which part of the body is associated with which sense

Everyday materials

• distinguishing between the object and the material it is made from
• identifying and naming a variety of everyday materials 
• describing the simple physical properties of everyday materials
• comparing and grouping together a variety of everyday materials on their basis of their simple physical properties

Seasonal changes

• observing changes across the 4 seasons
• observing and describing weather associated with the seasons and how day length varies

Year 2!

In Year 2 we learn about:

Living things and their habitats

• exploring and comparing the differences between things that are living, not living and things that have never been alive
• identifying that most living things live in habitats to which they are suited and describe how different habitats provide for the basic needs of different kinds of animals and plants, and how they depend on each other
• identifying and naming a variety of plants and animals in their habitats, including microhabitats
• describing how animals obtain their food from plants and other animals, using the idea of a simple food chain, and identify and name different sources of food

Plants

• observing and describing how seeds and bulbs grow into mature plants
• find out and describe how plants need water, light and a suitable temperature to grow and stay healthy

Animals, including humans

• noticing that animals, including humans, have offspring which grow into adults
• finding out about and describing the basic needs of animals, including humans, for survival
• describing the importance for humans of exercise, eating the right amounts of different types of food, and hygiene

Use of everyday materials

• identifying and comparing the suitability of a variety of everyday materials
• finding out how the shapes of solid objects made from some materials can be changed

Websites to access: